Scholars of myth have long argued that myth gives structure and meaning to human life; that meaning is amplified when a myth evolves into a world
A virtual world’s ability to fulfill needs grows when lots and lots of people believe in the world
Conversely, a virtual world cannot be long sustained by a mere handful of adherents
Consider the difference between a global sport and a game I invent with my nine friends and play regularly
My game might be a great game, one that is completely immersive, one that consumes all of my group’s time and attention
If its reach is limited to the ten of us, though, then it’s ultimately just a weird hobby, and it has limited social function
For a virtual world to provide lasting, wide‑ranging value, its participants must be a large enough group to be considered a society
When that threshold is reached, psychological value can turn into wide‑ranging social value