FOR DISCUSSION: Future of MMORPG

Changes happen very fast. And in technology, what was considered as dream yesterday will become real eventually. The capability of MMORPG to present a virtual world over the internet will be the most important aspect that may change our civilization.

• People will live behind their avatars

As more people play MMORPG, each and every person will have virtual-world twin, and create different identity in the virtual world created by the game. People that we see on the game could be totally different with what they are in the reality, since players are given capabilities to build their own avatars.

• More people are going to play for their living

Almost everything in MMORPG can be used to create business in real world. Items, weapons, equipments, and currency in the games are exchanged among players. In fact, there are people who are willing to pay real money on these virtual stuffs. Even in this present day we can find people are selling World of Warcraft’s (one of renowned MMORPG) accounts, characters, and gold for dollars. We might question why these people are willing to spend money for these virtual items. Actually, it requires a lot of efforts to obtain these items in the games. Hence, we can see this case in such a way that players sell their effort, just like in the real world.

• MMORPG will no longer be considered as a game

With those points described above, we can consider that MMORPG has become more than just a game. It is another life for some people where they can meet with friends from different sides of countries, and interact with each other. It is another form of job where people can earn money by playing MMORPG. Furthermore, MMORPG could be extended to create a virtual world for global use. This will connect people around the world easily. They can communicate through chat rooms and IP telephony.

Reference:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15657_world-warcraft-world-10-ways-online-gaming-will-change-future.html

FOR DISCUSSION: Why protect our personal information is important?

Protect our personal information is really important. We can play any games over the internet with an opponent across the ocean or collaborate with far flung co workers in a “virtual office”. But the internet and the anonymity it affords also can give online scammers, hackers, and identity theft access to your computer, personal information, finance and more. If you think no one would be interested in YOUR personal information, think again. ANYONE can be a victim of identity theft. In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission, millions of people become victims every year. Visit ftc.gov/idtheft to learn what to do if your identity is stolen or your personal or financial information has been compromised online or in the "real" world. How do criminals get your personal information online? One way is by lying about who they are, to convince you to share your account numbers, passwords, and other information so they can get your money or buy things in your name. The scam is called "phishing": criminals send email, text, or pop-up messages that appear to come from your bank, a government agency, an online seller or another organization with which you do business. The message asks you to click to a website or call a phone number to update your account information or claim a prize or benefit. It might suggest something bad will happen if you don't respond quickly with your personal information. In reality, legitimate businesses should never use email, pop-ups, or text messages to ask for your personal information.

Some identity thieves have stolen personal information from many people at one, by hacking into large database managed by businesses or government agencies. While you can't enjoy the benefits of the internet without sharing some personal information, you can take steps to share only with organization you know and trust. Don't give out your personal information unless you first find out how it's going to be use and how it will be protected. Read website policies. They should explain what personal information the website collects, how the information is used, amd whether it is provided to third parties. The privacy policies also should tell you whether you have the right to see what information the website has about you and what security measure the company takes to protect your information.

One of the developer issues in MMORPG is privacy issue, how developer protects information exchange. In order to be able to play any of MMORPG game, the players have to register first where the player need to provide personal information and email address to the server. The issue comes here. With the player's information on hand, the server is able to make transaction with any third party. Therefore, there should be a legal agreement between the developer and the players to guarantee that the user information will be kept safe. Usually, gamers can read this clausal under privacy. To know that whether the developer of game will protect personal information by reasonable security guard againts loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.

References:

http://www.war-maker.com/index.php/privacy-policy/
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/computer-security.aspx 

FOR DISCUSSION: Tips to Avoid Becoming the Victim of a Scam, Published by Blizzard Entertainment

·         Never give your prized possessions to anyone that you do not trust 

In World of Warcraft there should never be a reason to hand your items to an unknown player for any reason. Such things as casting enchantments to your items can be done safely through the secure trading window, with little risk to the player. Moving an item to the "Will not be traded" box in the secure trading window allows other players to cast enchantments, or other effects on an item without it ever leaving your possession. Be wary and display extreme caution to any player suggests a proposal or deal that involves trust.

·         Caveat Emptor (Buyer beware)

Many scammers will attempt to use the auction houses as their tools of trade. Be diligent on what items you decide to purchase and the costs associated with each item. Always confirm the cost of the item before bidding or purchasing. In player to player transactions, confirm the item you are trading or purchasing before accepting the trade.

·         Real Blizzard Employees will never ask you for items or gold

GMs and other Blizzard Employees will never ask you to transfer your items to them. Be wary of players attempting to use the guise of being a GM or Blizzard Employee to trick you into giving him/her your possessions. If a player ever attempts to defraud you in this fashion, contact an in-game GM immediately, via our "Help Request" feature, to report the issue.

·         Do not participate in cross Realm trades

We do not support any trades of gold or items across Realms (servers). The risk is placed entirely on the player‘s shoulders. If you engage in these types of transactions, you run a huge risk of being scammed.

