gamer grrl
As you might have noticed from other parts of this site, I'm also a devoted gamer. I come from a long line of gamers - my entire family has always gamed, and still does. In fact, it isn't odd for my mother or sister to call me up and ask me to help them out on World of Warcraft.
Gaming From An Early Age
One of my earliest, and best, memories was my parents setting me up to play my own little four-person group on Ultima III: Exodus on the family's Atari 800. I spent hours just deciding what classes would comprise my group, and what the perfect name would be for each.
Over twenty years later, not much has changed. I drive my boyfriend up the wall with my painstaking and fretful decisions on race/class combos and then spend at least an hour (usually more) pouring over my fantasy name books for the "perfect name".
Lucky me - I grew up around games and the fantasy genre. My parents, when we were young, played pen and paper D&D with a group of friends monthly, and I often got to pour through their books and watch Dad paint miniatures.
Fantasy movies were also big in our house, and I remember, distinctly, watching movies such as The Beastmaster and the Conan movies, along with cartoon movies like The Last Unicorn and The Hobbit. My favorite Saturday morning cartoon was, naturally, the short-lived Dungeons & Dragons. I like to think that a healthy enjoyment of mysterious other worlds and beings helped give birth to the wild imagination that spurs my writing and creative spirit today.
Playing RPG games comes naturally, too. From the groundbreaking Ultima III: Exodus to Nintendo's Ultima: Exodus, and then finding myself (and the whole family) logging massive hours on Diablo on our first computer in 1997.
As our computer system, and the games, improved my brother moved on to Everquest, which he had me join in 2001. My sister and mother, however, didn't like the "online" aspect, and continued to play games like Dungeon Siege and Diablo II (yes, I know, I have the coolest family).
In the RP and subsequent MMORPG genre, I've moved on to play, also, Neverwinter Nights, Everquest II, and, World of Warcraft. I play some other games but, other than The Sims, most of game-time is spent playing RPGs.
You Looking For Me?
I suppose, then, it goes without saying that I have many characters and personalities in many virtual worlds. If you're looking to find my virtual-self, here is where to look:
Everquest II
A long-time EQ fan - I've been playing since 2001 - it was a no-brainer that my boyfriend and I were going to become citizens of Norrath in its future incarnation in Everquest II. We joined the day the game was released, re-creating our main characters from Everquest: Nysa and Cenalorn.
My main is an Ayr'dal (half elf) Ranger named Nysa Nightwind somewhere in her 50th season. She currently resides at 3 Tranquil Way in South Qeynos, in the kingdom of Antonica ruled by our sovereign, Queen Antonia Bayle.
I am also the guildmaster for the Qeynos-based guild, .
My personal EQ fansite is Everlaki.
World of Warcraft
I began playing WoW after reading an intriguing article in one of our many gaming magazines; I bought the game that very afternoon - and haven't looked back since. I soon got everyone I knew to try it out, and presently my boyfriend and my entire family are dedicated WoWers.
My first character was a Night Elf Hunter named Mynna and her pet owl, Orthanann, who existed on the Azjol-Nerub realm; I also frequently played an Undead Warlock named Vitoria. Both have since been moved over to Lothar.
I later changed realms in an attempt to play with some friends of mine, and now spend my time between Melisandre, a Blood Elf Priest, and Dynah, a Troll Hunter and her white lion pet, Rygar on the Lothar realm.
I am also the guildmaster for the Horde-based guild, .
My personal WoW fansite is WoWlaki.
Second Life
Though I don't define SL as a "game", it is a virtual world in which I exist and felt it prudent to list it here.
In the grid of SL, I am represented by an avatar known as Isadora Graves. I am a fashionista, web developer, and hostess at Lounge of Dreams. I share an island known as Four Corners with friends; my chunk of virtual paradise is named Izzu Picchu and is next door to my real-life and second-life best friend, Rosie Barthelmess.
My personal SL blog is Izzyisms and my SL-fashion blog is Izzy Chic.
Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music
- Gareth Owen.
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