I ordered a new SLR lens (the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8, a supposedly sweet piece of glass) after having sold some of the other lenses I had. I received an email from UPS on Monday morning about the package having been sent, so I went to their package tracking site and subscribed to notifications on the package’s progress towards me.

Now, I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m finding getting the various reports about the package at least as exciting as questing in MMOs. :) There’s a reward at the end when I’ll get the shipment (On Time! Tomorrow!) but there’s Exceptions on the way, like the most recent THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE.

I know I can’t do anything about the package other than wait for the delivery notices, but for some odd reason that seems to be exciting enough that I’m obsessing over the package. Makes me wonder what the lesson here is in regards to building virtual excitement. Would sending virtual gifts and purchases be more exciting if the item was actually delivered to you in this trackable progressive manner, instead of immediately? It wouldn’t work for stuff you need fast, buy maybe it’d make total sense as a storytelling element of rare, exclusive items.