Comments on: Travelogue 4: Virtual Money and Real Value in World of Warcraft http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/04/13/travelogue-4-virtual-money-and-real-value-in-world-of-warcraft/ Research Tools & Media Environments | NYU Media Culture & Communication | Spring 2009 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:49:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Joshua http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/04/13/travelogue-4-virtual-money-and-real-value-in-world-of-warcraft/comment-page-1/#comment-903 Joshua Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:18:23 +0000 http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/?p=1964#comment-903 After looking at that video, there is no mistake that is definitely work. At the point you're doing that for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, you would have to either really love that game, or really hate it. And for most people, I think the latter situation is more common. Not to mention your making only $3 per 12-hour shift. Goldfarming may become the new sweatshop, who knows. After looking at that video, there is no mistake that is definitely work. At the point you’re doing that for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, you would have to either really love that game, or really hate it. And for most people, I think the latter situation is more common. Not to mention your making only $3 per 12-hour shift. Goldfarming may become the new sweatshop, who knows.

]]> By: Dylan http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/04/13/travelogue-4-virtual-money-and-real-value-in-world-of-warcraft/comment-page-1/#comment-873 Dylan Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:46:08 +0000 http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/?p=1964#comment-873 I like that you guys all picked up on the work and play merging together, maybe that's where I'll take the concluding post. I'm interested in that too, I just didn't think people would be so interested. I think it's a pretty complicated answer, if there is an answer, but it's important that we all understand what this play-working environment looks like so we don't fill it in with out own assumptions. This is a video of a small gold farming operation in Chain from the NYT article I posted above. http://video.nytimes.com/video/2007/06/14/magazine/1194817114277/the-wizards-of-warcraft.html Underneath is a video of a Chinese assembly line worker doing what could be considered similar work, but with a physical object instead of online. If one is work and the other is play, then where does the distinction lie; at what point does work become play, or play become work? I like that you guys all picked up on the work and play merging together, maybe that’s where I’ll take the concluding post. I’m interested in that too, I just didn’t think people would be so interested.

I think it’s a pretty complicated answer, if there is an answer, but it’s important that we all understand what this play-working environment looks like so we don’t fill it in with out own assumptions. This is a video of a small gold farming operation in Chain from the NYT article I posted above.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2007/06/14/magazine/1194817114277/the-wizards-of-warcraft.html

Underneath is a video of a Chinese assembly line worker doing what could be considered similar work, but with a physical object instead of online.

If one is work and the other is play, then where does the distinction lie; at what point does work become play, or play become work?

]]> By: nayoung http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/04/13/travelogue-4-virtual-money-and-real-value-in-world-of-warcraft/comment-page-1/#comment-872 nayoung Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:22:36 +0000 http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/?p=1964#comment-872 I'd argue that those people in China are working. I mean, when i was playing Runescape, which is another MMORPG, i eventually felt like i was working, not playing, because it's not very fun to mine (mining was my specialty) for hours a day, clicking on the same rocks over and over again just to gain experience and be able to craft more expensive items. I know WoW is much more interesting than RS, but i still can't imagine how torturous it must be for them to do this 12 hours a day. I’d argue that those people in China are working. I mean, when i was playing Runescape, which is another MMORPG, i eventually felt like i was working, not playing, because it’s not very fun to mine (mining was my specialty) for hours a day, clicking on the same rocks over and over again just to gain experience and be able to craft more expensive items. I know WoW is much more interesting than RS, but i still can’t imagine how torturous it must be for them to do this 12 hours a day.

]]> By: amandicle http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/04/13/travelogue-4-virtual-money-and-real-value-in-world-of-warcraft/comment-page-1/#comment-857 amandicle Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:35:23 +0000 http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/?p=1964#comment-857 I'm just going to put in my two cents here. I definitely think that people sitting in front of the computer in China playing this game for 12 hours are just playing -- not working. I mean Kudos to them for figuring out a way to make money off playing their favorite video game all day, but money does not a job make. This reminds me of the movie Knocked Up which I was watching last night were Seth Rogen and his group of drugged out buddies who have been living off his accident settlement for the past 6 years pass off watching movies and logging the time codes at which the stars appear naked as a job. Please. That's called a Sunday afternoon at a frat house -- not a job. I’m just going to put in my two cents here. I definitely think that people sitting in front of the computer in China playing this game for 12 hours are just playing — not working. I mean Kudos to them for figuring out a way to make money off playing their favorite video game all day, but money does not a job make. This reminds me of the movie Knocked Up which I was watching last night were Seth Rogen and his group of drugged out buddies who have been living off his accident settlement for the past 6 years pass off watching movies and logging the time codes at which the stars appear naked as a job. Please. That’s called a Sunday afternoon at a frat house — not a job.

]]> By: petra http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/04/13/travelogue-4-virtual-money-and-real-value-in-world-of-warcraft/comment-page-1/#comment-850 petra Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:58:35 +0000 http://www.mushon.com/spr09/nmrs/?p=1964#comment-850 This is extremely fascinating-- But I'm just a bit confused. Who makes all these profits? The company that owns WarCraft? or the people who "play" it? I'm really intrigued by the idea of work and play merging together. My research into music promotion online is bringing up similar questions. The internet seems ripe with opportunity to monetize traditionally recreational activities... This is extremely fascinating–
But I’m just a bit confused. Who makes all these profits? The company that owns WarCraft? or the people who “play” it?
I’m really intrigued by the idea of work and play merging together. My research into music promotion online is bringing up similar questions. The internet seems ripe with opportunity to monetize traditionally recreational activities…

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