Online dating could happen outside dating sites. What is a better venue for interaction than a site that revolves around a common interest, a passion or hobby? Love DOES happen in online gaming, MMORPGs in particular.

Here’s the process in a nutshell:

1. Guy meets girl in-game.
2. Girl confirms one way or another that she’s a she.
3. Guy and Girl chat online frequently, sharing deeper more personal stuff
4. Guy and Girl start dating officially, and become known as a couple in-game.
5. One or both lose interest in the game and pursue other passions.
6. In the instance that one leaves and the other is left behind, they discover that the game is the only thing they have in common.
7. Heartbreak, In-game mementos are given back, accounts and characters are sold, someone gets rich off the other’s virtual properties and the other one finds another in-game love to share his gaming passion with.

There is no doubt that hardcore gamers are the most high maintenance among the boyfriend breeds. If it’s not MMORPG, it’s console games, handhelds, gadgets… you name it.

Loving a gamer guy means you have to share a big portion of your time together discussing his games, and more time letting him do his thing by himself or with his buddies (while you prepare the popcorn).

Encourage him rather than make him choose between his game and you. How do you show him your support? Even if he has every gadget imaginable, and every game in the market, there are some things that you can do to make his gaming experience more enjoyable (and perhaps you can finally get that Most Understanding Girlfriend Award that’s reserved only for the most self-sacrificing girls, lol).

• A subscription to PC Gamer, GamePro or any other Gaming Magazine. Surprise him with it every month until he wonders who the sexy, generous gamer-friendly Santa is.
• Point him to online gaming resources such as my advertiser, GameHuddle Campaign, which features the best reviews of games for Wii, PS3, PS2, DS and other gaming platforms.
• Build him a blog where he can write about his exploits (but I have to tell you, they’d rather PLAY than blog). Or better yet, build or buy him a gamers’ forum such as ragnarok-ph (Yes, it’s for sale!) where he can share his love for his game with other gamers.

Do not despair if it seems like he’s in love with his games. It’s just a matter of choosing your poison… Choose between these two: his fingers flitting non-stop across his handheld, or another girl’s arms? Thought so.

In a stunning 3-1 win over Armada, Bozanian Beastfighter proved their mettle as the best in Philippine Ragnarok Online during the 2007 Level Up Live Event at the World Trade Center, Pasay, Manila.

This event is the culmination of the half-year preparation of all the guilds and players from different servers. After a gruelling season of intra- and interserver matches, heated message board discussions and a lot of politicking in-game and off-game, this RPC season has a winner, and a very deserving one at that.

In behalf of the Armada Family, Woobie salutes the Bozanian Beastfighter guild in their win! Congratulations!

Bozanian Beastfighter’s Milton Sy and Armada’s Erik Dique (a.k.a. the Armada team’s minstrel, chukubu) faces the press in anticipation of their battle in Level Up Live 2007 (Nov. 4). Yep, that’s today.

In an interview with Inquirer.net’s hackenslash:

Sy says, “It’s difficult to fight Armada because we trained only with each other and have the same moves. We (Armada and BBF) are virtually twins in this year’s tournaments. It’s going to be our mirror match, both teams are good.”

Dique says, “BBF is our mentor for this tournament, they taught us about strategy in tournaments as well as particular game plays. The first to set up a good play first will win. So, it’s all up to luck.”

Read more for the video link, a few trivia bits and more.

A Tribute To Leic.

In a heartfelt forum post, Leic (gigler), the master and founder of the guild Armada, announces his retirement from the game. I am not going to re-post that here, but I can tell you all that the post was really moving, and eloquent in expressing his gratitude to the members that comprised Armada in the 2-3 years that it was in existence.

Tears and speeches of appreciation followed his announcement, as members posted their sentiments at Leic’s decision. Leic stayed with his guild through the years, although real life pressures were great for the twenty-something seasoned gamer. His many supporters have always asked him to extend it for another year, and then another, but I have a feeling that this time it’s for real.

He has been a figure in the Philippine Ragnarok Online scene and has been known to provide a venue for settling in game conflicts between rival personalities in pRO by asking those involved to have a dialogue in his former restaurant, Lok Fu. He closed his internet shop, Columbo, in May this year and has since been thinking more of his real life issues than in game stuff.

Kevin (Leic’s real life name) is the best leader any member could ever ask for. I am honored to get a taste of the kind of leadership he has to offer. The best way to lead is with INTEGRITY , and this guy did just that, earning him the love of his members, and the respect of all the other leaders in pRO Chaos (Baldur) server.

If a person’s worth is measured by the number of times he inspired people to be the best that they can be, then Kevin may join the ranks of the other men in history who were instrumental to the amazing things that happened to the masses. He is our idol, our kuya, and our beacon of hope in this virtual world we call Ragnarok Online.

His retirement from pRO reminds each and every one of us that there comes a time in a gamer’s life that he should focus more on the real than the virtual. Though we will really miss Kevin, we wish him the best, because he deserves no less than the best that life can give.

.

Armada 2005-2007

After years of being just a support team to allies, Armada took center stage in 2007 by being the Philippine’s entry to the recently concluded Ragnarok World Championship. The sterling performance of Armada in the international tournament assured them a spot in this year’s national tournament to be held at the Levelup Live! event this November.

The 2007 Levelup Live event at the World Trade Center will be the best yet for members of Armada, as it is the last time that they will fight in a tournament as a guild.

See you there!