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The above title says ‘leet toonage and gaming geeks’. This is ‘Leet Speak’, the technique of replacing letters with various numbers and punctuation marks that vaguely resemble the letters, the goal being to confuse the non tuned-in reader.
What does this have to do with my cartoon? Nothing really. I’m just admitting that I’m a crazy out and out geek.
So lets see.
Last year, 2005, for reasons which I won’t get into here, was one of the worst years of my life. (Although I must clarify, not the part where I got to work on Aliki’s film =)
Did I turn to drugs, drinking for solace in my misery? No! Being the geek that I am, I turned to MMORPGs. “Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games”
Here’s one of my game characters from World of Warcraft sitting in the pirate town of Booty Bay.
Millions of people of all ages and countries are various levels of hooked on games like these. They are wildly popular. They are responsible for thousands of people coming together in friendship and cooperation - and also responsible for ruining thousands of lives.
I was sucked in immediately. I spent countless days playing these games. Why? They gave me the feeling, however illusory, that I mattered, that I could accomplish something. They let me explore a fascinating world where magic and honor really existed, and that I could be whoever I wanted within this world. A waste of time? Escape from reality?
Online computer gaming is providing an entirely new outlet for social activity. Through these games I have had countless experiences with others like myself who are searching for some kind of contact, recognition, even if only virtually. It’s still a lonely world out there, no matter how ’small’ it is getting.
So I played online fantasy games for hours and hours. I met people. We had adventures. We laughed and we cried. And I took everything I experienced and put a lot of it into a cartoon, called ‘Kyle + Rosemary’.
Intrigued? Good!
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On March 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Jun, I just think you are a facinating, talented, and honest person..this was a really cool post. I look forward to watching the story of Rosemary and Kyle come to life! I am glad I am your officemate!
On March 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Kudos to you Aliki, you posted before Stephan did!!! YOU WIN!!!
On March 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
I think you mean stephEn lol. Its ok. Aliki did beat me to it!! Dont worry, there are many more posts to come!! ;). I guess i really do have a reputation for the #1 and fastest commenter lol. Btw, Jun is that you who posted the reply to Aliki? Cause it says the name Aliki 2 times lol. Anyways, Its interesting how you came to get the idea for Kyle + Rosemary!! Talk soon Jun! -Steve
On March 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Jun, you are one amazing talent. Love your inspiration.
On March 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
I am intrigued! And also you are (_)b32 3117
On March 24th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Have I told you a story of “Kichomu-san”?
A man found a straw when he fell down.
He found a horse fly and tied to the straw.
Along came a princess who wanted to have the interesting toy.
She gave him the most fabulous kimono material for the horse fly.
He sold the material…..you get the drift?
That’s my baby!
I am proud of you.
On March 25th, 2006 at 12:00 am
that was cool.
On March 25th, 2006 at 12:00 am
werd jun,
I played WoW for a while.. It’s pretty fun exploring dungeons and stuff. I couldn’t play after a while because it was sucking too much of my time away. plus i became tired of going on monotonous quests..
Have you heard of second life? it’s totally sweet. it’s like a mmorpg for Maya. You can build anything you want in the game.. useing primitive objects like cubes and spheres.. and you can wear or be anything you make. It has its own programming code in the game too.. so you can program what you build to act like a car or hoverboard.. it’s fricken amazing. I had been waiting for the game ever since i read the book Snow Crash back in the day.
On March 27th, 2006 at 12:00 am
w00t!
Gratz on Post!
PST when there’s more!
On March 27th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Jun, Jun, Jun, you’re never going to get to level 40 at this rate!! Hahaha!!! Being an avid MMORPG’er myself I am looking forward to seeing the adventures of Kyle + Rosemary unfold.
On March 28th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I’ve seen Jun in action on that nerd planet of hers - I wasn’t on the planet itself, but sitting next to her in front of the computer. I’ve always been curious about the type of people get so involved in that stuff, and now I know. Jun was kind of like a rock star as she trolled around the villages, being greeted by name by various townsfolk, and that was pretty cool, but there was this village square and all these nerds were just wandering around like mental patients, looking for other nerds to talk to. Kinda like real life for some of ‘em, I would bet…but that world seems to have spawned a cool cartoon that keeps my nerdy friend out of her fairy world and gainfully employed, so it all works out in the end…