Wk 2 — Activity — Virtual: Worlds
It is currently my 4th year here at California State University, Long Beach, so I have experienced life on the beach compared to how this semester is presently. I believe that Zoom University is similar to last semester based on how many assignments we have received. For example, we are required to work with our classmates, which is also equivalent to the previous semester. I don’t mind working virtually, but I would have preferred having in-person lectures since I am a hands-on learner. Some differences from last semester are that we cannot physically be on campus, talk to our classmates or professors.
The difference between GTA V and non-place environments like Instagram is that in GTA V, there is a sense of if I do something wrong here, there is no consequence since it is a video game. While on Instagram is you do or post something controversial, you can expect to get some backlash. I believe I have more place fullness on Instagram because I can post my life and have several family and friends on social media. Compared to GTA V, you do not have a platform to post about yourself. The only way to express yourself in the game is by customizing your character or car. One similarity I believe that they both have is that both allow you to be free on their platforms with only Instagram restricting you from what you post, while in GTA V, you pretty much decide what to do.
When comparing California state university, Long Beach, and GTA V, I believe that physical place affords my experiences more because I see CSULB as a second home compared to GTA V. My physical place provides me a place to study, eat, joy, and to work out which is why I prefer the physical place better. The reason I do not believe that the virtual place does not afford my experiences is that I only seem to play the game when I am bored while the physical place is providing more for my experiences.
Based on this experience, I believe that everyone can have their sense of place based on their interest. One example of this is how some people might have a sense of place on a video while someone who prefers in-person meet-ups may choose a location like CSULB as there sense of place. I believe that one can find a new place experience during this pandemic like previously mentioned, it can be found in the virtual world or even at someone’s workplace.
I do not believe that places like Instagram and Facebook are MMORPG’s because social media sites like that do not contain games in which they can connect with other people like in games like GTA V. In some form, it can be considered an MMORPG because it is a platform that brings people together to meet. Still, it is only missing the video game aspect to bring individuals together.
In Real Life, I believe that something that can be considered MMORPG’s is places like casinos and amusement parks, which obviously cannot be attended. The reason that I think that these places can be considered MMORPG’s because these are institutions that bring people with similar interests to one location and play games. Similar to GTA V, the only people who are on the game are people who are interested in playing the game. Both of these places provide a similar interest to meet new people and to share these interests.
