I won't go so far as to say that I have no interest in MMOs. That's not precise. The truth is that I'm a guy who sunk 150+ hours into Oblivion and 100+ hours into Dragon Quest VIII in the last year alone, so I fear that something like World of Warcraft would break me. Literally, I would be pieces. So interest isn't the problem, although I feign apathy, the real issue is more of survival.
Also, I haven't had a gaming PC for several years now. WoW runs on my preferred Mac platform so that is troubling, but other titles like City of Heroes and Guild Wars are out of my reach anyway. That makes it somewhat easier to pretend they don't exist. But I do still dream sometimes about building a box that would be capable of running modern PC games; I'm usually held back by the required investment that typically dwarfs what it would cost for a new console. Well, that and the savage panthers my wife keeps behind an iron gate which bears a sign reading, "Do Not Open Unless Paul Buys a PC." They're beautiful creatures, those panthers, but their hungry growls suggest strongly that nothing good could come from the opening of that gate.
The temptation of MMO and that of PC procurement exist as separate entities which apart are not too difficult to overcome and which combined represent such a terrifying potential for disaster (also, mauling) that mostly I carry on my daily life without concern. Unfortunately, there was bound to come a juxtaposing variable that would catch me off guard like a ninja or a wolf disguised as a sheep. Or perhaps a wolf disguised as a ninja-sheep, with tufts of white wool peeking through hastily wrapped black cowls that hide vicious fangs and hidden throwing stars. The variable is Tabula Rasa, an action MMO by Richard Garriot that sounds from descriptions like a curiously compelling blend of Halo, Battlefield and WoW.
It was easier when the game was struggling in development, scrapped and approached anew every so often which gave it the air of vaporware. I suppose underestimating Garriot was foolish in hindsight, but I learned a long time ago not to dwell on the past because it's a good way to realize just how great a fool I truly am. But now the game looks like it is actually near completion and I'm scared. I won't go so far as to say I'm to the point of cowering, but I heard the panthers yowl last night and I admit, the crown of my head could not be seen outside the protective shield of the covers.
Don't believe me? Look for yourself: