I want that emoticon wand!

Glimpse Inside a Metaverse: The Virtual World of Second Life , was a lecture and discussion with Philip Rosedale and Cory Ondrejka, two of the creators of Second Life. They discussed the basics of SL, mostly concentrating on the different aspects of how it is fully user-created. I'm not sure if I really learned anything completely new from this video, although it was interesting to watch, but mostly it seemed like just a clearer, more straightforward account of things I've heard in bits before.

One of the more important ideas discussed was about how the possibilities for a new consumer financial market are both very real and rapidly expanding. The ability to combine single prims to create whole complex structures eliminates the creative difficulties of the ideas such as C++ and other Visual Basics languages and allows for a creative form to be more readily accessible to people without specific computer programming training. The intellectual property concepts within Second Life have a possibility to redefine the creative marketplace and further affect the real world intellectual marketplace.

Another topic discussed was the system of full server-side storage that allows for great protection from outside intrusion that other massive online communities often lack. Meanwhile, within the community, there is promotion of the feelings of "brotherhood" in allowing either copying or manipulation of most of the produced goods while still granting the original creator technical intellectual property rights to their creation. Also with in the topic of security, he talked of their form of "parental control" which is a policy that separates those users who self-admit to being 13-17 years of age into a separate area and then encourages them to report anyone who seems to be an "adult" and vice-versa in the main world. Anyone reported for violations is required to submit valid form of ID, such as faxing in a drivers licence

Reve & Misty's Love Nest

My adventures in Limantour 108, 100, 23 - Tierra del Suenos Reve & Misty's Love Nest.
I found this place while trying to teleport to a store, and I ended up spending the rest of my play time there tonight. Here is where I first found myself. I played with a few (ok, a LOT) pose balls and here are some of the PG rated ones I found.How pretty! All multifaceted textures. I made this little cylinder to sit on, so I could take a picture.These were taken near the hot tub... :PI explored the huge a house a little, and went around to the other side where I discovered almost a whole other universe--a huge pool, waterslide, a bar, a dance floor, more pose balls... So of course I took a billion more pictures, but it's taken too long to post these already. Also the owner, Reve, came out to talk to me and told me they had built this all themselves. Incredible. I thought I had saved the convo, but I think I didn't. He didn't seem upset at all that I was "trespassing," as he probably would have in real life. Ok, I am le tired.

SL in class

So today we were put in groups of four and were told to chat with each other without talking out loud in class. We were told to click on the bench and just sit there and chat, but it wasn't long before someone was up exploring the other areas - including doing mysterious cannonballs in the little pond that was in between our benches that she couldn't figure out how she did them. Also, periodically a tornado would fly by us, that was pretty cool. Soon, we were all in the little pond checking it out. Josh made a box, I showed off some dance moves, one girl kept doing her cannonballs.
The conversation at first felt a little forced and awkward, since we were only going along the questions we were told to talk about. It got more fun as we strayed from the questions and started trying out the actions available to us.
I think the hardest question of the three was "What's the strangest thing you've seen in SL so far"... because so much of it is strange! Why people have that weird obsession with looking like foxes I have no clue. Does that have to do with the Furry thing Kim was telling us about? Maybe that could be a good research topic.. Also, I've seen quite a few S/M people being led around in chains. One couple started like having sex in the store I was in. But that's another topic.
I'm excited for the "fashion show" on Friday because I think my character looks pretty like me. There's issues with the skin and makeup, but with the hair, outfit, and clothes I think it looks very similar. We'll see how that goes.
Alright, until next time.

Second Life Play

Oo, last night as I was exploring using the search tool I happened to check out a casino. While there, there was serious lag causing my computer to freeze, which I took as my cue to get up and go to bed, forgetting to bother to turn the game off. When I woke up and checked out the computer this morning, it seems I had won $130L in a drawing done every half hour or so based on the number of people in the area. Sweet. Just wanted to post it up here before I forgot. :)

Videogame third spaces and educational tools

Although I have some problems myself with the somewhat cheesy concept of "great, good third places," I would think that of all videogames, Second Life most closely does follow this idea. The fact that there is no seeming purpose to the game besides to mix and mingle and hang out, and the fact that the avatars themselves act as a leveler of the playing field, I would say that SL closely resembles this concept. I'm sure there are some limitations - the Lindens are clearly ranked higher than the average person (although they don't usually do very much authority exertion), the most popular characters usually have spent at least a few dollars buying high quality hair, skins, and clothes, and that just the whole limitation of internet and game access in general - but the fact is there are some sometimes hidden limitations to Roy Oldenburg's original concept as well.
As for educational value, sure there are many opportunities for education within SL and some people go out of their way to offer such opportunities, but by and large the "goal" (whatever that really means in this context) of SL does not seem to be educational. In the areas created for education, it does seem to be more comprehensive than the example in the article where they just use a website with forums, as the creation of the avatars can make it seem more like you are actually "attending" a class rather than just discussing one on a text-based forum. In this setting, I'm sure it would have been determined that people were less likely to switch back and forth from "writing voice" to "conversational voice" that often and that most people would use the latter, since the concept of SL gives a more conversational feel to it.

