Middleware is defined as Software the serves as an intermediary between systems software and an application, and over the past generation has become a major part of the video game industries. Whether a graphics or physics solution, the games industry has grown accustom to these tools to allow development to focus on other elements such as gameplay or story development. With the widespread use of middleware, has the individuality and character of earlier 8 and 16 bit games been lost for the sake of shorter and more cost effective development time?

When I started World of Warcraft in August of last year, the daunting task of getting to the level cap of 80 in the soon to be released expansion Wrath of the Lich King was set before me. Having a roommate that is a day one subscriber to the popular MMORPG set the bar high as to how fast this task was supposed to be accomplished, but between school as well as wanting to play other games it has actually taken me quite awhile to reach this goal.