Life Imagined As One Big RPG 176
Scoop Snookems writes "Will there be a day where we earn achievement points simply by brushing our teeth or high-fiving a friend? There could be, according to Carnegie Mellon professor Jesse Schell. In this video from the annual DICE summit, Schell comments on recent evolutions in gaming before fixating on a concept where our futures evolve into one big RPG. Fascinating stuff, and I hope writing this post nets me 10 points."
Life like a video game (Score:5, Insightful)
And, of course it should work both ways. Eventually people cease to receive points for wiping their ass or washing their balls and begin to lose points for not doing either.
* With the exception of extra lives and respawning, of course.
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I have begun to deduct points for everyone who leaves the restroom without washing their hands.
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I actually caught myself thinking like I was in a game once. I was going hiking recently and thought, "Hey, if I climb that peak I'll be one away from satisfying the 'Climb the Highest Peaks' achievement." I was creeped out and amused at the same time.
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I don't know... it'd kind of suck if life got too close [youtube.com] to being like a video game. ;)
Working out (Score:2)
This is why I love going to the gym so much, no joke. Well part of it is having better physique, but getting to go from 110lbs to 180lbs on the incline dumbbell press is a lot of fun. You can even use rare-candies in the form of protein shakes after working out.
Facebook is a video game too, you try to get more posts on your wall by coming up with clever/funny/interesting status updates.
First game where popularity was important (Score:2)
I do believe you meant to say "Shogun", a game published in 1988 whose sole objective was to become popular enough to hold the title "zen master". You could achieve it through the usual benevolent acts of kindness, or killing anyone who didn't agree to like you. Very enlightening game for a 7 year old, let me tell you what.
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Life is already like an RPG to me... or rather, an Adventure/RPG hybrid. The main difference being that instead of the emphasis being on leveling up, a lot more is placed on collecting useful items that serve unique functions.
For example I recently acquired the Spyglass item when I found a monocular small and rugged enough to keep in my cargo pants. This goes along with my Lantern (actually two items... LED flashlight for light and propane lighter for lighting things on fire).
Whenever I buy something lik
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I do something similar to this but in periods of acquire and slim down. I don't hoard or have too many redundant items (like people who have eight different shotguns or whatever) but what i have is usually very nice. Camping pack is nice and probably done.. lots of titanium and everything is water-proofed (including zippers).. the best part is that it's so light. I still have a backup bag fully packed too, my old army ruck. Tritium Compass (radioactive self-illumination).
My latest projects have been in
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You get multiple [amazon.com] lives [amazon.com]
But, yeah, the no save/restore kind of sucks.
Re:Life like a video game (Score:5, Insightful)
I think the big draw for people who want more and more realistic games and RPGs in particular is actually to get a few things that I think everyone has wanted at one point or another in their real lives:
* Knowing the rules by which you can succeed (quests, boss kills, catalogue of increasingly better equipment)
* Getting data on your level of success in relation to others and against your own personal goals. (stats, levels, reputation meters)
* A sense of having achieved something measurable, even if it is to simply get a new piece of gear that exists only on a hard drive.
The more realistic the game is, the more that they can pretend that there is some relevance to real life in that game. The secret hope being that some day, there will be a simulator that allows you to get a score for how you would do in real life or at least some skills that cross over.
You *could* get points for doing various things in real life, and I think in some ways it is not a laughable concept. People want data, they want to know that what they are doing is benefiting them in some way. They don't always know that, and that is a substantial barrier to happiness. Things would be so much easier if I had a reputation meter for various people, particularly of the opposite sex, and also knew what to grind to improve that reputation without the complexities of trying to balance earning cash while having a social life. You might say life might get a lot more boring if you always knew the rules, but it's quite clear that millions of people prefer a grind to the "excitement" of being surprised.
Re:Life like a video game (Score:5, Funny)
... Things would be so much easier if I had a reputation meter for various people, particularly of the opposite sex, and also knew what to grind to improve that reputation...
Its called a clitoris.
