VR and RPG's

[Trainz]

In this thread, Henry and WayneLigon made interesting observations:

So, until we get a "Matrix-style" VR system, where players can plug in and experience not only sight and sound, but taste, touch, and scent, then in-person tabletop games will always have an element that Computer games cannot have.

Someone, I cannot remember who, said that a system like that will be the last invention humanity ever makes Bring it on. I want my Dream Park

What would be the addiction factor of such a phenomenon ?

I think that it would totally ruin lives. I think that few would be those strong of mind enough to support the shock of unjacking and going to work at your boring 9-5 job. You could maybe do it for a few days, but I can just imagine the guy working at his desk, sweating in anguish, counting the seconds before his dreadful workday is over, so that he can go back home, eat something quick, lie down on the virtua-couch, and jack in to become a fantasy hero for hours.

All of us have experienced it: when you're playing a new video-computer game that is so cool, you look at the clock, dammit, it's 4:00 AM, gotta go to work in 3 hours, but lemme reach the next save-point first... and that's just for a computer-screen game with stereo sound.

Imagine VR. It would be a possible threath to society, because nothing in society would be able to come even close to the rush of VR. Right now, as I type this, there's people in the world loosing touch with their friends, significant others, kids, families, because they are too immersed by computers (be it chat rooms, message boards, or games).

Some of them are called hikikomori in Japan (but how much this phenomenon is tied with pseudo VR addiction as yet to be determined). There's a Diablo 2 server completely dedicated to Korea because D2 is extremely popular over there. Some guys play D2 online with no respite, excluding almost everything else in their lives.

So... I'm not sure if VR RPG's will be the end of society, or simply something to keep a careful watch over, but none can deny that it would have a huge impact on our lives.

With that said, I invite you to discuss the matter.

 

[Crothian]

It will ruin some lifes just like vidio games like Everquest have. But not everyone gets sucked into these game. First there is a percentage of the population that just has zero interest in it. Second, there are people who might use it over board too much but get bored with it. Third, it's not going to be affordibile for everyone.

So, sure if this ever happens people will get sucked in and their lives ruined, but it won't happen to everyone.

 

[Trainz]

It will ruin some lifes just like vidio games like Everquest have. But not everyone gets sucked into these game. First there is a percentage of the population that just has zero interest in it. Second, there are people who might use it over board too much but get bored with it. Third, it's not going to be affordibile for everyone.

So, sure if this ever happens people will get sucked in and their lives ruined, but it won't happen to everyone.

Interesting. Yes, to affoard such gear would be quite difficult. Now, that said... if you had unlimited access to such a VR universe, wouldn't many make it a priority to acquire it (akin to buying a house) ?

Don't you think that the ratio of people who get VR addicted would be greater than our current numbers ? After all, VR would offer something orders of magnitude higher than what current tech-entertainment offers.

 

[Mark]

What would be the addiction factor of such a phenomenon?

I'll let you know if you have one I could try. Just one. For now. If you have one. Do you? C'mon! Just one!

 

[Ashwyn]

I think I would get addicted, but wouldn't be there all the time. It would never be real for me, so I'd probably lose interest after a while. But maybe not. I think more people than just gamers would want to use that though. Look at how many people use drugs of various kinds to escape pain. If there were no side effects other than less time spent socializing, it could destroy the drug market.

 

[Trainz]

I'll let you know if you have one I could try. Just one. For now. If you have one. Do you? C'mon! Just one!

Heh... my thoughts exactly.

It would totally obliterate my real-life. I jack-in, and all of a sudden I'm a spell weilding hero. I interact with others around the planet also jacked-in, also with their AE's. I can feel, smell, taste, move around... me and my pals are galloping through the fantasy country-side, and it feels as real as real life. All of a sudden, a group of ogres embush us.

I jump off my horse, landing not-so-softly, hurting my bum. And I FEEL it. I see my comrades drawing their weapons and engaging the critters. I start casting a fireball, moving my arms around, and I FEEL the surge of arcane energy forming in my chest, crawling through my arms, and reaching my fingertips as the energy of the fireball builds-up. As I release it at the ogres, and watch the explosion, I FEEL on my face the heat-wave created by the blast, the pounding in my chest at the detonation.

Seriously: HOW could you unjack, and go back to real-life.

Unthinkable.

 

[Trainz]

I think I would get addicted, but wouldn't be there all the time. It would never be real for me, so I'd probably lose interest after a while. But maybe not. I think more people than just gamers would want to use that though. Look at how many people use drugs of various kinds to escape pain. If there were no side effects other than less time spent socializing, it could destroy the drug market.

Absolutely. Common drugs, natural AND chemical, would be... nah. Drugs would still be around:

people would take drugs BEFORE jacking-in, to enhance the experience.

Yup. The end of civilisation as we know it.

 

[Ashwyn]

Absolutely. Common drugs, natural AND chemical, would be... nah. Drugs would still be around:

people would take drugs BEFORE jacking-in, to enhance the experience.

Yup. The end of civilisation as we know it.

I can dream though, can't I?

 

[WanderingMonster]

I'll let you know if you have one I could try. Just one. For now. If you have one. Do you? C'mon! Just one!

The first one's always free.

 

[diaglo]

that's how i play D&D now. i describe (or at least try) all of the elements. i let the players imagination fill in the background. and we go from there.

they ask questions. i answer them
they interact with the environment. and i add more to it as they go.

the box is just bigger when you don't use the computer game interface. so thinking outside of it can be harder. doesn't mean it doesn't happen. but then the game doesn't crash on you and reformat your harddrive.