In a recent PCWorld piece, I learned about a new instant messaging system designed specifically for online gamers: Xfire. The technology has only been in beta for a month, and already has 60,000 users.

I had known that some gamers use IM frequently, while other turn it off to avoid IMs popping up during play. I hadn't thought about the impact of IM on the style of game play:

""People are anonymous on most game servers and because of that they can act really arrogantly, especially to players they don't think are up to their level," he [CTO of Xfire, Fong] says. "That can really kill the fun."

"But when you know a few people in the game, the tone really changes," he adds. "It becomes much more social, and it's actually a nicer environment for the strangers who are there with you. Everyone is much more civilized.""

Xfire supports some game-related presence and availability information (see picture above), so that the buddy list of your gaming pals includes the games they are playing, and the ability to join them in those games by simply clicking on the 'join' button.

There is also an elusive hint of social software here, as well, with the 'friend of friends' group on the buddy list: I want this feature added to all other IM systems, immediately! (With appropriate privacy toggles, of course.)