Saturday, April 24, 2010

Game

1. Second Life is a game, according to Linden Labs, because that places it in the category of "online entertainment" for taxation and general legal purposes.

2. Second Life is not a game, according to almost everyone who visits it regularly. I have never heard a SL resident refer to it as a game or an entertainment.

Discuss.

2 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, I have heard the phrase "play SL," even while in-world, many times; the same people call their avatars "characters". I have also read, in certain blogs, Residents referred to as "players" more than once by people who ought to know better.

    I think it's a matter of habit learned in game environments (and text-based roleplaying MUD's). Most of them change their verbal habits once they learn that SL is not a game, but an extension of life.

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  2. Oh, I love that expression. Extension of life. I'll make sure to use that when I have to explain to someone how SL is not a game from now on :)

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