Comments on: Losing the Illusion of Permanence http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/ a group of adventurers on an epic quest Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:01:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Coherent http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-26091 Coherent Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:31:40 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-26091 Okay, first, a philosophical answer: LOL EVERYTHING IS EPHEMERAL AND FLEETING, INCLUDING ZUBON AND ME and all the MMO's we play... If you've forgotten that, please take a moment to look at your watch and ponder on how many more seconds remain in your meager life. Anyway, the actual answer is that, like your life, the ephemerality of MMO's doesn't matter because you enjoy what you have while you have it, and then move on to new challenges. You only get to enjoy your achievement until you get bored with it - then you WANT a new frontier, something new to do. If you're seeking permanence in an MMO, you are looking in the wrong place. Try a standalone RPG or adventure game. Fallout 3 might be a good place to start. MMO's are as transitory as life itself - that's the whole appeal, actually. Okay, first, a philosophical answer: LOL EVERYTHING IS EPHEMERAL AND FLEETING, INCLUDING ZUBON AND ME and all the MMO’s we play…

If you’ve forgotten that, please take a moment to look at your watch and ponder on how many more seconds remain in your meager life.

Anyway, the actual answer is that, like your life, the ephemerality of MMO’s doesn’t matter because you enjoy what you have while you have it, and then move on to new challenges. You only get to enjoy your achievement until you get bored with it - then you WANT a new frontier, something new to do.

If you’re seeking permanence in an MMO, you are looking in the wrong place. Try a standalone RPG or adventure game. Fallout 3 might be a good place to start. MMO’s are as transitory as life itself - that’s the whole appeal, actually.

]]> By: Keen http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-26090 Keen Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:16:20 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-26090 I have the sudden urge to bake a cake at the beach. I have the sudden urge to bake a cake at the beach.

]]> By: Sebmojo http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-25973 Sebmojo Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:55:19 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-25973 Nice writing! I used to stop by here and thought of it as just another MUMORPIGUH ramble site, but the last few times there's been some excellent stuff - thanks! In response to what you said, I think games are essentially soul viruses, they're designed to hook into our urges on various levels. Finding out what happens next, looking flash, being better than the other guy, beating that bastard... etc. These are exactly the same urges that drive us through life, just in a synthetic environment. And really - permanence? We are here and it is now - the rest is largely conjecture. What do you actually =have= apart from sense input, memory and imagination? Nice writing! I used to stop by here and thought of it as just another MUMORPIGUH ramble site, but the last few times there’s been some excellent stuff - thanks!

In response to what you said, I think games are essentially soul viruses, they’re designed to hook into our urges on various levels. Finding out what happens next, looking flash, being better than the other guy, beating that bastard… etc. These are exactly the same urges that drive us through life, just in a synthetic environment.

And really - permanence? We are here and it is now - the rest is largely conjecture. What do you actually =have= apart from sense input, memory and imagination?

]]> By: Openedge1 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-25972 Openedge1 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:10:34 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-25972 I may be too confused about this post... Let me wax philosophical for just a moment on the merits of accomplishm**** "Ooo...I found a shiny badge" I may be too confused about this post…

Let me wax philosophical for just a moment on the merits of accomplishm****

“Ooo…I found a shiny badge”

]]> By: Lachek http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-25971 Lachek Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:30:54 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/03/09/losing-the-illusion-of-permanence/#comment-25971 Take a look at the vast majority of spiritual disciplines, including big chunks of the major religions. The rhetoric you just used to describe life in the virtual, they use to describe life in the real. The sand castle analogy is especially fitting. All our decisions of importance are based on layers of arbitrarily determined meaning. Warrior level 56 might mean more to you than what the receptionist at your work thinks of you. Someone else will think the opposite. Both are right, and wrong. There is no permanence - anywhere - and all matters of importance are arbitrarily designated such by someone with no more authority than you. Take a look at the vast majority of spiritual disciplines, including big chunks of the major religions. The rhetoric you just used to describe life in the virtual, they use to describe life in the real. The sand castle analogy is especially fitting.

All our decisions of importance are based on layers of arbitrarily determined meaning. Warrior level 56 might mean more to you than what the receptionist at your work thinks of you. Someone else will think the opposite. Both are right, and wrong. There is no permanence - anywhere - and all matters of importance are arbitrarily designated such by someone with no more authority than you.

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