Hara's Lab

Dear Blizzard

(I send this suggestion letter to the account of the technical support. If you think it's worth to read, forward it to the right person, please.)

Hello, I’m one of the Korean players. I’ve played your game, the Korean edition of ‘World of Warcraft’ for about one year, and I really enjoyed it. Maybe that’s why I wrote the letter of suggestion.

Recently, I read the book, whose title may be translated into “80 people who make a difference in the world”. Unfortunately the book seems to be not available in English yet. But you can learn about their porject in the authors’ website - http://www.80hommes.com . In the book, the authors introduce many people around the world who try to make the world better in education, environment, energy, city traffic, and so on. I was so impressed about their effort and attitude. They don’t sacrifice themselves. Instead, they imagined great ideas, which make the world better and earn the money.

After reading that book, I thought same things can be done in the computer games. And I think your game, the World of Warcraft is very suitable for that. Your game provides the virtual world to players, and players can react with that world. Given proper conditions, players can change the real world by changing the virtual world!!!

For example, you can prepare some quests for players, such as planting trees. In that quest, players have to plant a tree in the specific region. You can also make a good story for that. For example, one druid of Tauren or of Night Elves, need a help from players to making forest. After planting a tree in the virtual world by a player, your company donates small money for planting a tree in the real world. There are a lot of active organizations who need donation, such as ABCP (African Blackwood Conservation Project) - I found this organization in the book.

The advantages of these activities, which combine the virtual world and the real world, listed below.

To the player: He/She can have fun while doing some quests. At the same time he/she can be proud of himself/herself and of the game, because he/she makes the earth better by playing computer game.

To your company, Blizzard: Your company have to donate somewhat, so maybe that can be considered as disadvantageous at first. But your company gains priceless reputation. People will think Blizzard as a social responsible company, which can lead to the ultimate success of your company.

To the Earth: More trees (or whatever), more healthy Earth.

I’m not sure whether your company will accept my suggestion or not. But I think it's worth to consider and it’s a very good chance for doing good thing to the Earth by adding simple content in your game.

Thanks for reading.

Sincerely yours,
Imseong Kang

할 일 내버려두고 또 딴 짓. 4월에 '세상을 바꾸는 대안기업가 80인'을 읽고 했던 생각인데, 일도 안 되는 김에 되는대로 적은 다음에(영어는 아마도 엉망일 듯. 뜻이야 얼추 통하겠지만.) 블리자드에 메일 보내버렸다. 개발팀 이메일을 알 리 없으니, 그냥 기술 지원팀 메일 주소로 보냈다. ㄱ-

간단하게 요약하자면. 와우 내의 퀘스트를 와우 바깥의 실세계와 연결시켜서 지구에 좋은 일 좀 해보자는 것. 위에서 예를 들었지만, 타우렌이나 나이트 엘프의 드루이드들이 '이러저러해서 우리 마을에 숲이 필요하오. 그대는 이 씨앗을 들고 가서 나무 하나 심어주겠소?'라고 퀘스트를 내주면, 플레이어가 쪼르르 가서 나무를 심는다. 그러면 블리자드 측에서 그 나무 하나 당 일정 금액을 실제 지구에 나무심는 NGO(위에 예로 든 아프리카에 흑단나무 심는 단체라던가)들에 기부해서, 정말로 지구에 나무를 심어버리면 어떨까 하는 얘기였다.

하는 사람 입장에서는 재미있을테고, 지구는 당연히 조금이라도 좋아질테고, 블리자드 측에서도 큰 돈 들이지 않고 명성을 쌓을 수 있는 기회라고 생각하지만, 과연 그렇게 할 지는 모르겠다.

물론 내가 보낸 메일은 왠지 스팸함에서 뒹굴 것 같다만;;;

ps : 으악. 오타 발견. 오타 때문에 워드에서 쓴 다음에 메일 보내는 페이지로 옮겼고, 읽어보면서 한 두 단어 고쳤는데, 거기에서 오타가 나다니...porject가 뭐니... ㅠ_ㅠ