Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games by Edward Castronova

AlibrisBooks
(486863)
Registrado como vendedor profesional
USD7,76
Aproximadamente6,66 EUR
Estado:
En buen estado
Respira tranquilidad. Se aceptan devoluciones.
Envío:
Gratis Standard Shipping.
Ubicado en: Sparks, Nevada, Estados Unidos
Entrega:
Entrega prevista entre el vie. 31 oct. y el mié. 5 nov. a 94104
Calculamos el plazo de entrega con un método patentado que combina diversos factores, como la proximidad del comprador a la ubicación del artículo, el servicio de envío seleccionado, el historial de envíos del vendedor y otros datos. Los plazos de entrega pueden variar, especialmente en épocas de mucha actividad.
Devoluciones:
30 días para devoluciones. El comprador paga el envío de la devolución..
Pagos:
    Diners Club

Compra con confianza

Garantía al cliente de eBay
Si no recibes el artículo que has pedido, te devolvemos el dinero. Más informaciónGarantía al cliente de eBay - se abre en una nueva ventana o pestaña
El vendedor asume toda la responsabilidad de este anuncio.
N.º de artículo de eBay:285014720907
Última actualización el 28 oct 2025 12:16:58 H.EspVer todas las actualizacionesVer todas las actualizaciones

Características del artículo

Estado
En buen estado: Libro que se ha leído pero que está en buen estado. Daños mínimos en la tapa, ...
Book Title
Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games
Publication Date
2006-10-15
Pages
344
ISBN
9780226096278
Categoría

Acerca de este producto

Product Identifiers

Publisher
University of Chicago Press
ISBN-10
0226096270
ISBN-13
9780226096278
eBay Product ID (ePID)
53953466

Product Key Features

Number of Pages
344 Pages
Language
English
Publication Name
Synthetic Worlds : the Business and Culture of Online Games
Publication Year
2006
Subject
Internet / General, Social Aspects / General, General, Virtual Worlds
Type
Textbook
Author
Edward Castronova
Subject Area
Computers, Business & Economics
Format
Perfect

Dimensions

Item Height
0.1 in
Item Weight
19.1 Oz
Item Length
0.9 in
Item Width
0.7 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
22
Illustrated
Yes
Dewey Decimal
794.8/14678
Table Of Content
Acknowledgments Introduction: The Changing Meaning of Play Part I. The Synthetic World: A Tour Chapter 1. Daily Life on a Synthetic Earth Chapter 2. The User Chapter 3. The Mechanics of World-Making Chapter 4. Emergent Culture: Institutions within Synthetic Reality Chapter 5. The Business of World-Making Part II. When Boundaries Fade Chapter 6. The Almost-Magic Circle Chapter 7. Free Commerce Chapter 8. The Economics of Fun: Behavior and Design Chapter 9. Governance Chapter 10. Topographies of Terror Chapter 11. Toxic Immersion and Internal Security Part III. Threats and Opportunities Chapter 12. Implications and Policies Chapter 13. Into the Age of Wonder Appendix: A Digression on Virtual Reality Notes References Index
Synopsis
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 long-term social consequences of online games: If players can inhabit worlds that are more alluring and gratifying than reality, then how can the real world ever compete? Will a day ever come when we spend more time in these synthetic worlds than in our own? Or even more startling, will a day ever come when such questions no longer sound alarmist but instead seem obsolete? With more than ten million active players worldwide--and with Microsoft and Sony pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into videogame development--online games have become too big to ignore. "Synthetic Worlds" spearheads our efforts to come to terms with this virtual reality and its concrete effects. "Illuminating. . . . Castronova's analysis of the economics of fun is intriguing. Virtual-world economies are designed to make the resulting game interesting and enjoyable for their inhabitants. Many games follow a rags-to-riches storyline, for example. But how can all the players end up in the top 10%? Simple: the upwardly mobile human players need only be a subset of the world's population. An underclass of computer-controlled 'bot' citizens, meanwhile, stays poor forever. Mr. Castronova explains all this with clarity, wit, and a merciful lack of academic jargon."--"The Economist" " " ""Synthetic Worlds" is a surprisingly profound book about the social, political, and economic issues arising from the emergence of vast multiplayer games on the Internet. What Castronova has realized is that these games, where players contribute considerable labor in exchange for things they value, are not merely like real economies, they "are" real economies, displaying inflation, fraud, Chinese sweatshops, and some surprising in-game innovations."--Tim Harford, "Chronicle of Higher Education ", 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 long-term social consequences of online games: If players can inhabit worlds that are more alluring and gratifying than reality, then how can the real world ever compete? Will a day ever come when we spend more time in these synthetic worlds than in our own? Or even more startling, will a day ever come when such questions no longer sound alarmist but instead seem obsolete? With more than ten million active players worldwide--and with Microsoft and Sony pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into video game development--online games have become too big to ignore. Synthetic Worlds spearheads our efforts to come to terms with this virtual reality and its concrete effects. "Illuminating. . . . Castronova's analysis of the economics of fun is intriguing. Virtual-world economies are designed to make the resulting game interesting and enjoyable for their inhabitants. Many games follow a rags-to-riches storyline, for example. But how can all the players end up in the top 10%? Simple: the upwardly mobile human players need only be a subset of the world's population. An underclass of computer-controlled 'bot' citizens, meanwhile, stays poor forever. Mr. Castronova explains all this with clarity, wit, and a merciful lack of academic jargon."-- The Economist " Synthetic Worlds is a surprisingly profound book about the social, political, and economic issues arising from the emergence of vast multiplayer games on the Internet. What Castronova has realized is that these games, where players contribute considerable labor in exchange for things they value, are not merely like real economies, they are real economies, displaying inflation, fraud, Chinese sweatshops, and some surprising in-game innovations."--Tim Harford, Chronicle of Higher Education
LC Classification Number
GV1469.15.C43 2006

