The news that MMORPG Runescape hit one million subscribers today hit the news wires today. While I am not a "gamer" I do have a very intimate connection with virtual worlds from a social standpoint, and while I have never played Runescape (weekend plans anyone?) this still resonates as important to me.
As younger generations grow up with Virtual Worlds, they have become used to, almost dependent upon them as ways of interacting with each other. I have often heard such thin comments as,
"don't you think it is a bit sad that the younger generations will be sitting in front over a computer all day, and that that will be their social lives".
To all of you with this attitude, (you know who you are) get over yourselves!
I imagine 98% of the people who make such comments sit in front the boob tube as lifeless blobs the same amount of time that people play these games. Don't you realize that as a TV viewer you are a passive lurker, often times with little or no brain activation!
"...And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone"
"...And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand"
--I hope you know who penned that!
Now, get to work folks!
Tags: MMORPG, MMOG, Runescape, Virtual Worlds, The 3D Web, Gaming, The Metaverse