World of Warcraft
There was once a time when fantasy freaks and gaming geeks would in many ways have to conceal their love for the games they played and the lore they praised. However in recent times, it seems there has been a dynamic shift of acceptance within society for these once labelled nerds who were lamented as creatures with no social skills or attributes for acceptability in society.
Like many others I’m sure, I myself once had to conceal the fact that I was an avid computer gamer, spending my weekends as a teenager competing in various video games in tournaments online and at LANs around the country. Even today I still wonder as to how people will react if they were to discover this fact about me.
In recent years, Electronic Sports (eSports) along with many other facets of the digital world, have become much more acceptable within society, and they are now challenging the notion that gaming geeks and lovers of fantasy themed content are no longer outcasts of popular culture. In the world today, engaging with video games, gaming consoles and fantasy art has generally become an accepted practice, and there has been a convergence of the ideologies behind these practices.
The popular massive multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft is estimated to have over 12 million registered users in Europe and North America alone, making it one of the most popular games of all time. The game (like many RPGs) offers users a level of escapability, as it creates a digital realm where one can explore, complete quests, socialise with others and trade gold in exchange for goods and service. This type of interaction can allow users to disengage with their own world as they are being subjected to another, which can be beneficial, depending on the individual. Having played the game myself for many years, I know first-hand how addictive WoW can become, and how rewards and achievements made within the game are based on how much time is spent playing.
The Internet, An Abyss 