Tag: gaming journalism

01 Aug
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The Life of the Chinese Gold Farmer

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Gold farmer working on multiple game accounts in a dimly lit internet café Stack of virtual game currency icons representing MMO earnings Player using keyboard and mouse to farm virtual gold in a game Hand exchanging virtual game items for real cash Chinese internet café filled with gamers playing MMO Screenshot of MMO game interface showing gold and items Row of computer screens displaying a farming character in a game Virtual item trade interface on a game's marketplace screen Gamer’s hand holding a smartphone with gold-farming app Graphic illustration of virtual currency flowing into real-world cash
Dibbell in 2009

Julian Dibbell’s article “The Life of the Chinese Gold Farmer” explores the complex world of gold farming and virtual economies, focusing on Chinese players who earn virtual currency in games and sell it for real money. With clear reporting and cultural insight, Dibbell examines how these online laborers reshape perceptions of work, value, and the global gaming economy. You can read the full article here. This excerpt is shared under fair use for educational and non-commercial purposes. All rights to the original content belong to Julian Dibbell and The New York Times Magazine.

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01 Aug
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SPACEWAR

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Screenshot from 1972 Rolling Stone article showing Spacewar gameplay Black and white photo of MIT PDP‑1 computer running Spacewar Illustration of two spaceship combat on a CRT screen Historic image of players competing in Spacewar Olympics at Stanford AI Lab Photograph of early computer hackers crowded around consoles Diagram of PDP‑1 control buttons used in Spacewar Vintage Spacewar game pads and joysticks on a table Spacewar torpedo explosion captured in pixel art style Early tech culture scene with students gaming and coding Historic game room with PDP‑1 terminals running Spacewar

Stewart Brand’s article “S P A C E W A R” chronicles the early history and cultural rise of Spacewar!, one of the first digital video games, in the December 1972 issue of Rolling Stone. Through vivid anecdotes and firsthand reporting, Brand captures the excitement of the pioneering “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics” at Stanford’s AI Lab and the hacker‑driven evolution of gaming culture. This historic piece highlights how a simple two‑player space combat game helped spark the modern video game era. You can read the full article here. This excerpt is shared under fair use for educational and non-commercial purposes. All rights to the original content belong to Stewart Brand and Rolling Stone.

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