True death in a virtual world How real can really be a virtual ceremony for a true loss? By Albertus Strong - October 12, 2002 :: See the transcript of the cereony in honor of Eliza Bragwin's memory.

Secrets and pain

On Saturday October 12 2002, old players from the now defunct game The 4th Prophecy reunite online in The 4th Coming's Grapevine server to honour the memory of Eliza Bragwin, who recently had lost her battle to cancer in real life.

Although I was looking forward to meeting old friends and offer my heartfelt homage to Eliza, technical problems prevented me from attending this event. I wish to dedicate this page to the memory of Eliza and to all the good times all the T4P players have had with her - and with each other.

This gathering is concrete proof that although a MMOG may look like just a game, it is still populated by real people with real feelings and real struggles. In a game where death can be either trivial or simply an annoyance, the sudden and permanent absence of someone who had to face true death is a sad happening indeed. This is true for Elisa's departure as well as all the other online friends who have left us in the past and those who will in the future.

What I find the most distressing is the all too real suffering that is implied by such a death. It is too easy to believe that our in-game friends live easy lives where nothing is of any real consequence, just like in the game. It is always a profound shock for me whenever the veil of anonymity is parted and I get to glimpse the real-world problems and pain my fellow player have to deal with. This would makes slashing virtual monsters and playing at war seem pointless, insignificant and shameful in comparison.

Frienship and joy

But then again, what greater relief can someone with a deadly or crippling disease get than to escape the eyes of those who only see their condition and begin anew in another world, where death is just a 10% backpack loss and health is only a potion away? Where people can become friends without the burden of pity and fear? Wouldn't games like T4P be then much more than an empty way to waste precious hours? Could they be instead a priceless tool where human companionship is mediated through a world filled with wonder and adventure, where people can meet and become friends regardless of their class, creed, geography or physical limitations?

I believe in the power of such a world and the good it can bring in someone's life. And I believe that when people to go to the trouble to gather together in order to honour a lost friend, then this is as real as it gets, regardless of the keyboard and the red goblins in the woods.

In honor of the memory of Eliza Bragwin PORT, Elf extraordinaire.

Albertus Strong, ex-GM for The 4th Prophecy

See the transcript of the cereony in honor of Eliza Bragwin's memory.