Thousands of giant online fantasy worlds are populated by real people interacting virtually, often representing themselves with animated characters in a blend of game play and chat.

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Up till now, Goldstein has been content to work her magic as a chameleon, shape-shifting behind the scenes to create fantasy worlds perfectly suited to whomever bids her power.

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And any developer that gives me hundreds of hours of gameplay, some of the best combat ever included in a video game, and one of the most interesting fantasy worlds of any RPG out there, can yes please take my money.

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One online fantasy game, Lineage, features 50 worlds, each so big it takes six hours just to walk from one end to the other.

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There are science fiction role-playing games, fantasy role-playing games, and even some that transport us to more mundane worlds.

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