Ok, lets see...
First:
Props to the people who mentioned some of the unmentionables... I have been reading every post in this thread and names like 82s Joust and 84s BattleTech are the like that people tend not to talk about... where would we be if it would not be for the old palette Pong, Tank (Combat) and Asteroids; And along those lines props to those who mentioned the mentionable... so many games I played and nostalgia keeps getting me to replay ever so often. Games like DnD, AD&D, DnD 3+, the Baldurs Gate saga, NWN, Oblivion, everything Star Wars, Guild Wars, EvE Online and most of all SWG (Gosh that game was horrible at the beginning, but every time I am working and listening to the SW soundtrack I get nostalgic and one way or another end up playing it again).
Second:
Once a Fist... Always a Fist!... entirely true in my case. A BIG HELLO to everyone... I am finally back after 5 years. A couple of days ago I sent a message to Bane, and while the welcoming reply did not surprise me of him, the fact that he remembered me did. Why did I go away (or came back) is to long of a story to sum up, but thankfully I am back. I have really missed you guys and gals. Later on I will fill you in.
A little about me:
My RL name is Giovanni, no, not Italian, I was born in Panama, Central America (Italian was my grandpa), and ever since I have lived in 7 countries including the U.S. on and off. Even though I believe this time is for good... got a wife, dog and a house since you last heard of me, heh.
I am 34, and all started in the mid 80s in Panama when I was introduced (by my 3 years older brother and his gang) to PnP-RPGs: AD&D, Paranoia, Call of Cthulhu, Champions, Ghost Busters, Robotech, among other titles.... back then, affordability and availability was tough since we were in a third world country. But we made the best of everything we could get our hands on, and nothing beats the improv and made up rules every time we did not understand something in english from the Core Rule Books (looking back at it, we probably would have been kicked out of so many tables, lol). I eventually switched to consoles... still one of my greatest memories growing up was the on-screen-booting-up chime of the PS on the 95s Christmas morning after a long while of trying to figure out how to put it together in a TV without RCA input, and then the almost surround sound like (at least to my crazy imagination) of a similar chime on a Christmas morning 5 years later, when we finally got our first PS2.
Ever since I have played many different consoles, including older stuff like the Atari and Nintendos. But I can not say the same about PC games... First I will say I have beta tested, and played pretty much every single Blizzard Game... the reason been that I'm an AppleGeek. And blizzard is one of the few serious developers porting to MACs from the beginning. Lately, due to a disease clinically called: personal priorities disorder (patent pending), I have been away from the computer based games and instead played on my Xbox 360 for the most part. Also one way or another I have managed to play every Mech game I know of (table-top, PNPRPG, Console or computer), and everything in the Halo franchise. Now, do not get me wrong, my very first 3-D first person shooter was Laser Tag
(doesn't get much more 3-D than that).
Over the years I have become an avid Collectors Edition (insert random item here) and Collectors Figures... yep, you figured it out: Collector. I also make a life of being an old school Graphic Designer (only press stuff), and come from a family of photographers so it is only natural that my first computer ever was an Apple, and the brand has not changed ever since. When I came to the U.S. for my Masters Degree I was introduced to EQ (and the majestic physics of the game where walls were just a figment of your imagination), and every time I had a chance to steadily get my hands on a PC I would play something, so ever since I have roamed the lands of PlaneSside, SWG, the Battlefield franchise, CoH, WoW and some others previously mentioned. And ever since I had the chance to beta test the magic of "BootCamp" three years ago I have been able to run PC stuff (viruses and all) in my Mac, so no more excuses
Gaming:
I tend to run first under the name of Viczus in most games unless the name really, really, really does not fit the genre of the game. From there on, I get very creative. I do not suffer from Severe-Alternitis, instead I tend to only alt-ing out of curiosity or need to help others. Speaking of helping others, I tend to be in most instances a healer of some sort. In my life I have rolled so many characters: hunters, rogues, thieves, paladins, druids, scientists, pilots, Private investigators and all sort of mages possible but in all truth while I enjoy many classes and RPing some messy as well as messed-up characters, I somehow always return to be some sort of a supporting char (mostly healer).
Things I regret: None
Ok, ok, maybe I regret never had a chance to give EQ2, DNDOnline, Lineage and WAR among others a try. While some were good, other completely sunk, but I for one, do not learn from people telling me so, I like to sink or float on my own
Favorite quote:
I was born perfect... and improved a lot ever since
by - My Dad
Sounds better in spanish
and is all in the genes, so beware...
Life with the Fist:
Short answer - short lived, I was active part of the Fist for almost 8 months.
Longer answer - When I first joined the Fist, I was living in Savannah Georgia and it was strictly in the forums (had never played with anyone, or even heard of the guild in any of my games) looking for a serious guild to go into WOW with. Not too much of a surprise to now know that it was the one thing I did not get to do (but it looks like I might be correcting that soon enough). Even so, I somehow managed to open-beta-it and play on and off for about 3.5 years (going back with every big release after RL one way or another steered me away from the game) before all hell finally broke lose in my personal life. Still in the months I spent lurking the site and growing from the guy who would not type or say a thing ashamed of how bad my english was to the guy who: ...just, wouldn't shut up... playing CoH with the Fist while waiting for WoW, I made good friends and always felt welcomed as I do once again, and either here or abroad was always following the news that Bane would broadcast via email every now and then. I even stayed active in the forums for a little bit after I said good-bye by the end of 04, but eventually faded out completely. Now I am residing in Georgia again but in Atlanta this time, still battling my horrible grammar and ever-denied thick accent (once you hear me in vent you will know what I am talking about, heh) and looking forward to see how many of you remember good old Viczus (as I told Bane, you wont hurt my feelings, 5 years can prove long for people memory). I Just re-joined today, and have re-read the charter and this thread and it is nice to be able to recognize so many names, while also seeing newer ones.
As far truly memorable Fist times go:
Several come to mind, but obviously in my short spam, none other than taking active part of the First Fist Trick and Trick Event would take the first place.
I'm happy for all of you who managed to reel into the gaming world your significant others... that will never happen to me... I love my wife, and part of the reason is because of how different we are... She is fine with me playing, only as long as I do not even insinuate an invite to join us.
Unavoidably you will either hear her or Haley (our puppy Mini Schnauzer) in vent since they are always around when I am playing. Anyway, is going to be hard to get back in track (so much to read; so little time)... and while money for the first time is not necessarily my one constrain, now I have other adult responsibilities and very little time to spare... but fear not, I think I have found the way to reorganize my life to include one or two hobbies.
So you will be hearing from me. See you all soon.
