Today I’ll be discussing the intricate world of MMORPGs(Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games), most specifically World of Warcraft and its Leviathans. Anyone who’s played World of Warcraft knows that there are a plethora of social norms that exist. These norms have actually been incorporated into the game as well with Raids so that players who do not conform to the norms are missing out. It is expected that you have an exceptional vocabulary of the game and its various aspects, and new players who are unfamiliar with many terms used are looked down upon. There also exists two sides in the game, Horde and Alliance. If you are a member of the Horde it is expected that you will despise players from the Alliance side, and vice versa. A large portion of the tasks available to players in WoW cannot be accomplished without some sort of group. Within these groups there also exists an unspoken rule on looting only items that you need and can use, or as decided by the group. Often large groups of players will band into long-lasting teams called Guilds that try to organize and take on harder challenges known as Raid-instances. Due to the nature of the game, players will either learn the norms quickly, or be cast aside as “n00bs” and not progress very far into the gameplay.
The Leviathan exists in several ways within the World of Warcraft. The Leviathan is a power that exists to ensure that we adhere to society’s norms and standards. First off, in World of Warcraft, there are hired employees of Blizzard called Game Masters (GMs) who are members of the customer support department with certain special powers. They are also there as enforcers however to ensure that players are following the rules set down by Blizzard. Also, within guilds it is very important you follow the norms that exist, and attend Raid-instances regularly, or face being outcast and exiled from the guild. Plus, if someone does not follow the rules of looting within groups several times over, they may be named a “ninja looter” and have their name spread as someone never to allow into publicly formed groups.
1 comment:
I have never played World of Warcraft, so I thought that your description and analysis did a good job of explaining the game. Though I still clearly cannot appreciate all the nuances of the game, I now have a much better understanding having read your response. A Leviathan definitely exists within the World of Warcraft to enforce adherence to the game’s norms. You make it very apparent that following the rules and standards is a must and that an inability to do so will result in “n00bs” never getting the chance to become a significant part of the game. From your description, it seems to me that the Game Masters of Blizzard are what Wallace would describe as a Leviathan emerging in a moderated setting. The Game Masters have special enforcing powers to help control the game. You also say that Blizzard has set down a list of rules to which World of Warcraft players must abide. This reminds me of Wallace’s description of the “sign on the door” that helps newcomers avoid embarrassment in many internet niches by posting guidelines (65.) Though World of Warcraft is a moderated setting with a list of rules, you state that there are some unspoken rules. Thus “n00bs” also need to have a generally willingness to conform to the group in order to be accepted and successful in the game.
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