WoW may model real epidemics

[Keebler]

Researchers have written in a research journal (http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=390078&ssid=29&ssname=Net%20News&sid=ENV&sname=) that World of Warcraft may be used to model how real-world epidemics might spread. In 2005, Blizzard released a virus called "Corrupted Blood" into the virtual world that quickly escaped its control area.

At it's peak, the virus infected most of the major cities, caused a breakdown in "civil society", and had individuals abandoning virtual pets for fear that they transmitted the disease. Blizzard's efforts to quarantine the massive outbreak failed, and it resorted to rebooting the servers to remove it. (via Inq)

[Buddy J]

Aww man. I read the headline and thought they were gonna introduce the Black Plague to WoW. I wanna see players crying because their favourite character died of the plague.

[CB]

Since the characters can't permanently die, it can't really simulate a real plague.

[pigflipper]

I remember when this happened, it was a pain in the ass, damn Hakkar and his plague.

[TheGr81]

I remember when this happened, it was a pain in the ass, damn Hakkar and his plague.

I heard all about it but was never on to witness it myself. It sounded so awesome.

[RWB]

I never heard of that.... awesome idea though.

Just read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrupted_Blood

That is insane!

[Thrax]

I remember when this happened, it was a pain in the ass, damn Hakkar and his plague.

It was, er.. Exciting. I'm glad I was raiding BWL at the time.

[Middge]

I remember logging on and walking around Ironforge to see the piles of bodies. It took me a while to realise what the heck happened. Then just when I figured it out, I died :(