We have moved from fantasy based novels to fantasy based games. For the past couple years there has been a growing trend in multi-player role playing games (RPG's) among the young and old. Some are free while others cost between 10 and 30 dollars a month. Why the growing interest?
Games like Everquest and Conquer Online allow players to create a range of personalities. A person can be anything from a warrior to a wizard/mage. Through these games a person can form a new personality and become someone or something unlike themselves. In these games you can even choose a new appearance for yourself. You decide how others are going to view you.
Because you are playing in a world with other people, fast friendships are made with people from around the nation and even the globe. Unique friendship form over the course of game play and one begins to trust and value their opinions. The friendships are a part of why RPG's are so addictive. Each day one wants to “see” and spend time with their online friends and even worry about their absences.
Technology continues to evolve as does gaming graphics. The scenes and characters of some games look very life like. Games like Everquest enable the game to be played from the players perspective - - meaning you don't see you're character, you see what the character sees. You ARE the character.
As RPG's gain more popularity the need for graphic artists and others with gaming know-how grows as well. Online RPG's need GM's or game-masters to monitor the on-goings in the world of the game. People can even be banned for breaking the rules the game may h ave.
The growing popularity can be seen as good or bad. While the game can create more jobs, more and more people get addicted and look to the game for human interaction instead of someone who is more tangible and able to hear their voice. Are RPG's changing the views on human interaction, or are they causing more of a problem?
