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How World of Warcraft changed the real world

The article from Marketplace discusses how "World of Warcraft" (WoW), launched by Blizzard Entertainment in 2004, has significantly influenced both the gaming industry and broader aspects of real-world culture and economy. It highlights how WoW pioneered the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) genre, setting new standards for online gaming with its immersive world, complex economy, and social interactions. The game's impact includes the creation of virtual economies that mirror real-world economic principles, leading to phenomena like gold farming, where players earn in-game currency to sell for real money. Additionally, WoW has influenced social dynamics, with players forming real-life friendships and communities, and even affecting language with terms like "nerf" and "buff" entering common vernacular. The article also touches on how WoW's success has led to the professionalization of gaming, with esports and streaming becoming viable careers, and how it has inspired numerous other games and media, reflecting its lasting cultural footprint.

Read the Full Marketplace Article at [ https://www.marketplace.org/2024/11/25/how-world-of-warcraft-changed-the-real-world/ ]