[Hyzenthlay]

The biggest clue was that the comment about Second Life - every decent nerd knows that Second Life is based off the Metaverse in Neal Stephensons's Snow Crash, and that WoW is far more like D&D than most other even relatively well-known MMORPG's. Incidentally, in my history class the other day we were discussing rules for medieval clergy, and my TA pointed out how the ban on priests or bishops carrying bladed weapons (made official by the Fourth Latern Council IIRC) carried over to games like D&D where the 'cleric' class isn't able to use bladed weapons.

[discostu]

I think the Second Life comparison was more on the metalevel, people creating imaginary versions of themselves to live through vicariously, some while maintaining a healthy real world life some not so much. In that regard the fantasy aspects of D&D and WoW and the “almost real” aspects of Second Life are just trappings, the core concept is the same.

[bolobaby]

Snow Crash.

One of the greatest books ever. Seriously.

Seriously, seriously.