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You *could* get points for doing various things in real life, and I think in some ways it is not a laughable concept.
Speaking of real-life application, the new Pokemon HeartGold and Soulsilver [wikipedia.org] has a pedometer that, when you tie a Pokemon to it and walk around, it gains experience and more happiness towards you (as... well, you're walking around with it in a way), including other benefits. Perhaps the future is now?..
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Heck, most working people have wanted to be able to pull off a boss kill from time to time.
Re:Life like a video game (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not sure I agree. I mean, maybe a little. Mostly, I think the rules are pretty clear. They only seem confusing because the things required aren't easily obtainable (if they are obtainable at all).
I think the real reason for the popularity of MMORPGs and why they consume some people's entire lives, really come down to two things.
1.) In a video game everyone is equal
In WoW, if you are a paladin, you are have the same abilities as other paladins If you want to be a priest - you can be a priest. Whatever image of yourself you want; you can be, and you can be it as good as anyone else.
In real life, that's not true. If you are 5'2" and want to play in the NBA - that's too bad. We aren't all equal. You can't decide to roll a character with the base stats that support what you want to do. You can't reroll to get more +INT to be a famous scientist. You are, you. And you can work to improve yourself, but you're very limited and what is worse - other people aren't.
Most of us are just 'average' at most things. We don't like to think that, but it's true. If you have an average aptitude and work really hard, you might be 'really good'...but you won't be great. Most of us won't be great at anything. Do you think the popular guy who banged the hottest girls in high school was more deserving than the unpopular, ugly nerd? Or did he just happen to be more with symmetrical features that made him popular with the ladies?
In life, you are stuck with your base levels and other people are blessed with higher base levels and can outperform you with minimal effort. In WoW, you roll whatever you want and know you are equal.
2.) Effort
In games there really isn't much effort at all. The trend has been to remove skill from the game play and replace it with 'time'. If you spend a lot of time playing, your character becomes better. The time spent isn't particularly hard. It's lazy. You click a mouse, hit a button. That's not tough.
You can just sit back, spend a lot of time not doing much, and be rewarded! Your character grows and improves and you get cool stuff and respect from other players and you rock.
In real life, things are *hard*. Like, really hard. A lot harder than people think they should be. In Wow, you hit '2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1' for a few hours and your Warrior levels up and now he's stronger and has more hit points. But to increase *your strength* you have to get up and go to the gym and train properly. And then, the rewards are an order of magnitude less.
The difference between what a world-class power lifter can lift is 2-3x what an average high school lifter can lift. Countless hours and imaginable effort to obtain, let's just say a 5x gain in strength doesn't compare at all to the difference between a level 1 warrior and a level 80 warrior. The level 80 is easily 1000x stronger in terms of what it can do.
Even nerdy stuff - like the rubiks cube. I had one in high school, learned the solution included and could solve it in under 120 seconds. The world's best solvers who train for hours and hours each week can consistently solve it in under 20 seconds. Years of work and dedication to get six times better than a loser high school kid.
In terms of effort, the fictional rewards of a video game far, far out weigh the rewards of real life. And even in my examples; the fastest rubiks solvers and the best power lifters - not only did they work, they also had a higher aptitude than most. Something they can't change or control.
We all joke that the hardcore WoW players are losers; but the more of a loser you are, the more appealing WoW becomes. The popular guy in high school - he's going to go to a party and mess around with a cheerleader....WoW seems lame. But to the below average looking kid with few friends - well, life isn't offering him much. He can work really, really hard for below average results in whatever he chooses - or he can go to WoW where he is on a level playing field with others and where he can see serious improvements, magnitudes better than real life offers.
It's and easy sell.
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* With the exception of extra lives and respawning, of course.
What about those who believe in reincarnation?
And if I respawn as a cow do I still get to keep my XP?
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* With the exception of extra lives and respawning, of course.
Why? You can certainly still gain the Hindu achievement! :)
and 100 points for (Score:3, Funny)
So what's a relevant first post get me? 100 points?
