Who Plays Warcraft? An Exposé on Why Players Play
What
do we think of when we imagine people who play games like World of
Warcraft? Most people would probably say
the standard issue nerd: either under or
overweight, unwashed, acne-ridden and socially awkward. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. As many of us
players know, there are many of those guys and gals out there. Chances are I just described many of my dear
readers to a T. While there isn’t
necessarily anything wrong with that character description, as long as the
person who meets it is happy, it is unfair and inaccurate to assume they make
up the entire fan base.
Perhaps
it’s arrogant, but I would say I’m reasonably attractive: on the low end
of a healthy weight, mostly clear skin and charming when I want to be. My wife says I have great cheekbones and naturally
well-defined eyebrows. I don’t think anyone would be surprised that I
play Warcraft, but I also don’t think anyone would assume it just by looking at
me or talking to me, yet I spend a significant amount of time online. I’ve taken my most recent dive back into the
game for different reasons, but for the most part I play because it fills a
social need, as it does for most players in some way.
We
can imagine that the stereotype discussed before plays because they’re more
comfortable talking through a keyboard and a different identity. In the game, nobody can see their acne or
their stomach, smell their poor hygiene or hear them stutter.
There’s less fear of rejection because they can just block or ignore
people who are upsetting them and so they are more willing to approach others
and socialize. Sure some players use
these factors as an excuse to be nasty, and that’s unfortunate. I’d wager that they are the minority though,
despite how noisy they like to be. Even
the socially awkward nerds are mostly good people.
I
was much more socially awkward as a teenager than today, but I didn’t need to
play in order to make up for a lack of tangible friends. I used the game as a means of keeping in
touch with and spending time with friends I made in the real world. Some people have lived in once place their
entire lives and can’t relate, but moving as a kid is hard. The friends I left behind after middle school
had been my best buddies for five years.
When I found out my best friend started playing World of Warcraft I was
thrilled to give it a try.
Coincidentally, a kid in my new school had started playing recently as
well. We bonded over that and we’ve been
the best of friends ever since. It’s
easy for outsiders to imagine Warcraft nerds as friendless losers but in my case
it actually made me friends; in the real world, no less. Through Warcraft and through me, my old best
friend and new best friend got to meet and become good friends themselves. That never would have happened if we all hadn’t
started playing.
I’ve
known others who have used the game to enhance their real relationships as
well. A few of the guild leaders I’ve
had over the years have been married couples that play the game together. Some people even meet in the game and then
get married in real life. When people
laugh off Warcraft fans saying “get a life, make some real friends,” they
forget that behind those pixels on the screen are real people, making real
connections. Chatting with people online
isn’t that different from chatting up a stranger at a football game or joining
other fans’ conversations after a movie.
Ultimately
what I’m saying is that if you are a World of Warcraft nerd, or any kind of
nerd, you’re not alone. While it is
important to get outside into the real world and talk to people face to face, don’t
let anyone diminish the very real friendships you’ve made online. An interesting world takes all kinds of people, and our hobby is just as valid as anyone else's.
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