Fairy Tales

001 - A Fairy Tale
4/6/05
I confess – I've never been a fan of online games… more so RPGs. Ask me what computer game I know and it would make any respectable gamer fart. The way I see it, reality is strange enough… why complicate it with a new world -- and a virtual one at that?

But here I am – a 20-something female, practically on the gates of this new online game called Fairyland, believe it or not. But hey, at least this game won the recent Gamers' Choice Award for Best MMOG. How cool is that?

I'm not sure exactly how I landed here or why, but once upon a February day, I met Harry Potter.Really, it was almost surreal. Okay, okay, so what if he may be 20 years older? The glasses and the accent are still a dead giveaway. Up to now, I'm still not convinced he's not the real one.

Anyway, he invited me to journey into this whole new world (stop me before I sing) -- the land of the elves, dwarves and humans, where beastmasters charm, monsters kill, and pink snowmen help you find the way to…. hmmm, I'm not sure really, but let's just say somewhere good.

I don't know, perhaps it was the wild thought of seeing what Prince Charming looks like in the virtual world or meeting Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf that tickled my fancy for the absurd. Or the fact that a whole new world (aaagh, stop me again before I sing) is always an adventure. But here I am, agreeing to work in a place dominated by people who assume characters in an alternate universe. How crazy is that?

Here, I am surrounded mostly by princes – some dwarves, some elves, and some irritatingly human… I find I'm fascinated by them all. Get this – they are actually being paid to play...and yeah, survive. Wow.

Have you ever experienced being time-warped? Yeah? Me, I haven't. But I imagine meeting these online gamers feels that way.

First there was this totally new language. Tell me honestly—how do you make sense of this blabber – HPs, MPs, party, PK (said with an oomph), GMs, and etc.? And oh – get this – they actually call those adorable looking in-game creatures “monsters”. Uh-huh.

And then, what do you make of dwarves, humans, and elves forming clans and getting more powerful in a matter of hours? Or getting killed and being reborn in a matter of seconds? Nuts. Cool.

Still, it took me some time to be convinced to join this universe. But when one times two times four times 10 players keep telling you how the game rocks, it starts you thinking. And then, the more you see people play (i.e. interact, work, kill, have fun, have a life in) the game, the more you consider it's possible… even real. Duplicate the experience daily as you work along and before you know it, you're sucked into the game. Besides, how else am I to survive a gamers' world if I don't become one myself?

And so, as I said, here I am, not in yet, but hovering by the gates of Fairyland thinking that perhaps, this is one detour in life worth not missing. And if true love (be it for the game or Prince Charming) waits by the end of the road, now that would be – as the British would say – just lovely, isn't it?

In Fairyland, they say, anything can happen.


002 - A Fairy Tale: New Beginnings
4/14/05
Given three wishes, would you reinvent yourself? Before you shake that head, imagine this: You are sporting a cool shining armor, blazing wings, and yeah, okay, even a golden halo– and traveling through an awed town as they cheer you on while you make mincemeat out of demons and dragons. Not bad, huh?

Some of us might be a geek, a star, a bum, or a cool dude in real life, but chances are part of us still dream to be that next famous superhero -- if not in this life, then maybe another one. Yes? So isn't it any wonder why so many people line up to create that supercool character in Fairyland?

In the virtual world, apparently, creating characters is as easy as a mouse click. But while having that much power could be a heady experience, I find it could be quite scary too. After all, one careless mouse click could spell the difference between surviving the game or not. But what's life without risks? So there I was – still as clueless as ever – lining up with the other superhero-wannabes, ahem, I mean newbies.

Step 1: Fill up registration form. Check.

Step 2: Go character shopping. Whoopee! I was transported into this dreamland where doll-like creatures appear at a mouse click. I remember thinking-- wait, I'm supposed to be one of them? Cute. But how do I stand out with more than one player looking like me? Where's my armor, my sword, my stuff?

You gotta earn them in the game, one veteran player, who I volunteered to be my guide, said. But first, before entering the gates, you decide who you want to be. Now, isn't this just the perennial question? I've been asking myself that in real life for some years now and still I haven't got a clue. And you expect me to answer that with just a few mouse clicks here? Get real.

My exasperated guide tells me: Stop whining and just pick a category. Even a five-year-old can do that. Ouch. Okay, okay, so this might be easier than I thought.

First, you pick your race. Well… the elves might be divine and the dwarves mighty, but still I find humans simply priceless, don't you think? Besides, being human is as real as you can get. So click: Human.

Next: Male or female? You mean I have a choice? Cool. But hide behind a male character? Nah. Why would I do that? Click: Female

And then, between Jack's Jill who came tumbling down the hill and the girl who flips her hair like crazy, who do I want to look like? No contest. Hair-flipping gal wins hands down. Click.

And then comes the best part—you get to change your hair, skin and suit color without paying a single cent! It's just like getting one of those famous makeovers on reality TV. Wow. So after picking a fiery color for my hair and a suit to match it, I was all set. Click: Accept. I was in.

What possible fate awaits this new character of mine? Will I be witch, villain, mage, warrior, princess, artist, beastmaster, or supergal? Who knows? Only time will tell in Fairyland.


003 - A Fairy Tale: The Classroom
4/22/05
There's no way around it… if you want to become a full-fledged Fairylander, you've got to go to school.

Do I hear clapping? Groaning? Snoring? Well, personally, I think it's cool. Just think – we're in good company. Even Jedi masters, great knights, wizards, and Harry Potter didn't escape the classroom either. Before they gained their full powers, they had to undergo some sort of training. So must we.

