Real Life Meets Norrath
Everquest's "immersive" nature is aptly demonstrated when players start referring to the "real world" in Everquest terms. (By the way, if you asked what the "real world" is just now, you're addicted, not immersed. Turn off your computer and go for a walk!)
If you refer to your paycheck as "phat lewtz" (or "lame lewtz" depending on it's size), you've been immersed.
If you refer to the radar trap on the highway as "a trooper camping Exit 29", you've been immersed.
If you don't want to call in late to work because you'll "lose faction with the boss", you've been immersed.
If you answer the summer intern's question, but as he's walking away you're thinking "danged newbies!", you've been immersed.
If you take the wife to dinner because you're "about to go KoS", you've been immersed.
If you wish you could "petition the GM" about that idiot that just cut you off on highway, you've been immersed.
If you nearly collide with a shopping cart in the grocery store and think "damned pathing!", you've been immersed.
If you unconsciously reach for the mouse to right click on the bank teller, you've been immersed.
If the toddler throwing a public tantrum makes you think in derogatory terms of the mother's "pet control ability", you've been immersed.
If you notice the flashing blue lights on the car behind you, and attempt to "run for zone", you've been immersed.
If you search the shelves in the diet section of the store for "shrink potions", you've been immersed.
If you ask the clerk at the liquor store for "a stack of cold beer", you've been immersed.
If you get hungry and go "foraging" in your kitchen for snack, you've been immersed.
If you get up early on the weekend so you can have a quiet cup of coffee "before the kids pop", you've been immersed.
Rantings of a Madwoman © 2002