Video games generally receive a bad press - whether it is the gratuitous content of games like the Grand Theft Auto series, or the non-stop gaming marathons undertaken by World of Warcraft fans
Certainly the Rockstar and Blizzard titles have taken their fair share of criticism, but have also earned a hefty wedge of plaudits! They also keep attracting new gamers, and refreshing existing gamers appetites by introducing more and more gaming content and updates.
Well, I've always pretty much been a console-based gamer, with a few efforts made with
Championship and
Football Manager titles, but very few others. In late January of this year, a colleague of mine sent me an email invitation for a 10-day free trial of
World of Warcraft - or
WoW.
I accepted, created a character on a role-playing server, and was away! In a few short hours (I think it was about 4!), I had moved onto my second town, and was working away on a subquest plot which would allow me to tame a wild beast - in time, this would grant me the ability to have a pet for company, a battling aide and my own personal psychophant amusement.
Much to my dismay, the 10-day trial period snuck up on me quicker than a stealthy rat would run through a drainpipe, and my enjoyment was over.
I had invested a good 2-4 hours, most evenings within the trial period devoted to chatting with
WoW-friends I had met online, and my 'real-life' mates who also played
WoW.I had learnt how to tame beasts, and was becoming attached to my Moonstalker / Sabre-tooth Tiger pet, which I affectionately named 'Chimera'.
For the few post-
WoW trial days, returning home from work, and switching on my laptop felt empty. As if all reason or purpose for having it's lights flicker, fans twirl and sounds beep at me, was in vain - there was no meaning to it all.
Trying to cheer myself up by playing on Xbox Live...where few of my friends were online, didn't help.
My thoughts kept returning to Chimera, and how helpless and lost he must feel without his master to take him for walks every evening. How scared the locals must be without their new hero to protect them them innumerable dangers. How useless my fishing rod was, simply being propped up in the corner, instead of seeking out a tasty meal for its master fisherman, and his hungry pet.
At least, that's how I felt until last night...until I had purchased a 6-month subscription for the game, logged in, and was reunited with my Chimera!
Oh, how quickly the night flew by (after I had returned from 7-a-side footy), as Chimera and I went fishing, recovered 3 Thresher Eyes, accepted a quest to assist Grimclaw...and slayed some diseased bears!
The joy!
The excitement!
The relaxation!
Well, I can understand how people can become embroiled in the addictive, persistent worlds of online gaming, but, if parents of gamers, and indeed the gamers theirselves are more responsible, these games can be enjoyed sensibly and offer a wonderful experience - both of entertainment and social connection.
To this end, tonight, I, Fretawlyn - Night Elf, Hunter - return to the lands of Darkshore & Auberdine, accompanied by my trusted companion, Chimera, to rejoin my Guild brethren of LoX!
Tonight, we shall again quest!
