World of Warcraft Editorial

One of GameSpy's editors has written up an article that discusses why he likes World of Warcraft, even though he never used to be an MMORPG fan. A snippet:
I wasn't really in this for the items or the money or the leveling up process. For me, the experience was as much the goal as any rewards I achieved along the way. Unlike many players who merely want to know what they can kill and what cool items get out of it, I find that actually enjoy reading the entire mission briefings in the game for the insight I get into the world of Azeroth's history. The game, after all has a long and involved storyline that real-time strategy fans have enjoyed since Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, traveling around Azeroth in World of Warcraft, I have the chance to explore more of the societies of the different races that I knew only as units in the previous Warcraft games.

In just one example, I always get kind of a thrill entering the Undead Undercity. In order to get there, you have to travel through the ruins of Lordaeron, the former home of Arthas, the human Paladin turned Undead lord that now heads up the Scourge. As you enter the former throne hall, there's an entry chamber where a bell has fallen from the ceiling and smashed into the floor. Anyone who's played Warcraft III will recognize the bell as the one that fell in a cut-scene when Prince Arthas returned to Lordaeron and murdered his father. Every time I pass that bell, I think "I did that!". There's stuff like that all over World of Warcraft for anyone willing to take the time to read and really explore.