On-line video games have taken on a whole new life. People have become fully immersed in rich photo-realistic 3D environments. These games are escapes from real life into a brand new existence. These environments not only look real, but for many people are more real than every day life. What started out as a way to escape reality for some has bread into a new life.
Online games are great way to escape every day life and basically escape reality, they are fun immersive and when used in moderation can provide relief from unavoidable stressors. Like creating online identities it also allows you to be someone else, and provides you freedom to act in a way that may not be typically suitable in normal life.