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troll (Score:4, Funny)
-5 Karma Trolling.
Sorry dude, but those are life points. Go help a little old lady across the street, or save a stuck kitten in a tree. :)
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To get to level 2 you need to help 40 old ladies across the street. n00b...
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I guess that would all depend on the state of the kitten.
Live kittens are probably worth positive points.
Dead kittens propped up in branches, or nailed to the tree, ummm, probably not positive points. :)
Kitten in a noose? OOohh, definitely not positive points.
Actually used as a therapy tool (Score:4, Interesting)
I've read articles where kids with behavioral disorders, social anxiety, general nerdiness, etc were encouraged to use this as a means of driving more appropriate/better behaviors. Like if a shy kid talked to a classmate, he gave himself 10 points, etc. Then they worked with the therapist to track the whole thing - basically making life your RPG.
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A friend of mine was accused by his father of general nerdiness, and threw him on the street every day to hang out with the local thugs. He's still a nerd at heart, but he can handle himself in a fight and bench 300 lbs now, though he still obsesses over the latest linux distros. Probably worked out better than any RPG therapy could, but he's quite a riven guy.
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I've read articles where kids with behavioral disorders, social anxiety, general nerdiness, etc were encouraged to use this as a means of driving more appropriate/better behaviors. Like if a shy kid talked to a classmate, he gave himself 10 points, etc. Then they worked with the therapist to track the whole thing - basically making life your RPG.
Agree. They do that for people with autism-spectrum disorders too. There's entire classes of neurological and psychological disorders that regular computer interaction can treat. If playing video games improves a person's quality of life, there's no reason to degrade it. Everybody has their own coping strategies that are unique to them and if it works then that is what is important, not some moralistic concept of "better" behaviors like going outside or excercising. In medicine, you choose the treatment wit
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Re:Actually used as a therapy tool (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Actually used as a therapy tool (Score:4, Insightful)
When he saved up enough points he had a list of things he could cash them in for, like eating out at a restaurant of his choice, seeing a movie, or getting some Lego. It did seem to help.
No armor upgrades or attack bonuses? And you didn't offer to teach him new spells or more powerful versions of the spells he already knew?
Sure as heck doesn't sound like an RPG to me!
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I've read articles where kids with behavioral disorders, social anxiety, general nerdiness, etc were encouraged to use this as a means of driving more appropriate/better behaviors. Like if a shy kid talked to a classmate, he gave himself 10 points, etc. Then they worked with the therapist to track the whole thing - basically making life your RPG.
Too much grinding, too many griefers and the loot drops have been nerfed. Nobody ever said live was fair? I'm sending a nastygram to the developers. *jolly's account gets permabanned*
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But that's not really how RPGs work. You don't get experience points for doing stuff you don't like. You get experience points for playing the game, which should be fun, so you'd do it anyway. I've never been motivated in an RPG to do something simply for the sake of getting experience points. If I ever find myself doing something only to get experience points, that's a poorly designed game.
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wii fit. One of the things I like about wii fit is that you can use calories burned to track your score. Actual weight loss makes a good long term goal, but, in a single day, being able to say "I earned a piece of chicken" actually adds something to the routine.
Though tangental to the post, I'm reminded of... (Score:3, Informative)
"Achievement Unlocked"
http://armorgames.com/play/2893/achievement-unlocked
I think it's an excellent statement about the prevalent use of achievement systems for their own sake.
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See also www.stackoverflow.com and other similar sites: and I admit that the idea of "being good at something real and gaining experience points" has some appeal to me, too.
Points are known as dollars (Score:2)
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Do you then lose points for feeding your family?
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leveling up your alts is a gold sink.
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Then can I have your points?
Where's the reload button? (Score:2)
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Yeah, but they remove all continuity except the mystical one. It's kinda like being a completely different player. At least you get to keep your karma points.
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At least you get to keep your karma points.
Will my new me remember the password to my Slashdot account?
