Let's shrink the world by creating another world.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
In my previous entry, I blogged about Friendster (and touched a little on hi5) and how these websites shrinked the world by linking everyone together.
That's, in my opinion, is a kind of virtual community.
And today, I will be blogging about another kind of virtual community: Online Gaming. No, I am not gonna be blogging about fatboy or minesweeper, I will be talking about games such as counter strike, gunbound and maplestory. What are the differences between the two types of games? Games like these allows us to interact with other gamers in the world, anyone, regardless of their age, sex and race. Also, in the virtual world, we can create our own virtual identity. Unlike friendster, these identities can be totally different from our real self.
Online Gaming allows us to 'run away' from the real world and enter a world we create ourself (Yes, sort of like The Matrix). We can throw away the name our parents gave us and give ourselves names that suits us more (or rather, the identity we want to give ourselves). The virtual world is very much like our own, we play different roles and have different methds of playing. But unlike reality, we have a choice in the roles we want to play in the virtual world.
So how does Online Gaming shrinks the world? 
You might have already guessed it. Yes, it shrinks the world by creating another world as players from all over the world. Players can be connected instantly as they enter the virtual reality. With a common aim, people regardless of their language, race, or religion gather. These people are not obstructed by physical boundaries such as the pacific ocean. In the virtual world, the real identity does not matter, in fact, the moment you enter that world, your virtual identity takes over your real identity (get the picture?). In both worlds, everyone is a player striving to improve, but, in the virtual world, many differences between people are erased (race, religion, e.g.), every individual inside that world is made up of pixels.
Let me introduce you to my favourite online game: GUNBOUND(GB)! When I was playing GB, my one and only aim was to earn more money so that I can buy more powerful weapons. With more powerful weapons, it'll be easier for me to earn more money! And the cycle repeats itself. Interesting how a simple concept like this can keep thousands on people addicated to the computer screen. In GB, players fight against each other to earn Gold (which is basically figures churning at a corner of your screen). All we have to do is to simply choose some weapons, enter a room with other players, choose a group (there's only 2), and start playing! Your aim, of course, if to kill the other group.
The picture above shows you the waiting room. Players from all over the world gather in these rooms as they wait for their battle to load. In these rooms, they can chat, or simply ignore each other. It's amazing to see people from all over the world playing together. Ahh, as you can see, everyone down there looks around the same, other than their clothes. Elimination of differences to create a common identity (they already have a common goal: to earn gold)!
Of course, Gunbound is simply one online game. Here's another one: NEOPETS! The most well known virtual game in Singapore. Almost everyone has experience with this game. Currently, Neopets is the greatest Pet Site on the Internet. They have built a community of over 70 million virtual pet owners across the world. It's quite amazing to see so many people coming down to neopets.com to play games, in order earn neopoints (money again). So that they can built houses, go battledome, etc. Yes, another cycle. Yes, another place where individuals cross physical boundaries to meet and enjoy. Looks like the internet has become one of the most popular hang outs for poeple in the 21st century.
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Lastly, counter strike (CS). It is self proclaimed to be the BEST virtual game ever. Yes, maybe for guys who are more pro-violence. Basically, You take a gun and shoot! But the difference between CS and neopets is that CS requires a skill. International players meeet up on the internet to train and to brush up their skills. Although there are also alike games that enables you to shoot, most of them are single player games which versus a computer. You can't really compare your skills with the computer.. well, you can, but it's NO FUN. Now, CS has become an international sport. Competitions are held every year between countries. So look! The internet has even contributed to the birth of a new sport. A sport that can be done across boundaries, a sport that only involves pixels.
Today, online gaming has become part of our lifestyle. Alright... shall leave the cultural part to the cultural expert.
Now, I proclaim the 8th wonder of the world as the INTERNET! For shrinking the world like never before.
Ziye, the technological 'expert'.
Posted by leaf at 9:35 pm
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You might have already guessed it. Yes, it shrinks the world by creating another world as players from all over the world. Players can be connected instantly as they enter the virtual reality. With a common aim, people regardless of their language, race, or religion gather. These people are not obstructed by physical boundaries such as the pacific ocean. In the virtual world, the real identity does not matter, in fact, the moment you enter that world, your virtual identity takes over your real identity (get the picture?). In both worlds, everyone is a player striving to improve, but, in the virtual world, many differences between people are erased (race, religion, e.g.), every individual inside that world is made up of pixels.