In the discussion of cross-realm zones being introduced to World of Warcraft, I was struck by remarks like this one from The Godmother listing as one of her reasons against CRZ the fact that "I liked it when it was quiet.". The discussion is full of similar remarks from people who would prefer to have zones for themselves. But if you want a computer role-playing game for yourself, why would you want to play a MMORPG, with it's monthly fees and always-online DRM? Wouldn't you be much better off with a single-player version of World of Warcraft, running offline?

A large part of the game of World of Warcraft could easily be done in an offline single-player version. Other parts could work with the other players being replaced by bots: I could easily imagine an auction house with bots buying and selling goods that would look just like the real thing to a single player. The most difficult would probably be running dungeons with a group of bots; but that isn't because it would be hard to program a bot that plays better than a real player, but more because a bot would easily end up being too perfect compared to a random stranger in a pickup group.

So why do people who "like it quiet" play a massively multiplayer online game? Wouldn't let's say Knights of the Old Republic be a much better game for them than Star Wars: The Old Republic?