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October 12, 2008 2:37:31 AM CDT

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Fantasy War Game Models Global Pandemic

Posted Aug 21, 07 5:35 AM CDT in US,  Science & Health,  Technology,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – A programming error in an online fantasy game gave researchers a profound insight into how a deadly epidemic spreads and how to combat the crisis. The London Times reports a glitch occurred in World of Warcraft, which has millions of online players. A disease aimed at a handful of characters spontaneously spun out of control to infect thousands.

Players, responding to the epidemic among their fantasy characters, provided a means of studying an epidemic without putting people at risk. A study by researchers at Tufts and Rutgers universities is published in next month's Lancet . “By using these games, we may be able to gain deeper insight into the incredible complexity of epidemiology," the authors say.

Source Times (UK)

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outbreak  • epidemic  • World of Warcraft  • Rutgers University  • fantasy  • MMORPG  • Tufts University  • game


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