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World of Warcraft has developed an enormous
following since its release in November 2004. It has built upon its
initial success to become an enduring and hugely popular title. The
demand for the game has been stronger than its creators might have
expected, and it is now a fully-fledged social phenomenon,
attracting all kinds of people to its world.
World of Warcraft has enjoyed global success and acclaim. It
seemed natural that it would do well in America, where there was
anticipation for a new Warcraft title. The truth though is that it
has taken off everywhere it has been released. It has been a massive
hit in Asia, Australia, Canada, and Europe, and has many
international fans and subscribers. The game has a simple, universal
appeal that transcends language barriers and geography.
One of World of Warcraft’s strengths is that it appeals to
both casual gamers and more experienced players. The game has made
the online multiplayer genre more accessible to people who might not
normally play it. A lot of people who try the game may have regarded
the genre as too complex or may not have played a role-playing game
before. It is the quality of World of Warcraft and the buzz
surrounding it that has drawn people’s attention towards it.
World of Warcraft has a huge following on the Internet. There
is an official site that is busy and informative and contains forums
for the game’s subscribers. There are many other fan sites as well.
It has a keen fan base made up of a broad cross section of society.
People enjoy the game for all sorts of reasons, with fans citing the
gorgeous graphics, addictive gameplay and unique characters as
elements they find appealing.
Although World of Warcraft has the visual style of a cartoon,
it is a game that people of any age can enjoy. All age groups play
it, from children to seniors. This leads to an interesting online
environment, as younger players interact with older gamers. It is a
real mix of people, as children and teenagers share the game’s world
with twenty year olds and more mature, middle-aged players and
older. It is a friendly, lively environment and tends to be
good-natured and welcoming.
The World of Warcraft universe is a happy, thriving
community. There is a strong social aspect to it and players can
become friends with each other. The game’s world of Azeroth follows
the real world’s calendar and so they mark holidays and seasonal
events in the game. On New Year’s Eve in 2005 there were parties and
celebrations in Azeroth that all players could attend. It is
features like this that make its world much more vivid, colourful
and convincing.
There is a fan convention for World of Warcraft. The game’s
developer Blizzard held an event in October 2005 named BlizzCon, for
fans of Warcraft and their other titles. World of Warcraft
was a major part of this event, and one of the main attractions was
a preview of the game’s expansion, The Burning Crusade. Some 8,000
people attended the event, which is expected to become an annual
occurrence. Families went together and fans dressed up in costume as
their favourite characters from the game.
World of Warcraft has caught people’s imagination and this
has led to a variety of creative offshoots. One key sign of the
game’s popularity is the existence of Warcraft fan fiction. Players
like to write fictional stories about the characters and events of
the game. Fan art is also popular. People draw and paint images
inspired by the game and post them in galleries online. Blizzard run
their own Fan Art Program that fans can submit their art to for
display. There is great creativity and beauty there.
The broad appeal of World of Warcraft is such that it has
infiltrated popular culture.
The game has been used as an answer on the quiz show Jeopardy. It
also has celebrity admirers. The comedian Dave Chappelle is a fan.
Chappelle talked about the game during a stand-up performance in San
Francisco in 2005. “You know what I’ve been playing a lot of?” the
comedian reportedly asked the audience, “World of Warcraft!” He
praised the game and expressed his delight with it.
World of Warcraft then is a game that has broken new ground
to appeal to a great number of people in society. With more than
eight million subscribers, it is now the most popular online
role-playing game and has grown far beyond its cult origins. Its
wide appeal speaks of the brilliance of the game itself.
About
the Author of this article:
Hunter Crowell is a researcher, marketer, and an
avid online gamer, including World of Warcraft and also the
creator of the World of Warcraft Gold
Price List Guide, a web
site setup to help World of Warcraft players find the cheapest place to buy
their gold.
http://www.world-of-warcraft-gold.com
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