I haven't played World of Warcraft actively for a while, and even when I was playing more regularly I was never more than a recreational player.  The newest expansion, however, is the biggest the game has ever had, bumping the level cap up to 80 and adding vast new landmasses and adventuring opportunities.

Yesterday, Wired.com posted its Top 4 Reasons You Need Warcraft's Lich King Expansion.

I might have to justify the $15 a month I'm still paying and actually log back in to see what's going on.  After buying Lich King, of course.

Those searching for virtual immortality will be pleased to hear that a German company, dtp Entertainment, is in the process of bringing Tad Williams' near-future sci-fi virtual world to life as a massively multiplayer online computer game. 

Williams's Otherland tetralogy, which is comprised of City of Golden Shadow, River of Blue Fire, Mountain of Black Glass, and Sea of Silver Light, is a sprawling tale of friendship, family, conspiracy, and immortality, focused at its core on a secret brotherhood and the hyper-real, virtual reality network they have created to achieve their dark ambitions.

The books are definitely worth the read; we'll have to wait and see about the game.  But it was only a matter of time until Otherland-as-MMO happened.  The only question is, will it live up to the books' vision?

dtp's Otherland MMO is already in development.  The Eurogamer story links to some teaser screenshots.