Friend Request

In this post I thought I would try to convey what is being felt and experienced when it comes to online gaming.  It seems that online gaming has always been accompanied by negative impressions surrounding it; however, excess of anything isn’t good, eating too much, exercising too long, watching television all day, etc. can all be bad for you.  Having had personal experience with a few online games I know that there is more than meets the eye and what individuals stigmatize.  Many online games today breach barriers and bring the users a lot closer together. 

PS3 game, Journey
Image from: thatgamecompany.com

In a recent article on Gamezone.com discusses the features of the upcoming Playstation 3 game, Journey.  This game matches players up randomly with someone around the world.  It is focused around players’ experiences with one another emphasizing the fact that there is no way to actually communicate or know who the other real life player is.  The article explains how designer Chris Bell feels,

Journey presents its own restrictive set of methods for communicating with other players, and the designer hopes they make the story more memorable: "Because you engage in these experiences with another player," he said, "there's the potential to go through a wide range of emotions with them. ... Personally, I prefer that players communicate through non-verbal actions.

While there is a lot good emotions felt by most users, there is also some concern that virtual communities are losing the sense of belonging and connection that they used to have.  Mike White explains in his story on Craveonline.com; he talks about his own MMO experiences and how they have diminished in the past.  Following this he decided it would be beneficial to fellow gamers to put together a few set rules to follow which help bring connection back to in game friendships and break away from playing multiplayer online games more as a single lone player.

Image from: Google

A longer article on Gamasutra.com, What Makes Social Games Social, describes just that, which aspects of online games bring players closer together in real life physically and emotionally.  The article discusses Facebook based casual games as well as massively multiplayer online games, MMOs:

Looking at chat specifically as a powerful synchronous tool for player engagement and retention in both casual games and MMOs; new players use chat, make friends and ask basic questions.  Experienced players use chat to brag about in-game accomplishments and form actual friendships.

Reading more into the article we see quotes from individuals expressing their positivity with online game friendships and how they rival actual real life relationships. 

It might sound a bit off at first but is it any different from others having a good chat with someone through Facebook?  Once you look at it online games are kind of like virtual board games that allow users to play and bond with people from all over the world.  Making friends through online games can be just as gratifying as keeping ties with friends through Skype or Facebook, although it may not have the physical elements it still causes real life emotions and responses in the players.