All’s Fun in Love and World of Warcraft

The Los Angeles Times has published a brief article that looks at some of the favorable, social aspects of MMORPGs like World of Warcraft.

Frank Pearce, founding member and senior vice president of product development for Blizzard Entertainment — the game’s developer and production company — believes he knows the reason why couples such as the Murdocks might prefer staying in all weekend playing Warcraft to going out.

“There’s a huge social element to the game. We’ve had this huge massive community grow out of the experience,” Pearce said. “The community is really a big factor that draws people into the game and keeps them in the game as well.”

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Unlike most video games targeted at younger males, Warcraft has succeeded in bringing women to the game with a diversity of features.

“It’s a social experience; it’s not just an entertainment experience,” Pearce said.

In fact, many women who play the game do so because of the social aspect. “It’s real-time interaction with other people, and you’re not just sitting there fighting against some boss [enemy] that doesn’t have a brain behind it,” said Cynthia Murdock. “I really, really like playing with other people.”