Game engines of cinematic quality, broadband networking and advances in Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are setting the stage to allow players to have shared, “better-than-life” experiences in online virtual worlds. We propose a mechanism of merit-based selection of players, as a solution to the long-standing problem of limited access to VR hardware. 1 Games and Virtual Reality: Worlds Apart Games, including online virtual worlds, populate the entertainment arena of the consumer market. They are engaging, mass produced, inexpensive, targeting wide audiences. Visual realism in games approaches cinematic quality. The amount of 3D content available online today exceeds what can be explored in a single person’s lifetime. In contrast to gaming, VR systems require expensive hardware and customized software. They are available for limited audiences. VR systems are difficult to maintain and upgrade. Both the visual quality and the extent of virtual content are typically lower than in...