November 25, 2009
Idolatry: Virtual Quests Lead to Real Love and Death for World of Warcraft Fans
When it began it was just a computer game. Now it is seen as a cultural force that sparks love affairs, breaks marriages and creates “sweat shops” to satisfy a black market in virtual goods. World of Warcraft marks its fifth birthday today as something more than just an online role-playing game where users become wizards, warriors, orcs and elfs. An estimated 12 million people play the game, paying a monthly subscription of about £9 ($15). They spend many hours taking on quests and doing battle with each another, building up their character — or “levelling up” as it is known in the game — to gain powers and abilities.Click Here For The Full Story......