WoW Pod....Awesome or just plain Bizarre?

[arch5]

I was reading through my PC Gamer magazine, and I saw a little article about this, and I couldn't resist making a topic about it. (I'm currently on my airtran flight flying back home, using the in-flight internet )

Links:
http://www.popsci.com/entertainment...riously-all-sedentary-gamers-biological-needs
http://kotaku.com/5220711/the-wow-pod-is-a-suicide-booth-for-warcraft-fans

There are certain elements of social etiquette that apply in online multiplayer games, and especially in cooperative online games such as World of Warcraft (WoW). Keeping other players waiting while you go walk the dog, have a smoke or do the laundry is usually tolerated among friends, but can earn you a bad reputation if you become a repeat offender. Such "real world" breaks go over even less well with hardcore gamers, who are used to marathon game runs that can last for hours.

Now Warcraft devotees can ease those social pressures -- MIT has them conceptually covered with the "WoW Pod," within which a computer, water and prepackaged food are all within easy reach. Gamers don't even need to get up and run to the bathroom for those quick "bio" breaks, thanks to a "throne" with both a built-in toilet and surround sound.

Hungry gamers can even choose a dining experience that crosses the divide between real and virtual worlds. By choosing and scanning in food items, players can kick back and let the game physically adjust a hot plate to cook the item -- all while their virtual character announces their meal's status to fellow online players. The computer's system then puts the player's character on AFK (Away From Keyboard) mode to allow him or her to enjoy the food in peace.

The WoW Pod is the brainchild of Cati Vaucelle, a researcher with the MIT Media Laboratory's Tangible Media Group. She describes herself as a hardcore gamer who co-leads a players' guild within World of Warcraft.

"I got the idea of the WoW Pod and cookset by playing nonstop and burning my lap with my laptop, and wanting to use this heat to cook my snacks!" Vaucelle told PopSci.

This is the "WoW Pod". It does everything. It's a crapper, it's a computer, it's a kitchen and, most important of all, it's a shield against the outside world.

The brainchild of artists Cati Vaucelle & Shada/Jahn, the pod - based off real World of Warcraft "architecture" - is "real" (in the sense that it's an art installation, and not a product), and was built using grants from, among other groups, MIT's Council for the Arts. Billed as an "immersive architectural solution for the advanced World of Warcraft player that provides and anticipates all of life's needs", it was created to question "the inducement of pleasure, fantasy fulfilment and the mediation of intimacy in a socially-networked gaming paradigm such as World of Warcraft".

Which we're sure it does. But it also cooks eggs while you play video games. And when the cooking is done, it's linked to your character, who will announce that the cooking is done to your guild mates.

Which we'd say publicly is just awful. But secretly say is totally awesome.

If you're interested in actually checking this thing out, it'll be on display at the MIT museum until September.

Personally, I think this "WoW Pod" is just bizarre. Unless your life is dedicated to WoW. All they need now for that thing is a bedroom.

 

[Letters]

It can be a huge pain in the ass if you're starving but in the middle of a raid...


I got to be pretty pro at it, though... cookin' dinner after a wipe or something!

 

[Acepilotf14]

Why would you want to play the game at all?

 

[AtomicSpark]

.....

 

[ktimekiller]

id use it

 

[MorganFreeman911]

That's ****ed up. Whoah.

 

[Naph]

That's ****ed up. Whoah.

I thought you were going to abuse him.

 

[Acepilotf14]

..I would paint it grey and use it for flight sim X.

 

[Vegeta897]

I would paint it pink and use it for... ah, do I even need to come up with a punchline?

 

[Danimal]

Tentacle Rape Adventures 6: Final Relapse?

 

[Sheepo]

I would paint it red so that no one would notice dabom's blood covering it once I use it to impale him.

 

[Warped]

this way works easier

 

[Tacoeaterguy]

Tentacle Rape Adventures 6: Final Relapse?

Thats a good one. My dad would know.

 

[Dog--]

All they need now for that thing is a bedroom.

Real gamers don't sleep, you fool.

 

[arch5]

Real gamers don't sleep, you fool.

Not for sleeping

I would like to see a CS:S Pod XD

 

[Vegeta897]

Not for sleeping

Real gamers definitely don't do that.

 

[Tacoeaterguy]

Real gamers definitely don't do that.

Yeah. My dad would know.

 

[arch5]

Real gamers definitely don't do that.

Well, maybe your energy drink supply runs out, your'e running from ironforge to some random place a long ways away, so you put it on auto-run and you just relax

 

[Danimal]

Yeah. My dad would know.

Is Raziaar your Dad, too?

 

[Tacoeaterguy]

Is Raziaar your Dad, too?

My mom says it was in Vegas. She so much on the slot machines, she just snapped. Drank till she was sick. Thats when Raziaar showed up. My mom doesn't like to talk about it.

 

[Danimal]

She tried to milk him and realised he wasn't a she-cow?

 

[Tacoeaterguy]

Thats the problem. He's a bull with udders.

 

[Krynn72]

This is stupid. I wish I didnt unhide dabomb's post to see this. Now im just in a bad mood for bed. God damn it.

 

[Raziaar]

People could... I don't know. Go to the kitchen to get something to eat and drink. And they could use the restroom. And they could... I don't know. Sleep?

Even I don't get that pathetic.

But then again... I just like eating and drinking and shitting and sleeping too much.

 

[morgs]

Why would you want to play the game at all?

Because maybe you enjoy it? Think of that one?

 

[Sheepo]

But it's awful. That's his point.

 

[jverne]

nothing new really...

 

[lefty]

Ok, so what if you need to empty the dishwasher?

 

[DEATHMASTER]

The WoW Pod is the brainchild of Cati Vaucelle, a researcher with the MIT Media Laboratory's Tangible Media Group.

Gives Gordon a bad name.

 

[Krynn72]

Ok, so what if you need to empty the dishwasher?

Delivery usually doesnt include washable plates, so thats a moot point.

 

[nurizeko]

I really don't get the levels some people take gaming to.

I mean, really, its fun and all and I've had my share of game intensive weekends, but when real life calls I answer. That's the point of gaming, its something you can pick-up and drop at a moments notice relatively easily, even MMO's don't seem this massive magnetic chore people make it out to be.

If I got shit to do in real life, for example, shitting, then I go shit, **** the raid.


Vegeta, explain this gaming phenomenon. I need a first hand account.