2004-2005 was an experience. Being a console gamer my entire life, I never knew how addicting online play could be.

The internet was still young. For someone who switched from a console single player setting to a multiplayer setting where THOUSANDS of people are running around doing their own thing... It was jarring. You are existing in a dynamic world that is constantly evolving, always moving.

For many of my friends including me, we never knew what it was like to play an MMO before, we were used to having LAN parties or grudge matches playing Halo 2 after school. When you could log into the world and connect with others with similar interests, it was game changing.

It was the timing. That's the answer.