Amazon cover image
Image from Amazon.com

Synthetic worlds : the business and culture of online games / Edward Castronova.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2006.Description: xi, 332 p. ; 23 cmISBN:
  • 9780226096278
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 794.814678 22
LOC classification:
  • GV1469.15 .C394 2005
Summary: "From EverQuest to World of Warcraft, online games have evolved from the exclusive domain of computer geeks into an extraordinarily lucrative staple of the entertainment industry. People of all ages and from all walks of life now spend thousands of hours-and dollars-creating virtual societies whose economies trade against the dollar on eBay. And the players who inhabit these synthetic worlds are starting to spend more time online than at their day jobs." "In Synthetic Worlds, Edward Castronova offers a behind-the-scenes look at the online game industry, exploring its implications for business and culture alike. The economies inside these worlds, we learn, have the potential to dramatically affect real world,financial systems. Ultimately, Castronova explores the long-term social consequences of online games: If players can inhabit worlds that are more alluring and gratifying than reality, how can the real world compete? Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.
Star ratings
    Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
REGULAR University of Wollongong in Dubai Main Collection 794.814678 CA SY (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available T0044540

Originally published: 2005.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"From EverQuest to World of Warcraft, online games have evolved from the exclusive domain of computer geeks into an extraordinarily lucrative staple of the entertainment industry. People of all ages and from all walks of life now spend thousands of hours-and dollars-creating virtual societies whose economies trade against the dollar on eBay. And the players who inhabit these synthetic worlds are starting to spend more time online than at their day jobs." "In Synthetic Worlds, Edward Castronova offers a behind-the-scenes look at the online game industry, exploring its implications for business and culture alike. The economies inside these worlds, we learn, have the potential to dramatically affect real world,financial systems. Ultimately, Castronova explores the long-term social consequences of online games: If players can inhabit worlds that are more alluring and gratifying than reality, how can the real world compete? Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.

HDR974

There are no comments on this title.

to post a comment.