NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, at least he is not calling for a ban.

Likely Presidential Candidate Mark Warner Appears in MMO Today

When a presidential contender makes an appearance inside an MMO, it shows just how mainstream games have become.

Later today, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) will become the first U.S. politician to create a character - publicly at least - in the popular MMO, Second Life.

The ex-Guv, who is expected to make a strong run at the White House in 2008, will make his appearance in-game at 3:30 Eastern time. Once online, Warner will announce the first-ever "virtual town hall on American politics," scheduled for later this year.

"In Second Life," said Warner, "distances and time differences vanish. It will allow us to reach people through a whole new medium. Social technologies can be great tools for political change, and virtual worlds like Second Life might be the next tool for engaging people in the real world democratic process. We want to use Second Life to continue the conversation about the direction of our country. My avatar is also pretty funny looking. That alone makes it worth checking out."

Through his avatar, Warner will be interviewed briefly by journalist Wagner James Au (also in character) and then launch the Second Life group of Forward Together, his political action (i.e., fund raising) committee.

"Governor Mark Warner and Forward Together PAC are exploring the limitless potential of Second Life as a platform for communication," said David Fleck, an exec with Linden Lab, the San Francisco-based company which operates the popular MMO. "Second Life represents the new 'town hall' that allows intimate interaction directly with the voters."

The event will take place at The Second Life New Globe Theater, a virtual version of the proposed New Globe Theater. As Warner's press release points out, basic memberships for the game are free. GP readers who would like to attend can create an account here.

It would be great if any of the GP faithful with Second Life accounts could FRAPS some video and YouTube it. In any event, the Forward Together PAC promises to make video available soon at its blog. Wagner James Au offers his take on the event at his blog, New World Notes.

http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/351728.html

And since it's Second Life, the first virtual sex scandal involving a politician shouldn't be too far away.

...
Does Second Life have a 'car bomb' feature?

Hmm...second life is the "realistic" one, right? Too bad, it would be much funnier if the guy appeared on World of Warcraft.

Orc for president!

Hmm...second life is the "realistic" one, right? Too bad, it would be much funnier if the guy appeared on World of Warcraft.

Orc for president!

Dabu!

FOR THE HORDE!!

No, have him go to Guild Wars! That's got a lot of people in the main outlets.

great... our tax dollars at work!

can I get a job playing... er... researching using Internet Games for communication? :D

Silly president, the internet is for porn.

great... our tax dollars at work!

can I get a job playing... er... researching using Internet Games for communication? :D

No but you can make America's Army 2 if you want. That's what your taxes also paid for.

Pfft, he appeared in the most carebear MMO of them all.

Somehow I doubt politicians will be making appearances in games like EVE, where their life expectancy will be measured in minutes once they poke the local channel.

Pfft, he appeared in the most carebear MMO of them all.

Somehow I doubt politicians will be making appearances in games like EVE, where their life expectancy will be measured in minutes once they poke the local channel.

I'd give them 30 seconds before they get :sniper: 'd or :mp5: 'd. :p

Awww, now we can't kill him! Damn. He should appear in MxO.

I'd give them 30 seconds before they get :sniper: 'd or :mp5: 'd. :p
*Clears throat*

"Dear residents of BWF-ZZ. I am honoured to - "

<combat> Pwnzerer87 [PWNZ] perfectly strikes you, wrecking for 2374.8 damage.

<notify> Entering space.

<combat> Noobulator [LUBE] perfectly strikes you, wrecking for 552.3 damage.

<notify> Loading station environment.

What kind of set back would it be for a politition's character to be zapped by a mod for griefing?

PK!!!

Makes you wonder if any politicains play NS.

A lot of us who play NS are politicians. But usually only here.

I only know of one who's actually a politician IRL.

What's the game (Second Life or whatever it was) about?

What's the game (Second Life or whatever it was) about?
It is not 'about' anything.

It is supposedly the most detailed representation of a city ever created. You get a customisable human avatar, a tiny income from the state, and off you go to craft objects, trade to earn an income, commit cyber prostitution, perform real estate speculation, shop, etc and generally do all the things that you can see going on in a real city.

A couple of slight problems.

1) There is no way to own n00bs.

2) It's just a 3D chatroom.

It is not 'about' anything.

It is supposedly the most detailed representation of a city ever created. You get a customisable human avatar, a tiny income from the state, and off you go to craft objects, trade to earn an income, commit cyber prostitution, perform real estate speculation, shop, etc and generally do all the things that you can see going on in a real city.

A couple of slight problems.

1) There is no way to own n00bs.

2) It's just a 3D chatroom.


Ah. The Sims. Only boring.

Ah. The Sims. Only boring.
That's probably why it was chosen for the stunt. Great demographics - massive yuppie following - and no way for anyone to do the grassy knoll thing.

I get the feeling this sort of thing will become more popular, but the games will be screened for weapons first. :p

That's probably why it was chosen for the stunt. Great demographics - massive yuppie following - and no way for anyone to do the grassy knoll thing.

Maybe people will throw the crappy computer game made crafts at them on the game instead.

Mark Warner plays MMOGs? Nice. I really like that guy.

Too bad he's not playing EverQuest on the PK server...I'd be all over him and any other politician in an instant.

Man, I would've loved to interrupt the 2004 electional debates by casting Thundaga on both canidates...

Ooo. This is gonna be GOOD! Quickly! To the n00b pw3ing mobile!

EDIT: Actually, TG, you can kick people very far distances in that game.