World of Warcraft: Is It a Game?

 Posted by (Visited 5556 times)  Game talk
Sep 102006
 

Since everyone else is going to mention it, I might as well also point to the new Newsweek article on WoW.

  13 Responses to “World of Warcraft: Is It a Game?”

  1. Patrick says:
    September 10, 2006 at 9:57 pm

    layers in Asia—a clear majority of the WOW population, despite the fact that the game was created by digital dudes in Irvine, Calif.—buy cards that allow them WOW time for a few cents an hour.

    It seems like the author is implying that WoW cost much less than ~60$ million to produce.

    There seems to be a deciededly negative sentiment in this journalists’s writing the word “[addictive]” is editorially inserted into the psychologist’s quote, and the author laments having a son who suffers from the same addiction.

    While its nice to think mainstream press venues like Newsweek are embracing games as the next big medium, it seems the prevailing feeling is one of alienation and aversion to games. Either gaming journalists need to get better or mainstream journalists need to get more open minded.

  2. Michael Chui says:
    September 10, 2006 at 10:34 pm

    The image is oddly reminiscent of a Cloud v. Sephiroth fight scene I saw once…

    But the article itself makes me feel sick.

  3. Cael says:
    September 11, 2006 at 3:26 am

    Even though Ted Castronova’s been misquoted again, that business about “the Horde is Evil” really was a spectacular episode of academic dumb.

    Hope he regrets it.

  4. Faith says:
    September 11, 2006 at 4:46 am

    […] Comments […]

  5. Solok says:
    September 11, 2006 at 5:15 am

    I know it is commonplace, but I’m saddened that this guy only learned about what his son enjoys while researching a project for work. It really says something when you can’t take the time to learn your children’s interest unless it benefits you directly (in this case his article and the appeal to emotion fallacy he keeps using).

    The author could have taken the time to learn what his son enjoyed and spent some time with him doing it – even if HE didn’t enjoy the game. Instead, he probably chose to write another article about how parents are being helplessly abused by all the big bad corporations and on-line predators while sitting in front of the television while his son struggled with his tenth grade calculus.

    Sorry I couldn’t comment on the content, he really didn’t say anything informed or new anyway.

    – And the horde are evil – they killed my brother!!! 😉

  6. Chip Hinshaw says:
    September 11, 2006 at 5:20 am

    Seems like Mr. Levy missed his deadline by a few months. This story would have seemed fresh back in April, maybe, but now it just looks like he’s regurgitating everything that’s been reported by other outlets over the past several months.

  7. darniaq says:
    September 11, 2006 at 6:34 am

    Two years into the history of World of Warcraft—an online game that accommodates 7 million players around the world—no one had successfully ventured into the dungeon to slay a group of computer-generated villains known as the Four Horsemen.

    Err, that content didn’t exist for two years. Just semantics for a puff piece, but I hate glaring inaccuracies that are easy to verify.

    Otherwise I did like the insights into professionals in the game, and laughed at: “There is a priest whose character is … a priest” 🙂

    But please, THIS again:

    Another example of questionable behavior is viewable in a video that more than 80,000 people have accessed on YouTube

    If they want something more relevant, they should talk about the 700+ billion ISK stolen/scammed in Eve. But Eve isn’t what everyone’s talking about, so they take a group of folks on a PvP server in a PvP+ zone getting attacked by a PvP guild as an advertising stunt.

    An eight-hour day collecting game loot can yield 100 gold pieces, worth about $30 on the black market.

    Takes 8 hours to make 100g? For a professional golf farmer?! That seems very low, particularly in light of IGE not buying WoW gold anymore.

  8. Chip Hinshaw says:
    September 11, 2006 at 7:16 am

    they should talk about the 700+ billion ISK stolen/scammed in Eve

    Good point — although currently I’m a little preoccupied with the sanctity of my credit cards after the SecondLife/Linden Labs breach this past week 🙁

  9. Michael Chui says:
    September 11, 2006 at 8:28 am

    professional golf farmer

    What a singularly remarkable concept. Does he plant corn while hitting balls at crows? 😀

  10. Kev R. says:
    September 11, 2006 at 8:29 am

    Same old stuff….covered by Wired etc years ago. As mentioned by a poaster above, the EVE scam or Second Life online shopping for virtual clothes makes a more interesting story.

    Second Life was mentioned on the BBC news this morning; one of their presenters designed herself as an IG avatar. Unfortunately I had to head to work before the article was on, but it looked interesting. I hope more article will point out that online gaming isn’t all “kill, loot, repeat” (as SOE wish it was 😉 ) but also a socially innovativce pastime.

  11. Informis says:
    September 11, 2006 at 8:47 am

    I wish the media would stop fronting these pieces that higlight the people who die from gaming too much. It’s more or less accepted now that video games aren’t going to turn your child into a murderous psychopath any more than TV or movies do…but wait! Video games can still kill you…IF YOU PLAY THEM TOO MUCH! See! I told you video games were bad! Fear the new! Fear the new! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

    Playing to death is hardly a legitimate danger especially with a player base 6 million strong, but pretty much every mainstream article includes some grim paragraph detailing someone’s MMORPG-induced demise.

    If this hasn’t been on Dateline NBC or 20/20 yet (those paragons of alarmist consumer hysteria) …it will be.

  12. Michael Chui says:
    September 11, 2006 at 10:50 am

    This is the news. Propaganda can only be effectively countered with other propaganda, and a transparent display of facts and authoritative commentary for when the conflict confuses them and they feel a need to do some actual research on the subject. And I mean authoritative to the target, not to you.

    I strongly recommend fighting back. Preferably in a way that will be listened to. =P

  13. nongames.com: WoW controversy says:
    November 27, 2007 at 7:17 pm

    […] pointed out by Koster. The article, from Newsweek, seems to be aimed at nongamer audiences, but it is still an […]

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