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{{Merge|World of Warcraft|date=June 2008}}
#redirect [[World of Warcraft#Reception]]
{{POV|date=May 2008}}
'''''[[World of Warcraft]]''''', an [[online computer game]], has been associated with several scandals and criticisms since its release. While many of these criticisms may also apply to the [[MMORPG]] genre as a whole, World of Warcraft has been specifically cited with those criticisms. [[Blizzard Entertainment]] have worked to address some of those criticisms but others still remain unresolved.

==Technology==
===Server instability, capacity and data integrity===
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Shane Dabiri.jpg|thumb|right|[[Shane Dabiri]], Lead producer for World of Warcraft]] -->
As with other [[online games]], [[game server]] and [[network]] [[stability]] is critical. Due to failures in these, there have been times when the game has been unplayable by a large number of players. For example, in September 2005, Blizzard gave all European players two free days of play as [[Damages|compensation]] for repeated network failures. During the early days of World of Warcraft's U.S. release Blizzard also gave out free days to compensate players for days lost due to problems on their end; a policy which was, and still is, common in the industry. The issues were suspected to be Blizzard's [[upstream (computer science)|upstream]] [[Internet service provider]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11371
|publisher=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]
|title=Blizzard to compensate players for World of Warcraft problems
|first=Ellie
|last=Gibson
|date=2005-08-09
|accessdate=2006-10-21
}}</ref>

As World of Warcraft grew in popularity, many players began to experience problems with connecting to and [[Logging (computer security)|logging in]] to the game. Cases include long delays waiting for usernames and passwords to be [[Authentication|authenticated]] or large queues on certain [[Realm (World of Warcraft)|realms]]. Sudden server crashes that would force realms offline also occurred. The situation became worse when trying to coordinate activities across a number of players or [[Clan (computer gaming)|guilds]] on the same realm. On [[3 May]] [[2006]] [[Shane Dabiri]], World of Warcraft Lead Producer, stated that new realms would be introduced to relieve the burden on existing ones. Existing realms would be [[upgrade]]d. The paid migration service was also unveiled at this time.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4974456.stm
|title= Problems plague World of Warcraft
|accessdate= 2008-02-25
|last= Ward
|first= Mark
|date= 2006-05-05
|publisher= [[BBC]]
|quote= Players are being left frustrated and angry by ongoing problems with online game World of Warcraft.
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.wow-europe.com/en/misc/battleplan-2006.html
|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]
|title=Shane Dabiri's Battleplan: May 2006
|first=Shane
|last=Dabiri
|accessdate=2008-03-04
}}</ref> Some realms had been earmarked for upgrade since January 2006<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.blue.cardplace.com/cache/wow-general-en/759468.htm
|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]
|title=Addressing realm performance
|Author=Thundgot
|accessdate=2008-03-04
}}</ref>, with a large block of realms upgraded in August of the same year.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://blue.cardplace.com/cache/wow-general/9610227.htm
|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]
|title=Select Realm Retrofit Upgrades and Patch!
|author=Eyonix
|accessdate=2008-03-04
}}</ref>

World of Warcraft uses a [[client-server]] model common among many [[MMORPG]]s, where data about the game environment is continually passed between the two. Weaknesses of this model have been exploited in order to [[Crash (computing)|crash]] the [[Computer cluster|cluster]] of servers that make up a realm.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/27/wow_exploit_crashes_servers/
|publisher=The Register
|title=World of Warcraft exploit PKs servers
|first=Austin
|last=Modine
|date=2007-08-27
}}</ref> Exploits also include characters being able to instantly change location or [[teleport]],<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/21/hacking_mmorpgs/
|publisher=The Register
|title=World of Warcraft exploit PKs servers
|first=Dan
|last=Goodin
|date=2007-06-21
}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book
| last = Hoglund
| first = Greg
| authorlink =[[Greg Hoglund]]
| coauthors = Gary McGraw
| title = Exploiting Online Games: Cheating Massively Distributed Systems
| publisher = Addison-Wesley Professional
| date = 2007-07-19
| pages = 384
| url = http://www.exploitingonlinegames.com/
| isbn = 0132271915}}</ref> or automate interaction with the game environment through the use of external software. Warden (see [[Warden (software)|Warden]] or [[#Warden|later section]] in this article) was largely intended to resolve these issues.

