Second Life

There are definitive boundaries between life and the digital world. Boundaries which cannot be physically crossed. The notion of avatar has been developed as a means to create some literal notion of digital identity and help to bridge the ethereal layer between the real and not so real. While we have lived with these notions for some time, I believe it was initially introduced in the Disney movie Tron and was further developed as a notion through the Ultima games where the hero was labelled an avatar. The origins of the concept stem back to the Hindus. There have been several news stories over the last couple of months which have involved several game developers immortalising disadvantaged and in-need children in to their games. The release of Rainbow Six: Vegas on Xbox 360 last year allowed gamers to scan their own faces in to the game with the Xbox camera. They could then battle out on multiplayer with a pretty accurate depiction of themselves online. Now, there are participants in Second Life who have created cemeteries for players who have passed on in the real world. An online funeral for a WOW player was gatecrashed last year creating some amusement and consternation for gamers and non-gamers alike. Is there an underlying spirituality developing behind these concepts as gamers strive to create some notion of immortality by summoning an online simulacrum of themselves to continue to live in cyberspace beyond their physical beings? Where will it possibly end?

People don't like to talk about religion or the notion of immortality any more. Where discussion around the dinner table was once either focussed on politics or the state of the church, people now tend to find these things somewhat passée. While 'religions' such as scientology continue to appeal to celebrities and find a place alongside their over inflated wallets, these varied notions of spirit don't necessarily correspond very realistically to the virtual world. The notion of avatar is originally attributed to the Hindus. It refers to the summoning of the deva, or higher being, to the physical manifestation on Earth. Or, to put it more simply, it refers to one of the Hindu gods taking human form. Christianity also develops this notion through Christ, where Jesus is the physical manifestation of God. I guess, considering mankind invented the internet then the similarities between the use of the term avatar and our manifestation of self on the internet are actually very close.

World of Warcraft

Blizzard were involved in materializing the dreams of a young boy, Ezra Chatterton, for the Make A Wish foundation just recently. Ezra was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour which gave him chronic and insufferable headaches. Before going into hospital Ezra would play World of Warcraft with his father. Ezra's parents were seperated and father and son would use WOW as a means to spend time together. Ezra's father, Micah, said,

"There were a lot of things that are unconventional with our relationship, and the way we choose to bond and spend time together ... For instance, WOW was something we had researched and talked about. We would talk about what kind of character do we want to create. This costume as opposed to that costume. We would make decisions together. Neither of us would feel comfortable without making a big decision without each other."

When Ezra made his wish to travel to Blizzard he didn't think that it would be possible, but Blizzard fulfilled his wish and a whole lot more. During Ezra's day with Blizzard they were able to incorporate Ezra into WOW in a number of ways. They created a specific quest around him and his dog. Ezra voiced the character. Blizzard also created an extremely rare customized crossbow as well. Ezra said,

"If Blizzard are listening, I'd like to say thank you for everything you've done for my character to make him so good. I want to thank them for making the quest for the lost dog and the Old Rancher and all the stuff they gave us ... I'd like to be paid to test and play the game and test weapons, but I don't think I meet the age requirements ... I am only 10"

Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

There was also another news story based around the US TV show Extreme Makeover. As a part of the show they were doing a makeover for the Westbrook family. Their son, James Westbrook was involved in a car accident in 2006. The accident left James paralysed. Unfortunately, his father was wounded in Iraq and was also paralysed making the family cope with two wheel chairs in the house. James always wanted to be a video game designer. While he was confined to a wheel chair he continued his love of video games. As is a part of the Extreme Makeover show, the family goes on holiday while the house is given an extreme makeover. During this time Insomniac Games made James a character in their upcoming release, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. They managed to create James as a playable character in the game. His character flies around on a mini-flying saucer. In one week the team managed to complete what usually takes a month. Ryan Schneider, Insomniac Games' Marketing Director, said,

"We're still finalizing the details of James' in-game character ... We have the basic gameplay mechanic down, but how we incorporate that into Ratchet and Clank Future is still being determined ... the portion of the level was approximately 30 percent complete at the time it was captured for the show."

Gamers don't have to go to these lengths to create some form of digital likeness ingame. It is possible to do it with an Xbox 360 camera and Rainbow Six: Vegas. Scan your face in to the game and then run about on the internet. While Rainbow Six did not develop this technology they certainly simplified the process. It was possible for people to mod their own image in to the original Doom if they felt that way inclined and had the required skills.