The new virtual worlds for causal gamers
Submitted from Video Gaming Blog
For those into MMO (massive multiplayer online games) that prefer not to slay bands of orcs, or blast a dysfunctional robot, a growing industry has been emerging. Second Life has dominated this field, along with the Sims, but others are starting to gather steam.
Doppelganger is probably one of the most recent and best known in this arena. One of the more interesting features of this genre of MMO’s is the fact that real money is used to supplement the virtual currency of the virtual world. A lot of people see to find this of interests and it is growing into a sub-culture that may be more than just a fad.
Whether you think it’s worth real money to provide your virtual personality with an extra set of clothes or some such is a personal decision [which I honestly don’t get], but it does prove a strong fact. Casual gamers are a significant factor in video games, and can no longer be ignored. MMO’s may have been started by the hardcore gamers, but with 10% weekly growth rates for Doppelganger, and over 2 million users for Meez, this sub-genre can no longer be ignored.
Have you played Second Life, or any of the others mentioned here? What do you think of it? What do you think is better WoW, LotR Online or Second Life? The informal poll has started, let your voice be heard.
