The oddest freelance
job I ever had is ongoing -- writing about a subject on which I had
little knowledge initially. I find myself rapidly becoming an expert,
however.
The subject is video games. Not
just "video games," mind you, but Video Games - specifically, the phenomenon
known as the "Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game," or MMORPG.
For the uninitiated,
MMORPG's - or MMO's for short - are virtual worlds in which a player assumes a
character (sometimes more than one) and lives an entire virtual existence.
Generally, these worlds are mediaeval-fantasy themed, complete with mythical
creatures, evil sorcerers, gods and monsters, hero warriors, elves, dwarves and
more - who spend a great deal of time engaging in epic battles.
In fact, modern day MMO's
trace their origin back to the original "Dungeons and Dragons" board and dice
game, which many readers may remember from those halcyon days of the 1980's.
In fact, "Dungeons and Dragons," in its cyber-incarnation, remains one of the
most popular online games, and has spawned a plethora of imitators.
There's more to MMO's than
the Tolkienesque world of sword and sorcery, however. Other MMO's have taken
players into the skies over the Western Front during the First World War, into a
Roman Empire in which the gods and goddesses are real, onto the beaches of
Normandy and into World War II's "Fortress Europe," and into the middle of
inner-city gang warfare.
Recent MMO's allow players to
engage in combat using automobiles as weapons (!), play "street basketball" in
an urban neighborhood, struggle for the survival of a human colony on a faraway
planet, and defend the human race against mindless war machines bent on its
destruction.
As one might surmise, the
most common theme of MMO's is violence and conflict. For those worried about
the influence this may have on the young people (generally age 12-25) who play
these games, you may be glad to know of a growing trend in which the objective
of an MMO is not destruction of one's enemies, but rather cooperation for the
greater good.
An excellent example is a new
MMO entitled "Seed," which requires players to work together in order to build a
viable society (one might imagine that certain world leaders might benefit from
playing a few rounds).
The big event for MMO devotees
is the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, held in Los Angeles during
May. This is where the industry rolls out their new game releases for the coming
year, as well as new gaming technology, "must have" devices and gadgets, and
more. The "more" includes actual tournaments in which teams and individuals
compete before audiences for actual prizes.
In fact, MMO tournaments -
generally sponsored by gaming software developers - are ongoing throughout the
world, and frequently large money prizes of up to $100,000 are at stake.
There are a fortunate few who actually manage to make a nice livelihood from
their gaming "addiction" - which may be unfortunate, in light of the number of
young people who neglect their education for the MMO experience.
You may be asking, "Okay...so
what? Why is this such a strange freelance assignment?" Normally, it
wouldn't be...but for myself, it is.
You see, I am an educator, well
past 40, with a Master's Degree in Music who prefers to spend a quiet evening
with a good book...and whose sole experience with any kind of role-playing game
- online or otherwise - consists of a single afternoon of playing Dungeons and
Dragons nearly twenty years ago.
About the Author:
K.J.
McElrath
can be reached at
kj@bardiccircle.com.
URL: http://www.bardiccircle.com.
This article may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in any
form, for any reason, without the express, written consent of the
author. Violators will be prosecuted.
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