The Warcraft Civilization: Social Science in a Virtual World (The\mit Press Ser.)

$Book cover of The Warcraft Civilization: Social Science in a Virtual World (The\mit Press Ser.)$

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: An exploration of the popular online role-playing game World of Warcraft as a virtual prototype of the real human future.World of Warcraft is more than a game. There is no ultimate goal, no winning hand, no princess to be rescued. WoW is an immersive virtual world in which characters must cope in a dangerous environment, assume identities, struggle to understand and communicate, learn to use technology, and compete for dwindling resources. Beyond the fantasy and science fiction details, as many have noted, it's not entirely unlike today's world. In The Warcraft Civilization, sociologist William Sims Bainbridge goes further, arguing that WoW can be seen not only as an allegory of today but also as a virtual prototype of tomorrow, of a real human future in which tribe-like groups will engage in combat over declining natural resources, build temporary alliances on the basis of mutual self-interest, and seek a set of values that transcend the need for war.What makes WoW an especially good place to look for insights about Western civilization, Bainbridge says, is that it bridges past and future. It is founded on Western cultural tradition, yet aimed toward the virtual worlds we could create in times to come.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:: 9780262288378
Related ISBNs:: 9780262013703
Publisher:: MIT Press
Date of Addition:: 07/03/20
Copyrighted By:: The MIT Press
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: Nonfiction, Computers and Internet, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Social Studies
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.