There are a few characters that take such deep root in the public consciousness that they become part of the background fictional landscape. These characters are so important than those who have never read or saw their adventurers feel familiar with them as a concept. One of these characters is Robert E. Howard’s Conan, a character who has become the byword for barbarian hero throughout the English-speaking world.
Conan started as a character in pulp magazines, but he has become much more. He’s appeared in novels, comic books, and newspaper strips. There have been successful Conan films, video games, and board games. Conan is part of popular culture – and understanding his origins can help fans of fantasy understand how he transitioned from pulp hero into the icon that he is today.
Massively Multiplayer RPGs may have started with fantasy settings, but the concept has always belonged to science fiction. After all, there are plenty of stories that essentially revolve around sci-fi MMOs, and it’s only natural that gamers would want to participate in those realities. These are the games that the genre was meant for, for better or for worse.
Racing games and RPGs don’t always seem like they go together. They should, though.