===Account security===
When a user creates a World of Warcraft account, he is asked to choose a username and password. Whenever the user then plays World of Warcraft, he is asked to supply the same username and password in full. This is also the case when using account management facilities online. This type of authentication is vulnerable to [[Keystroke logging]]. While this is not unique to World of Warcraft and is common to many [[MMORPG]]s, the game has been directly targeted with [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojans]] being specifically crafted to capture account login details<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/08/wowcraft/
|publisher=The Register
|title=Trojan targets World of Warcraft gamers
|first=John
|last=Leyden
|date=2006-05-08
}}</ref>. Attacks have been reported as early as May 2006, although they may extend as far back as [[30 July]], [[2005]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2005-073115-1710-99
|publisher=symantec.com
|title=Infostealer.Wowcraft
|date=2007-02-13
}}</ref>.

In September 2006, reports emerged of spoof World of Warcraft gaming advice websites that contained [[malware]]. Vulnerable computers would be infected through their [[web browser]], downloading a program that would then relay back account information. Blizzard's account support teams experienced high demand during this episode, stating that many users had been affected. Claims were also made that telephone support was closed for isolated periods due to the volume of calls and resulting queues<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/29/warcraft_trojan_attack/
|publisher=The Register
|title=Warcraft gamers locked out after Trojan attack
|first=John
|last=Leyden
|date=2006-09-29
}}</ref>. In April 2007, attacks evolved to take advantage of further exploits involving animated cursors, with multiple websites being used<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/10/wow_hijackings/
|publisher=The Register
|title=WoW players learn value of Windows updates
|first=Dan
|last=Goodin
|date=2007-04-10
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6526851.stm
|publisher=BBC News
|title=Cursor hackers target WoW players
|date=2007-04-05
}}</ref>. Security researcher group [[Symantec]] released a report stating that a compromised World of Warcraft account was worth US$10 on the [[black market]], compared to US$6 to US$12 for a compromised computer (correct as of March 2007)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/weblog/2007/04/hhosr_roundup_march_1007.html
|publisher=Symantec
|title=HHOSR Roundup: March, 2007
|first=Ron
|last=Bowes
|date=2007-04-18
}}</ref>. In February 2008, [[phishing]] emails were distributed requesting that users validate their account information using a fake version of the World of Warcraft account management pages<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/weblog/2008/02/world_of_phishcraft.html
|publisher=Symantec
|title=World of Phishcraft
|first=Candid
|last=Wüest
|date=2008-02-15
}}</ref>.

Interestingly, some [[phishing]] attempts are disguised as recipes to hack the account of other players.

In [[June]] [[2008]], Blizzard announced the ''Blizzard Authenticator'', a hardware [[token]] that provides extra, [[Two-factor_authentication|two factor]], security for logging into ''World of Warcraft''. The token generates an [[one-time password]] based code to logon. The password is only valid once for a limited time, thus providing extra security against trojans and keylogging virusses. <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eu.blizzard.com/en/press/080626-ba.html
|publisher=Blizzard
|title=Blizzard® Authenticator offers enhances security for World of Warcraft® Accounts
|date=2008-06-26
}}</ref>

===Warden===
Blizzard makes heavy use of a system known as [[Warden (software)|Warden]] on the Windows version of the game in order to detect [[Third-party software component|third-party]] programs, such as [[Internet bot|botting]] software, allowing World of Warcraft to be played unattended. There has been some controversy as to the legality of Warden. Warden uses techniques similar to [[anti-virus software]] in order to analyze other running software on the players' PCs, as well as the [[file system]]. However, unlike most anti-virus software, it sends a portion of this information back to Blizzard, which caused privacy advocates to accuse it of being spyware.<ref>{{cite web
|title=4.5 million copies of EULA-compliant spyware
|first=Greg
|last=Hoglund
|date=2005-10-05
|accessdate=2006-10-21
|publisher=rootkit.com
|url=http://www.rootkit.com/blog.php?newsid=358
}}</ref> The Warden's existence was acknowledged in the opening legal proceedings of MDY INDUSTRIES, LLC. vs. BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Opening legal proceedings of MDY INDUSTRIES, LLC. vs. BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
|publisher=WoWGilder.com
|url=http://www.wowglider.com/Legal/Feb_16_2007/AnswerAndCounterclaims.pdf WoWGilder.com
}}</ref>

