I have been gaming since I was the tender age of four, when my father somehow convinced my techincally minded mother that video games would be educational to me.  *hint hint*  Of course, my mother being a computer nerd even then and also desirous to always have the next big thing in electronics agreed and next thing I knew, I was playing Pitfall, Pac-Man, Space Invaders... and.. *sighs*  Hangman (lame).

Eventually, we upgraded and upgraded and upgraded.  Made computer games GALORE in school and enjoyed it immensely.  Mom finally brought home a PC where she taught us Lotus, creations of various documents and some sort of arts and crafts type program.  As soon as she left the room, I was sneaking around playing Leisure Suit Larry (had to memorize all the security questions.. back then I thought "who the hell is Tracy Lords?"). 

I divided my time between console and PC games, each equally entertaining.  Then about ten years ago, a boyfriend pointed out a game in the store to me.  "Oh ya, so, like Rob plays this game."  I look at it.  "Mhmm."  He proceeds to tell me more even though I had half way tuned him out.  "So like, you play on the internet and you can play with other people."  Right, right.  I wave my hand off to him and give him a shrug and purchase my next PC game. 

Two months later, for Xmas, I get a gift from said BF.  It's the game he had been telling me about previously that I had conveniently forgotten about.  (I know that boy never listened to me anyway about gifts so it was no surprise he gave me something I showed no interest in to begin with.)  Anyway, it's December 25th.  The game:  Ultima Online.   He says "You like that medieval crap and you like to game so I kinda figured you'd like this.. besides, it's supposed to be really cool."  Like you would know, ya non-gamer. 

I thanked him of course and smiled like I usually did.  He went on his merry little way and I stared at the box.  Ultima Online.  I read all the instructions and the box.  "Free internet play"  Wait, I have to pay?  I read on.  "Enjoy a young player status for 12 hours or until a skill reaches 40 points."  Greek. 

I pry the thing open, load it into my computer and stare at the map that came with it.  I was impressed.  Looked like a story book actually.  So I decided, what the hey.. I'll try it out.  Give it two hours, then I'll be done. 

"Customize your own character!"  Yeah, right.. you'll make me play a dude like every other game.  Maybe I'll wear a red helm this time instead of the white one.

It was not kidding.  I log into it and I'm smacked with oodles of options (for the time) in the ways to create my character; from name to skin color even to the style of my hair.  The classes were enormous it seemed and I spent at least a half hour deciding what I wanted to be.  Sorceress:  basically, a warrior with the ability to craft potions-like bombs!   Hoo yeah!  I was in. 

I played and played and played.  Now, it's not uncommon for me to spend upwards of 8 hours on one video game given that I like it alot.  This one, however, I exceeded my all time high and spent 15 hours on it.  It was then, that I realized there was no going back.

Ten years and a slew of online games later, I still enjoy online gaming and have come to especially love roleplaying.  I currently play World of Warcraft, alternating my RP time with game time.  I have come to enjoy the fact that I play at my leisure with no rules, no aggressiveness and look for a happy gaming experience.