World Of Warcraft Expansion Article

Profiling a World of Warcraft Player

World of Warcraft has a huge following of players that has steadily increased since its launch in November, 2004. From veteran MMORPG player to the “newbie” World of Warcraft has become perhaps even more popular than its creators envisioned. It is clearly as much a social wonder as it is a game title blockbuster. But with players all around the world, and from all walks of life, it seems, what can be said of the “typical” WoW player?

The game sports some kind of universal appeal. I think everyone expected it to be a huge hit in the United States, and many expected it to do well in Japan and Korea, but its popularity has spread across the globe. Countries throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, and South America all have subscribers and avid fans. This game offers something that clearly crosses all boundaries and geographic borders.

Something for Everyone

One of the biggest strength of World of Warcraft is the offerings to both the novice and experience gamer alike. In many ways it is a level playing field. In other ways, it offers experienced gamers what they enjoyed in other games and more. Many people who have given previous MMORPGs a try have found them too complex, too boring, or just plain hard to follow. World of Warcraft has play on various levels that are easy enough for new players to follow and learn, while allowing experienced gamers to move quickly into new territory. This kind of equality for all levels of play has been one of the great draws of the game for many people around the globe.

The Internet is home to vast communities of World of Warcraft lovers. There is the official site, which is constantly buzzing with news and new content, but also has a forum where users share ideas and advice as well. There are other fan-driven sites as well. The fan base is to wide that there are communities that rival the size and activity of the official site, but also smaller sites focused on the efforts of small in-game clans and groups. Screenshots and stunning graphics adorn all of these sites. Fan videos of recorded gameplay have become very popular on video sites like Google Video and YouTube. Players show off their talents and skills for the unbelieving of their brags. Other set music to their movies or add funny voice-over dialogue.

Spanning Generations World of Warcraft plays and looks very much like a cartoon, but it has appeal across all age groups from children to seniors. This makes for an interesting social mix online during game play. Younger players interact with older folks each in this new fantasy environment together with at least that in common. It is an amazingly friendly environment with lively interaction that tends to be welcoming and good-natured.

Community

A growing and thriving community makes up the universe of the World of Warcraft. There is an interestingly strong social aspect to the game where players become friends in the game, and extend that friendship into the real world. Social gatherings and conventions offer players to meet in person and socialize outside the game. On New Year’s Eve 2005, there were parties in Azeroth (the game world online) where players could gather as characters in the game to celebrate. The game follows the real world calendar, so social events in-game can be coordinated with real world events.

In October 2005, Blizzard hosted a game convention for players to attend called BlizzCon. While the convention was for their whole line of games from Warcraft to StarCraft to Diablo, World of Warcraft played a huge role in that convention. One of the main attractions was the preview of their new expansion to World of Warcraft called The Burning Crusade. Over 8000 people attended the event, which is anticipated to become an annual event. Whole families attended together, and many fans dressed up as their favorite characters from the game.

Bridging to Other Genres

Another key sign of the popularity of the franchise and broad fan base is the expansion into fan fiction. Players write the stories of their adventures, and create new fiction of their other exploits and interactions, filling in histories, back stories, and reveal the depths of their characters’ motivations in the fantasy world of Azoreth.

Blizzard runs a fan art section on their site, and fans can submit their own artwork to be shown in the galleries.

World of Warcraft has been used as an answer on the quiz show Jeopardy. Even celebrities talk about their interest in the game. Dave Chappelle is a fan, and talked about it during a show in San Francisco in 2005. “You know what I have been playing a lot of?” the comedian reportedly asked the audience, “World of Warcraft!”

World of Warcraft draws the attention of all kinds of people. Are you one of them? With more than 5 million subscribers around the world, it is the most popular online game today. If you are not one of them, maybe you soon will be!