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December 2, 2008 7:33:10 AM CST


World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft news stories

11 Stories

Study: Video Game Addicts Aren't Nerds

'Problem gamers' may be unhealthy, but they're not lonely geeks

(Newser) - The stereotype of the hard-core gamer as a friendless geek may be as outdated as Pac-Man, Reuters reports. An Australian study looked at "problem gamers" who spent more than 50 hours a week playing and discovered that less than 1% had poor social skills. The findings contradict statements from the American Medical Association suggesting people hooked on games like World of Warcraft struggle to cope in the real world. More »

More about:  video game American Medical Association addiction gaming online gaming World of Warcraft MMORPG Internet addiction

OPINION

Online Gaming Boom Outpaces Real-Life Critiques

Cultural attitude toward virtual world reflects antiquated view

(Newser) - The dizzying growth of the video game industry continues to alarm cultural Luddites, writes Tom Chatfield for the Prospect , but the critics are trapped in video gaming’s past. They haven't adjusted to the development of social, team-based gaming worlds, treating games “as an odd mix of the slightly menacing and the alien: more like exotic organisms dredged from the deep sea than complex human creations.” More »

More about:  technology culture pop culture video games gaming World of Warcraft Grand Theft Auto IV

Sony Aims to Power Up Online Gaming

Games developer seeks to reach new markets with innovative scenarios

(Newser) - Sony is seeking to boost online gaming to the next level with a pair of new adventures in the pipeline. The company's 1999 EverQuest was the first massive online game to rocket to popularity, but rivals like World of Warcraft have since taken the lead. With spy shooter game The Agency and the tweener-targeting Free Realms, Sony hopes to get back on top. More »

More about:  video game Sony gaming online gaming World of Warcraft multiplayer games MMORPG

Competitive, Social Aspects Make Video Games Addictive

No shortage of horror stories about fun-seekers-turned-junkies

(Newser) - The American Medical Association may not yet rank video gaming as addictive, but players who call World of Warcraft “World of Warcrack” know the score, writes Kristin Kalning on msnbc.com. But what is it that drives obsessed players to neglect their jobs, their health and even their kids? Competing and socializing, says a therapist who treats Internet and computer addiction. More »

More about:  video game American Medical Association addiction gaming World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft Inspires Porn

Sex series' homage to the game is a blockbuster hit

(Newser) - Perhaps it was inevitable: The 8 to 10 million members of the user community for Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft multiplayer game now have porn tailored specifically to the details of their escapist world, the Village Voice reports. Entering its second season, the “Whorelore” web-series (originally “Whorecraft,” before Blizzard complained) depicts roleplaying’s salacious side. More »

More about:  pornography World of Warcraft MMORPG Blizzard Entertainment

Exploding World of Warcraft Population Hits 10M

Online fantasy game has most subscribers in genre

(Newser) - Online role-playing game World of Warcraft has topped 10 million subscribers, making it by far the most popular game of its kind, GamePro.com reports. The fantasy kingdom of Azeroth now has a higher population than many of the real world's countries. More than half of the game's addicts are in Asia, with 2.5 million in North America and 2 million in Europe. More »

More about:  online gaming World of Warcraft virtual worlds roleplaying games Blizzard Entertainment

Shakespeare Game Much Ado About Nothing

MMO game hoped to be social experiment - instead it's 'no fun'

(Newser) - Edward Castronova’s Arden: The World of Shakespeare was supposed to be a revolutionary academic experiment, a massive multiplayer online world where players learned about Shakespeare while Castronova tested economic theories on them. There’s just one problem, Technology Review reports: “It’s no fun,” says Castronova. Focused on research, developers produced a dull game. More »

More about:  video game World of Warcraft William Shakespeare MMORPG

Vivendi to Buy Activision

Get ready for World of Tony Hawk's Pro Guitar Warcraft

(Newser) - Vivendi, producer of mega-hit World of Warcraft , today announced plans to merge operations with Activision, forming an independent video game behemoth to rival EA. Vivendi will buy 52% of Activision for $1.7 billion and $27.50 per share, the Times reports, a premium on Friday’s $22.15 closing price. Then Activision, re-dubbed Activision Blizzard, will take in all Vivendi’s game operations. More »

More about:  video game Guitar Hero online gaming World of Warcraft Activision Vivendi Tony Hawk

Ghosts and Ghouls Invade Virtual Worlds

Digital realms like Halo and Second Life are getting in the Halloween spirit

(Newser) - Take a break from scarfing candy to join in silly spookiness online. Wired gives you the inside scoop on special events and areas in your favorite virtual worlds dedicated to the holiday: Halo 3: A seasonal addition to the matchmaking playlist should keep players entertained for the 27 hours surrounding Halloween. Lord of the Rings Online:  Until November 11, you can compete in horseraces, bob for apples, pick geodes, or dance the night away at the Harvest Festival. More »

More about:  list Halloween Second Life World of Warcraft Halo 3 virtual worlds virtual reality

(Newser) - World of Warcraft is home to 9 million adventurers—and one film crew. A team of New York-based programmers, filmmakers and geeks has been shooting a feature-length movie entirely within the online game, a uniquely difficult location shoot. “The crew doesn't usually start running off after their mortal enemy and shooting fireballs when you're filming in Times Square,” said the producer. More »

More about:  movie World of Warcraft multiplayer games roleplaying games

Fantasy War Game Models  Global Pandemic

Virtual outbreak gave scientists chance to study spread

(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. More »

More about:  outbreak epidemic World of Warcraft Rutgers University fantasy MMORPG Tufts University game

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