Virtual worlds-Worlds of fantasy

The last few years’ virtual world games became really popular in the net. Games like Imvu, Kaneva, Blue Mars and Second Life are gathering millions of players who want to have a second chance to create a life as they want it even if it’s a virtual one. In these games players are creating an avatar which is their virtual image in world. They can make it as they like, looking like them in real life or something totally different, something they were always dreaming. The avatar tents to be their virtual self, the person they wanted to be or someone they admire. By the passing of time all the players are getting more and more attached with their avatars so finally no matter what personality they wanted to give them it ends to be only their own true one or an aspect of their personality they didn’t even know they had. The player can dress the avatar, improve it, make it move or run or dance etc. They are also giving to their virtual selves a unique ID, a full name that none else can have. In virtual world the activities are plenty. You can explore new places like parks, gardens or castles, you can have fun like shopping, swimming and sunbathing in a beach or go to a night club for dancing or visit a famous museum. You can also visit libraries, universities, or famous monuments all around the world. For some more creative natures there is also building or creating things which can be used in world. You can even find a job and earn money to cover your needs which are growing by the passing of the time. And of course the most important is that you can meet people from all around the world and learn their cultures, their habits and traditions and to became friends. Most of the players are choosing to rent a house or to buy a lot and build one. So in every sense they are creating a virtual life very close to the real one. They feel that they have a second chance to start all over again and to make a life with no mistakes or disappointments. Some of them, in fact a lot of them are choosing to be involved with other people in a more personal level and to create families. You may smile with all these if you are not one of the millions of players but I know very well what I am talking about since I am an active member in one of those games for two years now. The question is,are all these just a game? Can someone be in a game like that only for recreational reasons? And what makes people to join virtual worlds? The first answer is NO. It might look like a fun game to spend some free time but its not. And it can’t be just a game because behind the avatars there are real people. I know now you will think so what? In a lot of games people are using avatars like world of magic etc. And yes you are right. Thing is that in a game like that you don’t have to play a specific role or to fight the bad magicians. You just have to be your self and that has a cost. No matter how good you can pretend to be someone else the true you always come out. Because maybe you want to be as tough and mysterious as James Bond but if you are not really like that is very hard to keep that attitude when someone is telling you about his sick kid or her domestic problems. And NO you can’t be in a virtual life game for recreational reasons only. I am sure that’s the intention of all the people when they r joining in. But games like that proved to be much much more. I met a lot of people who tried hard to keep their virtual life separated from their real life. That’s almost impossible if you are not some kind of hard core player. And that’s because in a life game you don’t have to deal with dragons and monsters or the hordes of Hitler but with real problems sometimes very serious which can affect you deeply. It doesn’t matter if the person with the problem lives in the other side of the planet or if he/she doesn’t have the same colour or religion with you. He/she is a friend, someone you know and communicate with, someone who danced with you or trusted you with a secret or asked your advice or told you a joke which made you cry from laughter. The worlds may be virtual but friends are not. They are as real as your best friend or your school mate. I had the privilege to meet good friends in the game and I am communicating with them even when we are not in. As for what makes people to join games like that well mostly they are driven by curiosity at the beginning but they are staying for a lot of different reasons. One reason is loneliness. A lot of people are feeling lonely. By being in a game like that it’s almost guarantied that you will never be alone unless u wants it. There will be always someone to send you a friendly hello or ask you how are you. Even if they don’t know you they are willing to know you because they need a friend too. Another reason is learning. You can learn a lot of things from simple computer use to advanced educational matters. All you need is a will to learn and the right people are there to teach you. Some people are staying because they have the chance to visit places that will never probably see for real. And the experience can be realistic and pleasant. I visited the Dresden gallery recently and I enjoyed it very much since I don’t think I will ever have the chance to go there for real. Some other people are staying for more joyful activities like trying extreme sports or exploring the sexual sides of the games. But all the people are staying because they are getting attached with other people. They care for the people they meet in the games. Sometimes they fall in love and getting married and most of them want to meet their partners in real life. And yes virtual life can really affect real life sometimes very seriously. I know a lot of you may think that all these are pretty weird and even pathetic. But they are not. It’s a way for people to meet other people, to create something beautiful, to live a dream, to fight their loneliness and insecurity and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact sometimes a good virtual life gives strength to people to deal with the ugliness of their real life, with the problems and their fears. It’s a place where you can feel loved and safe and secure. You will tell me yes but still its not real life. You can’t touch or taste or even have a decent fight. So what? U can touch and been touched with your soul and u can taste with your heart and who needs fights anyway?

Real life is hard for most of the people and a virtual one is an escape. For me joining a virtual life game was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I learned a lot of things, I met wonderful people, I rediscover my self, and I got back my dreams. All of the people who know that kind of games they know what I mean. Virtual worlds are one way to put fantasy in our lives. And there is nothing better than fantasy meeting real life.