Virtual lives : a reference handbook / James D. Ivory.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ivory, James D.

Series:

Contemporary world issues

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Information technology--Social aspects.

Information technology.

Virtual reality.

Physical Description:

xv, 269 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, [2012]

Summary:

"This book is the THE source for information on virtual worlds, covering every aspect of this intriguing and fast-changing social practice and the technologies upon which it rests"--Provided by publisher.

"This is a Reference Handbookbook on Virtual Lives"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 Definitions, Background, and History 1

Characteristics of Virtual Worlds 2

What Are Virtual Worlds? 2

Interactivity 3

Physicality 3

Persistence 4

The History of Virtual Worlds 5

The First Virtual World 5

The Early Growth of Virtual Worlds 7

Not a Game Anymore: Second Life and Social Virtual Worlds 11

World of Warcraft Changes the Game 14

Other Virtual Worlds Look to Keep Up 15

Other Related Online Games, Communities, and Environments 19

Graphical Chat Applications 19

Social Network Games 20

Looking Back: Virtual Worlds' Ancestry and Inspirations 21

Direct Precursors to Virtual Worlds 21

Earlier Online Ancestors of Virtual Worlds 22

Offline Inspirations for Virtual Worlds 24

The Future of Virtual Worlds 25

2 The Audience and Function of Virtual Worlds 37

Access to Virtual Worlds 38

Global Access to the Internet 38

Global Access to Virtual Worlds 39

Users of Virtual Worlds 41

Who Uses Virtual Worlds? 41

Why Do People Use Virtual Worlds? 46

The Function of Virtual Worlds 48

How a User Creates an Avatar and Enters a Virtual World 48

How a User Navigates a Virtual World 50

Activities, Tasks, and Goals in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games 52

Activities in Social Virtual Worlds 55

Developers of Virtual Worlds 57

Creating and Managing a Commercial Virtual World 57

Smaller-Scale Virtual Worlds 57

More Users in More Worlds 58

3 Societal Concerns and Opportunities 63

Problems and Concerns 63

Addiction and Problematic Use 63

Aggression and Violence 72

Distorted Perceptions of Social Reality 78

Harassment and Griefing 79

Opportunities and Benefits 80

Social Opportunities 80

Educational Opportunities 84

Behavioral Research Opportunities 85

Commercial Opportunities 86

Managing Concerns and Opportunities 89

4 Chronology 105

5 Biographical Sketches 123

/ Craig A. Anderson Anderson, Craig A. 123

/ Timothy Anderson Anderson, Timothy 124

/ David Lance Arneson Arneson, David Lance 124

/ Jeremy N. Bailenson Bailenson, Jeremy N. 125

/ Richard A. Bartle Bartle, Richard A. 125

/ Marc Blank Blank, Marc 126

/ James J. Blascovich Blascovich, James J. 126

/ Amy Susan Bruckman Bruckman, Amy Susan 127

/ Brad J. Bushman Bushman, Brad J. 127

/ Edward Castronova Castronova, Edward 128

/ Pavel Curtis Curtis, Pavel 129

/ Bruce K. Daniels Daniels, Bruce K. 130

/ Julian Dibbell Dibbell, Julian 130

/ F. Randall Farmer Farmer, F. Randall 131

/ Christopher J. Ferguson Ferguson, Christopher J. 131

/ Richard Garriott Garriott, Richard 132

/ William Ford Gibson Gibson, William Ford 132

/ Ailin Graef Graef, Ailin 133

/ Ernest Gary Gygax Gygax, Ernest Gary 133

/ Rod Humble Humble, Rod 134

/ Dan Hunter Hunter, Dan 134

/ Jon Jacobs Jacobs, Jon 135

/ Donald R. Kaye Kaye, Donald R. 135

/ Kim Tack Jin Jin, Kim Tack 136

/ Andrew Kirmse Kirmse, Andrew 136

/ Chris Kirmse Kirmse, Chris 137

/ Alan E. Klietz Klietz, Alan E. 137

/ Raphael Koster Koster, Raphael 138

/ Greg Lastowka Lastowka, Greg 138

/ P. David Lebling Lebling, P. David 138

/ Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider Licklider, Joseph Carl Robnett 139

/ Thomas M. Malaby Malaby, Thomas M. 139

/ Brad McQuaid McQuaid, Brad 140

/ Chip Morningstar Morningstar, Chip 140

/ Bonnie Nardi Nardi, Bonnie 141

/ Cory Ondrejka Ondrejka, Cory 141

/ Robert Pardo Pardo, Robert 141

/ Mark Pincus Pincus, Mark 142

/ Howard Rheingold Rheingold, Howard 142

/ Philip Rosedale Rosedale, Philip 143

/ John L. Sherry Sherry, John L. 143

/ John Smedley Smedley, John 144

/ Song Jae-Kyeong Jae-Kyeong, Song 144

/ Jeffrey Steefel Steefel, Jeffrey 144

/ Neal Town Stephenson, J Stephenson, Neal Town, J 45

/ John Ronald Reuel Tolkien Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel 145

/ Roy Trubshaw Trubshaw, Roy 146

/ Sherry Turkle Turkle, Sherry 146

/ Ibe Van Geel Geel, Ibe Van 147

/ Vernor Steffen Vinge Vinge, Vernor Steffen 147

/ Ryan G. Van Cleave Cleave, Ryan G. Van 148

/ Dmitri Williams Williams, Dmitri 148

/ Bruce Sterling Woodcock Woodcock, Bruce Sterling 149

/ Nicholas Yee Yee, Nicholas 149

6 Tables, Charts, and Images 151

The Appearance of Virtual Worlds 151

Populations of Virtual Worlds 153

Research on Users of Virtual Worlds 156

MUDs and MUD-Type Text-Based Online Environments 159

7 Organizations 167

Government Organizations 167

Academic Associations and Other Nonindustry Organizations 171

Industry Organizations 187

Industry Companies 194

8 Print and Online Resources 205

Books 205

Book Chapters and Contributions to Edited Volumes 211

Articles 212

Other Academic Papers 234

Websites 236.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-242) and index.

ISBN:

9781598845853

1598845853

9781598845860

1598845861

OCLC:

729344582