MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games)

Thus far I have been concentrating on looking at existing uses of video games in education, but I have not investigated virtual worlds as much. There is some research looking at using MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games), and their predecessors, MUDs and MOOs, in education, but less so in the area of non-game 3D virtual worlds. The best known example of these systems is Second Life.

Somehow I currently seem to have a bit of time on my hands – I don’t know why this is, but it’s probably because the undergrads are doing exams, so there’s no lectures to go to and less demonstrating to do; and because I’ve completed most of the postgraduate training. Nevertheless, with more time and my new PC (which comes as part of the PhD package in ECS), I am beginning to investigate Second Life.

Now this seems far from work related to those walking past, so I don’t feel that comfortable doing it during office hours, but it is related, so I thought I’d have a go. Anyway, the first thing you do is edit your appearance. When I first loaded it up briefly a few weeks ago, I noticed I was stark naked, but fortunately this time I’d gathered ‘Sexy Nightclub Male’ clothing. However, this is hideous so I was trying to change it. As I’m still learning the interface, I was wary of changing the trousers, lest I was left with a naked-from-the-waist-down man on my monitor!

I spent about half an hour or so trying to fix up my hair, though most of that time was spent attempting to remove the old ‘wig’! (This is done by opening the inventory, finding the Hair that is being worn and right click to choose ‘Take off’ – this isn’t always there, sometimes you have to ‘Take off’ the whole group of items) After my hair, and changing shirt (I determined a virtual naked man’s chest isn’t nearly as embarrassing as his Ken-doll-like bottom half), I finally plucked up the courage to try changing the trousers (or ‘pants’ as it’s in US English).

The odd thing is that clothes seem to stack on top of each other, so having chosen to ‘Wear’ some trousers, and seen no effect, I tried removing the old trousers. “No worry”, I thought, this virtual strip-show will only last a few seconds while I scroll up the list to pick a new pair. To my horror, the new trousers would not go on! I clicked ‘Wear’, but the image didn’t update! I tried putting the old pair back on. I tried every pair of trousers! None of them would take! Now my avatar (one’s virtual self) is permanently trouser-less! What a nightmare – I’m not sure I like this virtual world lark anymore…