Second Life Play

So, I've played Second Life most of the weekend and it's given me mixed emotions. On one hand, I love playing dress up - which is mostly what I've been doing - but on the other hand I largely feel like that's the only thing to do, and that once I've exhausted most of the main shopping areas that I'll be bored. I realize there's probably more stores and boutiques than I can imagine, but I feel it'll get old after while.

And I'm reluctant to talk to some of the people around me. Random IMs and hellos seem awkward to me, and for some reason I can't help but think.. I dunno. I've tried to make myself talk to a few, and one was a very nice veteran player who was making a card for new people about all the free shopping areas.

That's when I got started on my huge shopping expedition. I bought five dollars worth of Linden money, which was like near 2000LD. I went to some really cute boutiques, including an imitation American Eagle Outfitters store called Nylon Outfitters where I actually got a shirt that is an exact copy of a shirt I actually own. Hah. I don't really like using other people's skins though for some reason, maybe I would like them more if I could modify them slightly. I found a few good hair styles but most of the ones I've seen are these out-of-reality volumptuous boufant porno hairstyles.

The assignment we were given to try to look as close to ourselves as possible is proving to be quite a challenge when it seems most of the styles in the game are unrealistic. But I did give myself some little love handles despite my secret wishes to have the perfect fake body like a lot of the other people.

Oh, another problem: MANY CRASHES. And a lot of waiting time when things get stuck and all you can do is wait it out. I realize why it happens, usually due to a highly populated areas, but still it makes for a very annoying playing experience.

I did try my hand at bingo though, after I spent all that money shopping. Didn't win anything, however. Still an interesting experience.

Ok, that's all for now. Until next time.

The system is down.

I don't think AirNet would let me connect to Second Life today. Three of us were out of luck. I tried connecting it to the network with one of the broken computer's LAN lines, but it realized that I wasn't the right computer and I think the proxy settings blocked me. I'll have to try playing some when I get home. Luckily, I've played this in the past for about a month, so I have a bit of an idea what to do. Only getting to watch other people play is a little bit frustrating because I want to be manipulating my character too. And expescially that one kid.. he keeps saying rude things to non-classmate people in the game, all while he's being projected on the class screen. Come on, be respectful because there are still real people behind the characters. That's all I really can say right now. I'll write more when I play later tonight.


Edit: I made a character here at home tonight, so much easier than at school. I just did it with the tools, but I think I may need to contribute a few real life dollars if I want to look at all reasonable. Here's me so far:

People observation assigment

Unfortunately I'm doing this project at 9:30am on Friday in the Pub.. which means there isn't too much action going on. But after class yesterday I had the first cast of NewsWatch all day (which gave my probably the worst migraine I've experienced in a long time), so it's the only time I have available before class. There's still enough people to analyze, and maybe it's better with this not-so-busy crowd, since qualitative research usually is in smaller groups anyways.

My mind is having a hard time not thinking quantitatively though.. I was too quick to count how many are female (eleven) and how many are male (twelve), plus or minus a few who walk in and out. Or how many girls have their hair in pony tails (six). But maybe that's ok to do that too? There is a post in view of the corner of my right eye and I keep wanting to crane my neck around it to see the one back right corner I'm missing, but I'm trying not to look like I'm staring at people. But really anywhere you sit in the Pub there's going to be a post somewhere and I think I've got a good view over all.

