Where in the World Are These Worlds?

Abstract

We begin this chapter by asking the rhetorical question, “where in the world are we?” More to the point, this chapter provides a brief overview of how conversations about social virtual worlds may be woven into larger discussions that help to define the geographer’s craft. While it is true that relatively little geographical attention has been focused on social virtual worlds, the hope is to show that these worlds should not be classified as conceptual orphans within the larger domain of geographical analysis. In addition, we look at sample social virtual worlds—their concepts, their content, and their maps—with the goal of offering a real look at truly virtual social worlds. We ultimately focus on the role of mapping, and even GISc (geographic information systems or science), in the design and presentation of social virtual worlds—their concocted landscapes, their flaws, and their intent—leading to a tentative acknowledgment that virtual world maps may offer another avenue for exploring cartographic interests, including “deep mapping.”