Online Game, Made in US, Seizes the Globe

Almost 7 million people around the world join in playing World of Warcraft, an online game that offers true global competition. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, based in California, the game breaks cultural barriers by appealing to a massive global audience and offering an increasing array of languages. In the past, popular interactive games attracted hundreds of thousands of players at most. World of Warcraft avoids piracy problems by giving away software free and then charging fees for service, less than $14 per month, allowing thousands of players to interact with one another at one time in the virtual three-dimensional format. A player begins by establishing and customizing a character, then exploring a diverse world alone or teaming up with other characters on quests, acquiring new powers along the way. The game’s theme might be about war and conflict, but players are passionate, arguing that it allows them to practice strategy and find opportunity for new human connections. – YaleGlobal