As far as video games go RPGs are among my favorite. I also like online gaming because of the unpredictability of human interaction. Being both a RPG and online made W.o.W. an alluring title to me. I have always been satisfied with the Blizzard development team in the past. However, the monthly subscription fee was a turn off. If I buy a game I bought the game. I don't want to have to keep paying for a game that I've already bought. As you already know however, I caved and bought the game.
After playing the game all week and advancing my character several levels I've decided that the game is way overrated. I do understand how some people may be drawn or even addicted to the game but I ultimately became bored. Killing three bizzilion low level creatures cause you can't kill anything that gives you decent XP grows tiresome. Begging anti-social 13 year olds with high level characters to babysit you through a dungeon only to have them constantly berate your "noob" status is equally unsatisfying.
All in all I was disappointed, but on the positive side, I survived one the the "most addicting" games out there. Thats good news for my wife because she have to never have to worry about being a "Warcraft-Widow" (not that she would have to even if I did continue my subscription). It's also good news for my pocketbook. Warcraft without the expansion can be picked up for about $20. If you were to buy access in six-month blocks it would be nearly $150 a year just in subscription fees. If you do the month-to-month option it is $180 in fees. That's $200 a year if you buy the new expansion pack every year just to trade nerd insults and go on mind numbing quests to kill kobolds and dragons. Not too mention teaching your character cooking, blacksmithing, herbalism, and sewing. What about using that $200 and spending the same time and money actually learning how to cook. I guarantee that with practice, and the same amount of money a person could learn to cook pretty well. It might even earn him or her a real date. Granted its not the same as flirting with a mysterious night-elf druid or a flirtatious gnome rogue but at least you'll feel it if you get a kiss.
[For clarification's sake, and at the request to further clarify by my wife, I have never flirted while playing W.o.W.]
