The Art of Communications

I’m not a gamer. The first micro-chip-based game I ever played was Pong, which at the time I thought was pretty cool.

Myst Video, A flyby of Riven..

Since I really prefer being a booker, I haven’t purchased many games for my pc. I have tried some, like Myst which I really enjoyed (although cheat sheets seem a necessary tool if you ever want to get to the next level.) I’ve tried racing games, like Need for Speed, but I really need a steering wheel to take a turn at 150 miles per hour.

I must admit that I have a weakness for playing backgammon with anonymous partners from around the globe, so I am probably ready to advance from junior monopoly to the full version at this stage.

I just don’t have the attention span to enjoy spending hours playing these somewhat mindless games, but now that I review my computer gaming history, I can see that perhaps what I need is a more stimulating amusement to keep my interest.

When asked to sign on to Second Life, I thought, “why not, maybe it’ll be interesting. But what the heck is it?” The answer? Well, nothing like I expected. It’s a 3-D, interactive life simulation game where you need money, just like in real life, to purchase land, homes, clothes, entertainment, etc. And, you get a simulated body called an avatar whose dimensions you can adjust. Oh if only life simulated art!

Two interesting aspects I first encountered were that you are not alone in this world, but are one of its many residents, and you can fly! Since I’m a new member, I’m still testing my wings in the sky and with the bitmapped people on the ground. I was a little disturbed on my first foray into Second Life when I saw so many other fellow inhabitants. I kinda wanted to explore on my own. But this particular aspect makes the game very interesting because anything, anyone, can happen.

I still prefer my electronic board games, but during the past week, I find myself entering this new world to see what I can learn, and have fun at the same time. I can always use a bookmark to save my place….