Aimed at dedicated fans of the role playing game World of Warcraft,
this dynamic collection of essays explores the undying fascination with
a game that is a welcome escape from reality for millions of people
around the world. Gaming experts, developers and bestselling sci-fi
authors examine the overwhelming success of the game and the underlying
motivations for gamers to spend, on average, the time equivalent to
working a part-time job battling in the world of Azeroth, and address
issues ranging from economics and psychology to addiction and game
ethics. The outstanding design of the game and the histories of several
main characters are also discussed.