I found Legend: The Syndicate to be a very interesting read. As a veteran player of MMORPGs (massive, multi-player online role-playing games), beginning with Ultima Online 9 years ago, I found the UO parts to be a real walk down memory lane. Though I played on a different shard (server) than The Syndicate, Stalzer has captured the flavor of the epic role-playing battles I used to enjoy back in that game and today in World of Warcraft. He also gives a peek into the social aspect of online gaming that makes them so much more multi-dimensional than console gaming.
This book gives one an insight into what makes an online gaming guild and what it takes to make one great. It is recommended reading for anyone wanting to form an online gaming guild or enhance an existing guild. It will also give players an idea of what they should look for in a gaming guild.
I watched Discovery HD's Gamer Generation the other day and it got me thinking how these virtual worlds we inhabit are changing the way people communicate. This book gives one a glimpse into the world of virtual gamers. Not surprisingly, gamers are ordinary folk, who have discovered a form of interactive entertainment, which is far more engaging than television. It is facinating to see how this virtual world is beginning to mesh into real life, as online gamers meet at conferences like the annual guild conferences of The Syndicate.
While not an academic work, Legend: The Syndicate gives a personal account of online gaming and the guilds that inhabit it. I still think it will be useful for academics seeking insights into this new field of research. Those looking for a more statistical approach to the subject of online gaming should check out Nick Yee's Daedalus Project. http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/.
