Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

icywolfy — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:23:56 -0000

Hi Folks,

Just like to share with you. I've successfully combined element on MMOG with blogging using the Gamic concept. Gamic is a term used for in game screenshot comics. Where players blog about their experience ingame using gamic.

A fine example here.
http://trickster.isgoodstuf...

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Carmen Villadar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:28:42 -0000

I can see how MMORPG can be classified as games however, social media platforms as games (could be) but if you were to say *they are* then what is that, "We are all just playing games with one another without having any real genuine thought? Okay, I have not read any of the other comments only because I wanted to comment without being swayed.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

ZGambit — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:22:33 -0000

Gamers and Social Media users tend to have the same habits..... why maybe because they are a)both advocates of technology b)they are the same people.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Markdykeman — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:50:55 -0000

If you are who you appear to be, I visited your spot in EU a couple of times. Crazy.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

NEVERDIE — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:51:58 -0000

Very good article.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Markdykeman — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:22:59 -0000

I agree, Gloria.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Markdykeman — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:19:56 -0000

Hi Pamela. You have a good point about the potentially addictive nature of both games and social media. While it's true that people may not be sitting there and Twittering away non-stop, they may be doing an awful lot of reading and/or waiting for someone to respond to their Tweets. That can be an addictive time sink as well and it can led people to ignore their priorities, much like gaming does.

As for the manipulative nature of MMORPGs (i.e. activity to keep you playing and waiting for the next big "score", not unlike the way that slot machines work...

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Gloria — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:51 -0000

Nice article! I definitely agree. Ever since early (1990's) games like Everquest and Neverwinter Nights, countless websites and forums were devoted to enabling players to connect and form communities. The medium just lends itself so well to the social media mindset. Game companies caught on early as well, which is why you can see such deep interactions between game developers and gamers now. In fact, feedback and communication with the gamer community is essential to the development of any MMO game now.

I might suggest that MMOs, because of their highly addicting, tight-knit culture and communities, went a long way towards developing the social media mindset that later expanded rapidly due to Myspace, Facebook, and similar sites.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Pamela Rosenthal — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:43:10 -0000

Mark, I'm glad I caught your post! I've been thinking about this issue for sometime and posted a similar question on Twitter a few months ago. http://tinyurl.com/5t5h42.

I agree with your assessment that both MMORPGs and social networks can be used to â€œsatisfy creative, recreational, and social needs.â€ Iâ€™m not a gamer but I have tried out a few including WOW, Entropia and Second Life â€“ each one has its strengths and weaknesses, and I can see how they can be entertaining for a period of time. However, when I tried out WOW, I felt as though I was being manipulated â€“ that the game was designed for the specific purpose of keeping me playing, (which Iâ€™m sure it was). Iâ€™m not sure you could say that about social networks. I havenâ€™t heard too many stories about people whoâ€™ve been Twittering non-stop for days on end without leaving their homes, whereas there are plenty of examples of people messing up their lives as a consequence of playing online games. Thatâ€™s not to say that general social networks arenâ€™t addictive â€“ they can be. I'm guessing that some people in the social media community believe that their â€œbusinessâ€ addiction is more acceptable because itâ€™s part of the â€œrealâ€ world vs. the â€œfantasyâ€ worlds of the gamers. I think they might want to reconsider that before they make their 10,000th post on Twitter or status update on Facebook, especially if they are doing that while playing with their kids or in the middle of dinner!

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to update on Twitter to let everyone know that I have just posted here. :-)

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

LeonWestbrook — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:30:39 -0000

Well if you think about it that $10 could go to my gas tank.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Anon — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:21:29 -0000

You must be REALLY broke to say that $10 vs $0 is far cheaper.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Markdykeman — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:00:56 -0000

Hey taulpaul, that's an interesting coincidence. I think a number of conventions from online games have worked their way into social media.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

LeonWestbrook — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:25:16 -0000

I have to say a social media addiction is far cheaper than WoW. You can participate for free vs. paying $10 a month (unless you pay a lot in hosting)

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

taulpaul — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:17:38 -0000

I gave a presentation at Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis #smbmsp about this topic a month back. We started using online gaming to forecast social media initiatives. There are many parallels, but they usually come from the online gaming community first.

Re: MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:52:48 -0000

Both can be addicting, but I think games can be a bit more addicting.