Robbie Cooper, an American photographer, took a journey through Korea, China, France and Germany to photograph “Gamers” side-by-side with their MMO avatars. He became interested in their alter ego in the virtual world. Interesting work showing the difference (or not) between the person’s physical and embodied avatar in the game.
Bae Kyun-Eun is Persia
“Bae plays a man because she thinks that male avatars have more charisma, she wants to ‘project strength’, and all the ‘masters’ in the game have male avatars.
She says if she had to play the game alone she wouldn’t bother.
Initially, she was attracted to it because she thought it looked beautiful, but the social element has become part of her life. Her guild meets up regularly.”
Lee Dong Chang is Bi UI
“Lee named his online character after the old Korean word for a star.He’s shy around people, particularly in groups, until he gets to know them well. Then he talks a lot. Online, he’s exactly the same. He watches and waits until he’s sized everyone up before he joins in. He says he has narrow human relationships.” (Robbie Cooper)
Seang Rak Choi is Uroo Ahs
“Choi is a professor of public policy and law. His character Uroo Ahs buys and sells item in the game world, even when he isn’t there, running on scripts he writes for her. He makes spreadsheets analysing different variables within the game and believes that using a little girl avatar helps in negotiations. So far he’s amassed game items worth 150m Adena, the virtual currency in the game.” (Robbie Cooper)
Yoon Yae is Yahin
“Yoon Yae works as a TV agent. He’s one of the 33 kings of Lineage. There are 33 kings because there are 33 servers running duplicate versions of the game world.He says his managerial skills in the real world help him maintain control of Aden castles, which is the seat of power in every instance of the game. He sets taxes and controls his supporters through five ministers. His people buy seeds from the castle and out and grow them then come back with the product.” (Robbie Cooper)
Lee Eun-Sol is Freelancer
“Lee is studying magic at university.He enjoys being on stage and entertaining people, teaches magic, and works part-time as a magician. He doesn’t distinguish between reality and illusions, saying they’re ‘both the same’. He sees his online character as another self in the virtual world. ‘I enjoy communicating through the virtual world. It’s another world where people gather and live together’.” (Robbie Cooper)
Legends of Knights
“Legends of Knights is one of many guilds that populate the Lineage game world in Korea. Lee Hyun-Joon is the master of the guild. Every month he organises 600 people to help defend his virtual castle. His avatar is riding the dragon (right). Around 20-30 of the top members will play together in the same cybercafe, shouting instructions and information to each other. The rest are based elsewhere and communicate through the game, instant messaging and mobiles.” (Robbie Cooper)
