Virtual Worlds 虚拟世界.docVIP

Virtual Worlds 虚拟世界 The line between the real world and online ‘virtual worlds’ is becoming increasingly blurred …之间的界限越来越模糊）with gamers（打游戏的人） spending real money to buy virtual commodities and even real estate in digital worlds（在数字世界）. Welcome to the world of MMOGs, Massive Multiplayer Online Games（大型多人在线游戏. For those who don’t know, an MMOG is a computer game which thousands of people can play simultaneously on the internet, interacting or competing with each other. Some of the most well-known MMOGs include Second Life, World of Warcraft（魔兽世界） and Legend of Mir II（热血传奇）. Whilst many of these kinds of games involve role-playing and fulfilling tasks, others simply offer an alternative universe（提供另一个空间/宇宙） where players can socialise, earn money and trade with each other（与人交往、挣钱、做生意）. In recent years ‘social’ MMOGs like Second Life and Project Entropia have invited gamers to spend real money inside the game. And whilst many people might find this strange, some online gamers have used their virtual investments to make a profit（用他们的虚拟资产获利）. A 23-year-old Australian gamer, known as Deathifier paid around ￡14,000 for an island in the game Project Entropia in 2004 and within a year had recouped his investment by selling land to other gamers to build virtual homes on. The young entrepreneur is highly confident（充满自信） that his digital assets will continue to be profitable（他的数字资产将会持续盈利）. “The money made to date（至今） is only a taste of （=a very small amount）what can be achieved with my virtual island purchase, said Deathifier, There is still more room for growth and revenue with the untapped resources surrounding the land. （因为岛周围还有未开发的资源，所以增长和盈利的空间还很大） Here at the BBC we are never slow to embrace new technology（总是迫不及待地接受新技术）, and have rented a virtual tropical island within the game Second Life. The BBC’s island has been used to stage online music festivals （举办在线音乐庆典）and showcase new musical talent（展示新音乐人）. It is hoped that it will also bring gamers closer to their favourite