OMG Durova has lost her mind!!!!!!!, She plays Zoo World on Facebook ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT!!! Options

[Moulton]

There are dozens of similar games on Facebook. They all use the same underlying game engine, but differ in the costumery, settings, and story in which the game items are acquired. Yesterday, on April Fool Day, the Mafia Wars "Chop Shop" (where you rebuild stolen cars from parts) was replaced by a lavender Fairy Castle where you nurture young unicorns. It was a one-for-one substitution of the names of the items and the associated artwork, but the underlying game calculus remained exactly the same.

The main advantage of Facebook's MMPORGs over WP is that the games on Facebook are not subject to rampant corruption. The players cannot hijack the dynamics of the underlying game engine to gain an outrageous advantage over rival players.

[Kwork]

These were all from the past 24 hours.

DUROVA'S GONE ZOO WORLD CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wut does this have to do with a deep critique of the Web 2.0?

ummmm, well maybe some1 could say something abt how playing zoo world may be pointless, but at least it doesnt harm anyone liek Wikipeeeeeeedia.

ok thx.

Ummm. This is a bio-clock syndrome in women of a certain age, ya know. Known treatments are to adopt a pair of small dogs and half a dozen cats. Or two children from Haiti.

The electronic version appears unholy and unwholesome, but it might be better than nothing.

It is easy to argue that Wikipedia itself is actually just an online game, with the theme of "write an encyclopedia" set up in a way so that the "editors" can fight out their personal issues with various allies and opponents. I think Catherineyronwode (T-C-L-K-R-D) sums that view of WP rather well on her user page.

If that is correct, there is not surprising that WP users also play other online games.

[Moulton]

It is easy to argue that Wikipedia itself is actually just an online game, with the theme of "write an encyclopedia" set up in a way so that the "editors" can fight out their personal issues with various allies and opponents. I think Catherineyronwode sums that view of WP rather well on her user page.

The main difference between WP and other online MMPORGs is that on WP you can develop your skills at corrupting the integrity of the game.

[Kwork]

It is easy to argue that Wikipedia itself is actually just an online game, with the theme of "write an encyclopedia" set up in a way so that the "editors" can fight out their personal issues with various allies and opponents. I think Catherineyronwode sums that view of WP rather well on her user page.

The main difference between WP and other online MMPORGs is that on WP you can develop your skills at corrupting the integrity of the game.

Have any studies published that discuss that aspect of Wikipedia?

[Moulton]

It is easy to argue that Wikipedia itself is actually just an online game, with the theme of "write an encyclopedia" set up in a way so that the "editors" can fight out their personal issues with various allies and opponents. I think Catherineyronwode sums that view of WP rather well on her user page.

The main difference between WP and other online MMPORGs is that on WP you can develop your skills at corrupting the integrity of the game.

Have any studies published that discuss that aspect of Wikipedia?

Yes, including both journalistic accounts and academic studies (including some graduate level theses which appear in peer-reviewed journals).

[Sarcasticidealist]

The only Facebook game I play is "Convince my Facebook friends of how clever I am", which I pretty much play morning, noon, and night too. I suspect that a lot of people have blocked that game from their feeds, too.

[Milton Roe]

Now I'm saving a humpback whale. Let's see what sort of sophomoric pun that generates.

I want you to teach your pussy not to barf hairballs on the carpet.
Then, not to drool when you pet it.

[Kwork]

The only Facebook game I play is "Convince my Facebook friends of how clever I am", which I pretty much play morning, noon, and night too. I suspect that a lot of people have blocked that game from their feeds, too.

If you are incapable of saying something intelligent, there is no need to prove it. (Arbcom members, particularly, seem to feel a need to demonstrate that, for Wikipedia, it is good enough to be a halfwit.)

This post has been edited by Kwork: Fri 2nd April 2010, 4:56pm

[GlassBeadGame]

I use Facebook as an adjunct to the language learning communities I participate in. The language sites are used to identify people with complimentary language interest (ie I want to learn Spanish and speak English, they want to learn English and speak Spanish). We help each other with prepared exercises and more importantly exchange emails, chats or Skype calls. Facebook serves a useful place to share cultural, political or social interests (mostly pop culture) that then provides the basis for substantial conversations. The "gifting" of token representing food items from respective cultures is common, so I have had virtual goat.

The demographic and characteristics of people who participate in these language communities is very different. Age range not much different, but non-geek, good gender balance, education level good but probably less than WP. More diversity of race and social class. Little or no drama. They present some of the same concerns as WP in terms of child protection. Sometimes a young girl (well maybe a girl) will show up wanting to "meet" men in the biblical and commercial sense. Anonymity is sometimes used, sometimes not. There is a cadre of employee staff to address abuse problems and concerns. The biggest difference seems to be almost everyone is there to learn, not just demonstrate their "knowledge."

I'm impressed with the array of social media (PHP driven tutorials, discussion boards, chat, Skype, Facebook etc) employed to carry out a teaching/learning task. I also like that it is decentralized in that a variety of sites are employed by the same people working together. IMHO it presently represents the best hope for successful online learning communities.

[Somey]

Oh my!

One thing that concerns me about Facebook, in fact probably the only thing, is that since they opened up their authentication API they're fast becoming the authentication method of choice all over the web - and not just for blog/news comments and forums, but collaborative sites too. In effect, this means that website operators are passing off whatever responsibility or duty-of-care they might otherwise have to prevent impersonation, multiple-account abuse, etc., onto Facebook - which we already know to be a massive fail strategy, even if they do a better-than-average job of it. (The point here being that "average" is pretty bad, so "better than average" ain't saying much.)

