World of Warcraft & Co .: The fascination of online games
My other life
Just sitting in front of the TV bores me to death. I even fall asleep at the "crime scene" - even though I love thrillers. Since February 2005 my TV stays more and more often. Instead, I play the online game "World of Warcraft".
Do that more than nine million other people worldwide, We play Elves, Orcs and Dwarves, Mages, Warriors and Paladins. We're adventuring with our character, and the more we experience with her, the smarter, stronger, and more enduring she becomes. With swords and spells we fight against dragons and undead, compete with other players in the arena and join together to form guilds. Everything virtual, of course.
An unusual hobby for a woman? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. According to estimates, every third "World of Warcraft" player is female. Actually no wonder - the game serves almost clichéd many women's preferences; You can cook, tailor and go bargain hunting in the auction house, a kind of Ebay. There is even a dressing feature that lets you try out whether the new armor matches the cape's color.
My environment has little understanding
The author and her alter ego Petronella
My environment, however, has little understanding for me. Again and again I get to hear: "Is not this the game that gets you hooked so quickly?" Almost everyone has seen people on television who have lost work and friends because of "World of Warcraft". There are such people, sure. But we are not all like that.
Of course, I leave off the calculator when I'm invited to a party or in the cinema, a movie that I want to see. The "real life", as we online players say, finally works. By the way, my guild is in agreement. We are all grown-up people, most in the beginning, mid-30s. There is a teacher, a judge, a cook and some computer scientists. Many are married, some have children.
On a collision course with the "Real Life"
Despite everything, the real world and the online world can collide. On sundays from 18 o'clock I go with 24 other players. It depends on each one; I come too late or not at all, I messed up 24 people the evening. Then, at half past six, spontaneously calls a friend and wants to go out, I put her off to the next evening. Because I do not want to displace my online acquaintances - they should be able to rely on me just as my friends in real life.
Had I instead of my online dating a point game with my handball club, I would probably wish everyone much success. But that's how I regularly get uncomprehending or even worried looks. The same women I can not call on Tuesday night when "Dr. House" is on TV.
A strange world
What is it that alienates many so much about my hobby? Perhaps the richly archaic vocabulary: It's about "raids", "kills" and "aggro", druids shred and mangle, warlocks burn their opponents and deprive their souls. It is a strange world, very different from our everyday life. That's what makes her so interesting for me. Those who like to read historical novels or love the Lord of the Rings films will surely understand this fascination.
And it's a world that I share with others. I've read that men at online games especially appreciate the competition: possess the sharpest sword, defeat the most dangerous monsters and be admired by the pals for it. Women play online because they want to make new friends and to experience something with others.
My virtual shared flat
I also met a lot of people through "World of Warcraft", I've been playing with some of them for more than two years. There is, for example, Kassandra, who is actually called Michael and comes from Regensburg. We've gone through countless adventures together, cheering and cursing together, and we've lost hundreds of virtual deaths. Last year he was in Hamburg with his girlfriend. We were drinking beer, talking about soccer and about annoying long-distance relationships. It was a funny evening.
I know from Lillyth that she is 46 and works half-time in the office. We never met in person, but chat often and for a long time. She has become an older, life-smart friend for me, whose judgment and dry humor I cherish.
In my studies, I lived in a shared apartment. I loved that there was always someone there when I came home. But at some point I was sick of the others pouring out their last beer and leaving their dirty dishes around. Today I live alone. And yet, there is always someone there when I come home in the evening and start the game. Kassandra, Lilly and the others. Only that they leave their dirty dishes elsewhere.
Talking about World of Warcraft
"World of Warcraft", released in February 2005 in Germany, is an online role-playing game by US game developer Blizzard Entertainment. According to the manufacturer, the game has more than nine million subscribers worldwide. If you want to play "World of Warcraft", you need a computer with Internet access - a fast DSL connection is very useful.
The basic game currently costs 14.99 euros; If you want access to the expansion "The Burning Crusade" you have to pay another 19.99 Euro. After a free month, a monthly subscription fee is due - depending on the subscription period between 12,99 Euro and 10,99 Euro.
Besides "World of Warcraft", there are numerous other online role-playing games. Among the best known and most successful are "Lord of the Rings Online", "Guild Wars", "Dark Age of Camelot" and "Everquest 2".
