Much of the reading this week involved the role of anonymity in design and it’s advantages. It can be summed up in principle 7.13: “Design for familiar anonymity”. There is definitely something uplifting as a user about worlds designed for anonymity. In a functional sense there is a sense of security, being under the veil of anonymity to be comfortable enough to express yourself more fully. And at the same time there is a sense of curiosity and wonderment. Seeing how others embark on their own journey. We pass by strangers all the time and perhaps don’t give it a second thought but in virtual worlds seeing a stranger is much more pronounced. Maybe because it usually doesn’t happen or maybe because we’re usually playing alone, that social existence is odd in the face of that. I don’t play many mmorpgs so this may not be the best example but one game that I played that does this well is Destiny. Destiny is a mostly open-world shooter and as you explore the different planets you can see other players on their own quests and battles or you can see their fallen bodies. Everyone is on their own journey yet we are tied together through the unique strange alien planets we inhabit. I found myself wanting to find these other players intrigued by their progression through the game; that is, what armor did they wear, what weapons did they have. Along with anonymity the game provided the option to use emotes further deepening the meaning of the interactions that could be had in the game. You could often see players having their own dance parties after defeating an enemy boss. All in all, it gives purpose for the progression system as a whole in my opinion. It provides meaning to it outside the ring of the game. Without it I would feel lonely exploring the alien worlds on my own. I wouldn’t have the motivation to grind through quests for a legendary weapon because even though it would be cool in the short term I wouldn’t be able to share its coolness with others which I think provides longevity to the accomplishment. Anonymity also adds to the meaning of the game and its plot. In the game you are one of many guardians. The anonymity allows space for you to reflect on your impact in this virtual world and perhaps a feeling that you are part of something greater. Greater than the game itself. Bringing meaning outside of the game or design is the most advantageous part of anonymity.