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Protests, Politics And Parties In MMORPGs

Posted by timothy on from the william-shatner-said-it-best dept.

The Importance of writes "LawMeme's James Grimmelmann has written an interesting piece on protests, politics and parties in MMORPGs. In particular, he talks about the 'tax revolt' in Second Life."

9 of 373 comments (clear)

  1. There is a true social contract by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If I don't like how life is in a game, I'm free to leave at any time and start a new life elsewhere agreeing to the new rules of that society.

  2. my favourite online protest.... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The naked riot of 1997 in Ultima Online:

    From AlterNet:
    History has shown gamers that online protest can result in positive change, as exemplified in Ultima Online's 1997 naked riot demanding bug fixes and server upgrades. Not only were some of the rioters' issues addressed by the game publisher following the incident, but the event was widely reported, and gamers worldwide have been inspired to acts of virtual civil disobedience ever since. Remember that your worst enemy, aside from integrated branding, is inaction. Electronic Arts clearly wants players of The Sims Online to be wildly imaginative, and has already recognized that the online world is unpredictable.

  3. Apt protest. by Thomas+M+Hughes · · Score: 5, Funny
    Dissent appropriately took a very American form: the project's Washington monument had been replaced by a giant tower of tea crates; the baseball stadium rendered unusable by similar stacks; the Route 66 gas station set ablaze by an insurrectionist midget shooting off seditious fireworks.
    Those insurrectionist midgets with seditious fireworks...sounds an awful lot like real life. One of those insurrectionist midgets attacked me the other day for my own stance on taxes. This is just another sign that the Internet mirrors real life rather realistically.
  4. Raph Koster by Mr.123 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Still hard to believe that Raph Koster has come so far since LegendMUD. I started with that mud in 95 and played on and off for 5 years wasting thousands of hours. Although the mud peaked at only about 80 players, it was still very enjoyable. The man use to take part in his own MUD, building a tight and interesting community.

    He's definitely a talented designer also knowing the importance of a good mix of playerbase is essential to sustaining a in-game society. I can't vouch for any of the graphical MUDs he's been part of but I will always remember LegendMUD and late late nights doing quests, rescue parties, and infamous clan wars. (Knights and Grendels baby!)

  5. Pardon my French but... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...that's a complete load of crap.

    Lord Of The Flies is a book that illustrates how easy it is for us to fall into anarchy without the presence of a society to keep us in check.

    The book isn't about failing systems of government, it's about how, in the absence of any form of government, we quickly we fall back to a selfish "survival of the fittest" state with the strong preying on the weak.

    The boys don't try to set up a system of government, they try to live by the rules that society has taught them. But, pretty soon, they realise that without society watching over them, those rules are easily disposed of - and weaker figures like Simon and Piggy suffer as a result.

    Witness the near-deification of the conch, the hunting, the return to "normal" behaviour when rescue arrives, etc. This isn't a book about government or society, it's a book about a lack of government and the breakdown of society.

    No book more clearly illustrates the mentality that turns ordinary people going about their daily business into a rioting, blood-thirsty mob than William Golding's masterpiece. When it comes to examining how easily we can descend into anarchy, LOTF is the bible.

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  6. Pretty sad by SuperBanana · · Score: 5, Insightful
    protests, politics and parties in MMORPGs.

    Meanwhile, US citizens are barely registering a whimper of protest at the draconian laws passed every day in the name of "patriotism" and "protecting the homeland".

    It's pretty sad that people organize "protests" in a fucking -game- but won't stand up for their rights in real life. What is the matter with you people?

    --
    Please help metamoderate.
    1. Re:Pretty sad by kfg · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Very simply because in real life you can get really arrested, really have your life ruined, really get shot dead.

      In a game you can act out in complete security and comfort. All you risk is maybe having to find another game to play.

      Conversely, of course, this also means there is no real valor or heroism in games either. You just get to act out heroism. The next day you can back to the cube farm, or mailroom, or whatever, to earn the payments on your nice car.

      In short, the game, however closely it may mimic real life, is just a game.

      Anyone who loses sight of this simple fact is heading for trouble.

      KFG

  7. Screw taxation as social engineering by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This game tax was supposed to fix runaway inflation by changing behavior by giving 'players an incentive to get rid of things they don't really want any more.' In the real world people are getting sick of taxation as social engineering. Taxation should be about funding the government.

  8. It has to be said... by BiOFH · · Score: 5, Funny

    Second Life?
    Are the creators sure these people had a 'first' life?

    [Chief Wiggum] Mod it down, boys! [/Chief Wiggum]

    --
    - I am made of meat.