The mandate of our site is usually limited to Massively Multiplayer Games. Beyond that scope is an increasing number of virtual worlds built for very different purposes than pure hack and slash gaming. Education, socialization, even military training is occurring in virtual spaces nowadays. For text worlds this isn't news at all. Text-based MUDs, MUSHes and MUCKs have been used for purposes other than gaming almost as long as there have been text based world. Graphical worlds are another matter. Today I'm going to take a moment to talk about the realities of virtual worlds with nary an elf or alien in sight.