Your Life = MMO Game

[Sven Schoene]

Your Wealthy Avatar - StevePavlina.com


Haha, I've just finished reading this article. I love his stuff, I disagree on a lot of topics with him but at least he's making me think.


Anyway, I thought this might be interesting since we all are working on our computers all day that maybe some people also play games from time to time (they take way too much time for me but I try to squeeze the occassional session in) and therefore can relate to this.


I'm a big fan of analogies like this and Steve hit the nail right on it's head. Whenever I need a more distanced perspective in life to reach my goals or to get motivated again I always think of my life as an RPG-game. Don't ask me why, but putting myself into this type of mindset helps me.


Whatever, just wanted to provide some food for thought (and discussion).

[Kezz]

I think the same way, and having done a bit of game development, the whole universe is like a vast game engine to me. There are so many similarites - art imitates life.

That's why I kind of don't get playing the SIMs - isn't that what we're doing all day anyway?

For me also, the video game analogy helps me understand the difference between determining my own fate, and accepting things that are outside my control. I see life as being like one huge game level or quest. There are certain preset conditions that will play out the same way no matter what I do. Like in a game level, you will reach a certain place and there will always be a mob of monsters that run out and attack you. You can't change it - it's built in, like destiny. But, you can choose how you play through that level. You can choose which way to move, what strategy to take, and how to deal with the scenario, like self-determination and controlling your own life.

Who knows, if we fail to pass the level, maybe we also get to come back and have another life. ;-)

[Sven Schoene]

Wow, awesome to see that there are people out there who feel exactly like me.


I like your connection between "destiny" and the pre-defined levels that we have to play through in games. That's an awesome way of looking at it, not bad.


And I also agree that it helps me to gain perspective on the very real amount of freedom and power that we have. I just imagine myself as a game-character and think "What possibilities do I have now?"


I'm completely tired right now so I cannot work this post out in more detail but concepts like "leveling up", "character creation", "quests", "NPCs vs. your 'party'", etc. are very intriguing to me. I'm going to think a bit more about this... after I've slept.

[Preben Frenning]

Heh, I like to compare my skills with a game.

If you do it, you get a much better overview of your strenghts and weaknesses.

In my idea book, I have an overview of the skills I will need to get further in my business life, with an "accomplishment bar" next to it. E.g. I feel pretty confident in SEO, but I'm not a master. So the bar is quite long, and I have marked a spot on it, where I will need to go, and one that is "complete mastery". Whenever I learn or try something new, I increase the accomplishment bar a bit, and then I'm able to see how much I improve from time to time.

Makes it more fun to learn =) (You might even compare it to "leveling up", or getting new "stat points" except it's in real life!)

As for your question "Why do people play the sims, when it's what they're doing every day anyways?", I think it's because they like the possibilities they can get there, compared to real life. For example being married to the girl of their dreams, but who is married in real life. Or they can be the rockstar they've always dreamt about being. (And it's much easier to click "Play guitar", hit "fast mode" and improve really fast, rather than picking up a real guitar and play

- Preben