This screenshot from May 2008 shows a Blood Elf dancing with a Night Elf to celebrate the successful conclusion of a scientific conference held in World of Warcraft: Convergence of the Real and the Virtual

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A revisit ethnographic study of World of Warcraft

Starting in January 2007, I have repeatedly entered this marvelous virtual world to carry out observational and even statistical research.  One major result was the 2010 book, The Warcraft Civilization, published by MIT Press:

http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/warcraft-civilization

Another was the first major scientific conference held in a gameworld:

Convergence of the Real and the Virtual

WSB information:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sims_Bainbridge

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