Wk2 — Activity — Virtual: Worlds
Last semester I physically attended Cal State Long beach and loved being there. This fall semester, I am still attending Cal State Long Beach, but online via “Zoom University” There are many immense differences between attending school on campus and online. On-campus I was able to be active because I would walk miles a day from my car to classes to the library back to get food… I was always moving throughout the day. This isn't possible on Zoom University. Also, I had many resources to utilize when on campus when I needed help, and it is much harder to interact and get help with people online. The only way they are similar to me is that I'm still learning and attending college.
Some differences between Call of Duty and Instagram is that I was able to move around and explore the app. Whereas on Instagram I just get to post pictures. I feel a peacefulness on Call of Duty than on Instagram because on Call of duty I was able to talk to people and interact while playing. They are similar because I don't get to actually see the people I see and interact with online.. in person.
When at LBSU and when playing Call of Duty, I am still able to move around an explore the places. I am also able to talk to people. The difference is we aren't seeing each other. There is no webcam on Call of Duty. The physical place affords my experiences that the virtual does not. I am not a fan of the virtual world, I don't like to think about it much I prefer the real thing.
This experience has given me new thoughts on the Idea of Place because I am able to see that there are other ways people interact without ever having to come together. For example, my cousins who play call of duty meet people through the game who are from different parts of the world and they consider them their really good friends even tho they've never seen them in person. It is possible to find a Place Experience during some degree of Pandemic Isolation, due to modern technology we can still enjoy games online while talking to our friends.
Instagram or Facebook are not MMORPGs because I feel like it is still a “real” world. For the most part, we are seeing what real people do versus Video games which are mainly animation and not real people.
I think if there is something beyond the earth that we don't know about… life that exists elsewhere… only then would I think RL is an MMORPG.