·         Be cautious in the friends you make

Trust should be earned and not given. Be careful in the friends and alliances you choose in game. When you join a group or guild, you are now governed by other player‘s rules. It is your choice to stay in a guild or group if you do not agree with their methods and practices.

·         Keep your account information secret

Account sharing is against our TOU. All too frequently, scamming and account hacking can be attributed to sharing an account. While you may develop strong online friends and ties, any time you share your information with another person, the security of your account is seriously compromised.

The bottom line is that we want World of Warcraft to be a fun and safe environment for all players. World of Warcraft is an MMORPG, and the key words are "Massively Multiplayer". In playing this game, you will encounter thousands of other players who share different experiences and come from vastly different backgrounds. Being scammed potentially negates hours of another player‘s time, and is an extremely anti-social action. We have done everything we can to make World of Warcraft a great game, but now it‘s up to you the players, to breathe life into the world. Choose wisely my friends.

Reference:

http://www.wow-europe.com/en/policy/scam.html

Gold Farming Documentary...^_^

FOR DISCUSSION: (Earn Real World Money by Playing MMORPG)

“Gold farming” is playing a massively multiplayer online game to acquire in-game currency, e.g. gold. This is then usually sold, against the wishes of the game's operator, to other players. People in China and in other developing nations have held full-time employment as gold farmers. “Gold Farmers” have become entrepreneurs who make their living by profiting from online games. By assuming fantasy roles in these games, they kill monsters, mine ore or engage in other activities that earn "virtual gold" that they then sell to other players, often in rich nations, for real-world currency. “Gold farmer” improved the items to be more special. It is really useful to the user for killing the monster with minimum time. “Gold farmer” sells the special items to another user. Therefore, “gold farmer” got the money by selling special items. Besides that, “Gold farmer” also provide a service to another user (clients) for improving level characters. They take over a client's low-level (weak, poorly skilled) game character and build it up to high levels of health, strength and skill. Client got a boost from level one to level 50 in Lord of the Rings Online costs around $150. Sometimes, instead of assuming a client's character, farmers serve as escorts that accompany players through dangerous or difficult tasks.

Reference:

http://www.aurumahmad.com/vwe/gold-farming/ 

The Technology of MMORPG

Most of MMORPGs are built according to client-server architecture. That’s why an application has to be installed on the player’s computer in order for him to play. Meanwhile, server of the game is located in remote location. All clients’ programs will be communicating with the server (Wilson Tracy V 2007).

Basically, the client’s PC maintains nearly everything to represent the world of the game, including the world maps, landscapes, what different characters look like, and what different mobs look like. They exist in a repository maintained by the client’s program in form of databases and file systems. Additionally, the client’s program implements algorithms that manage what the player will see, and how players will control their characters.

On another side, the server administers events that occur globally throughout the world map. Information of characters’ locations and actions are sent by clients and captured by the server. Then the server has to come up with responses which will be sent back to the clients. Therefore, server enables players to interact in real-time. Some of responsibilities that the server undertakes are:

• Comparing the location between a player’s character and other characters, mobs, NPCs, etc.
• Calculating whether a character is in range of the mob the player wants to attack.
• Instructing players’ computer to display a mob’s death animation when they kill it.
• Calculating the probability of whether players’ attacks are successful (Wilson Tracy V 2007).

Reference:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/mmorpg.htm

Issues between the Virtual World and Real World

Virtual Economies (Money & Properties)

As mentioned earlier, every person will be able to develop their own avatar in the virtual world. Avatars in the MMORPG network develop their social network and relationships in the online community. Inside the virtual world, they do have their own economies system involving trade and barter for things such as weapon, guns, gold, and other intangible goods.

According to Lawrence G. Walters (2010), people are enjoying a real profits from the virtual worlds by selling artifacts and avatars on the Internet auction sites. Some entrepreneur sell virtual money or gold to be used in the games. These "gold" in the game are gained through an unacceptable manners which they referred as "farming" (using computer bots to play automatically), and resell it to other gamers through the online sites. This practice is strongly opposed by the gaming companies as it violates the game rules and intellectual property rights.

The issues of copyright and ownerships right often arises in the MMORPGs. Can the agreement made in the cyberspace enforced by the real world's law? Can the virtual properties be "stolen" in legal sense? There is an example of the virtual property and real world money trade that involved court. In the case, a Second Life player purchased a piece of virtual land below the market value and invested thousands of dollar to resell the land for profit. However, the gamer's account was terminated by the gaming company upon the completion of the trade. The company refused to make refund and the gamer filed a civil complaint against the company. What worth mentioning is the case is not heard in the court until today. It is unsure whether this kind of trade involving virtual land and real money can be enforced by the legal action.

Reference: http://www.gamecensorship.com/mmorpglaw.html