Second life over the last 7 years or so has impacted the way we as people use the internet. Prior to this we had avatars in video games, Avatars are characters made from pixels inside the game to edit and shape into the form we desire, With second life however we can use these characters to represent us on social media websites and online games using movement and creativity. For my first post I decided to look at Facebook, this phenomenon has changed the way we use the internet and also how we interact and communicate in a virtual environment.
Facebook uses a range on social tools such as online chatting, games, messenger and in a sense a blog that allows us to vent our feelings in a constructive way and communicate to one another. A main focal point within Facebook is the gaming section of the website. One game in particular over the last 3 years or so has been a focal point for most Facebook users is Farmville. Farmville is a game where players (users of Facebook) can create and live in a virtual farm where you can buy land, grow crops, work on your farm, work on other users farms, buy cultivated machinary for your farm and so on and so fourth. It all sounds very simple and on the surface it appears to be however some people would disagree with that statement and dare say Farmville is a way of extorting a virtual existance so people can keep living in this way.
One man that would agree with this is Michael Arrington, The founder of Techcrunch blog who criticised Farmille and stated that "For about £30 you can purchase 70,000 "farm coins." so straight away I think Arrington is saying users of Farmville can use tangable means to buy virtual indulgences which is where we cross the border between virtual and reality and thus getting to the stage where you are paying what's real to keep what isn't.
Some however may disagree with that statement and believe that Farmville has had a " Meaningful effect" that has allowed them to develop certain traits.An example of this is Johnny Minkley, a computer expert who believes the game " has a certain "stickiness" to it because of the nurturing element involved." So in this instance Johnny is saying 2nd life games such as Farmville contain learning experiences that we can put to good use such as caring for others.
References:
Arnott, J 11/11/2009 Farmvile: Who knew bordom could be a cash crop? (2009)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/nov/11/game-theory-farmville-facebook
Date accessed: 30/10/2012
Vaidyanathan, R 25/3/2010 BBC News Magazine Down on the Farmville (2010)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8585999.stm
Date accessed: 10/11/2012
