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August/September 2005 |
Volume 46, Number 1 |
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Message from the EditorI really need to warn you that online gaming is a lot more enjoyable than you may think. I've always wanted to try it, but never thought I would become a devoted participant. That was before a former co-worker gave me a one-month free pass to play World of Warcraft, and now I'm addicted! 
World of Warcraft just came out last year, but was already voted Game of the Year by Gamespot, CNET's Games and Entertainment portal. The basic premise of the game has a very Lord of the Rings feel to it: At one time in Azeroth's past, the Horde was a force of evil, and the Alliance was a bastion of good. However, in today's war-torn Azeroth, such black and white distinctions are gone. Both factions are simply fighting to preserve their way of life in the wake of the Chaos War1.
In order to begin playing the game, you must first create your own character. Your first choice is whether you will be part of the Alliance (made up of Dwarves, Gnomes, Humans, and Night Elves) or the Horde (made up of Orcs, Tauren, Trolls, and Undead). You must then further specify the class, gender, appearance, and name of your character. Since I joined the group my former co-worker had already created (it's much easier to complete your quests by working together with other players), I had to be part of the Horde. My character (pictured below) is a Toren Druid named Pakanani.  The graphics and functionality of the game amaze me every time I play. I am constantly asking myself "How do they do that?" The "camera" you see through (you don't look at the game through the eyes of your character) follows your character's every move, and you can zoom in and out of any scene you're in. And, talking about scenery - the game contains some of the most amazing graphic art I have ever seen.
You might really think I'm having a mid-life crisis when I say that I recommend World of Warcraft instead of TV as a pastime. But seriously, I find my computer skills sharpened from playing, and for anyone seriously interested in the latest GUI developments, online gaming is a must! Sources:1. World of Warcraft Game Manual. Blizzard Entertainment. 2004. Irvine: Blizzard Entertainment. World of Warcraft. Blizzard Entertainment. 2004. Irvine: Blizzard Entertainment. [ISBN: 0-7849-2661-1. $45.00 (CD-Rom).] http://www.worldofwarcraft.com All images from the World of Warcraft Website or Game, accessed on September 11, 2005.  |
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