[geeks] Second Life is not a game?

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Charles Shannon Hendrix wrote:
>> In World of Warcraft (for example), Blizzard strongly, actively and
>> determinedly discourages the sale of WoW items or gold for real cash
>> money, because it messes with the virtual economy in the game when
>> players can just go buy 50,000 gold.  They terminate accounts on mere
>> SUSPICION of it.  I know someone who had his account terminated for
>> loaning his girlfriend 800 gold for an epic mount.  You yourself
>> acknowledge that the "money" you make in EVE Online isn't real.
>>
>> Second Life people make REAL SPENDABLE INCOMES that they can live on.
> 
> People make real income playing all kinds of games, not just the ugly and
> complicated game called Second Life.  There are persistent game worlds
> where people use it as their only source of income.
> 
> SL is a game.  I can't understand why the fact that is has some extra rules
> on top of it, and its interface sucks, somehow makes it less of a game.
> 
> Call it a simulation if it sounds better for some reason.

I'd be more inclined to think that SL is "reality" if had sex with a 
woman, she could get pregnant and have your kid.  That's a pretty big 
line to cross for a "virtual environment".

Peace...  Sridhar