Presentation+Notes

Presentation notes by Asad

Sensory Representation The universal symbols that are known by ‘everyone’ Symbols – meanings/traits/characteristics that are attached to these symbols. ‘Inventory’ – the idea of space in the virtual environment. Characteristics of inventory – take up space, are tangible items We know space isn’t infinite -> but in Wow it is.

Second Sense of Aura – Authenticity

Withering/Loss of Authenticity ‘Authenticity’ in the game will be built around our real life observations and knowledge of real life. What we see in real life, how our environment act and reacts to us – we expect to see in the videogame. -Authenticity of a bank – a storage of currency and valuable goods – but limited (safety deposit)

Simulacra

Jean Baudrillard quote “We shouldn’t even think of images as representations anymore because they have no contact with original reality” Here, the representations are of the banks and storage systems in Wow. Wow replaced our general beliefs of space/storage and created its own limitless one.

Conclusion

Are we changing our ways to mimic the virtual worlds? Are we taking cues from them? Online banking -> money is stored as digits, is there a physical hold of all the ‘online’ currency?

Technically we can store an unlimited amount of money on this ‘virtual system’. Are we surprised that Wow has these flaws? When for example, society has been moving away from cash to cheques to virtual money like pay pal.