Of course, the one thing that's not so swiftly discounted is fantasy's use of magic. As a game mechanic, the ability to make sensational effects appear out of nowhere -- fire, ice, lightning, etc. -- simply by calling it "magic" is a huge time-saver for developers. They don't need to worry about creating too much of a backstory to explain how it all works; it simply does. That's fine for as far as it needs to go, but surely we can exercise our creativity a little bit more?

Fortunately, we have just as many non-fantasy-related hand waves at our disposal. City of Heroes and the upcoming Champions Online and DC Universe Online posit superpowers as the means to evoke fantastical effects, and an even greater range of causes for such: cellular mutation, radioactive bombardment, scientific experiments gone awry, bionic organic replacement, technological invention, and many, many more. And hey, origin stories are all part of the fun!

Let's not forget to consider setting when discussing ways to do away with fantasy. While it may seem romantic to watch your character ride off into the woods on a horse, it's easy to forget the distinct lack of modern improvements like toilets, or microwave ovens, or refrigerated units, or access to all areas of the globe at a moment's notice. These things may not play a direct role in your game of choice, but their inclusion helps reinforce the feeling of verisimilitude, and that helps with immersion. After a while, the invented place names of new fantasy realms begin to blur together in one's mind. Without historical context, they end up feeling just as contrived as a setting can be.

Contrast this with any game set in the real world. Somehow, events bear much greater weight when they take place in known and familiar locations. Even if you've never personally been to New York, for example, it is possible to feel a thrill of excitement as you battle among the streets of Manhattan, recognizing landmarks and buildings as you move around the city. There is a greater narrative and emotional depth to urban settings in particular that lend gravitas to the action of the moment.

If we must play with the fantasy genre, let's at least update it a bit. There is an MMO being developed by Funcom, the makers of Anarchy Online and Age of Conan, called The Secret World, that features all the grit and darkness of urban decay with the creepy creatures and otherworldly abilities of fantasy titles. I've heard this style referred to as "urban horror", and it shows a lot of promise, not the least of which will be the ability to use supernatural powers and technological weapons. Combining the best of both worlds might make this title a force to be reckoned with, and prove that there are ways to make "magic" feel less like the same old thing and more like a viable and exciting game mechanic.

The fantasy genre will likely always be with us. There is, at the heart of it, a majesty that is difficult to communicate any other way. And there will always be the need to tell simple yet powerful tales of nobility and heroism, and it's here that fantasy shines. Rather than remain a crutch for the less imaginative, however, we should use the genre as a blueprint for the ability to tell those kinds of stories contained in different narrative spaces. Let's find a way to update the fantasy trope and make its lessons relevant to our modern culture. Let's drag them out of the dark ages and into the light.