"XFIRE DEBATE CLUB" EXAMINES GOLD FARMING & THE FINER POINTS OF VIRTUAL ECONOMICS
Log On to Xfire Tuesday, August 21 At 3:00pm EDT
WHAT:
Xfire - the 7.9 million strong gaming community - presents an all-new installment of the "Xfire Debate Club," investigating the controversial issue of in-game economics.Whether you love or hate gold farming, power leveling, pyramid schemes, or the market for items, characters and credit online, the virtual economies of popular online games have quickly challenged our sense of value in real life. Joe Blancato, writer and editor at The Escapist, an online magazine specializing in online gaming culture, moderates this month's debate on how virtual economies have changed gaming, and how companies can balance profit, punishment, and playability.
An expert and diverse panel of guests - ranging from Dmitri Williams, University researcher and contributor to the Terra Nova virtual worlds blog, to Rory Starks, the lead artist of the upcoming MMO and social experiment, Arden - will deliberate on this controversial subject and its effect on the playability of online games.
WHO:
Xfire "Debate Club" participants include:- Joe Blancato (Moderator), writer and editor, The Escapist
- Benjamin Duranske - Attorney, writer, chair of ABA Virtual Worlds committee
- Casey Monroe - Content Manager at ZAM Networks
- Dan Kelly - CEO of Sparter, a gamer to gamer gold selling network
- Dmitri Williams - Researcher, University of Illinois and writer, Terranova
- Jim Rossignol - Writer, The Escapist
- Rory Starks- Lead artist, Arden: The World of William Shakespeare
- Robin Rosales - Public Relations Manager, NHN - South Korea's largest internet portal
- The Xfire Community
WHEN:
Tuesday, August 21 at 3:00pm EDTWHERE:
Via Xfire, http://www.xfire.com/debateWHY:
"The virtual economies of popular online games have quickly challenged our sense of value in real life," said Frederic Descamps, Xfire senior marketing director. "The panel for this 'Debate Club' will illuminate the pressing issues that virtual worlds are facing in regards to their economies and the impact they have on players."*Debate transcript available upon request following event
*Xfire executives and panelists available for interviews upon request
About Xfire, Inc.
Xfire, Inc. is one of the fastest growing online gaming platform and community in the world helping gamers to easily connect, chat and play with their friends online. Xfire is a free service that allows gamers to easily browse for game servers, chat with friends through IM and voice chat, as well as download the latest updates and additions to their favorite games. With nearly eight million members in over 100 countries, Xfire is an international community connecting gamers across the globe. Xfire is a wholly owned subsidiary of MTV Networks and is based in Menlo Park, CA.
Xfire Media Contacts
Karen Raque
Bender/Helper Impact
(310) 694-3138
karen_raque@bhimpact.com
Angie Newman
Bender/Helper Impact
(310) 694-3116
angie_newman@bhimpact.com
