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The Pentagon, MMORPGs, and Catching Osama
MarkRH writes "I know, it looked like a troll to me too. But apparently a Pentagon-funded group, the Highlands Forum, is investigating the possibility of fighting terrorism by postulating that terrorist networks are similar to the online communities found in MMORPGs. By studying interaction within a community like Everquest, the military hopes to find hints on how to crack Al Qaeda." See also the "Uncloaking Terrorist Networks" post of several months back.
Finally, the age-old question is answered:
How can we play Everquest all day and get paid for it?
If PKers will now be called terrorists.
I doubt terrorists have the same immeadiate and direct communication that exists in on-line games. The less communication, the less chance for discovery.
In any case, I know MMORPG players. The only thing they accomplish in the real world is living in the basement and drinking Dew. Hell set up suspected terrorists with an EQ subscription and the only they they'll blow up in orcs.
Just wait till some crappy band steals your nic.
"Fsck you, we're in North Temple of Veeshan today."
"STFU our guild reserved it three months ago!"
"Piss off!"
"You piss off!"
(A random cadre of level 60+ wizards run by, complete with manaburn. "For Innoruuk!" They cast, take out three dragons, and then die to a mobile much lower level than they are.)
Meanwhile, back at the Bat Office..
Mr. Powell: Obviously, the Islamic Fundamentalists play Tier'dal Wizards.
Is to subject them to l337 sp34k all day. U.S. pwnz Bin L4d3n.