One example of the information Warden collects is the title of every window open on the system while WoW is running.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Warcraft game maker in spying row
|first=Mark
|last=Ward
|date=2005-10-31
|publisher=BBC News
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4385050.stm
}}</ref> Blizzard has not stated what information is passed by Warden over the Internet, or if that information is encrypted, so it is entirely possible this information is passed over the Internet back to Blizzard. On balance, many gamers responsed positively about the development, stating that they supported the technology if it resulted in fewer cases of cheating. Blizzard's use of Warden was stated in the Terms of Agreement (TOA).<ref>{{cite web
|title=WORLD OF WARCRAFT TERMS OF USE AGREEMENT
|date=2007-01-11
|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
|url=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html
}}</ref>

In March 2008, Blizzard sued Michael Donnelly, the creator of MMO Glider, software that can automatically play many tasks in the game. In a suit filed in federal court in [[Arizona]], Blizzard claimed the software is an infringement of its [[copyright]] and [[software license agreement]]. "Glider use severely harms the WoW gaming experience for other players by altering the balance of play, disrupting the social and immersive aspects of the game, and undermining the in-game economy," Blizzard said in a court filing. Donnelly claims to have sold 100,000 copies of the $25 software.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/wow-declares-war/2008/03/28/1206207360290.html?s_cid=rss_technology
|title=WoW declares war against automated play, [[Sydney Morning Herald]]
|date=[[2008-03-28]]|accessdate=2008-03-29}}</ref>

==Game misuse==
===Gold selling/spamming===
As with many [[MMORPG]]s, companies emerged offering to sell virtual gold and other associated services to players. After Blizzard started offering free trial gameplay accounts, players started receiving increasing numbers of spam sent by bots in the virtual mailboxes of their characters, advertising these services <ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/2006/11/26/world-of-warcraft-gold-farmers/ |title=Inside World of Warcraft Gold Farm, Future of Work |accessdate=2008-03-03 |author=Wagner James Au |date=2006-11-26 |publisher=gigaom.com }}</ref>. One study shows that this problem is particularly prevalent on the European realms, with gold being over 14 times more expensive to buy on US realms than their European counterparts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerprice.com/wow-gold-study.html |title=WoW Gold Price research: A World of Warcraft economic study |accessdate=2008-03-03 |coauthor=University of Sheffield |publisher=gamerprice.com}}</ref>. In patch 2.1, Blizzard responded to this by adding additional anti-spam mechanics including whisper throttling and the report spam function. Additionally, trial accounts are prevented from speaking in the public chat channels (although they may speak to players within range or whisper to other players that have first whispered them), participating in in-game trades, using the Auction House and the mail feature and several other limitations.

The practice of buying or selling gold in World of Warcraft is seen as highly controversial<ref>{{cite web |url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6592335.stm |title=The business end of playing games |accessdate=2008-03-03 |last=Scott |first=Richard |date=2007-09-24 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> with wide ranging consequences. On [[February 21]][[2008]], Blizzard released an article describing the effects and consequences of buying gold. In it, it describes that an "alarmingly high" proportion of all gold bought originates from hacked accounts (see Account security, earlier). The article also states that customers who have paid for character leveling services find their accounts hacked into months later, with all items stripped and sold off for virtual gold. The article concludes by mentioning that these companies often use "disruptive hacks ... which can cause realm performance and stability issues".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/faq/antigoldselling.html |title=Gold Selling: Effects and Consequences |accessdate=2008-03-03 |date=2008-02-21 }}</ref>

In May 2007 Blizzard filed a complaint against In Game Dollar LLC (trading as peons4hire) in federal court. In February 2008, the parties filed a consent decree in which In Game Dollar agreed to refrain from using any World of Warcraft chat or communication to advertise any business or sell any services relating to World of Warcraft<ref>{{cite web |url=http://virtuallyblind.com/files/Peons_Injunction.pdf |title=BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. and VIVENDI GAMES, INC., vs. IN GAME DOLLAR, LLC and BENJAMIN LEE |accessdate=2008-03-03 |format=PDF }}</ref>.

On the contrary, World of Warcraft in Chinese realms have a gold selling community and even purchasing of bind on pick up items. It is very common for players in Chinese realms to have over 50,000 gold with full tier 6 and arena gears due to gold buying and items.

