The question regarding MMORPGs as virtual communities is regarded differently by various comentators. Betsy Book (2004), for example, distinguishes between what she terms 'gaming worlds' and 'social worlds'. Although she attempts to define the difference in terms of structure, she also notes that the distinction is by no means a clear one and that many virtual worlds are in effect a blend of the two.

Using Book's criteria, Vili Lehdonvirta (2005) classifies PE as a gaming world, also concluding that it seems to be a "promising" one for the creation of wealth. He also discusses the fact that worlds such as PE are "legally and economically integrated with the physical world."

Given the fact that people do work, trade and socialise in PE as well as battling mutants and malevolent robots, and that many academics apparently accept the community aspects of virtual worlds unquestioningly, I have decided that in my formal essay I will argue for the position that PE does indeed constitute a virtual community.

There are, of course, other issues which have come to my notice whilst preparing this presentation ...