So the question for me is, at what point is Wikipedia going to start directly incorporating Facebook APIs into its own system? There's already a fairly well-tested Facebook Connect extension... If Facebook really started taking online identity abuse seriously, I'd probably say this would be a good thing. In fact, even the way it is now, it would probably be better than what Wikipedia does, which is basically the equivalent of turning angry teenagers into self-appointed internet detectives, just to pick off the low-hanging fruit, sock-puppetwise.

Anyhoo, this is all off-topic - this thread is about how the difficult, complex job of professional zoo management can be trivialized into an online social-networking game that takes about 5 minutes a day to "win." In general some of these Facebook games look pretty ridiculous, but I suppose there's relatively little harm in them other than "lost productivity" (which I've always thought was overrated to begin with).

[Milton Roe]

In general some of these Facebook games look pretty ridiculous, but I suppose there's relatively little harm in them other than "lost productivity" (which I've always thought was overrated to begin with).

Yes. Apparently, it takes Lise little mental energy and time to teach her electronic bald eagle to play dead. We have her word for it.



























Ah, god.

Actually, it is indeed slightly less lame to discuss this as a cultural phenomenon, than to actually get into the pit and do it.

[A Horse With No Name]

I want you to teach your pussy not to barf hairballs on the carpet.

Lovely...now Miltie thinks he's Mrs. Slocombe!

Are you free, Mr. Roe?



I'm free!

[dtobias]

We help each other with prepared exorcises

Do you have an exorcist for that?

[RDH(Ghost In The Machine)]

Now I'm saving a humpback whale. Let's see what sort of sophomoric pun that generates.

I want you to teach your pussy not to barf hairballs on the carpet.
Then, not to drool when you pet it.

Better yet-just shave your pussy...sure it'll look funny, but no hairballs.

There are dozens of similar games on Facebook. They all use the same underlying game engine, but differ in the costumery, settings, and story in which the game items are acquired. Yesterday, on April Fool Day, the Mafia Wars "Chop Shop" (where you rebuild stolen cars from parts) was replaced by a lavender Fairy Castle where you nurture young unicorns. It was a one-for-one substitution of the names of the items and the associated artwork, but the underlying game calculus remained exactly the same.

Coming soon to a generic, flash game engine near you:
Super Restroom Attendant Hero!

At last! You have gained a brush!

Finally! You have earned a plunger!

[Obesity]

There have been several important Zoo World developments of which I'd like everyone to be aware:

1) Durova has now reached LEVEL 22 on Zoo World!!!!!!! [we need a smiley with a noisemaker and a party hat, please]

2) Durova has now begun naming inhabitants of her cybermenagerie after prominent Wikipedia Review members.

Here is a catalog of her latest activities:

Lise found a beached Humpback Whale. Oh no!
Lise found a beached Humpback Whale struggling to get back in the water. If Lise gets 10 helping hands in 7 days then everyone who helps gets a Humpback Whale.

Lise found a Blue Jay with a broken wing. Oh No!
Lise found a Blue Jay that fell out of his nest and broke his wing!. He is hurt and needs someone to take care of him so he can fly again!

A rescued Hedgehog escaped from Lise's zoo. Oh No!
A rescued Hedgehog escaped while being transported to Lise's zoo! The frisky little Hedgehog!She is frightened and needs someone to find her!

Lise just traded 15 Complete Baskets for a Rainbow Butterfly and is offering a reward!
Lise is happy to have a Rainbow Butterfly and is sharing a Complete Basket of Eggs with friends!

Lise has speed stones to share!
Lise's swift, Eric + Obesity, just beat Cristi in a race and collected a new speed stone. Some things are best when shared with friends. [There are like twenty different posts about Durova's swift, named "Eric + Obesity," besting various other animals in imaginary "races". I have omitted these updates, because they are virtually identical. Apparently, E+O is the fastest animal in all of Zoo World.]

Lise is away and their new baby American Alligator needs food. Oh my!
Lise's American Alligator was born just 9 hours ago. She is cold, lonely, and will get sick soon without any food. Baby wants to grow up big and strong some day and just needs a little help getting started.

Lise wants to share an Easter Egg!
Lise's Easter Bunny Boat is filling up with fast with gifts and they want to celebrate with a special gift egg for friends!

A rescued Ocelot escaped from Lise's zoo. Oh No!
A rescued Ocelot escaped while being transported to Lise's zoo! The frisky little Ocelot!She is frightened and needs someone to find he

Lise needs more helping hands!
Lise found a beached Humpback Whale struggling to get back in the water. If Lise gets 5 more helping hands in 7 days then everyone who helps gets a Humpback Whale.

Lise just trained her Swift to do the "Stand on one foot" trick!
Now she can attract even more visitors to her zoo! [Should legitimate zoos really be training animals to do "tricks"?.... I mean, isn't that more of circus/Sea World type of thing? The more highly regarded zoos at least make shallow attempts to make the animals appear as they do in their natural habitat. I'm not sure I agree with Durova's approach here.]

Lise has a mystery gift to share with friends!
Lise found a mystery gift box during a treasure hunt! There could be a valuable rare item in this gift box!

[A Horse With No Name]

There have been several important Zoo World developments of which I'd like everyone to be aware:

The animals are cute, but listen to the soundtrack -- great rendition of a silly song.

[Kelly Martin]

Please don't encourage the troll.

[Obesity]

Please don't encourage the troll.

wut troll r u referring to?

[TungstenCarbide]

She is playing that pointless Zoo World game MORNING, NOON and NIGHT.

this thread is just plain mean and should be moved to the tarpit.

[GlassBeadGame]

Duova exports WP/WR dispute onto Facebook by naming here critters after WRers? Couldn't see that coming. When she gonna teach one of her eagles to ride a Harley?