Playing games used to be done around a
table with a board game or a pack of cards, but gaming has undergone
rapid changes in only a single generation. Before video games,
table-top role-playing games (RPG's) were in their infancy in the
late 1970's, with emerging giants like Dungeons and Dragons taking
the lead for almost two straight decades. Many years later, table-top
gaming is still alive and well, though statistics show that D&D's
new rival, Pathfinder, has been consistently more popular in recent
years. Computer and gaming console versions of RPG's have done well
in the past, but none so well as their Massive Multiplayer Online
iterations (MMORPG for short.) Early MMORPG's such as Everquest were
immensely popular and extremely addictive, but the current reigning
champion, for several undisputed years, is World of Warcraft. (WOW.)
Just this weekend, a new contender has reared its head and entered
the ring, at least in beta form: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
It will soon be available on PC's, gaming consoles, and will even
have dedicated apps for smartphones. What is it about MMORPG's that
makes them so addictive and, as a result, so immensely successful?
This week I'll share my experience from my weekend and the few hours
I spent with the Final Fantasy XIV beta.
As seven alien races struggle to co-exist in an uneasy alliance, the Inter-Stellar Union sends Union Guard agents on missions to preserve the crucial balance. These specialized operatives must do what regional security cannot, dealing with smugglers, pirates, terrorists, and even greater challenges in order to bring stability to a universe that needs it desperately. Without the Union Guard, the races will not be prepared to face a looming alien threat they can only hope to defeat together.
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