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Sims Griefers Get More Publicity
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a CNN article highlighting players turning to lawlessness and deviance in The Sims Online. This subject, which other reports covered a while back, seems to fascinate the media, and CNN says the problems of bad behavior are "..raising questions about whether limits on conduct should be set in such emerging virtual worlds, even if they are huge adult playpens." Additionally, the article ruminates on more serious problems, as disputes that escalate beyond the virtual "..could lead to more real-world, legal liability for both players and the companies that make the games."
I think it's interesting in a sense; criminals in a virtual world kind of add an interesting dynamic to the game. I don't see the problem with it unless assets in the game had real-life worth, which has obvious negative implications and probably requires some standards of conduct. I guess the penalty would be having your cd key blocked, a la Blizzard.
Crimson Knights
Sounds like the Sims Online is so boring, people need to make their own fun.
cpeterso
Although I understand where you're coming from, there is the issue that these people are paying a monthly fee to play a game thats supposed to be enjoyable. When the experience is ruined because some moron has found a way to harrass other users, it can be quite infuriating.
Isn't this always the case? Something exists for a small community and then it hits the mainstream, but the mainstream can't handle the sudden change.
I'm afraid the sims players who can't handle a group of people pee'ing on their lawns will have to develop a thicker skin if they choose to play online games with strangers. If you think that's bad, wait until you play a PvP game.
There's room for argument about what to do with harrasment, but that's up to the game admins and management to fix. If the sims is that bad, then quit. A simple vote with your dollar will get the message across.
What really gets me is the suggestion of law to control MMO*s. Really now, its just a game.
My cynical side sees the lowest common denominator, at least here in the US/Midwest area, as being extremely thin-skinned. A parent complains about something being "offensive" and the school board jumps through hoops to please them. An opinion that goes against the mainstream is now "traitorous" etc.
I think the interconnecting the net does either through the web or online games will really force some people to simply grow up, for the lack of a better term, and realize that even virtual worlds cannot be completely controled or fall in-line with their Xtian-Judeo ethics. Its a big world out there, you're better off learning to deal with your problems in an intelligent way and develop tolerance than running to the first authority figure and complain about how people aren't being "nice."
Instead of banning these people from the game pernamently, how about creating a special server for those who have more "creative" inclanations for the game.
Would create a much more realistic enviroment for everyone who plays on those servers.
redune.com: The World 3.2 Megapixels at a time
ok, so what is the sims online supposed to be? some semi-life simulation of a small city?
take a small city, take away all authority and make everyone wear a changeable rubber face(that can be changed by just keying in your ssn), and make everyone's age between 16 and 30 years.
so what happens? people run amok because there's no law system to set the limits, stupid people let them get tricked out of their ssn(login/pass in s.o.) and others after that appear as them doing stuff they wouldn't like.
doh!
the problem with games communities is that the game has to be few years old before all the dickheads get bored of it, and sims online is marketed to just those same dickheads(and some girls/women who are potentially clueless about defending themselfs in such virtual environment, and with sims online also that there is practically nil real skills that you could practice to become a better player apart, no extra careful tactic planning or timing the flag run and practicing to do the rocket jump at the right place, basically all you should do would be flirt around being all adorable).
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.