Depressed Turn to MMO’s
While the global economic apocalypse has most of us either watching our backs at work or flinging ourselves out the windows of where we used to work, online game developers in Asia are seeing a new source of revenue: the unemployed.
It makes sense, actually. When you aren’t working, you have a lot more time on your hands. And why spend it updating your C.V. when you could just as easily get in a guild raid or sixteen? You know, do something productive.
In this interesting Reuters article, it’s pointed out that online games are much more popular in Asia than in Europe or especially North America. This is partly because broadband Internet access in Asia is cheaper, faster, and more ubiquitous than anywhere in the world. Also, there is a thriving PC community in Asian markets, as evidenced by the popularity of Internet cafes.
With a surplus of free time and an eye toward stretching the entertainment dollar, obsessive, unemployed MMO fans might start turning on to the huge number of online games being churned out by Asian developers.
But personally, I’m hoping they just go ahead and find new jobs. Even a level 60 archmage has to eat.
Source: PCmag.com
#1 – Shrody on February 3rd, 2009 10:20 am
There is no archmage class in WoW
#2 – BThompson on February 3rd, 2009 10:27 am
@Shrody:
The archmage reference wasn’t specific to WoW but RPGs in general.
But as a WoW player, are you putting in more time because of the deflated economy?