I knew about massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) like Blizzard’s World of Warcraft (WoW) and similar virtual arenas such as Second Life and Neo Pets. What I didn’t know was that online gaming had grown by such leaps and bounds (since the first graphic MMOG of the late eighties) that the total market is now worth $1 bil! This came as a surprise to me at first.

Upon further reflection, it made sense. Having played World of Warcraft for a few months, I learned how people used it as a way to socialize, vent, and escape. Some really enjoy pretending to be hunters or warriors or even gnomes. They create a social life separate from everything else that surrounds them, planning real-life activities around scheduled raids and quests, and even referring to each other by their on-screen names in real life. Creepy? I think not. Interesting? Definitely!

The human need for company and fraternization remains constant even as technology advances. While we are still able to get together in person and socialize the way our predecessors did, a lot of us choose to participate online and “get our game on” that way. We depend on technology to help us work smarter and better, but using it to play better and harder is a different concept altogether.

What are your thoughts on why these games and virtual worlds are so popular? Is it because people like to “play” in the comfort of their living rooms? Or is it because these avenues are convenient and available on demand? Is there a lesson to learn from the creators of these popular games? After all, they are able to simulate day-to-day life in a virtual world….