Back in issue 5, Allen Varney wrote Lifegame 2020 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/5/26], a somewhat tongue-in-cheek (in a scary, futurist sort of way) look at how the real and the virtual world might become one through the adhesive power of capitalism.
Our friend Phillip Torrone over at MAKE Magazine has posted some hardnosed thoughts about how we might start seeing "lifegame" style crossover in the very near term. His conclusion? Credit cards will starty paying virtual currency for spending in the real world. Check his thoughts out here [http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/03/the_future_of_credit_cards_ear.html].
Our friend Phillip Torrone over at MAKE Magazine has posted some hardnosed thoughts about how we might start seeing "lifegame" style crossover in the very near term. His conclusion? Credit cards will starty paying virtual currency for spending in the real world. Check his thoughts out here [http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/03/the_future_of_credit_cards_ear.html].