The Ysera Realm of World of Warcraft :: Personal Narrative

The virtual worlds were good for doing what was impossible to do in the physical world rather than simply produce replicates of physical reality (Yee, 2009). This is why most people including myself, although a constant gamer, enjoy the experiences of the virtual world. The virtual world is an escape route from the actual realities of the world. This paper is going to describe my experience in The Ysera Realm of World of Warcraft MMORPG. Avatars are a key component of the virtual world and we rely on them a means of living digitally while fully inhabiting in the world (Taylor, 2002). When the chosen avatar Race (Night Elf) was announced a sense of disappointment ran through my mind, because I believed the Night elf Race was not going to be as physically attractive as the Human race or Blood Elf race which I have previously used in other realms. However, when I began customizing my avatar I was excited to begin the process, because it had to ability to create a unique identity which not only serve a personal function (individualization) but also a social function as other characters would be able to recognize me over time(Taylor, 2002). My Avatar â€Å"Elvinna† is a Level 6 Druid who has the role of a tanker, healer and damager, with the ability to shape shift into animal form. Elvinna also has the capability to use mana, rage or energy as a resource (World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, 2012). I chose my avat ar name based on its sexiness, simplicity and how ancient it sounds. My avatar was created as a desired self-image of myself, her gender was chosen solely on my gender as a female in reality, her look is very fierce which is what I was going for an avatar that looks fierce but sexy. Her class was chosen due to my unawareness of the different class, if I had the option of redoing characters I would go for hunter, because they are a better representation of the desire self (physically). Her personality is graceful and achieving, she desires to the highest to reach the highest levels in the virtual world. Elvinna’s, (which desired representation of myself) character is different from mine in the sense that she is everything I desire to be looks and goals. When given tasks she is quick to execute them in order to ascend, which is a total opposite from myself.