GRAND Magazine - November/December 2008 - (Page 44) The one thing nearly all teens have in common is their affinity for technology: They’ve grown up in a wired world; it’s in their blood, right along with Uncle Harry’s weird sense of humor. But when it comes to delighting them with a present—help! To get us going in the right direction, we’ve asked Michael Zenke—known as “Zonk” on the technie Web site Slashdot—to compile for us a “hot list” of gifts that will prove, once and for all, that—in the words of our generation—we know what’s happening. Incredibly hip high-tech gifts By Michael Zenke MapleStory gaMe caSh cardS or World of Warcraft tiMe cardS for today’s teenagers, video games aren’t something new or a rising form of entertainment. The teens of today have “always” been playing video games, whether on their home computers or on dedicated platforms from companies like Sony and Microsoft. at the forefront of gaming right now is the “massively multiplayer online game.” in massively multiplayer games, groups of players work together to overcome adversaries and have fun—all in the same internet-based world. Players log in from their home computers to meet up with friends online, slay some dragons and have a good time. The most popular of these games in the United States is a title called World of Warcraft (www.worldofwarcraft.com), and odds are most teens you know are already playing or are thinking about playing it. another title increasingly popular in the U.S. is MapleStory (www.maplestory.com), a fun and colorful game played by millions of people around the world. Both of these games offer “game cards.” Target is one of the best places to look for World of Warcraft game cards. World of Warcraft cards allow players three months’ worth of playtime, retailing for roughly $30. MapleStory is free to play, so instead of allowing time to play the game, their cards let players buy new clothing and adventuring gear for their game characters—entertaining and often humorous ways for teens to express themselves. MapleStory cards can actually be found in some unexpected places, like your local Target or 7-eleven. There are two card types, one which gives a player $10 worth of game currency, and the other $25. 44 GRAND NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2008 http://www.worldofwarcraft.com http://www.maplestory.com
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