When I read about passively multiplayer online games, I immediatly thought about Progress Quest, basically a mock RPG where character creation is pretty much the last interactive part. After that, the game sits quietly in the background and plays itself, basically grinding up a character while you go about your business.
PMOG however is a concept crafted to define the next level. It's a "game" where what you browse defines your character. Quite amusing, really.
Passively Multiplayer uses user data and device-use history to generate avatars and/or game moves in an online multiuser environment. Examples of data: web sites visited, chat transcripts, contents of email or documents, digital images, digital video, video game saves. Examples of play: quests, items, hunting parties, alliances, teams, puzzles. By merging data with play, users can advance in ongoing games according to the unique strengths they demonstrate in the everyday ways they use their devices.
Simply put, some people with a rather ludic spirit and a weird view on the purpose of data asked a question. Why shouldn't browsing be like a game? And voila, PMOGs! A small Firefox extension keeps track of where you go -no, it doesn't seem interested in your passwords- and, as you move from site to site, your character accumulates experience points and shapes itself based on your browsing habbits. As with any RPG, there are a number of characteristics you can select for your avatar and there's a virtual currency, datapoints. Points that can be used to purchase items. As with any RPG.
It's a fun little experiment and I like it. There's a chat, there are quests, profiles and, of course, competition. To some extent anyway. And, seeing how it claims the MMO title, I wouldn't be too surprised if the chat section sometimes spawned team calls à la "LFG kotaku.com" (looking for group).
Links:
http://bud.com -main page
http://www.passivelymultiplayer.com/PMOGPaper.html - paper on PMOGs
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