So when will we start.. (Score:1)
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I just look forward to the day when I no longer keep having these strange dreams of prospecting, stealing, crusading, and combat. My friends kept asking me why I've engraved "Elbereth" all over my house. All I could usually manage is to shakingly point at the water fountain outside and say, "The ampersand... it came from there!"
I figure that this pine wand that I'm whittling should give me about a 60% chance of getting out of this padded cell, depending on what type it turns out to be.
Re:So when will we start.. (Score:4, Interesting)
It has already been done [datenform.de]. The backpack would be handy, though.
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The one good feature in Second Life: If you're having a bad day, you can literally walk around with a thundercloud over your head. Just like the "missile balloons" (google it), this would be an awesome thing to have and use ever so rarely.
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Coyboy Neal
Best GNAA post ever?
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
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Why on earth would I *want* to imagine my life as a rocket-propelled grenade?
In exchange for 72 virgins?
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I'm sorry if I offended you. I would assume that you are either a virgin or a terrorist, but seeing as how you are here on Slashdot, I think I could guess as to which one.
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Because it's explosively fun?
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Oh my god it's already happening! Whaaaaaaaagh!
But what if this reality is a stage? (Score:2)
What if this physical reality is not as absolute as it mostly appears? What if the perception-warping effects of psychedelic drugs show that fundamentally this reality is subjective and flexible? What if it is really an adaptive stage, a credible illusion, in which we play out the role called "life"?
If true, that would certainly explain why we are so easily addicted to and feel at home in RPGs as we would be born role players.
Life is like an RPG (Score:5, Funny)
I get experience points for beating up stray dogs.
I find treasure chests, unlocked and unopened, hidden away in all sorts of bushes and alleyways around my city. Some even contain armor!
I don't work out, I level up!
I only carry up to 255 pieces of any item.
If I receive something that appears to be worthless (like a Rusty Sword) I must carry it with me wherever I go, in case I find someone who can restore it to its former glory.
When I buy a shirt at the store, I attempt to sell them the one on my back in order to cut costs.
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I hate the fact that sometimes I can't stack things in piles of more than 20. Just try carrying a hundred M&Ms.
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My town burned down while I was out playing and everyone I know is dead.
We Have This Already. It's Called "Religion" (Score:2)
Good vs. Evil. Karma. Deviate from the path you have chosen, lose points. Stick to the path, accrue points and power.
Michael Moorcock, whose Eternal Champion books were the inspiration for Gygax's Law/Chaos/Evil/Good/Neutral "alignment" system that has in turn been at the core -- subtly or not -- of every RPG produced should be getting residuals. Instead, he's probably just getting a good laugh.
Which RPG? (Score:4, Funny)
Second Life? I'd better get my penis helmet in order.
Ultima 4? I'd better start trying to be a better person.
Ultima Online? I'd better start trying to be a much, much worse person.
WoW? I'd better start practicing being a hot elf chick.
A Squaresoft RPG? Christ, I'd better start working on my hour long monologue skills.
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Not everyone in a Square game has a long monologue, but you are only required to wear 3 belts at a minimum.
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I'm from the Vincent/Chrono school of Squaresoft monologues.
"..."
The nice thing is that it easily scales to whatever length monologue you need.
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For the square RPG, don't forget flashbacks. The more emo the better.
Also you're not allowed to carry a weapon that's smaller than a small cow, if it looks like you could feasibly lift it within the laws of Newtonian physics, then its too small.
Remember to spike your hair.
And finally, if you're male, remember to look androgenyous.
Jesse (Score:4, Interesting)
We already have achievement points (Score:4, Insightful)
....its called money. And you don't get any for brushing your teeth or high fiving a friend.
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....its called money. And you don't get any for brushing your teeth or high fiving a friend.
Not necessarily true. At low levels (say when your age 4) your mentor (aka parents) might give you your allowance (aka reward) for brushing your teeth.
:) Also rewards aren't just monetary, they are experience, renown, titles, honors, etc. I would say the high five would be a renown reward.
We reward people for the darndest things
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....its called money. And you don't get any for brushing your teeth or high fiving a friend.
