I know that this is a site dedicated to the Playstation, but I just can't help it.  I have found another PC game that I must recommend to all of you RPG gamers out there.  A year and a half ago, Microsoft sponsored the dreams of a programmer and help create a small 7-person staff known as Turbine, and in a partnership between the software giant and its "project" company, a small group's dream came true in the form of Asheron's Call.  Asheron's Call is known as a Massive Multi-Player (MMP) RPG.  The game usually costs in the range of $20. which is refunded in the form of a mail in rebate.  The catch is, you can only play the game on the internet, and to play it on the net, you must pay the monthly fee of $9.95.  You get the first month free and can cancel your subscription at any time and resubscribe at any point.  The thing that makes the game worth the monthly fee (at least to me) is that it is updated on a monthly basis.  Updates include storyline changes, changes to several elements of the game, game mechanics changes, new NPC's (Non-Player Character's), even topographical changes.  This will tend to make it a new experience each month, plus the edition of new players, and playing with people the world over.  For example, today, I met a level 62 character from Korea who was helping me out by temporarily increasing various stats of my character.  However, I was unable to tell him thank you due to the fact that he was only able to say a few words in english.  He said, "I Korea; No English".  To meet characters that primarily speak another language is not an uncommon occurance.  Within the game, most other characters of higher levels than your own will be very willing to help you out.  At any point during your travels a total stranger may hand you thousands of "Pyreals" (money), or cast numerous spells to increase your player stats, and expect no thanks.  Many times they will even run away before you can.  Also, you can find a character of higher level to "pledge to".  This character will become your patron and is responsible for training you up in the way a player should go.  A good Patron will go to towns you are unable to go to and equip your character with armor and weapons way ahead of your level.  They will also give you other items, pyreals, and direct you to quests that you should be able to complete, and direct you to monsters that you should be able to defeat.  There are way too many elements to the game for me to write in a single post on this website.  For more information on the game, visit:

www.acvault.com

www.zone.com/asheronscall