3 of 6

Write now Article Tools

The popularity of virtual role playing games can be traced to the take up of Broadband technology in general use. This means that anyone can join an online community to play out their fantasies with friends and strangers worldwide without the need to arrange your social calendars or clear space on the kitchen table. It has also removed the stigma associated with classic games such as Dungeons & Dragons or call of Cthulhu, becoming much more mainstream.

Now any genre of game is available, from the sword and sorcery of everquest, being a superhero, travelling in space, even a pirate. But to me still the greatest is World of Warcraft.

The move into MMRPOG (Massive Multi Player Online Game) allowed fans of Warcraft to explore in detail the places they had passed through in the previous games. With a great quest system, and an overwhelming number of creatures and villains to wade through, the chances of becoming bored is limited to your desire to progress. Through experience you raise in rank, gaining the option of better weapons and armor, to become a legend in your own realm.

From the very first time you log in, where you make the ultimate choice of who's side your on, Horde or Alliance, you are given complete control over you characters life, choosing race, appearance, and what type of character you are, with classic choices such as warrior or mage. From then on you can customize as you play, with differing weapons and armour adding bonuses to your skills, and talent points further specializing your other self.

As you raise yourself higher, it can become necessary to interact with other players around the world, forming friendships and communities (guilds) to help with quests too difficult for you alone. High level players can join with larger groups to go on 40 man parties against the creatures of Warcraft Myth in huge raids, one of the more prestigious raids being the mighty dragon Onyxia herself, a spectacular and very difficult boss.

Then for those wanting to face the thrill of real opponents a world player versus player system is in place, with special battlegrounds as well as sneaky attacks in the lands themselves.

Being an online game, developers can continuously add new content and make improvements, meaning that the game is constantly evolving, with new content for players, and changing things that are unfair to give a balance to players. Expansions can be purchased to add new races and places to explore, the burning crusade already available and a 2nd planned for later this year.

I love the game, and would give my blessing to anyone who feels like experiencing an online game to try WoW for themselves. Just don't plan on a real life anymore.

Learn more about this author, Paul Teasdale.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The best virtual role-playing games?
We want to hear your view. Write now!