MMOs and a second (or third...) identity on the web - 2 views
-
Natalie DeAngelo on 04 Jun 12I have never played WoW, but I do enjoy the idea of playing a game while simultaneously adopting or constructing a new persona or identity as part of the game. WoW and other online MMOs have vast communities with diverse members interacting in various online social setting both within and outside the game realm. I have a particular interest in the way that social media and technology shapes and affects the construction or reconstruction of "our" identities, and how intertwined much of our lives are with the technology we use.
- ...2 more comments...
-
Amanda Bailey on 05 Jun 12When thinking about how technology molds our own identities, it is intriguing then to consider how it helps us create these secondary or multiple identities for MMO's and RPG's. I feel we could even take this one step farther to the relationship between technology, the internet and fandom, where online communities created and populated by fans of a certain artifact create, in a sense, a whole new world to inhabit.
-
Ronald Jay Gervacio on 05 Jun 12@Natalie: Have you tried playing The Sims (http://thesims.com/en_us/what-is-the-sims)? This game is a perfect example of what you're trying to achieve, "playing a game while simultaneously adopting or constructing a new persona or identity as part of the game".
-
Meaghan Corbett on 05 Jun 12I've never played WOW either but I do buy into the whole idea of an online identity. Non-gamers create one, too, by way of social networking sites--LinkedIn, facebook, Myspace--and some via usernames on online messageboards. It's possible to have several different online identities; the clean and presentable one you use to promote yourself to employers and work colleagues on LinkedIn, the slightly more laid-back Facebook profile, and with the promise of anonymity on message boards and forums, you can really let loose!
-
Britt Johnson on 05 Jun 12My husband and I have spent hours upon hours playing Everquest, so I know first-hand the draw of creating an online persona/identity. It's a way to step out of your everyday life and become someone or something you aren't. For instance, in one game I'm a Dark Fairy with magical powers. Who wouldn't want to be one? It's also a way to have relationships with people all over the planet without giving too much away about your true identity, so the draw for those that are less than comfortable in real-life situations is huge. Not to mention you learn all kinds of things about different areas of the world, so it's a learning experience too!