===Account trading===
A relatively recent phenomenon, account trading is where a player's account is sold for cash, either through a private transaction or through an auction website. In January 2006, eBay blocked the sale of [[MMORPG]] accounts although other similar sites still offer the service. As characters progress in World of Warcraft and take on some of the toughest challenges, many of the rewards received are bound to that character and cannot be traded, generating a market for the trading of accounts with well-equipped characters. The highest noted World of Warcraft account trade was for £5000 (7000 euros, $9,937.49USD) in early September 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7007026.stm |title=The high cost of playing Warcraft |accessdate=2008-03-03 |last=Jimenez |first=Crisitina |date=2007-09-24 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

==Game design and mechanics==
=== PVP criticisms ===
Some players have criticised WoW for its focus on [[Player versus environment|PVE]] content at the expense of [[Player versus player|PVP]] content. PVP in WoW generally refers to either the instanced battlegrounds "Warsong Gulch" (10 players), "Arathi Basin" (15 players), "Alterac Valley" (40 players), and "Eye of the Storm" (added in the [[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade|Burning crusade expansion]]; 15 players), or PVP arenas, a form of dueling in 2v2, 3v3, and 5v5 settings.<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/pvp/ About PVP</ref> PVP in WOW is generally of a consensual nature, with the exception of world PVP on "PVP servers", where it is possible to experience spontaneous world PVP between players of opposing factions in so-called "contested zones."<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/survivingpvp.html Surviving PVP</ref>

One criticism of WoW's PVP support includes the many regions of the WoW world that are labelled as "contested", yet there are no gameplay mechanics that develop the notion of these zones ever being in conflict. Another criticism is that there are dozens of PVE instances, but only 4 PVP instances, and WoW's heavy emphasis on gear as the underlying character progression and player retention mechanic strongly diverts attention away from the war that is described to exist between the Horde and Alliance factions.<ref>http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/29267 Editorial - Welfare Epics: Does the Term Still Apply?</ref><ref>http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=News&method=article&id=4726 The PvP Report: Think Different</ref>. For example, players of opposing factions are as likely to ignore each other and even aid each other in quests as they are to engage each other in factional PVP.<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/survivingpvp.html Surviving PVP</ref>. It is also argued that game mechanics limit the impact that PVP outcomes have on the game world.

Blizzard has responded in part to such criticisms through the introduction of "world PVP objectives" as patches to the original game, and in the Burning Crusade expansion. The upcoming expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, will feature an entire world PVP zone, with player-achievable outcomes that will affect all players within that zone.

Another criticism of WoW PVP comes from "[[Away from keyboard|AFK]] honor-farming", and the more recent practice of "arena point selling". The former is where players join the various instanced battlegrounds that exist with the deliberate intention to go AFK in order to earn "honor points", with which they are able to buy gear. This practice is especially common in the Alterac Valley battleground, to the point it is has been referred to by players and satirists as "AFK Valley."<ref>http://meghanohara.org/wordpress/2007/08/26/honor-and-glory/ Satirical comic</ref> In response, Blizzard has introduced new game mechanics designed to curb this behavior,<ref>http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/patch2p20.html World of Warcraft patch 2.0</ref> with mixed success.

==Other==
===Treatment of LGBT players===
Blizzard garnered criticism for its decision in January 2006 to ban guilds from advertising sexual orientation preferences. The incident occurred after several players were cited for "harassment" after advocating a group for gay-straight alliance.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Blizzard of GLBT gaming policy questions
|publisher=In Newsweekly
|date=2006-02-02
|accessdate=2006-10-21
|url=http://www.innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Ga&article_code=1172
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title=World of Warcraft: Don't tell anyone you're queer
|publisher=[[Boing Boing]]
|date=2006-01-27
|first=Cory
|last=Doctorow
|url=http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/27/world_of_warcraft_do.html
}}</ref>
Blizzard initially responded by saying its objective was to, "''.. promote a positive game environment for everyone and help prevent such harassment from taking place as best we can, we prohibit mention of topics related to sensitive real-world subjects in open chat within the game, and we do our best to take action whenever we see such topics being broadcast.''"<ref>{{cite web
|title=Blizzard Does Not Hate Gay People
|publisher=[[Kotaku]]
|date=2006-01-30
|accessdate=2006-10-21
|url=http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/world-of-warcraft/blizzard-does-not-hate-gay-people-151656.php
}}</ref>