But the Fairyland classroom is not really all about powering up, magic and spells. You get to learn more of these later. The lessons here are more basic than that.

They're so basic that, in fact, some say the average kid can finish the courses in 10 minutes. Me-- I finished them in 15 minutes. Okay, okay, make that half an hour. More than. Jeez.

It's just that, contrary to what I expected, I found the school so fascinating.

You meet teachers from different walks of life— professor, mage, trader, young boy, warrior, soldier… you name it. Where else can you find all these intriguing people together in just one school? Only in Fairyland. And get this -- you get prizes just for paying attention. Kewl. To those who skipped classes, I pity you guys.

As I strolled down the school's red carpet going from one teacher to the next, somehow a picture of Dorothy skipping on the yellow brick road came to mind. Would Fairyland be like Oz? Like Dorothy, will I eventually want to click my heels three times and go home?

Then I stepped on the yellow carpet and found myself transported from one classroom to the next. This time, I thought of Aladdin and his magic carpet, of exploring new worlds and possibilities.

In Fairyland, you learn a lot of things. There are some you easily forget, and there are some you learn further in the game. But I believe, for a start, if you just remember these four things, you'll be okay.

1. A Fairylander listens through the feet. So if you want to talk to one, just right click on his or her feet, not the ears or eyes. I don't know why but that's just the way it is.

2. If you want to eat, don't try to bring the food to your mouth. You'll just get frustrated if you do. Just right click on the food and you'll be fine.

3. When you say “let's party” in Fairyland, it doesn't mean:

+ Let's celebrate with balloons, food, and cocktails
+ Let's get drunk till we drop, or
+ Let's go dancing till the sun rises.

Instead, to party in Fairyland means to attach your character (literally!) to another player (usually at a higher level than you are) so you can level up faster.

4. And finally: Hoof-hearted?! Go figure. In Fairyland, an expression speaks a thousand words.


004 - A Fairy Tale: Me, Myself, My Pet in Gion
5/7/05
Nope, it's not the tropical paradise one escapes to, to relax, frolic by the beach, have some sun, and maybe ogle some guys or gals.

Nor is it really the famed enchanted kingdom (paint: castles, gushing waterfalls, mystical rivers and forests, etc.) we've been dreaming of to visit to find Prince Charming or Sleeping Beauty.

Still, landing in Gion – the place of the human race located at the heart of Fairyland on the continent of Mysteria -- is far from being a disappointment.

As towns go, Gion is quite small for my taste, but it's definitely one of a kind. I went there half-expecting to be charmed… I was challenged instead. Kewl.

At a glance, Gion looked safe enough. What with its quaint houses, gentle people, and refreshing verdant scenery. But then, good thing the elderly village head Jeff warned me that the place is actually under attack by unknown beasts. Monsters prowl the land in different areas, trying to catch people off guard.

I was quite honored and thrilled to be asked by Jeff to help defend Gion. How could I refuse such a noble task?

Eagerly, I went to the underground chamber-- dangerous as it was -- to collect my weapon, leather jacket/armor, crystal ring, and what was to be my most valuable possession – a pet.

It wasn't as easy as I expected. I was fighting monsters all the way. Cute ones, weird ones, funny-looking ones – they come in all shapes and sizes. But with the help of my pet -- a water spider (who seems to be half my size and who looks and crawls like a VW to me) -- I survived them all.

My pet and I fast became friends after defeating those monsters. Jeff was quite pleased.

We left the town center and, for a while, chilled out at the tavern, went shopping at the store, and strolled by the fountain where we spotted a pink snowman swarmed by people. Hmmm, quite a celebrity -- autograph-signing perhaps?

My pet and I didn't bother to find out. We got distracted by Al who kept challenging us to look for the wild bull in the northwest of Gion.

All right. But we stepped into the healer's hut first to fill up our HP and MP. Best to be ready. With such a dangerous quest, no doubt the next battle is just around the corner.

Indeed, Gion may not be your typical trip to the park or a vacation. But it sure is an adventure.


005 - A Fairy Tale: Ode to a Swordsman
5/16/05
I met a noble swordsman
Somewhere north of Gion land
I stopped him by the hand
To ask: what is this Fairyland?

A lover’s dreamland, he tells
Where dwarves, elves and humans dwell
Where the wicked and monsters plot but fail
Or so goes the fairy tales

But I say…

I see a world under siege
Teeming with ferocious beasts
Seems like a dying land
I don’t like this Fairyland

Where is the magic
Where is the love
Where are the heroes
Sent from above

He says...

It is you; it is I
We have the power, let’s fight and keep the dream alive
Come with me, let’s help one another
I have faith in you and me together

But I say…

Our swords, potions, and skills
Are they enough to keep from being killed?
Why fight for a land that’s torn asunder
Let’s just flee and keep each other

But he says…

I will stay to fight for I’m believin’
That Fairyland’s a land worth livin’
Never mind that I keep dyin’
Whence reborn, I’ll find a happy ending

So off he goes where the brave dare not go
Or so the rumors tell us so
He weaves a tale of victory
Can’t help but be inspired with his story

For this love he has for Fairyland
Has made me see the magic at last

So now I fight for I’m believin’
That Fairyland’s a land worth livin’
Never mind that I keep dyin’
Whence reborn, I too will find a happy ending

Indeed, to work, to fight, to live for another
In Fairyland is a quest like no other
Only in love we get to find
And keep the magic alive.