Descripción del artículo del vendedor

Información de vendedor profesional

Certifico que todas mis actividades de venta cumplirán todas las leyes y reglamentos de la UE.
Acerca de este vendedor

AlibrisBooks

99% de votos positivos2,0 millones artículos vendidos

Se unió el may 2008
Suele responder en 24 horas
Registrado como vendedor profesional
Alibris is the premier online marketplace for independent sellers of new & used books, as well as rare & collectible titles. We connect people who love books to thousands of independent sellers around ...
Ver más
Visitar tiendaContactar

Valoraciones detalladas sobre el vendedor

Promedio durante los últimos 12 meses
Descripción precisa
4.9
Gastos de envío razonables
5.0
Rapidez de envío
5.0
Comunicación
5.0

Votos de vendedor (541.051)

Todas las valoracionesselected
Positivas
Neutras
Negativas
  • e***u (282)- Votos emitidos por el comprador.
    Mes pasado
    Compra verificada
    The listing was for a hardcover version of this book; however, I received a paperback. The Seller replied quickly to my question about this issue and issued a full refund - and let me keep the book. So, a diligent Seller for sure - and well packaged and reasonable timing on shipping. Thank you for the refund, and as you suggested, I'll likely donate this volume and seek the hardcover.
  • e***n (392)- Votos emitidos por el comprador.
    Últimos 6 meses
    Compra verificada
    Great transaction, exactly as described, packed well, and promptly shipped on August 6th. Unfortunately the U.S. Postal Service took 23 calendar days to deliver the book. It was shipped from Pennsylvania, to Atlanta, past Alabama to Texas, enjoyed several days in Texas, then to Minneapolis, Jacksonville, Florida, back to Atlanta, finally to Birmingham, and Huntsville. The seller was very responsive and I decided it was interesting to see if/how the book would arrive. Thanks, Joe
  • 0***g (380)- Votos emitidos por el comprador.
    Últimos 6 meses
    Compra verificada
    Excellent purchase. Was able to get all three items from the one seller. Seller was able to bundle all three items together into one package. Items as described and arrived in perfect condition. Good communication around shipping and tracking as items delayed and not able to be delivered by original estimate. Thanks to shipping updates I was able to track the items arriving before the extended delivery time. Thank you for making these items available on EBay.