The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The video game The Sims online continues to set new records and push reality in ways that were never possible only a few years ago. The Sims is the all time best selling video game. It is a virtual country on the Internet where people create a personality for their characters, purchase a house or an apartment, and can live their entire lives, from shopping through entertainment, online. In a mimic of American society in reality, The 'citisims', as residents of the game are called, are currently embroiled in an election of a president for the main city in the game called Alphaville. The two citisims running for the presidency of this virtual space are both claiming a platform based on helping new players to the game, and generally cleaning up the game's reputation. Over the last few years, as the game has grown in size and numbers, the number of troubles have increased as well. A few residents of Alphaville have begun scamming new game players out of their money and possessions. As well, there are rising concerns about the number of underage players involved in the seamy side of the game, such as virtually working in the city's brothels and dungeons. The trouble is that you can't really do much to enforce law and order in an online video game. But EA Games is growing increasingly concerned about what is happening in The Sims game. Both National Public Radio in the United States, and CNN have recently broadcast stories about the game and the deteriorating social situation in online communities. As massive online games continue to flourish, they are increasingly coming under scrutiny from academics who are studying these emerging communities, and by government officials who, after the Janet Jackson / Justin Timberlake incident at the Superbowl, are looking for any reason to begin censoring the entertainment industry. However, as the industry comes under study, people are purchasing these games in droves, and doing almost anything to ensure their adopted characters are strong and successful in their chosen online communities. Over the last two week period alone, over 61,000 auctions on eBay have taken place among people who are willing to pay for anything to do with online games. From magic wands through money for use in the games, to entire characters, these auctions flourish as people are increasingly willing to pay real money to enhance their online personalities. These 61,000 auctions in the last two weeks alone have netted more than $1 million bringing the total for the year to almost $4.5 million! Amidst the situation in the online game which is becoming increasingly filled with players seeking to scam others out of their money and a questionable social situation, the players running for the presidency are hoping to clean up the game so that this online community can truly flourish as a model of the beginning of an international space where people can gather in a unique social situation. ([email protected])
