Hackers have massacred all the virtual characters in World of Warcraft

[Ichingcarpenter]

I used to play this game 4 years ago and I know we have had many DU players here.




World of Warcraft cities hacked


Hackers have massacred all the virtual characters in some of online adventure game World of Warcraft's major cities.

They appear to have created a character able to destroy those of other players and those controlled by the game.


Writing in an online forum, Blizzard said it was taking the action "very seriously".

"Earlier today, certain realms were affected by an in-game exploit, resulting in the deaths of player characters and non-player characters in some of the major cities," wrote a representative going by the name of Nethaera, on Sunday.

Olivia Grace, contributing editor of website WoW Insider, said: "It was a significant hack.

"They discovered a method to roll a level-one [beginner] character, which ran to the major cities.

"We don't know exactly what they did, but somehow they were able to kill every single player's character in that city and every single computer controlled character -


http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19869466

[eShirl]

1. They got better.

But the bones sure did start piling up there for a little while.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Thanks for the photo the BBC one wasn't

quite good enough to expand to see the real damage.

That's pretty funny looking at all the graves....LOL
Leeroy Jenkins is at it again

[pinboy3niner]

2. ZOMG! We're doomed! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!1!!

[eShirl]

3. oh BTW - link to full South Park episode, "Make Love, Not Warcraft"

in case anyone missed it
http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s10e08-make-love-not-warcraft

[MichaelSoE]

5. For the Horde

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[lame54]

6. i would not want an army of pissed off nerds after me

[Barack_America]

7. This story pleases me.

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Ooops!

[Esse Quam Videri]

9. WoW, that would suck

Seems even if they were able to disable their account, they could just use a free signup, role a new character and continue the slaughter. I hope they are using a lvl 1 panda bear monk,

[Javaman]

10. A friend of mine said he bet it was a ploy by Blizzard.

to get some press.

[el_bryanto]

11. bizarre strategy - they just launched Mists of Panderia

and subscriptions are back over 10 million. Not sure of the timing of this particular action.

Bryant

[Javaman]

16. We're talking about it, aren't we?

that in and of itself makes it a smart marketing campaign.

[el_bryanto]

19. Hmmmm. So maybe with my Soda Company I should put a dead rat in one of the bottles

That'll get people talking. And if they are talking, it's sure to be a smart marketing campaign.

Bryant

[Javaman]

20. I don't think using an issue of public health is the same as

hacking a game.

You might want to brush up on marketing gimicks.

[el_bryanto]

24. Are you are a professional marketer?

Because while you are right - personal health issues are worse than inconviencing your customers - but getting news for being incompetent (not able to keep the hackers out) and for making the game difficult to play (the capitols were decimated) isn't good strategy in my opinion.

[Javaman]

25. And yet, people in the gaming community are still talking about it.

Haven't you ever heard of the old saying, "every knock is a boost"?

It matters not what happened, it's how Wow chooses to control the message.

They treated it lightly (but privately took it seriously) and allowed posters to post all sorts of "cool" picts of piles of skeletons in Ogrimmar.

From a gamers point of view, that is high on the geek scale.

I honestly can't think of a better way to handle it. And as a result they have had zero effect to their rep.

[Johonny]

23. I heard if you find a mouse in bottle you get a free beer eh.

[go west young man]

12. Who doesn't love "The Onion"? Oh wait this passes as relevant news these days.

REM's End of the world as we know it.

[MissNostalgia]

13. well...

I find this so small in comparison to the negligence that goes on all the time in the gaming industry for consumers. Companies are too busy setting up money grabs (DLC,Add-On$,) to actually protect gamers from hackers or worse, such as cyber-bulling, harassment,and ID theft.

[Risen Demon]

14. There will never be full protection as long as there is anonymity

It's one of the prices we pay for our right to privacy. Just like hate speech is one of the prices we pay for our freedom of speech. Anonymity brings out either the worst, or, true character of those behind the screen and microphone.

[Odin2005]

15. I can't stop laughing!

[Turborama]

17. Could be the Repukes in Maine taking their campaign to the next level...

Maine Republicans blast opponent for World of Warcraft play

LITTLETON, New Hampshire (Reuters) - A Maine Senate race has turned into a fight over trolls, dwarves and goblin-like creatures known as orcs: http://reuters.com/article/idUSBRE8941HV20121006?irpc=986

[hifiguy]

18. I thought of South Park while reading the headline.

Why is this considered news?

[porphyrian]

21. ...just when everyone has bought the Kung Fu Panda expansion... n/t

[Marrah_G]

22. ..................

It's okay, my paladin is hover far above Stormwind on a dragon.

[snooper2]

26. ROFL

Cleared the map, now you all have to start over

[tridim]

27. Is virtual mass murder illegal?