Virtual Differences
by ted2112, HSM team writer
Ever notice those little differences between real life and the gaming world? Those funny little things that define gaming space norms. Of course, virtual reality and reality are not the same thing, but behind every gamer avatar is a real person, making real decisions. So why, then, are the two so different? What do I mean? I’m talking about those real world things that would simply not happen, but in the gaming world are commonplace.
For example: Running.
Ever go to the mall and see people running around? I’ve got to answer no, and if I ever did see that, I would think some kind of disaster was happening and try and find the nearest exit. Yet in the gaming world, who has time to walk? The difference between walking and running is a fraction of an inch on the control stick, so why walk to where you want to go when you can run? I mean, we all have limited time playing our favorite games, so why blow precious minutes walking around, trying to look cool for people we don’t even know? We see people running around all around us in public spaces and aren’t alarmed by this at all; many time the person running will run right through us to get where they want to go. We aren’t offended that someone just tried to run us over without so much as an “excuse me” in the least; it’s all simply part of the gaming norm. Like Forrest Gump once said, “If I was going somewhere, I was running.”
Another example: personal space.
When we spawn in the hub, it’s like a big group hug. Aww, you feel so loved, in the middle of that mass of virtual pals. In real life this
Real life comfort zone
would cause several panic attacks to those somewhere in the center of the group. I mean, look at all that open space, and there you are wedged in-between ten to twenty people all just standing there, and many of them appear to be some kind of ghostly apparitions? In the gaming world, this is a perfectly normal day. I do find it interesting that many avatars do leave the pack, stand alone outside it and then pull up their navigator until they decide what they want to do. I must admit this is what I do, but then again I’m like that in real life; I like a bit of personal space, so I think I have some kind of virtual empathy for my avatar.
Yet another example: Spawning.
Imagine walking down the street and seeing somebody just appear. Poof! One second not there, the next second there, and most likely
Does your wardrobe look like this?
the next second running someplace. We have seen this on TV many times, but it usually has some kind of puff of smoke and maybe a flash of light. So this would be unsettling for sure. In the gaming world, we have no walkway system to connect spaces. There is no little garden path that connects the hub to the Sportswalk; although I think it’s cute they put in those spinny teleport things.
No, wherever you want to go, reality is temporary sucked away leaving a fuzzy vision of who knows what, only to reappear in a totally new place, albeit in a temporary state or paralysis. That’s just how we roll, this is our norm. But if you see this in real life, you’d best hope you’re working for that ghost hunters TV show.
Okay, one more example: your wardrobe.
I think I have a normal amount of clothing for an American male, but in Home I have an insane amount of clothing. I would need a forklift to move a pile of my T-shirts alone. I find this ironic, because I basically wear the same thing every day in Home: Irem Square free t-shirt, gray cargo shorts and a gray bucket hat. I don’t wear shoes because I like to be barefoot, so why not my avatar? My clothes never get dirty, so why change?
I find it fascinating at what people wear in Home, it’s one of the things that make it great. I would love the real life to look more like your average day on Home. Imagine seeing stormtroopers with girls in bikinis, animals hanging out with floating mechanical robots and people with flaming skulls — or how about characters from some of your favorite video games just chilling out, enjoying the day? It would be like Disneyland for gamer-geeks. Count me in!
I love the diversity of what people wear in Home because it is so different than real life, where we seldom get the chance to wear even a small variety of clothing — and those whom we know in our real lives are usually only glimpsed in certain contexts, which means certain outfit styles.
One last one: lack of sanitary facilities.
No bathrooms anywhere!
Who has the time to go the bathroom when you are busy gaming? Every one of my personal spaces is lacking any kind of bathroom. Thank god I can’t drink all that soda from the Namco game room. In real life…well, you know. We don’t eat, drink and do all that embarrassing stuff that comes after in the gaming world. I just played through the game Journey, by thatgamingcompany, with four companions, several trophies and no bathroom breaks along the way to the mountain. This point perhaps best illustrates that funny difference. Gaming is getting more and more realistic, but in some ways they will forever be defined by their very different norms.
So the next time you see an overdressed guy with an animal head suddenly appear out of nowhere and run through you looking for a bathroom, just remember — there’s no place like Home.
May 18th, 2012 by ted2112 | 5 comments
ted2112 is a writer and a Bass player that has been both inspired and takes to heart Kurt Vonnegut words...."we are here on planet Earth to fart around, and don't let anyone tell you different."
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Ted, Loved the write up. Thanks. I still ask Sony every once in awhile why my avatar can’t walk backwards!
Funny take on things Ted! I love they way everyone in Home changes their looks at a drop of a hat. There is so much variety to chose from it is truly a fun environment. I do make bathrooms in some of my places and kitchens neither of which will ever be used, lol. But I like my places to look lived in, so I do it anyway. Nice article.
Ted, you have some of my personal favorite articles! Rich, and funny as hell! The doctors smock is dirty, the lab jacket. Everytime I saw that coat on an machinima, I always asked, “Why is that thing dirty?” Too funny.
Love this article. Every point you made, made me laugh. I have thought all these things but it’s nice to see other people do as well. The running thing is funny. I always wondered why the avatars ran like that. I guess they are in a hurry! The clothing thing is funny too. It takes me forever to go through my Home wardrobe to change. I do like to change often, I don’t have a set thing that I wear, I like a variety. And lastly the spawning in the hub is funny too. I think a lot of those people aren’t even there but probably log on and then go do something while they are waiting.
I also think it’s funny when you are hanging out with a friend and if you walk into them you can turn them in a different direction. That would usually not happen in reality, but on Home its the norm!
Great article and thanks for the laugh!
Funny and so true. One thing thou, i almost never run but i must “succeed a will roll” everytime to resist the urge! Dont like to be “run trough” either but i dont take it too personal
Like may avatar, mine have way more clothes than i do. Flying Mech, anime, invisible man and all kind of fancy stuff. yet, i’m wearing normal street wear most of the time… The best thing? My avatar dont loose his hair, unless i want him to lol!