Online gaming has exploded in recent years in terms of titles and the number of players. With new titles appealing to a broader audience than in the past, the gaming industry is expected to continue growing to over $13 billion in sales. Massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) like World of Warcraft have attracted millions of players who compete in teams and against one another in large virtual landscapes, often for hours at a time. Access is available on a 24/7 basis to a global audience.

In addition to the purchase price of the software, players often must pay a monthly subscription fee to gain access to the company's network to play with others. In addition to all-day online access, players can receive technical support from the company to resolve Internet and software issues.

In nations with widespread access to broadband or DSL Internet,