Last week we profiled Zulfiqaar Khan who shared his love of football and Forza 3. Now a 22-year-old creative writing student tells us about her favourite form of escape.
Laurie van Blerk used to poke fun at gaming and gamers, but that was before she was introduced to the fantasy world of elves, orcs and dragons, courtesy of the massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft.
“I never played much at all until around the middle of last year when my boyfriend got me into playing World of Warcraft (Wow) with him. It looked nice visually and it was something we could do together, so I gave it a try and was hooked from the beginning.”
World of Warcraft, the vast virtual universe created by Blizzard Entertainment, reported a subscriber base of more than 12 million in October last year, six years after its debut. A series of expansion sets have been released in recent years, including The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and most recently, Cataclysm.
Van Blerk, who is completing her master's degree in creative writing at UCT, admits she used to have a bit of a negative attitude towards gaming. “I saw it as something unhealthy and time-consuming and a major sap on productivity (all of which is true). But after getting into World of Warcraft, I feel differently about it.
“While gaming is unhealthy in a number of ways, I really enjoy playing this game. I was a bit sceptical about it at first when I was still struggling to figure out the controls and the game mechanics, but now it's just a lot of fun.”
In a game, you can be a hero and a champion and someone all-powerful and god-like.
Laurie van Blerk, Wow gamer
Because World of Warcraft has such a huge following, there are lots of “inside jokes”, says Van Blerk, who enjoys getting to interact with people from all over the world. “The game looks great, the map is massive, so there's always a new place to explore and so many activities and achievements to work at that you never run out of things to do or feel bored.”
The game takes place in an epic world consisting of numerous continents and regions, all with their own landscapes, inhabitants and weather. Players create characters from various races and classes in either the Horde or Alliance factions, and interact with each other in their fictional universe, embarking on missions, completing quests, fighting battles and building their skills and abilities.
“I like role-playing games because, as a wannabe-novelist, I like creating characters. It's fun designing them and thinking of names for them and all of that.”
For Van Blerk, the game's draw card is the element of escapism. “The real world can be a stressful place and it's great to have another world available to immerse yourself into with your friends and a bunch of other interesting people.”
She adds that the World of Warcraft has a rich 'history' with different cultures, cities and ideas interacting within its dimensions.
Playing with others also creates a sense of being part of the Wow community. “It might not really be a good thing or a healthy thing, but the fact that there are so many people interacting in the game space makes me feel better about the fact that I'm using up some of my productive time playing the game... At least I'm not alone.”
Van Blerk adds that Wow is particularly easy to get immersed in, due to the sheer scale of the game. “The World is so big that it really is fair to call it a 'world'. The gaming experience for me is basically just a total immersion into this world and into the characters I've created.”
The only negative thing is the guilt she feels about her reduced productivity and “the thoughts in the back of my mind that I should probably be doing something healthier”.
The game's popularity has soared from its debut in 2004, becoming probably the most well-known of the major MMORPGs. It has gained acclaim not only for its virtual sense of community but for the relationships and interaction that extend beyond the game's bounds. Fan art, online communities and chat forums abound, creating real-life bonds based on online engagement.
“I've had tons of fun playing Wow with a bunch of my friends and meeting other funny or interesting or friendly players from all over... Even though we're all so different and diverse, we have common ground in this strange, imaginary universe and it's entertaining... All stress is suspended and we're in it together.”
The game also allows players to progress to higher levels, based on quests and raids completed, battles won, spells and gear gained, and other tasks, allowing them to explore new zones.
“In a game, you can be a hero and a champion and someone all-powerful and god-like when this is obviously not a feeling one gets to experience much in the real world.
“Gaming kind of sets up a bunch of achievable goals that are fun to work towards, so there's this sense of progress all the time that really drags you along and makes you want more of it. In Wow especially, it just never ends. You just keep levelling things further and further, and then there's always a new goal to work towards once you've achieved something.”
Van Blerk believes Wow has proven itself to be a particularly compelling way of playing computer games, and one that's only likely to grow in future.
“It's not only about the game but about the community within it that's made up of real people. Perhaps this sort of gaming will become even more popular.”
Remember to check next week's 'Mind games' feature, where an avid gamer reveals how a short attention span eventually led to marathon gaming sessions.
* Speak your mind: Are online role-playing games a creative form of escape, or an all-consuming break from reality? Post your comments using our feedback facility.
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