...now you can find out!
I had an opportunity to explain my PhD research into WoW raiding with the folks at Manaflask this week. They've posted the interview on their Web site, http://manaflask.com/article/848/top-level-raiding-a-q-amp-a-with-ladan-cockshut.
If you've ever wondered what exactly I've been doing, what I'm finding out, and what I hope to do with my PhD, there is probably way more information there than you might ever have wanted to know! :)
The BBC posted an article today about a new World Bank/infoDev report titled "Converting the Virtual Economy into Development Potential: Knowledge Map of the Virtual Economy" (Lehdonvirta, Vili. & Ernkvist, Mirko, 2011. Washington, DC; infoDev / World Bank). It explores the evolution of the virtual economy in such environments as MMOs. A short case study of WoW is included. One intriguing suggestion it makes is that the sale of virtual products (like game gold) could have a positive impact on local, developing economies.
New poll on feats of strength: www.raidingresearch.co.uk
Please visit my research blog to participate in my latest poll: http://www.raidingresearch.co.uk.
So it's our only real universal chat channel, at least universal as far as our server and faction goes. And the misnamed 'trade channel' seems to either function as visual white noise, become a source of amusement or constant aggression, or in very rare cases actually get used for some kind of advertising. Some of us use it to show off how incredibly clever we think we are (usually by insulting someone) or to spam some sort of meaningless information that--at least as far as I can see--has nothing to do with trade.