I know I’m a bit slow with this one but as a follow on to my post about signs and symbols in a virtual world I wanted to share this awesome pic :

THIS is what an MMO riot looks like! It excited me hugely this. It is a slightly bizzare response to the discovery of what gamers thought was a rising sun flag in a Chinese MMO. They were livid (for anti-imperialist reasons) and took to the ‘streets’ to protest.

I love that with all the current student protests in the UK in the back of my mind I can look at this virtual protest and find it intimidating. Frightening even. I find this a wonderful example of how I am bringing my own real world experience to a virtual setting since I am not only unsettled by the apparent ‘crush’ but also by the obvious loss of control – the breakdown of a familiar interface in the wash of bodies. It demonstrates an additional tool for the developer (although not deliberate here!) : breaking usually sacrosanct guidelines and messing with the interface. Panic is guaranteed!