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Synthetic Worlds : The Business and Culture of Online Games by Edward Castronova is a nonfiction available to read on EtoBox.

What is Synthetic Worlds : The Business and Culture of Online Games about?

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 popular new brand of escapism. But the line between fantasy and reality is starting to blur. Players have created 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 first comprehensive look at the online game industry, exploring its implications for business and culture alike. He starts with the players, giving us a revealing look into the everyday lives of the gamers—outlining what they do in their synthetic worlds and why. He then describes the economies inside these worlds to show how they might dramatically affect real world financial systems, from potential disruptions of markets to new business horizons. Ultimately, he explores the

Who reads Synthetic Worlds : The Business and Culture of Online Games?

Author

Edward Castronova

Publisher

University Of Chicago Press; University of Chicago Press

Published

2008

Language

EN

ISBN

9781281959324

Category

nonfiction

Subjects

Computer Science, Sports, Business

Rating

3.66 / 5 (169 ratings)

Updated

2026-03-14