From Wiktionary
Etymology
1784, Borrowing from Hindi अवतार (avtār) or from Urdu اوتار (avatār), both borrowed from Tamil and Sanskrit अवतार (ava-tāra, “descent of a deity from a heaven”), a compound of अव (ava, “off, away, down”) and the vṛddhi-stem of the root तरति (√tṝ, “to cross”).
In computing use, saw some use in 1980s videos games – 1985 online role-playing game Habitat by Lucasfilm Games (today LucasArts), by Chip Morningstar and Randy Farmer, later versions of the Ultima series (following religious use in 1985 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar), and 1989 pen and paper role-playing game Shadowrun. Popularized by 1992 novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.
Noun
avatar (plural avatars)
(Hinduism) the incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
The physical embodiment of an idea or concept; a personification.
(computing or gaming) A digital representation or handle of a person or being; often, it can take on any of various forms, as a participant chooses. i.e. 3D, animated, photo, sketch of a person or a person's alter ego, sometimes used in a virtual world or virtual chat room.
THE EARTHLY INCARNATION OF A DEITY, PARTICULARLY VISHNU
THE PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF AN IDEA OR CONCEPT; A PERSONIFICATION
A DIGITAL REPRESENTATION OF A PERSON OR BEING
Every role-playing game out there uses an avatar. Normally the avatar is described as being your 'character', like actors taking on a role. But this game uses the older form, more like performing Shaman and witch doctors taking on the essence of a god or demon or spirit. And also like astral projection, save that you are not projecting into the astral realm, but the fictional realm: the Mythic World- the Shadowlands.
And unlike most Role-playing games, you do not get to choose anywhere near as much about your avatar as you might like. You project yourself, dreaming, into the Shadowlands.
No comments:
Post a Comment