Can Roleplayers Survive in MMOs?

by Charabis

Hello. My name is Charabis, and I'll be your guide on today's Search for Rare
and Wonderous Creatures of the Gaming World. Today, we will be studying a
peculiar and elusive species of beast, the Roleplayer.

In the modern Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMO for short), there's no
stranger beast than the Roleplayer. These curious creatures seek, not to merely
play their alter egos, but to make them come completely alive. To this end, they
make entire lives for them, which they then try to live out with mixed results.
Altered speech patterns and fake accents abound, all in an attempt to make these
alter egos seem as real as the Roleplayers themselves.

Yet, very little is really known about the Roleplayer. What little is
known is often incorrect, for it is human nature to fear what it does not
understand. This has led to many fanciful and savage tales regarding this
species. Today, we'll be attempting to track down these elusive creatures and
study them for the good of gaming science.

Armed only with tracking collars, tranquilizer darts, and our wits, we'll be
attempting to learn about their evolution and survival mechanisms. We'll also be
examining the possibility that habitat destruction is behind their seeming
decline, despite the best efforts of modern MMO designers. We'll also be looking
toward the future, to see if it's too late to save this unique and wonderous
species from extinction.

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border=0> All the World's a Stage