One angle

We are all products of our environment. I think games are generally as clinical and devoid of originality as they are because of the sub-concious influence of the deplorable 60htz portal on which they are born. The concepts of hotkeys, code bases and algorythms are less interesting than directing a film crew on set. Perhaps that's not the best comparison, but obviously the glare of the XP rectangles isn't the most inspiring environment for the creation of art. There's no alternative of course, but it gets me down to think that's how the majority of my time could be conditioned under. Shit, it already is.

That's one angle. Another could be that with a connection, the widest possible library of literature, music and visual art is instantly available. This might be the preferred take of Linden Lab's Philip Rosedale, who boldly stated that did he not think Second Life's players were coming away from the game emotionally richer, better people than they were without the experience, he would quit his job.

The rest of the MMO based panel of the social gaming discussion at EIEF today all seemed to, if not agree, at least place their games (Guild Wars, Habbo Hotel, Xbox Live) as a worthy alternative to prime time TV, that they argued players replaced the latter with. While I'd like to share Rosedale's confidence - which in Second Life, I do kinda - a friend of mine down the road dropped out of school for Wow. Another ended up joining the police following an academic u-turn, again, Azeroth driven. What do they come out with? Fond memories of Ironforge, not much more. Gaming seems less the pure, emerging creative format for cases like these.

Going to Cargo, industry party started an hour ago.