6 I WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2005
Popularity
of online
gamin . g
growing
Many Penn State students
are beginning to play
multiplayer role-playing
games on the Internet.
By Kristine Snodgrass
FOR THE COLLEGIAN
Online multiplayer games are a
growing trend at Penn State, allowing
students to momentarily forget about
homework, but some are worried they
might be addictive.
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-
Playing Games (MMORPG) allow play
ers to enter a virtual world with thou
sands of other players online. Players
create a character to complete tasks,
which earn them experience to
improve their level.
Aaron Abramowitz (sophomore-com
puter science) said this aspect of the
games causes students to play "to the
point of ridiculousness."
Abramowitz said he has been playing
MMORPGs since middle school, and he
advocates them as a fun and cost-effec
tive form of entertainment as long as
they do not become an obsession.
To participate in the game, players
must pay a monthly fee, which can be
up to about $l5 per month.
"They are a good money investment
if you'd like entertainment,"
Abramowitz said. He added that the
game fee costs less than going to a
movie once a week for a month, but still
provides hours of enjoyment.
Associate psychology professor
Aaron Pincus said that for some stu
dents, these games resemble an addic
tion.
He added that like drugs, these
games can arouse emotions and the
nervous system, causing players to
become dependent on the thrill the
game provides.
Abramowitz said the fantasy adven
ture game Everquest has earned the
nickname "evercrack" among its play
ers because of its addictive quality
Elliot Susel (sophomore-industrial
engineering) said he plays MMORPGs,
Carolina Villanueva/Collegian
Aaron Abramowitz (sophomore-computer science) watches the trailers to the
"highly addictive" Warcraft video game in his dorm room.
and that players seem to be attracted to
the game because of the sense of
accomplishment they feel when they
complete each quest.
"Priorities shift a little bit so an hour
or two of sleep is less important, or a bit
more time on homework assignments
isn't necessary," Susel said.
Gaming Association President
Matthew Eliot said most people lose
track of time when they play
MMORPGs, but added that he does not
think of it as an addiction.
Eliot said the format of the games,
specifically the fantasy adventure game
World of Warcraft, are enticing and
time-consuming.
Abramowitz said that to save playing
time, players have started to buy game
items and levels from eßay, which cre
ates a real world economy for the game
and forces players to participate. Play
ers sell items used in games, such as
armor and characters whom have
LOCAL
reached higher levels for as much as
$l,OOO.
Susel said he enjoys the social aspect
of Warcraft because when he connects
to the game, 10 or 20 friends he's met
while playing will be on the server
"It's almost like how when you live in
the dorms, you can walk down the hall
and grab some people for dinner," he
said.
Information, sciences and technology
professor Jack Carroll, who specializes
in human-computer interaction, said
social relationships built online are
becoming increasingly common.
"They are genuine, serious commu
nities that have a lot of dimensions," he
said. "They are intensely social."
MMORPGs are becoming more pop
ular among adults, Susel said, adding
that his parents play on his team. "Both
my parents play World of Warcraft," he
said. "It's funny because my mom will
send me a message, 'Hey, what's up?' "
Plan would supply
temporary visas
By Halle Stockton
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I hbssooo@psu.edu
President George W Bush has
recently outlined another proposal for
a guest worker program, which would
grant temporary visas to illegal immi
grants already in the United States.
The program is being proposed to
strengthen national security because
illegal immigrants will be identified
rather than "under the radar," said Vic
tor Romero, a law professor at the
Dickinson School of Law.
Jennifer Moreno, Latino Caucus
president, said the proposal would be
beneficial.
"It may motivate [immigrants] to
work harder knowing they will get bet
ter wages and benefits," Moreno said.
According to www.CensusScope.org,
which breaks down results of the 2000
census demographically, 12.5 percent
of people identified themselves as His
panic nationally, which increased from
9 percent in 1990. In Pennsylvania, the
Hispanic population makes up 3.21 per
cent of the state's total population.
Moreno said Latinos would most
likely agree with Bush's proposal.
"Other Latinos on campus probably
have relatives who want to come to the
United States for a job and better
opportunity," Moreno said.
Romero said it would be better if the
proposal could lead to a chance for
permanent residence in the United
States. "The program entices you to
expose yourself and then sends you
back to your country after three
years," he said.
Diego Herrera, Latin American Stu
dent Association secretary, said the
program would provide temporary
benefits, but amnesty would be better.
"It is not enough to be given tempo
rary status. It is only a piece [of the
benefits which could be had]," Herrera
said.
However, he added that the program
would still be worthwhile.
William Greene, president of
www.RightMarch.com, said giving illegal
immigrants temporary amnesty is
rewarding illegal behavior.
Right March is a conservative organ
ization that formed in 2003 to promote
grassroots conservatism. "We are not
opposed to immigration. It is what our
country is built upon," Greene said.
"But we are opposed to law-breaking."
Romero said the proposal would
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
benefit the United States because
immigrants will fill agricultural jobs
that most Americans do not take.
Megan Green, College Democrats
president, said that before the United
States gets an influx of immigrants, the
first priority should be to find jobs for
Americans who are unemployed.
"But if we are at the point where
there are truly jobs Americans won't
take, but need to be done, then there is
a benefit to it," Green said.
John Vinson, an editor at Americans
for Immigration Control, said there is
presently an oversupply of agricultural
workers and immigrants are not need
ed for those jobs.
Daniel Leathers, College Libertari
ans president, said immigrants and
illegal aliens do not take away jobs
from Americans. "[lmmigrants] do
more to contribute back to the econo
my through buying than that which
they take away," he said.
Leathers said he has great hope that
the program will pass through legisla
tion. "It will hopefully lead to a greater
convergence of societies," Leathers
said. "Every human, not just American
or United States citizen, should have
an equal opportunity to find work
wherever it may be."
Population breakdown
Racial percentages of the American
population based on census statistics
for 1990 and 2000.
..„ --- n ------ ---
I
I
I
I
' \ \
woo
)
,
/
__--
[l]- White
1990 i 111- Black
// In - Hispanic
. .
❑- Asian
Source: censusscope.org
Jeremy Drey/Coltegian