Comments on: Making virtual worlds more lifelike

PARC researchers study challenges in creating satisfying face-to-face avatar and other interactions.

[freemarket--2008]

Not chat rooms...

Obviously, these guys haven't spent much time playing these MMOs. The main reason WoW is so successful is the large amount of casual player content which reduces the amount of 'down-time' and thus it has less socializing. There is the occasional banter, but for the most part, people are not there to chat.

A 3-D chat room on the other hand would likely benefit from their research.

[umbrae]

True...

Having natural facial expressions and emotes are wonderful and great. But over 90% of an MMO's "fun" time is spent explorering content and is usually "zoomed out" so facial expressions would never be seen.

Second Life may be able to use this, and other Social games, but MMORPGs and other games where being social is just a by-product of playing the game, this would just not add much value.

Ask me whether I want a new dungeon or the ability to wink; COME ON... a new dungeon of course!

[ctbcctbc]

these guys have no experience with mmorpgs

Players are not interested in chatting in rooms with more realistic facial motions and gestures. It's one of the reasons why mmorpgs like WoW are more popular than simulations like Second Life.

Players are interested in gaining social recognition, through acquisition of the rare sword, that unique spell, etc. Social bonds between individuals come later, through hours of collaborative game play.

I played a Paladin in WoW up to lvl 60, and acquired most of my end-game gear. I didn't develop social relationships with other people until late in the endgame when it was the only way to obtain the gear I needed. The perks from social interaction can not be used as incentive to excite and interest players. They are simply a necessity for gaining individual goals in the end-game!

[elr01998]

webcams and authentically reactive avatars

I'm sure at some point someone in the industry has had an idea like this (and probably started implementing it), and if not I'm certainly in no position to profit from it anyways so I'll toss it out here. How cool would it be if with a webcam and some cleverly written software the facial expressions and posture of your avatars in these mmorpgs could actually reflect your own, sitting in front of the computer. I'm sure one curious side effect would be that I'd become more conscious of the fact that I'm constantly hunched forward towards the screen. It would create a sort of feedback loop and, to me at least, make the game much, much more interesting and meaningful.

I'd love to see this feature start appearing in the next year or so, and I don't honestly think it would be that hard (for a software company with massive resources) to accomplish. I can't wait.

Peace,
ephraim ross