I didn’t even know her name. All I knew is what my son told me: she was one of his online gaming friends, and she’d just committed suicide a few days ago. Being one of my son’s friends made her young in my book. All I could do is shake my head and wonder why this has to happen. How could I have changed her path?
When people ask me why I created Myth, I always tell them this: I love the creative aspects of the game. I like making new friends who share a common interest. I enjoy the collaborative storytelling and play that unites a community of friends together.
But there is more to it than that.
The biggest reason Myth exists was for the community and network it creates. It gives us all a place where we belong. This sense of community should resonate through the design of the rules, which we made to foster a sense of teamwork. I am a firm believer in the concept that “friends are the family we choose.” I look at Myth as a sort of family gathering that happens several times a year. I look out for my friends, and this game is just another way of doing that.
So why is this important? I believe Myth is more than just a game. It is a group of friendships that can last a lifetime, forged by cooperative play. Myth is a network of friends willing to help each other outside of the game as much as inside. I am always inviting my friends and people I like to Myth because I want them to be part of the family I choose. I hope that all of our members do the same, growing this family of friends into a large, supportive network.
While I am disappointed I couldn’t do something to help my son’s online friend, I know that someday what we do will make a difference to someone who needs it. Then, they’ll have no end in sight.
