During 2004, there was a revolution. Not a revolution of countries, nor a revolution in any political standpoint, but a gaming revolution. A new genre of gaming was introduced that would revolutionize the world as we know it. This genre was the MMORPG, or massively multiplayer online role playing game, and the game that revamped and revolutionized the gaming industry is the World of Warcraft. Published in 2004, millions of people jumped on to play the game that supposedly sucked you in and caused major addictions. The game brandished millions of subscribers, causing the game to get major public attention.
For years, the game has been associated with no life people, who never leave their homes because they are too busy playing the game. And for many years, this was my opinion of the game, as I was warped by the media into believing it was a horrible drug-like epidemic. And eventually, I gave in to the temptation and began to play what would become one of my favorite games of all time.
During High School, I struggled with finding an identity, and failed to fit in with any crowd. Due to this isolation, I turned to the most controversial game that I could think of: A game where I could lose myself and become something different. I was no longer the lonely teenager, but Vindicite, the Blood Elf Death Knight, harbinger of destruction and Kingslayer. I became someone more confident, and more headstrong in getting what he desired.
The funny thing is, if you emulate someone or something long enough, you eventually develop the qualities of it. In this case, my characters and their personalities that I placed on them became part of myself. I started going out more, hanging out with decent charisma. I applied for jobs, and eventually found myself in a happy environment with a much better view on life. It seems that the media was lying, as their warnings had no effect on me, and my life and social life became much better.
Eventually my fascination with the game led me to writing my own stories, and eventually it inspired my own involvement in a local Dungeons & Dragons group that allowed me to further develop my own personality, and evenutllay decide that I wanted to pursue an English degree at Marshall University, where I am currently a senior. My life was changed the day I started to play World of Warcraft, and while I could be classified as a 'WoW Addict,' I have become who I am due to the creation of myself through it. In a way, I grew up with the game, and we are both going strong after all these years.