Right now, most people are sitting by themselves, although a couple tables have people in twos. There is one group of four of people who work in the food court. A girl's giving a small tour right this second, to two older men and what looks to be a daughter each. A bunch of people have all looked over, she's the only really loud noise in the room. Pretty boring over all though. The traffic is starting to pick up as it approaches 9:45. Lots of people with bookbags. LaVincita has been pretty busy the whole time, but people don't seem to be sticking around with their food. I've seen a few people I recognize. Ithaca's like that- there's usually a few people you always recognize in any given group any where on campus, but there's plenty of new faces too. I like that about this place.. it's small enough to be cozy, but room enough to meet new people everywhere. Although the cliquishness is a feature I hate, but that's another topic. The group of food court workers has left. There's about 27 people now, which sounds small still, but with the pretty steady flow of people in the pathways it's really starting to pick up. Nothing like lunch time. I think a lot of people are still trying to do homework rather than the mealtime activities of eating and socializing. People seem to be wearing mostly lightweight long sleeves, although a few girls are still holding out and wearing tank tops. I guess it's a bit warmer than yesterday, which in Ithaca always makes people go crazy. The area I'm sitting in has been filling up: there's only about seven empty tables out of eighteen, but most are still just one to a table with the exception of a pair of girls to my right. Who are talking a lot. Pretty much the only people who are walking into the Pub from the main walkway are heading straight to LaVincita. The TV's on ESPN but I don't seem to see a single person watching. I think it's more there just for picture-white-noise. The largest group now is a group of three. There's about 32 people now. One just joined the group of three, bring it to four. Two people are on the phone. I'm starting to run out of things to think to look for. Two more people just sat at a table next to me. They know the table of that one pair of loud girls, but I think they have their own business to take care of. Almost everyone who walks by on the main path tends to look into the pub.. I wonder what they're thinking.. maybe to see if they know someone, maybe thinking if they too should get some food or a coffee from LaVincita.. I know those are the things I tend to think when I walk by the pub. The smell of coffee is really getting to me now, even though I don't like to drink it. I may have to grab a snack. I wonder how many other people who are doing their homework right by me are wondering the same thing. I really like to get into people's minds, apparently. There's a loud group of professors/staff standing in the back left corner behind me who are really loud and distracting. But ok, they just broke up. There's about 17 people in LaVincita, about 43 now in the main Pub. And it's starting to seem more regular that the people who leave LaVincita are finding seats in the main Pub area instead of just walking through. Everyone seems to say "HEYYY!" really loudly before they sit down. The general noise level is up a bit from the last 45 minutes, but it still allowed for concentration. Movement has come to a lull now for the minute. I'm seriously going to need some french fries when the food court opens in 12 minutes.. the smells have just been too tempting. Actually this food craving is starting to take over my brain and making it hard to concentrate on people. Numbers have actually dropped to 38 now with only about four in LaVincita. The food court people are sticking food in the coolers (that one's not a hunger related observation). I wonder what the differance in their shirt colors mean, becase I'm sure they signify something. One is in a dark blue collared shirt, I feel that one's more in charge of the stocking and that type of work. There's two in white shirts with the dark aprons and one in a light blue shirt and dark apron. Interesting. Something I didn't notice until just now: all the 18 other people who are sitting in this section with me right now are all white. I didn't notice this fact until a little Asian girl just walked in. I can't completely tell about the people in the farther section, but they look to have a variety of ethnicities. I doubt this geographic separation is anything but coincidence, but it's true that IC largely is a white shcool. There's fewer people sitting along now, with the majority at least in pairs.

Ahhh it's 10:30 and the food court is opening..

Mini-Zork

I just wish I had a walk-through guide! I'm not a huge fan of games I can't figure out on my own, unless there's a walk-through guide I can have handy. Bur I can't find one easily on the internet although I'm still looking.. Right now I'm stuck at ten points, and am inside the house with bunch of stuff in my inventory (too much to pick up the sword - should I drop stuff? How do I know I don't need something else? I don't like making these decisions..) and can't figure out how to either go down te chimney or to open the gate. I have a rope, I could tie it to something to olwer myself down the chimney.. but it doesn't seem to like that idea. Someone has a jeweled egg and some have found and been killed by.. whoever.. but I am just stuck about what to do myself right now.

I think this definitely fits into my definition of a videogame.

Reaction to games so far and a better definition for videogames.

After the readings we have done this week, I'm not quite sure my opinions have changed, but maybe it's because I've already taken Quant and have already had to ponder these questions about what a videogames is. But that's ok.

But, I still generally prefere the definition I used earlier to the ones found in the latest reading. Which is:

A videogame is an entertaining, interactive activity in a digital format that a person engages in. They can be found on a computer or on a console. These can include text-based games or graphic-based games and come in a variety of categories such as puzzle, action, role-playing, etc. There is an importance in specific rules and specific endings, but some games bend these boundaries.

Now I would certinaly at that there is usually some kind of conflict/competition/specific goals. But I do not think the words voluntary or inefficient ar necessary, even if they tend to be features of a game, I do not believe they are necessarily part of the definition of a game. Further, I do not think that rules or endings are of the utmost importance, because I know plenty of things I would consider videogames where the rules are bendable and those that can literally be never-ending. Perhaps I should also take a look again at the world "entertaining," because that is a subjective term, but I think I meant more that it is intended to be entertaining.