Blizzard later reversed the decision to issue warnings to players promoting [[LGBT]]-friendly guilds. Included in this decision was the announcement that it intends to set up in-game channels intended specifically for guild advertisements, as well as provide "[[sensitivity training]]" for its staff after players complained of anti-homosexual language being used openly and without punishment. <!-- unsourced, commenting out: A gay legal group also questioned whether banning such guilds may violate anti-discrimination laws. --><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=62864 | title = Blizzard says sorry to WOW fan | accessdate = 2006-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/breaking/wow-blizzard-gets-gay-rights-warning-153075.php | title = Blizzard Gets Gay Rights Warning | accessdate = 2006-04-11}}</ref>

===Game addiction===
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Maressa_Orzack.jpg|thumb|left|Dr. Maressa Orzack, a clinical psychologist at [[McLean Hospital]]]] -->
''World of Warcraft'' has also come under criticism for stories of [[game addiction]]s to the popular video game. In June 2005 it was reported that a four month old South Korean child had [[suffocation|suffocated]] due to [[neglect]] by her ''World of Warcraft''-addicted parents who were reportedly at a nearby cafe playing ''World of Warcraft''.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=59697 Child dies as parents play WoW News // PC /// Eurogamer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In August of that year, the government of the [[People's Republic of China]] introduced an online gaming restriction limiting playing time to 3 hours, after which the player would be expelled from the game. In 2006, it changed the rule so only citizens under the age of 18 would face the limitations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4183340.stm|title=China imposes online gaming curbs|publisher=BBC|date=[[25 August]] [[2005]]}}</ref>

Dr. [[Maressa Orzack]], a clinical psychologist at [[McLean Hospital]] in Belmont, [[Massachusetts]], was interviewed [[August 8]], [[2006]] stating that many of the then 9 million subscribers are addicted. She is quoted as saying "''... 40 percent of the players are addicted.''"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.twitchguru.com/2006/08/08/world_of_warcraft_players_addicted/|title=Expert: 40 Percent of World of Warcraft Players Addicted|publisher=TwitchGuru|date=[[8 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Note that the 40 percent figure was not derived from a scientific study overseen by Dr. Orzack, but rather came from "a forum that [[Nick Yee]] runs". She added in an August 2006 interview that "even if the percentage is 5 to 10 percent which is standard for most addictive behaviors, it is a huge number of people who are out of control."<ref>[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060809-7459.html Ars Technica interview with Dr. Orzack, 8/9/2006]</ref> Also, according to Dr. John Grohol, a colleague of Orzack's, "Dr. Orzack is not claiming that up to 40% of World of Warcraft gamers are addicted based upon any actual evidence or surveys of players. This is just her opinion, based upon her own experience and observation of the problem."<ref>[http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/08/10/expert-40-percent-of-world-of-warcraft-players-addicted/ PsychCentral - John M. Grohol, Psy.D., August 10, 2006]</ref>

However, there is still much speculation of gaming addiction problems caused by World of Warcraft; a November 14, 2006 article in ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' featured individuals who admit becoming addicted to World of Warcraft and other MMORPG's.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/magazine/daily/15906112.htm Fair game?]</ref>

=== Cultural issues in China ===

The Chinese government and ''The9'', the licensee for ''World of Warcraft'' in China, have imposed a modification on Chinese versions of the game which places flesh on bare-boned skeletons and transforms dead character corpses into tidy graves. These changes were imposed by the Chinese government in an attempt to "promote a healthy and harmonious online game environment" in ''World of Warcraft''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/07/03/10136373.html|title= Censorship reaches internet skeletons|publisher=Gulfnews|date=[[03 July]] [[2007]]}}</ref>



==References==
<!--See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{reflist|2}}

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* {{cite web
|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4974456.stm
|title= Problems plague World of Warcraft
|accessdate= 2008-02-25
|last= Ward
|first= Mark
|date= 2006-05-05
|publisher= [[BBC]]
|quote= Players are being left frustrated and angry by ongoing problems with online game World of Warcraft.
}}

{{World of Warcraft}}

[[Category:World of Warcraft|Criticism of World of Warcraft]]
[[Category:Criticisms|World of Warcraft]]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 2 June 2010