Make your own
digital tribe!
Created by
Sarovsky and Myra
Date: **/**/****
A group of online people who connect over shared interests is the simplest description for a digital tribe. But it has such a deeper meaning than that.
Did you know that a digital tribe can be closer to you than your own family? Because these are people you chose to connect with, care for, and get to know
on a deeper level.
The online interpersonal connections can be easily severed and replaced, which means you dont have to deal with people that you dont like or identify with.
MMORPGs are a breeding ground for digital tribes. By playing and having fun, you slowly become a part of a community and learn how to build your own tribe.
In this article, we will explore what makes MMOs so impactful in the lives of millions of people. Maybe even entice you to give this genre a try and build your own digital tribe!
CHAPTER 1
I was introduced to MMOs in the 90s.
On a random day, while watching videos on YouTube, I noticed an ad to my right. The characters were super cute, and the game seemed filled with anime vibes.
It made me want to download it immediately and check it out!
Mind you, I was never a gamer, and video games were a totally new thing for me. Followed all the steps to install it and launched a video game for the first time! A new world was opened!
Why am I here?
Playing games while
making history
Not really. With these “strangers,”
I saw beautiful cities, life-threatening dungeons, emotional weddings,
heart-breaking digital funerals,
and so many funny moments where even if we are all lying dead at the feet of a half eagle, half horse boss, the laughter is what comes first.
Of course, the realization of having to try again comes second, and that helps you build a strong character! Inside and outside of the game.
Almost 20 years later, that decision was one of the best I could have made. Playing the game added so much to my life. It made me smarter, more intuitive, more honest, and friendlier.
It improved my English, which is not my first language, beyond what any school or course could have taught me. It brought amazing people, so many that my friends list was at capacity, and I had to pick and choose who to keep. Helpful, good, and hilarious people.
Did you know that accepting a party request from a stranger can turn your world upside down? Scary no? For me?
Actions, reactions, and outcomes!
MMO stands for Massive Multiplayer Online. Meaning, going into it,
you already know that there will be countless other players, and they will probably want to interact with you. That’s what this genre was made for. Team effort, connection, and achieving goals together.
For a shy person, this might seem like
a nightmare, but hear me out.
What better way to try different things and open up than in the digital world? A place that you can just shut down with a couple of clicks? Where you dont have the pressure of people’s physical presence?
In a game, you have the power.
You choose where to go, what to do,
and who you want to hang out with.
Your actions will create reactions,
and the outcome might be better than you expected because there are
still amazing humans out there.
They will take the time to help and get to know you without anything in return besides a few hours of doing quests
or chilling by a waterfall, complaining about the game’s insane glitches.
How far you let them into your life
is also your choice. Some people dont really need to have our Discord or to know our real name, and that’s ok.
You choose the ones that deserve
your time and effort.
Sharing struggles and feelings
Once you dare to put yourself in the line of fire, accepting party requests and venturing into all these new maps, you will be tested with other kinds of tribulations. Remember that in an MMO, you need other people’s strengths and help to complete quests or slay a boss, and humans come in all personalities and humours.
Understanding how to interact with them can drive you a bit mad. We call that rage quitting. Watching others doing it can be extremely entertaining specially when you know they will be back in the game in a few hours.
Picture this: you are inside a cave filled with two-headed snakes, and you need to go through them to reach the mother snake in the back that will drop a rare piece of gear that you so desperately need because buying gear from other players in-game is usually super expensive.
What if the guy who can help the whole party achieve that goal is one of the most hated in-game because he has a smart mouth? Would you agree to let him into your party? Just one time? And a few more cause now you only need new boots? Choices, choices.
How far you let them into your life
is also your choice. Some people dont really need to have our Discord or to know our real name, and that’s ok. You choose the ones that deserve your time and effort.
What lies beyond the avatar?
For many years, MMOs have been seen through a judgmental lens that categorizes their players as escaping reality. But beneath the flashy pixels, the endless gear grinding and fantastical landscapes lie a complex psychological phenomenon.
For millions of people, playing these virtual worlds has become a digital laboratory where they can discover who they can become. And it all starts with designing the perfect avatar.
Picture this: you are inside a cave filled with two-headed snakes, and you need to go through them to reach the mother snake in the back that will drop a rare piece of gear that you so desperately need because buying gear from other players in-game is usually super expensive.
What if the guy who can help the whole party achieve that goal is one of the most hated in-game because he has a smart mouth? Would you agree to let him into your party? Just one time? And a few more cause now you only need new boots? Choices, choices.
How far you let them into your life
is also your choice. Some people dont really need to have our Discord or to know our real name, and that’s ok. You choose the ones that deserve your time and effort.
