Living in the Matrix

Words that once sounded strange have made their way into how we talk to each other today.
Things like virtual living, non-player characters, and simulated realities didn't just appear from the matrix, ready to be downloaded to our minds. They're all grounded in actual ideas, and there are scientists out there trying to make them a reality. How close are we to escaping our reality for another one? Would it even be possible? How can you tell the NPCs from the main characters (and which are we?) If only there was some sort of computer program that could tell us . . .