Comments on: Virtual Worlds, Real People – Guest Coverage of the First Virtual Worlds Conference in Israel

By: Benjamin Duranske

Benjamin Duranske — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:27:19 +0000

Lior: thanks again for posting. This is getting interesting to me. I may be misunderstanding, but you seem to be giving avatars broad human characteristics (such as the capability to affect a player’s action). In my view, at least until 2028 or 2031 or whatever Moore’s law predicts as the point where programmed devices will equal human intellect and storage capacity, they can’t really do that.

Well, wait. I’m thinking as I type. Do you mean that their programmed characteristics such as visual apperance, movement scripting, etc. can impact the human who controls them? In other words, if I run a game where I randomly assign users either tiny blue pixie avatars or massive red ogre avatars, even if the two avatar styles have the same game strength and abilities, people will generally play the two avatar styles differently? Or that if someone carefully customizes a very attractive avatar in a free form world, use of that avatar may incraease their own real world self esteem (something I believe I have seen studies on, though I can’t find the reference at the moment).

If the latter (external characteristics of avatars can impact self confidence, aggression, etc.) then I see where you’re coming from, but if the former (avatars affirmative affect players in some partnered way) I don’t think I understand yet. In my view, a program can’t affirmatively “affect” anything or “join the player” in any action (both of which imply volition).

Again, I may be misconstruing your words, and if so, I apologize. I would love a more detailed explanation. I wish I’d been able to see your presentation.

By: Lior

Lior — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:49:15 +0000

What I wanted to say was that avatars are more than a just passive objects or a representations of the players. What I said was: “By joining the player in action, by enabling the player to act and by affecting the player’s action, an avatar becomes more than a passive object. It is more than a representation of the World of Warcraft player as it does more than just mark the player’s online presence.”
My point was that the player and avatar form the action in the game, not determine it.
I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on this.
Thanks for writing about my presentation and letting me post my comments.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:33:00 +0000

Hi Lior, Sorry if the summary misrepresented your research, the meaning was not to offend you, however, as Benjamin said, I’d be more than glad if you present your research here.

By: Benjamin Duranske

Benjamin Duranske — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:44:59 +0000

Hi Lior – thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to post your own summary of your presentation if you feel that Jonathan’s summary missed the point. I’m sure readers would love to hear what you have to say directly.

By: lior flum

lior flum — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:20:09 +0000

This summery of my presentation is incorrect and inaccurate. This is not at all what I have said! I am offended by the its presented here.