So, to clarify, I would change my definition to say:

A videogame is an interactive activity, intended for entertainment, in a digital format that a person engages in. They can be found on a computer or on a console. These can include text-based games or graphic-based games and come in a variety of categories such as puzzle, action, role-playing, etc. There is an importance in specific rules and specific endings, and some games bend these boundaries, but there almost always must be some kind of conflict/ competition/ specific goals.

Now, using this definition,
Which have been videogames:

• All the old school games (PacMan, Tetris and Pong) - have clear-cut rules, goals, and definitely intended to be entertaining.
  
• Samarost - has rules and goals, if not completely clear-cut, and is intended to be entertaining and artistic.
  
• The Goat in the Grey Fedora - probably my favorite of them all. Not only are the rules clear and there is a specific mission you are put on, but there are objects you pick up along the way and there is a specific story line. While those last two are not required in the definition of a videogame, they certainly help one to be more entertaining.
  
• PASH - much like the Goat in the Grey Fedora, but much less well put together. There are many times where you have to wait for the character to move around and times when it's not compeltely clear where or what you have to do. However, the basic themes are the same, in which there are definite goals and ways with which to accieve these goals.
  

Which have not been videogames:

• Opniyama - this was definitely an online activity, but without goals and rules and an ending it lacked some of the necessary features of a game.
  
• Endora's Dream - There was no: goals, rules, and was more of an online toy than any kind of game, kind of like an etch-a-sketch.
  
• Mr. Picassohead - Again, no goals. Some could argue that since there are specific pieces that there could be semi-rules, but it really was more like an online art canvas.
  

CNN.com on Videogames as Third Spaces

Hey here's an interesting link I found on CNN.com, about how massively-multiplayer online games are the new pubs and cafes. Can anyone say "third space"?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/09/06/online.games.sociability.reut/index.html

Rough Definition of Videogames

A videogame is an entertaining, interactive activity in a digital format. They can be found on a computer or on a console. These can include text-based games or graphic-based games and come in a variety of categories such as puzzle, action, role-playing, etc. There is an importance in specific rules and specific endings, but some games bend these boundaries.


This will be edited as time goes on.

What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research is mostly concerned with the feelings, moods, reactions, and basic nature of test subjects. They are not interested in the "average" viewpoint, but in specific individual people or groups. As C. George Boeree says, it is to "capture life as lived."

Qualitative research is often criticized by those who think quantitative research is much more reliable. They complain that there is much room for bias in such research, as data and results are often mixed together in the report and seen as the researcher's opinion rather than those of the test subject. Further, the results are open ended; each new person talked to has the possibility to change the results. There is no definitive answer that can be concluded as in quantitative research.

Reaction to the first three games

Pong: Clearly the very first videogame made. Very simple, this version didn't even have a way to end. I don't particularly care for playing against a computer in this type of way, as if it were an actual person or something because for some reason I feel that it's inevitable that the computer will win eventually.

Space Invaders: One of my old school favorites. Hurts your arm though, hitting the space button repeatedly. Increasing levels, gets harder in reasonable increments. The computer you're playing against isn't in the form of a competitor but spaceships, which feels much more like I can compete?

Pacman: Everyone clearly seemed to like Pacman best, with shouts ringing out around the room the second the page loaded. I personally was never too huge of a fan, but that's probably just because I never got really far without the ghosts eating me. Does get your heart pumping though.

CSCP, "Third Places," and Online Videogames

Ray Oldenburg, an urban sociologist, tells us that within society there is a "third place" outside of the first and second places of home and the workplace. He says that this "third place" exists when people gather together at a certain neutral local and interact on a level playing field regardless of social status.

A team of researchers from The University of Melbourne has used this concept as a way to understand the new trends in online videogaming and computer supported cooperative play (CSCP) illustrated by Microsoft's XBox Live. In particular, these researchers focused on how identity management and voice communication promote this socialization.

For this study, the researchers gathered together five groups of three experienced videogamers to play games on XBox Live for one hour and encouraged to interact with players who were completely unaware of the study. Afterwards, in a group discussion, players voiced their reactions. Test subjects preferred playing people to playing the computer but wanted to be matched with players of a similar ability and wanted to know at least a general identity of their anonymous competitors. The question of the voice channel produced interesting results: although many of the users thought that the voice channel was an excellent innovation, many were reluctant to actually use it either due to difficulty of use or the lack of contextual cues to determine who you are talking with at any given time.

Overall, the research concluded that identity management is important in such large-scale CSCP games to promote the trust and security found in real-world "third places." While many gamers do agree that voice communication is one helpful way of facilitating this, easier technology and programming may make such a vehicle more useful.