1. Earth Isn't All That Great
Playing Level 5's superb RPG Ni No Kuni the last two weeks, I've felt so immersed in that world that it's come to rival my engagement with the real world; I spent 50 hours playing it over 2 weeks, which might roughly equal the amount of time I spent socialising outside my home. It's a depressing truth, but especially in these colder months, isn't the virtual, warm world of an RPG just a lot more enticing than making the effort to go outside? World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars, Final Fantasy; these franchises all have vast worlds you can spend days of your life exploring, and don't they make us wish that they actually existed? Some players have even reported having withdrawal symptoms when they stop playing, not because they're hooked on the grind, but because they're addicted to the world, and it has become an everyday aspect of their waking life. When you can catch Chocobos, fly Speeders and fell giant beasts, planet Earth just doesn't seem all that great. Which video game home truths frighten you the most? Let us know in the comments below.