I play for the opposite reason of most of you folks. I don't really have very many friends at all, and playing this game helps me escape from a very depressing reality. In the game, I am someone who is in a position to help others. I am in a position to be productive and happy and be around people. In real life, well... I won't go into detail, but let's say any friends I have are usually far too busy with their own lives to care about someone like me. So this game is very important to me in that regard.