I have played World of Warcraft on and off ever since it came out (and a little bit before). When I stop playing I really stop playing, I take months off and don’t really even miss the game. After some time I will head back and see what’s going on and talk to a few people and the next thing I know I’m hooked again. So I asked myself what is so damn special about World of Warcraft? I have no real clue.

The funny thing is I have a lifetime subscription to Lord of the Rings Online and I barely play it but I’m not even sure why. LotRO takes the good parts of level and playability from World of Warcraft but puts it in a LotR universe what’s not to love. Turbine puts out content on a regular basis again why don’t I play LotRO. Why can’t I get hooked to LotRO?

I believe this is due to a version of the uncanny valley theory. The more realistic a game becomes the more people are not bound to continue to play it. Ok I’m not a psychologist but I believe its what is going on in certain genre of games.

I’m not even sure why I go back to World of Warcraft again and again, but here is what I believe are the reasons why in no special order. Graphics, yes World of Warcraft’s graphics are low spec compared to games out there today. World of Warcraft just looks and plays great, even on low-end graphic system. On a high graphic system it looks better but very little difference in the overall feel of the game. The style of graphics is wonderful the cartoon feel just gets you into the game even more, which bring up my point of the uncanny valley affect. Another point is the music, World of Warcraft is wonderfully scored and I still listen to it all the time. The music is so good even non-gamers like the soundtrack it happens to be one of my mother’s favorite CDs.

Ok enough about graphics and music, as it’s all subject to the eyes and ears of the beholder. (Do beholders have ears?) I think the real charm in World of Warcraft is the fun play and quests they have. With so many references to modern day pop and geek culture its just keeps you laughing. Quests are simple but challenging. The stories told throughout the world are just engaging. Just yesterday I finished a quest that was frustrating but after thinking about it I had to admit it was one of the better quests I did due to the story and just the right about of skill needed to finish it.

I can’t deny one of the reasons I keep coming back to World of Warcraft is the people I have met and became friends with. These people are probably the biggest reason I like World of Warcraft. Does make me wonder if I had closeness to people like I do in World of Warcraft would I stick to other games just as equally? I’m not really sure but playing many MMOs over the years I would have to say it’s a part of why I stay but can’t be entirely as I have met many wonderful people in other games but when I quit I stay away and rarely return.

Ok in short I have no clue what makes World of Warcraft special but Blizzard must be doing something right if it has 9.5 million worldwide subscribers. Whatever the reason one can’t deny that Blizzard created something fun and different. If you happen to play World of Warcraft feel free to send me a whisper in response. I have a Level 70 Druid on Earthen Ring by the name of Tradae.