- ISBN13: 9780226096278
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Groundbreaking new from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
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—partaking in this well loved new brand of escapism. But the line between fantasy and reality is starting to blur. Players have made virtual societies with governments and economies of their own whose currencies now trade against the dollar on eBay at rates higher than the yen. 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 the … More >>
Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games
Tags: Business, Culture, Games, Online, Synthetic, Worlds
It is impossible to change the address when you first have placed the buy. It makes it hard when you the moment you buy the book learn that you made an error (incorrect address), and then it is already to late to change the address. What can you do? Probably nothing, other than accept that you lost your money, and buy the book elsewhere.
Rating: 1 / 5
Edward Castronova is quite a myth for anyone interested in the culture of virtual worlds. He is some sort of a profeth: a fantastic professor of economics who dares and bets on the business of synthetic worlds.
His studies are fantastic stuff and this book is a reference, from the first to the last line. I pre-ordered it since I saw it on Amazon, and when I received it, I was not deceived: it is one of my favourite books, on the same shelf of Borges and Calvino.
It is a very rich book, the kind of book I would take on a desert island. Naturally, on a virtual desert island, like the one of Project Entropia.
Rating: 5 / 5
I read this book, not having much experience in virtual gaming, and found this book to be quie a revelation. There’s so much going on in this world behind the scenes that it’s scary and fascinating at the same time. I recommend this book for anyone who is already into this sort of thing, as well as for those who are curious about what computer technology is doing to change the way we live.
Rating: 5 / 5
To be honest I was expecting more on this book.It didnt tell all the info I wanted to know and the author focus too much on 2D games like Everquest and not so much in 3D games like Second Life.In most of the book the author is a small superficial in his analysis,he could go deeper.But the book is excellent for people who wanna have a general thought about on line games,specially Everquest,World of Warcraft and Star Wars.
Rating: 3 / 5
Dr. Ted Castronova is a remarkable man with startlingly clear vision and profound insight into an increasingly vital aspect of modern society, the blending of the real world with synthetic worlds. It is an amalgam that will doubtlessly endure and thrive, and which Dr. Castronova explores and clarifies in a way that’s as fun and intriguing as his subject. Whether you’re just virtual-curious or a right believer, time spent reading this book is time well spent. Wish I’d written it.
Rating: 5 / 5