What does Immersion mean to you in MUs?
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I’m the opposite regarding rosters. I don’t know which version of that character I’m talking to, and so I’m thrown further when I find out that what I believed to be fact isn’t known or acted upon by the current player. Maybe once I learn the cultural way to negotiate this it won’t be so jarring.
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@apos said in What does Immersion mean to you in MUs?:
So as an example, let's look at IC messengers versus @mail or page.
This made me giggle because I suspect this comes from a conversation I had with @faraday about the Ares project I'm (shh) building. The setting is science fiction, and so comms/digital communication are a huge part of the setting, inherently.
Functionally, @mail is more than sufficient to the task, at least for things like in-game email, but it feels 'off' to me in the way that RP in a google drive document feels 'off.' There's no measurable reason that should be the case -- text is text -- and yet.
In my conversation with Fara I mentioned that the word 'immersion' feels weird to me, even though I understand why it's used. I think that's because it's less that it 'maintains the illusion of a false reality so that I can believe it exists,' and more about 'getting into an empathetic headspace where I can put myself in the fiction and thus interact with it in authentic and organic ways.'
When I'm writing non-MU* fiction I don't convince myself the world is real, nor for the purposes of most of the messed up stuff I write would I ever want to do that. >.> But I do try to get 'into the moment' for the duration of my time with the writing I'm doing, because that's how I produce story that feels 'right.'
As for how code bits, etc., interact with those instincts, I think it's all just down to acclimation and custom. I, personally, do not think I could ever do forum-based RP. It just wouldn't work for me. Similarly, I could not be on an RP server for an MMO. It breaks my brain to even think about it. This works for some people, but not for me. It's all about compartmentalizing things in a way that lets you get into that writing zone, and I guess it just differs depending on what you're used to, or how easy it is for you to slide into that space.
EDIT: Edited to add that I think the reason comms and email work better for me than @mail that way is that I've just kinda mentally flagged @mail as a non-pretendy-thing. In that sense, immersion via code is really a pretty clear indicator of a strong feeling of IC/OOC separation, y'know? I don't get weirded out by @mail in-game IC emails when they're tagged that way, but I actually do dislike using pages for phone calls/texting/etc. Pages are player communication with me. Mentally, I have a hard time comfortably making the adjustment to any other utility.
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@cura said in What does Immersion mean to you in MUs?:
I think that's because it's less that it 'maintains the illusion of a false reality so that I can believe it exists,' and more about 'getting into an empathetic headspace where I can put myself in the fiction and thus interact with it in authentic and organic ways.'
I would call the first "suspension of disbelief" and the second comes close to what immersion is. Suspension of disbelief is accepting that China and it's people exist while I sit here in my apartment in a Midwestern city. Immersion would be visiting Chinatown and eating at an authentic Chinese restaurant.
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Immersion means I know nothing about the person behind the monitor.
Just the way I fucking like it.
Take the tales of your crippling depression to your therapist so I can focus on your character's flowing hair and supah powerz. k thx
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@haven My character's super power is crippling depression and the ability to force anyone to hear about his problems.
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I dunno, @Thenomain ...I find it just as jarring to be in a scene that has already been established as taking place in IC +time, daytime, and having a Vampire come trundling in and expecting things be changed to suit them. Especially on a game where there's a ton of Nightzones they could go and RP in. Or when people decide they have no interest in reading a room @desc or +views and just RP whatever the hell they want, even if it is contrary to what they'd be able to do given those things. Or players that ask that they be allowed to participate in a group +event/scene and don't actually do anything with the group in question; instead choosing to RP with themselves instead, ignoring all that is actually happening.
I guess what I'm saying is: inconsiderate, egotistical showboating ruins the immersion for me.
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Immersion means when I am addicted and CAN'T STOP even though I tell myself I can. I CAN'T! THANKS A LOT, @Apos
But for real, as long as there's a vivid world, a compelling story, and a character that fits into it all, I consider myself fully immersed.
