Make More Mistakes: Lessons Learned from Synthetic World Construction Mark Bell Indiana University

Mark Bell PhD Student Indiana University Social Networks Virtual World Experimentation 15 Years Software Industry

05/28/09 Virtual Congress dusk

A new tool for research 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

A new tool for research

The real world is not as real as you think The virtual world is more real than you think For research, virtuality or “gameness” does not matter The idea is not radical 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

The real world is not as real as you think

The virtual world is more real than you think

For research, virtuality or “gameness” does not matter

The idea is not radical

Our experience 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Our experience

Arden Commercial-grade virtual world Data consciousness MacArthur Foundation seed grant for 100 hours of game play by 500 people Multiverse engine Medieval Somerset, History, Shakespeare 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Commercial-grade virtual world

Data consciousness

MacArthur Foundation seed grant for 100 hours of game play by 500 people

Multiverse engine

Medieval Somerset, History, Shakespeare

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Transforming linear storylines into a non-linear world experience 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Transforming linear storylines into a non-linear world experience

Create environment Create things to do Create systems by which to do them Gather data & analyze results 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Create environment

Create things to do

Create systems by which to do them

Gather data & analyze results

Result 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Result

05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Some obstacles… 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Some obstacles…

No tried and true platform for creating a world Multiverse NeverWinter Nights Second Life Metaplace 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

No tried and true platform for creating a world

Multiverse

NeverWinter Nights

Second Life

Metaplace

Financial Resources Labor Resources 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Financial Resources

Labor Resources

Academic investigator vs. Fulltime development team 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Academic investigator

vs.

Fulltime development team

Our approach was not feasible 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Our approach was not feasible

What would be the minimal conditions needed for a specific question? 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

What would be the minimal conditions needed for a specific question?

“ Little Experiments” Need smaller-scale experiment tools Each finely tailored for a specific question Include core elements of: Persistence Community Space 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

“ Little Experiments”

Need smaller-scale experiment tools

Each finely tailored for a specific question

Include core elements of:

Persistence

Community

Space

Arden 2 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Arden 2 Neverwinter Nights Based on D&D economy Allows us to fulfill obligation to MacArthur 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Neverwinter Nights

Based on D&D economy

Allows us to fulfill obligation to MacArthur

Conclusions 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Conclusions

Where to go from here? Make More Mistakes 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Where to go from here?

Make More Mistakes

Four approaches for research Little Experiments Creation of New, Vast Worlds Observation of Natural Experiments Co-creation with Commercial Sector 05/28/09 Castronova & Cummings

Little Experiments

Creation of New, Vast Worlds

Observation of Natural Experiments

Co-creation with Commercial Sector

Mark Bell [email_address] SL: Typewriter Tackleberry Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter www.storygeek.com 05/28/09

Mark Bell

[email_address]

SL: Typewriter Tackleberry

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

www.storygeek.com