It seems that the Twilight franchise is growing beyond even books and movies into the realm of video games. Word from developer BrainJunk Studios is that they’re working on an MMORPG set in the Twilight universe. For those of you unfamiliar with the initials, MMORPG stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game; this is a genre of video game defined by its being played over the Internet with thousands to millions of other players.
Typically, an MMORPG (or just MMO for short) features many different roles for players to inhabit; this proposed Twilight game would seem to have only three: human, vampire, and werewolf. Not being familiar with the series, I invite reader correction on this issue, but if true, would that be enough? Especially as I’m sure it would be possible to turn a human into a vampire, reducing the choice to two?
This is worthy of mention because we see young kids being swept up in online communities as it is, with virtual worlds like Habbo Hotel and Club Penguin. Generally, these environments are aimed at younger children. What happens when these kids become teens and get tired of the “kiddy” atmosphere of these titles? Presumably they’ll now be able to move on to the Twilight MMO. And that could be dangerous.
Being a video game player myself, I don’t automatically demonize games. But as a parent, I’m also well aware of the dangers of allowing my son to spend too much time in front of the TV, or at the computer. I’d rather he looked at such things as momentary diversions from spending time with me and his mother, or getting exercise outside. Playing a video game shouldn’t be a destination in and of itself. So be warned, parents: the Twilight series is hugely successful, in no small part because it appeals to the frustrated emotions of adolescents. If they have the opportunity to experience all of that by inhabiting the world of Twilight, you’d better believe it’s going to be super addictive.
