City of Heroes proves heroic enough to help one gamer get into college
By Michael Lafferty

Student writes college entrance essay about playing an MMO

City of Heroes is a rather simple concept, and one that naysayers said would not fly (pun intended) when it was first announced. Massively multiplayer online gaming fans log in, create a superhero and then immerse themselves in battling evil against a backdrop of villainy the likes the world has never know – though Paragon City (home of City of Heroes) is certainly accustomed to it.

But behind each superhero costume is a secret identity, one that often works fervently in the real world to make dreams come true.

Roman Sizykh is a high school student with plans on going to college. He is also a crusader for justice in NCsoft’s MMO title City of Heroes. So when it came time to write that essay as part of his college entrance submissions, Roman turned to his passion for a little inspiration. The result was an overwhelming success. He has received several acceptance letters.

So what is going on here? Do various deans of admissions at all these colleges don tights at night and trash crime in the warehouses and streets of Paragon City? Or was the essay just so compelling that it struck a chord with admissions and spoke about what lies at the core of MMO gaming?

NCsoft was kind enough to allow GameZone to get in touch with Roman, and he was asked a little about himself and his gaming experiences. But let’s begin this sojourn with the essay itself. Here is the essay Roman submitted:

At times when my work is done, I am a superhero. I go through the streets in my shiny costume fighting crime. Going to other dimensions, saving the earth from certain doom, and rescuing innocent civilians from office buildings is a mundane task for me. This all sounds strange, but I am serious. I am a superhero in a game, “City of Heroes” to be exact. Most people dismiss games as only for children, but, in fact, underneath all the graphics and game play is a tight community of people.

I started playing Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs for short) roughly two years ago. They are very important in my life, not only for entertainment, but also for friends and social interactions. Where else in the world am I able to talk at the same time to one person from Brazil and another one from British Columbia? I have discussed politics with a man from Great Britain and have talked about the best way to prepare macaroni to a person in Arizona. I have formed friendships with a soldier who is currently stationed in Kentucky and a family man who lives in California. A Unix Systems administrator has helped me with computer problems. I have made friends with a recent immigrant from Korea who currently resides in Virginia. You learn a lot about people when you talk to them.

I find that, in the virtual world, people can get to know me for who I really am, my character, my ideas, and my actions. I am not limited by the way I look and am free to express my thoughts and ideas. Playing this game allows me to really express myself and be who I am inside.

I have learned a lot about people from my years in this community, including their characters, what they like, and what they dislike, and they have taught me all the ways that I can improve myself to become a better person. One wouldn’t think that finding a group builds character, but it does. I always have to be courteous and kind and express my thoughts in a clear, coherent manner. People won’t want to be in my group if I am undecided about what I am doing and not communicating well with the other people. If I behave badly, people won’t respect me and will more than likely ignore me.

I have enjoyed my time in the virtual world very much and will continue to stay there and play for many more years. I have made lasting friends with whom I have to communicate almost daily. The soldier in Kentucky is being transferred to Oklahoma. The family man has just had another addition to the family and has been playing less. The man from Great Britain has unfortunately stopped playing. However, no matter where they or I go, we will always remember each other, in the “City of Heroes.”

GameZone question: How much time do you spend playing MMOs and/or CoH? Have you played other MMOs? I think your essay explained it well why you play them, but what attracted you to the genre?

Roman: I spend roughly 30 to 35 hours a week playing CoH, most of it on the weekends because I still have to go to school.

Yes, I have played another MMO, Earth & Beyond. For those who don’t know, it was set in space. (Think a combination of Freelancer and EverQuest) That’s where I really "got my feet wet" in the whole MMO scene.

Hmm, that’s a tough question. There are so many things that are great about MMOs – the gameplay, the player interactivity. I guess what most attracted me to the genre was that it was ongoing. You see I really like to go deep into stories. In fact, I am the resident CoH historian in my Supergroup (CoH's version of Guilds). Anyway, like I said, I like to go into a game's story, and MMOs are full of that. You may find that in other genres like FPS, RTS, and especially in RPGs, but once you play those games, and beat them, there is nothing else to do but play them again. Here, it’s always evolving.

Q: What prompted you to write about your MMO experiences for your college entrance essay?

Roman: Well, the topic was something along the lines of: "Write about a subject that takes up your time outside of school, and how it has affected you." Well, the time part was a no-brainer, and because I really enjoy this community, and have been here for a long time, I have met some interesting people, I decided to write about my experiences here.

Q: Have you settled on a college yet? What are you planning to major in?

Roman: No, not yet. I am still waiting for all of them to reply. But the one I go to really depends on how much college is going to cost for me. As for your other question, I will be majoring in accounting. I can thank the excellent business department in my school for that decision.

Q: What elements would you like to see in the next generation of MMOs that perhaps are not in now or are given a really light treatment?

Roman: Hmm, I guess the answer to that question would be player impact on the world. Currently, if a player defeats a MOB in a certain area, they still spawn in that area. Or, if you do something, like a quest or a mission, you can’t see that impact on the world. I think it would really boost the believability of a world if players could see the results of their actions. Kill enough of a MOB in one area, and they move to another one. Things like that I believe would really add to MMOs.

Q: Will you be taking your computer to college and continuing your online adventures (when studies and such permit, of course)?

Roman: Of course I will. This is what got me here, and I plan to stay here for a long time. Besides, you never know if I meet another accountant out there who can help me with my work.

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