Terra Nova is a collaborative blog for academics and professionals in game studies. It focuses primarily on the study of virtual worlds.
Started in 2003 by Edward Castronova, Julian Dibbell, Dan Hunter, and Greg Lastowka, Terra Nova initially focused heavily on research and questions surrounding real money trading (RMT) in online virtual worlds. Coverage has expanded to include impacts of gaming on culture, architecture and law.
Terra Nova is cited in the traditional media on issues of gaming in virtual worlds, most notably issues regarding Second Life and World of Warcraft. Various issues have been discussed, from the virtual economy of Star Wars Galaxies to the impact of learning in MMOs.
Famous quotes containing the words terra and/or nova:
“Treading the soil of the moon, palpating its pebbles, tasting the panic and splendor of the event, feeling in the pit of one’s stomach the separation from terra ... these form the most romantic sensation an explorer has ever known ... this is the only thing I can say about the matter. The utilitarian results do not interest me.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
“I’m a Nova Scotia bluenose. Since I was a baby, I’ve been watching men look at ships. It’s easy to tell the ones they like. You’re only waiting to get her into deep water, aren’t you—because she’s yours.”
—John Rhodes Sturdy, Canadian screenwriter. Richard Rossen. Joyce Cartwright (Ella Raines)