Re: Second Life--game or virtual reality?

At 02:38 PM 5/15/2008, Becky Yoose wrote:
>As another gamer on board, I see SL as a virtual world since there is no
>definite goal to SL like you would find in a game. There's no boss to fight,
>dungeon to raid, or world to save. Even the Sims has the goal to keep your
>Sim happy and alive. SL does not have any defined storyline or goal to play
>out. It's basically a user-created virtual world where users can do pretty
>much whatever they want.

The lack of a defined storyline or goal to play out does not, by itself, 
make something not a "game".  Take, for instance, playground activities 
such cops and robbers, or cowboys and indians, or (as I liked to do in 
grade school) "Lost in Space" and "Star Trek". There is no "goal" or 
scorekeeping involved, but they meet the primary definition of "game" as 
found in the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary:  "activity engaged in for 
diversion or amusement : PLAY"

Kevin M. Randall
Principal Serials Cataloger
Bibliographic Services Dept.
Northwestern University Library
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL  60208-2300
email: kmr@...
phone: (847) 491-2939
fax:   (847) 491-4345 

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