Virtual Worlds Forum Europe Keynotes

by on 29 October, 2007 - 18:21

Since last week, more precisely but I only got around to posting it now. Go ahead and listen (day1, day2), it'll be worth your time if virtual worlds are in your range of interest.  Also, (Lord) David Puttnam's speech is also available in pdf  (here). I recommend you at least scan the text, as it touches on some sensible points and, if I may say so, makes some bloody fine observations.Here are a couple of quotes that stuck:

"Of course the graphics, and the game-play, and the exchange rate between game currency and the dollar are all important. But they aren’t the sum of what gives these worlds meaning, and I would suggest that it is the twin qualities of having what I described as ‘agency’, and building relationships, that make these worlds meaningful for the people who spend hours, if not days of their lives in them."

Also

"Looking at this area his team found that, while some kinds of online game can contribute to an adverse effect on some young people’s social lives; online gaming in general is almost certainly not as addictive as is sometimes reported. This is exactly the kind of nuanced, informed and intelligent contribution that the industry would do well to engage with - and support."

The speech then goes on to argue for creating educational value and social skills development. Chances are you know the theory and if you don't, here's your chance to expand your perspective on virtual worlds so they look like more than long range PoSs/virtual dens of evil (hi Jack!).