Online, A First Kiss
A diary of intimate social interaction in There. In There, avatars can do what our bodies would do in these moments, at least to some extent. Predictably, what entices some, annoys others.
Still, no other world has traveled so far along this road. We all know what the final destination is.
From first-person shooters, we learned that the addition of graphically mediated physical interaction to violent combat situations greatly intensifies the user's experience of fighting. Now we see that virtual touching of a different kind has similar effects, indeed, apparently intense enough to redirect social interaction and change the nature of the society along the way.
If that's what passes for "intimate social interaction" in There, as what would the animations of http://www.seducity.com/ qualify?
As for what goes on in some of the textual worlds out there...
Richard
Posted by: Richard Bartle | Nov 10, 2003 at 03:32
I suspected there was something already out there. And it wouldn't surprise me if this was the format that takes the genre mainstream, either.
Posted by: Edward Castronova | Nov 10, 2003 at 13:09
'Adult' virtual worlds have an interesting and longish history so I got a kick out of seeing Seducity mentioned here. Some may notice it bears an amazing resemblance to one of the oldest graphical VE's around - The Dreamscape. Indeed Seducity is part of the same lineage formerly known as WorldsAway and before that, Habitat (check out http://www.vzones.com for current incarnations. Rose/Moove @ http://www.moove.com is another old VE that has long faciliated nude avatars, sexual positions, etc.). Way back when I did my diss on WorldsAway it was pretty common to hear about avatar sex and I actually think it's an intresting activity in that it gets at questions of embodiment that are central to avatar worlds (maybe it's time to finally get that article I have almost done on the subjet out). Sex and intimacy has always played a role in virtual worlds, and yep, even game ones. I think one of the most fascinating things is how designers choose to deal with the issue. Some confront it head on, others scurry around it, not quite wanting to sort out what it will mean that people will be embodied in their space. I'll be curious to see how MMOGs develop in this regard.
Posted by: TL | Nov 11, 2003 at 09:23
I know of at least one firm in mid-development with an "adult" oriented virtual world. Last conversation I had, they were trying to decide to go the Playboy R-rated route, or get more graphic.
Posted by: hunter | Nov 11, 2003 at 10:40
Hmmm... I can already see it coming... "Hentai" MMORPGs. Ugh.
Posted by: DivineShadow | Nov 11, 2003 at 11:36
A few of us developers have said the type of game most likely to bring online games into the mainstream is a porn-themed game/chat space. Sex sells, ya know, and internet porn is highly profitable.
Some thoughts,
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