I’ve been playing a lot of Mass Effect, both 1 and 2, this week, and it reminded me of a simple fact.

Blizzard’s biggest competitors when it comes to WoW are not the other MMORPG companies. Not really. Rather, it seems, every time Bioware release a new game, all the WoW bloggers seem to instantly and simultaneously take a hiatus from WoW to gush about whatever just hit the shelves.

We don’t see it happen too much with regular games. But there’s something about the KOTORs and the ME’s and the Dragon Age’s that grab us by the short and curlies, something about them that compels us to put aside the seemingly neverending fascination with Azeroth and delve into these other worlds full of lightsabers and biotics and scantily clad witches.

I think the reasons are the same. We crave a good RPG. The ‘massively’ aspect matters far less than we think. What we want, are worlds to explore. MMORPGs’ offer seemingly endless, almost infinite in length universes to delve, and my hypothesis is that it’s that which attracts us. Playing with other people? For the most part, we don’t actually like it. We hate pugs. We even grow to dislike many fellow guildmates. It may be an uncomfortable truth but, for the most part, we put up with other human beings because we have to. Not because we want to. So when a new Mass Effect comes around, suddenly we are presented with the prospect of being able to explore a new universe to our heart’s content, get phat loots, be the hero and do it all without having to put up with noobs, retards, ninjas or drama queens.

Of course, once I’m done with Mass Effect, once I’ve defeated Evil McNasty, saved the McGuffin and rescued the universe, I’ll be back in Azeroth full time grinding pixels. But the real reason I’m there, is because it’s something to do. Something to work towards. Something to progress in. All the while waiting for that next Bioware game. That next Final Fantasy. That next Elder Scrolls.

BRB, defeating Collectors.

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