3D World vs MSN

Our task this week was to look at the qualitative difference between a 3D world such as Active World and MSN (which obviously isn’t 3D). This was my first time in a 3D world where you could actually talk to others who were in this particular world. I have used Simms a couple of times – the fundamentals of the game are the same where you create an Avatar of your liking (generally what you wished you looked like) and interacted with other characters that you have created. You can choose you personality, if you have a partner, where you live etc. It also has a currency system where you can work and by a house/land etc.

With Active World you need to register etc to be able to get into the Advanced mode to create a Avatar – otherwise you interact in the visitor mode and get stuck with one that looks and is dressed like a typical daggy tourist.

I stayed in the World for about ½ hour trying to chat to people who have already pretty much established themselves as regulars, who were chatting to their regular friends. People were on there from the all over the world. Most had been living in this 3D environment for around 3 years, some 3 ½. There were 2 characters in particular that were discussing how they were going to fix a leaky pipe………..in the 3D world of course.

Now the most obvious qualitative difference for me between AW & MSN is the conversation. Personally I find trying to engage someone in a conversation of whom I have never spoken to before easier in person, rather than writing questions or trying to comment on an already establish conversation and waiting in hope that someone bothered to read what you posted. But I guess some would find living in a world where know one will really ever know exciting……or something like that.

If I am on my computer at home I am usually logged on to MSN. Now the people on my list are all people that I know, and have known for quite some time, so the quality of interaction on this program is far greater than in a 3D world. Plus if you have a webcam then you can see the person who you are talking to.

As for the social part, MSN is great for chatting to friends if you are miles and miles away from each other. 3D would offer some a more active social than what their real lives may offer…..or maybe they just prefer it that way. I think the 3D aspect makes a huge difference if you’re into that sort of thing. Effectively your living an another life, and can control how you look, where you live etc etc. Personally enjoy living my real life than one through a computer game!

Both offer forms of communication……the 3D one just has loads of graphics. What is possible in the 3D world is the fact that it’s a world where you can create a character to represent yourself which interact with others that are doing the same. MSN doesn’t offer that – it’s a basic form of communication between people.

As for where is could lead us…..possibly into denial…depending on how far off a true representation your character is of yourself!

WEEK 9

This week we explored Cyberpunk and how it came to be. It’s a science fiction based genre based in the possibilities in computers, genetics etc. Cyberpunk came about as a reaction to the good triumphs over evil sci-fi’s like Star Wars (god bless George Lucas).

We were introduced to William Gibson and his theories and works who spawned the key concepts of ‘virtual reality and cyberspace’. Plus we focused on the Cyberpunk themes that drive this genre.

The audio eqipment worked today as we were able to watch eXistenZ......riviting