Virtual Worlds Forum

Identity remains a thorny issue online. As the famous phrase goes, on the Internet no-one knows you're dog, and the same is true today as when MUDs were home to all sorts of role-playing people. Over in 3D virtual worlds, the same issues are repeating themselves 20 years later. As the MMORPG blog says, "A game world with six million subscribers is bound to have all sorts of citizens. Even without voice chat, it's no secret that your much respected guild leader can be half your age, or the chick you've been giving freebies to is actually a man." Voice chat is exposing the identity of other gamers, which makes one wonder is full-blown VOIP will ever take off in virtuals worlds - or perhaps it will if you can make your voice sound like the avatar looks. How this will play out in Second Life and other non-game virtual worlds remains to be seen. The early evidence is that most people prefer to make their avatar close in appearance to their real-world self. Authenticity becomes a premium when everyone around you is lying - sorry, role-playing - about their age or gender.