Can you really form a real relationship in the virtual world

Or would it just be an imitation, because there would be so many things about ourselves that would be missing?”

A lot of people act completely different in the virtual world.

Who would people see as a leader in the real vs virtual world?

One player I know seems absent-minded at times, but I know he's going to have a doctorate in philosophy.
That changes a lot of assumptions about him.

That would mean friendships that we have made in the virtual world aren't real either, because a lot of our personality is missing or outright misrepresented.

But is it true? I mean, there's a lot I don't know about people I've met in real life, but that didn't stop me from becoming friends with them.

I think "Z" would lack meaning if it's easy. I just think you have to overcome in order to truly achieve. And that success without opposition isn't really achievement. It means more if you overcome the odds, and I guess that's why the conflict against 'G' in X is interesting.

We're playing a game. And if you can't have fun playing a game, then you've managed to suck the soul out of it. I think that's why I enjoy what we do so much. We look for challenges. We take risks, and it's all the more satisfying when we manage to pull it off.

What happens if we don't succeed?

Then we start from scratch and build our way back up again.

Does that mean everything leading up to that will have been a waste?

Its not just getting there, but how we get there. And I have a group of good friends that I probably never would have met if it weren't for the adventures we had in "Z"

Last but not least, I dont really believe its a war game - its all about politics.

Dunno. I just play the game and don't over think things.

It's an interesting question. The whole psychology of a game like Zorg is pretty interesting. The different personality types, the alliances, the people that emerge as leaders and great fleeters or raiders.

I sometimes wonder what the top fleeters and raiders are like in the world of work. On the face of it they have some amazing talents - think of the dedication it takes to raid your way to the top of a server. Yet I bet many have little recognition in RL. Leaders too - it takes considerable judgement, communication and diplomatic skill to grow an alliance and keep it together even for a few months.

About friendships, one thing that is clearly different here is that nobody cares what job anyone else has, how big their car is, where they live. None of that matters at all. And many of us don't know about physical appearance either. So you judge people on personality, loyalty, integrity, humour...

I'm just as awesome online as offline.

But yes, you only get to see certain aspects in a game.

Good questions to ponder.

Depends on the person, some get over attached, cry themselves asleep when their WoW character is killed, ponders suicide, restarts gets buffed up in-game, gets an online girlfriend then is killed again.

But hey, most people aren't like me .