Media Showcase
WoW PodCatherine Vaucelle, MIT Media Laboratory, USA
Steve Shada, Marisa Jahn, USA
WOW Pod is an immersive architectural solution for the advanced massive online role-playing gamer that provides and anticipates all life needs. Inside, the player finds him/herself comfortably seated in front of the computer screen with easy-to-reach water, pre-packaged food, and a toilet conveniently placed underneath a built-in throne. When hungry, the player selects a food item and scans it in. WOW Pod then physically adjusts a hot plate to cook the item for the correct amount of time and temperature. The virtual character then jubilantly announces the status of the meal to both the player and the other individuals playing online. When the food is ready, the system automatically puts the character in AFK (Away From Keyboard) mode to provide both player and avatar a moment to eat. When the player resumes playing, he/she might just discover his/her character’s behavior is affected by the food consumed in real life, such as sluggish from overeating or alternately exuberant and energetic. We aim to provoke a discussion about the inducement of pleasure, fantasy fulfillment, the mediation of intimacy in a socially-networked gaming paradigm such as MORPG between researchers, designers and artists.
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