World of Warcraft in Colorado

I play World of Warcraft. Despite the wholly inaccurate stigma associated with the popular online role-playing game -- "favored by basement-dwelling weirdos who abandon their social lives for the game and its elf-eared denizens" -- I love it.

And I'm not alone, though I often feel as though I am when I consider how few Denver/Boulder folks I have found to play with. In truth, I have only met four people who actively play the game. Far more often, when I invariably start talking about orcs and ogres at a tech event, I meet people who used to play but stopped for reasons of life balance, finances or other pursuits.

But that doesn't compute. According to Blizzard, the game's publisher, there are close to 12 million WoW players in the world, more than 3 million of whom reside in the U.S. So among the millions of Americans prancing around the online world of Azeroth, casting fire spells against the undead, there are only five Mile High players? Nonsense.

I think they're hiding. I think they're ashamed to emerge from their undisclosed locations. Why? Because the active lifestyle encouraged and exemplified by our Colorado environs has made WoW peeps feel guilty for spending hours in front of computers, issuing commands to their comrades via headset and microphone instead of being outside.

That's unacceptable. I won't be intimidated by Denver hikers, Boulder runners or any other local outdoorsian. I don't live in anyone's basement. I'm no weirdo. I'm a well-adjusted Latin dynamo.

Yes, I spend hours in front of a computer virtually wielding a sword and shield. It's no different from fantasy football or any other web-enabled pastime. That's why I'm not ashamed to tell thousands of people that I spend some of my nights running around digital forests as an ultra-dangerous warlock.

So let me sound the reveille: If you live in Denver/Boulder and play World of Warcraft, don't be ashamed. Come charging out of the shadows. Cast aside your +35 spellpower cloak and say hello. I'm here for you -- on Earth or Azeroth, in Denver or in Stranglethorn Vale.

Follow Ef Rodriguez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pugofwar

Comments

[SpoonieLuv]

10:55 AM on 10/29/2009

I have to say I was offended by your comment about all American WoW players "casting fire spells against the undead." Some Huffpo readers just happen to be Undead, you know, and we deserve to have our voices heard.

For the Horde!!!!

[Ef Rodriguez]

02:39 PM on 11/09/2009

You're right. I was horribly insensitive. My apologies.

Zug-zug.

[bermanator]

07:45 PM on 12/02/2009

Heh, I prefer "baladash malanoray".

FTH

[ralphthemagician]

08:19 PM on 10/12/2009

Ef, I'm really happy for you and ima let you finish, but Ultima Online was one of the best MMORPGs of ALL TIME. ALL TIME.

[madaloon]

06:28 PM on 10/12/2009

My brother-in-law lives in Boulder County. He also plays WoW. He's a normal guy with a normal wife and a normal job. I won't out him though.

[Ef Rodriguez]

06:59 PM on 10/12/2009

Haha, that's very kind of you!