Not directly - but making a good impression, having the right friends, etc. can certainly help.
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I do think our society is coming ever-closer to monetizing everything, because that leads to economic efficiency.
However, I do not agree that money is ultimately the only driver, nor even that
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Been there, done that, claimed the XP (Score:3, Informative)
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Obligatory, apparently. (Score:4, Funny)
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That reminds me, I've got a quest today at the gym that should reward me with +3con. That and my natural 18 charisma will go a long way to finishing my Friday Night quest.
Say what you want... (Score:4, Interesting)
After donating 18 liters of blood, achieving the Ist Degree Honorable Blood Donor title, a document and a badge stating that, and a permanent free public communication ticket, I really felt like I just finished a major questline.
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Now you just have to do it 19 more times to get the tokens you need to flag for the raid.
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High level, lots of hit points, obviously.
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nope, just good regen. Fucking casual noob, with regenerating health, that's what I am.
(the regulations say 450ml per donation, 8 weeks apart at least. That's 40 donations, with 6 per year limit and a lot of extra quarantine conditions (dentist - another month. Injury involving stitches - half a year...). That's at least six and a half years of donating, realistically more like eight.)
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use whatever local public transport (buses, trams, metro) for free, country-wide. (trains, planes and long-distance buses not covered).
Down and Out (Score:2)
"Down and Out In the Magic Kingdom" has something like this although is was closer to PageRank then points.
Trophy : Shower (Score:2)
"You have taken your first shower"
I'm Just an Avatar (Score:2, Funny)
I thought RPG meant Rocket Powered Grenade (Score:2)
As someone who is not into playing computer games, that other meaning for RPG did not immediately occur to me.
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Reputation Based Economy (Score:2)
So I realize the article is sort of whatever (having not read it myself, I can only assume that's the case) but a friend of mine has been harping about a reputation based economy where the dollar is less meaningful and you earn favors and acquire goods more on how well known you are in a particular area or field. A Nobel winner would be given kingly treatment wherever he or she goes while a politician would remain hated or loved depending on where they are, as they do now.
It was an interesting concept, hea
Procreation (Score:2, Funny)
So instead of having kids, it's considered rolling an alt?
Life Achievements.com (Score:2, Informative)
What a grind... (Score:2)
Life is great and all, but there’s just too much tedium. Parts of it are just incredibly boring.
It would have been so much cooler if I could have had a macro do my homework for me.
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using macros is a ban-able offense. I'm level 80 and you should have to suffer just like I did.
Damned new players and their entitlement mentality.
Hunger for Reality isn't new... (Score:2)
Nobody remembers this guy [wikipedia.org]?
This is some twenty-something guy suddenly noticing things that smacked me around the head when I was that twenty-something guy when I picked up Colin Fletcher "The Man who Walked through Time" and got rid of most of my camping gear 'cos going camping with a groundsheet and a sleeping bag and NO TENT was more REAL. Back in the Reagan years.
Addicted to fake achievement in RPGs (Score:2)
I like this article:
http://www.pixelpoppers.com/2009/11/awesome-by-proxy-addicted-to-fake.html [pixelpoppers.com]
That said, I think an automated pat-on-the-back system would do wonders for motivation in education... but more from the perspective of unlocking the tech tree / curriculum, and showing what new abilities a student might have after mastering second-order differential equations or the Level IV history of Mesopotamia analytical text.
But it may just as well breed more precious coddled snowflakes that can't cope with a
We Already Do This (Score:2)
It's called MONEY.
"Business is a good game. You keep score with money." --Nolan Bushnell
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Nah, it's too much affected by die rolls.
The World According to LARP! (Score:2)
Beware of contracting RPG Radiculopathy [g4tv.com].
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"Mine's a battle axe"
MMORPG, not RPG (Score:2)
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Already happened for Chicago. Just need some more cities. http://www.microsoft.com/games/midtown/ [microsoft.com]
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use your class granted feats (style, conversation) to exploit her weaknesses
Forgot what site you're on, huh?
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