Monday, November 24, 2003
:: It doesn't happen, huh? ::
I was chatting with a close friend of mine recently, someone who is a fellow undergrad sociology student and fellow researcher on the digital games research project I'm part of at Concordia. During our conversation, I mentioned that I'm interested in studying the subversive tensions and power plays between gamers and the MMPOG VWs they play in.
She asked me, "what tensions? what power plays?"
I mentioned that one area in particular that interests me is the active underground pseudo-black market that goes on around the net for things like high level spells, game objects and game points/credits, the kind of thing that can let a 1st level dwarf in EQ become a 150 level something just by buying these virtual items or statuses on the major auction sites or at any of the player-managed auction sites that specialize in this kind of thing.
She laughs and says, "that kind of thing is over-hyped. It doesn't really happen".
Now, coming from anyone else, I might have laughed back at them and argued. But this person is an EQ veteran, participant in many an EQ quest, and one of the most knowledgeable people I know on the true inner dynamics of the game, from the player perspective.
So I didn't laugh back. I just shrugged and changed the subject.
Then today, I found Edward Castronova's blog. Edward is an assistant professor at Fullerton University and is interested in the digital games and virtual worlds (VWs), just as I am. He's been researching this stuff too, but from the economics perspective.
And there, on his blog, was my rebuttal for my friend...
Since July 1, 2003, players have traded and bought over $6 million in virtual game assets.
$6 million!
...in US dollars!
Wow!
But that kind of thing doesn't happen, huh?
Guess I'm learning.
I was chatting with a close friend of mine recently, someone who is a fellow undergrad sociology student and fellow researcher on the digital games research project I'm part of at Concordia. During our conversation, I mentioned that I'm interested in studying the subversive tensions and power plays between gamers and the MMPOG VWs they play in.
She asked me, "what tensions? what power plays?"
I mentioned that one area in particular that interests me is the active underground pseudo-black market that goes on around the net for things like high level spells, game objects and game points/credits, the kind of thing that can let a 1st level dwarf in EQ become a 150 level something just by buying these virtual items or statuses on the major auction sites or at any of the player-managed auction sites that specialize in this kind of thing.
She laughs and says, "that kind of thing is over-hyped. It doesn't really happen".
Now, coming from anyone else, I might have laughed back at them and argued. But this person is an EQ veteran, participant in many an EQ quest, and one of the most knowledgeable people I know on the true inner dynamics of the game, from the player perspective.
So I didn't laugh back. I just shrugged and changed the subject.
Then today, I found Edward Castronova's blog. Edward is an assistant professor at Fullerton University and is interested in the digital games and virtual worlds (VWs), just as I am. He's been researching this stuff too, but from the economics perspective.
And there, on his blog, was my rebuttal for my friend...
Since July 1, 2003, players have traded and bought over $6 million in virtual game assets.
$6 million!
...in US dollars!
Wow!
But that kind of thing doesn't happen, huh?
Guess I'm learning.
:: Shades of HSX ::
Another entry in the "I remember when" file, as in, "I remember when this trend started on the Internet, through the Hollywood Stock Exchange. It was 1995 and I had just..." oh! um.....oh. never mind.
If you are interested in blogs and bloggers' culture, but like me are still a bit wet behind the ears, you may not have known that this existed.
Now I know. Now what?
Another entry in the "I remember when" file, as in, "I remember when this trend started on the Internet, through the Hollywood Stock Exchange. It was 1995 and I had just..." oh! um.....oh. never mind.
If you are interested in blogs and bloggers' culture, but like me are still a bit wet behind the ears, you may not have known that this existed.
Now I know. Now what?
:: Everything but democracy ::
Read this today on Terra Nova about designing virtual communities for democracy, then watching them self-organize in every way but that.
Made me go, "whoooaa!"
I smell a juicy research topic.
Anyone know any political scientists jonesing for a virtual research gig with a bunch of sociologists from Canada?
Read this today on Terra Nova about designing virtual communities for democracy, then watching them self-organize in every way but that.
Made me go, "whoooaa!"
I smell a juicy research topic.
Anyone know any political scientists jonesing for a virtual research gig with a bunch of sociologists from Canada?
:: Reversing 'progress' ::
So this is why Turkey Days (aka Thanksgiving/Christmas) don't taste as good as they once did .... when I was little, eating holiday turkey raised on my uncle's farm.
And I thought it was just nostalgia!
Found on MetaFilter
So this is why Turkey Days (aka Thanksgiving/Christmas) don't taste as good as they once did .... when I was little, eating holiday turkey raised on my uncle's farm.
And I thought it was just nostalgia!
Found on MetaFilter
