An unexpected Gathering..

Last Saturday I met up with the guy who made the MMORPG that I play, WebDota at SS2. For those who didn't know, yeah, it turns out he's Malaysian (yes, he). Let's see if I can pan out what happened in little over 4 hours to a full fledge blog post.


Prologue:

Around 2 months ago over some forum thread at Webdota, another Malaysian player known as ninja (whom I have come to know watches RAW as well..hehe) sparked up a thought to invite the creator of WebDota (WD), formerly known as LoD (he's real name I shant reveal as it isn't all that relevant here anyway..) to Bak Kut Teh (those unfamiliar with this Malaysian Chinese (or maybe just Chinese) activity, it's basically Chinese Tea over a meal of rice and Stew Pork). Why or how escapes me now, but back then it was a thought, not much a decision. Fast forward a couple of weeks, LoD decides to announce that he intends to end the free playing game at a milestone round 50, (currently at Round 46), which will mean very soon I will be a very very bored employee during work hours (at least until I finally decide to actually spend all 7.5 hours DOING WORK at WORK...Maybe.....Maybe...)

My first thought were to ask him out to a drink and bombard him with all the intrusive and invasive questions as to why he wants to quit, as well as finding more on what he does to keep the game going at the moment ( I actually managed to ask alot that day, be the key intrusive personal questions were sparred as there were other people there which made me think the answer may not be as forthcoming as I'd hope). He countered with a gathering of sorts, allowing other Malaysian players in our area (that would be Klng Valley). At first I was skeptical, due to me being the ANAL PLANNER, a gathering has some measure of planning to it. He took it away and all I had to do was turned up (kind of, I did end up having to pick up 2 guys from a train station...). Before you know it a thread was created to get players to RSVP for the gathering.

Making the Gathering (hey, look. it's got the same initials as Magic: the Gathering...hahaha):

Unfortunately Bak Kut Teh is pork, and where I live if the gathering is to be open to people in my country, then it's just common courtesy and logic to pick a 'Halal' venue so as not to sideline our muslim associates. So the venue got changed to Murni in SS2 PJ. At first I didn't have a clue where it was, but knowing that it's SS2 meant I was pretty sure I could find the restaurant irregardless as I'm very familiar with SS2; It's a big square block of shoplots with many eateries and cybercafes...How could I not find the place?

As LoD decided to pick up the tab, the decision was to limit it to 8 persons (he went on to advise it was a gimmick to actually get people to commit, as anopen invitation will take forever as oppose to a 'VIP' availability, but I'm to cost conscious to see it that way, haha!) and the thread was soon balooned with post of people who wanted to go, wanted to go but can't, did not want to go but wanted to spam and just plain spammers (actually spamming could apply to any of the previous categories of people too). The good thing was with a deadline in place, there's only so much spamming to happen before finalising the VIP list (oh yeah, people still spammed the thread AFTER the thread's purpose was done. Go figure...)

By the deadline only 7 confirmed. Myself, LoD, Ninja (the other guy, hehe) and 4 others RSVP (Gabrial aka Gaybrial (I call him Gabby in writing..haha), Zeifer, BumbleStreak and Karb. The date of the gathering was now set to 23rd August 2008 at 6.30pm. Another side topic, some of the WD gamers in Indonesia has started a gathering thread for more than a year, I think, but has not really managed to make it reality. So I was driven to drive a wedge to their 'efforts' by making the Malaysia gathering happen in a shorter time. In fact, just making it happen was a big plus. Oh, because of that, I needed photo evidence. So I tried to get some of the other attendees to bring cameras (me and my dislike to be photographed made it hypocritical for me to bring a camera). Since I had some 'ferrying' duties, I figured it would make sense to get someone else to bring cameras. Besides, I was trying very hard not to 'PLAN' the gathering.

On that day, 23rd August 2008.....:

I was to pick up Ninja and Gabrial at Asia Jaya LRT Station at 6pm. I arrived slightly after 6 with Shrek (that's my car, haha!). Gabrial was already waiting there, while Ninja was still, well, practicing ninjutsu? (as in not around, unseen, late...) After some not so comfortable introductions, I realise that Gabrial was rather green (hey, matching colours!!) with regards to the city since he's just here to study. Wish I got to go far far away to study..:-( ..Oh well, did I mention we waited.....And waited....And waited.....For a cool (yes, it was quite cold that evening too...) 30 minutes. We couldn't reach his phone and he wasn't replying our SMSes, so i left without him. A short drive after we were in SS2 and my phone rang.

Zeifer, who was getting there on his own, needed some directions on how to get to the place. From me! Hahaha, had they had all known I was going there with a lose image of where I think the place it, they might have decided against asking for my directions. I gave him what I could in terms of how to get closer to our venue and bid him good luck. I needed it too. Missing a turn, I had to go a circle around one part of SS2 just to get back on the same road as the venue. My phone rang again. This time it was LoD asking if I was there yet. I hate being late, but it wasn't really my fault! :-( I told him I just parked and would see him at the venue.

Upon reaching there I saw this geeky guy who didn't quite look like LoD (he posted a picture on the forum) but wasn't sure, so I called him again. he picked up the phone. I scoured the area and no other Chinese guy was picking up a call. Where on earth was he??? " I'm waiting inside the car"......Duh...And so there were 3 of us. Shortly later Zeifer found his way after speaking to me again (this time I was already there, so my directions would have been better, me thinks) and the gathering was 4. Yes, 4. Out of a possible 8 which 7 RSVPed, only 4 actually turned up.

Ninja had an unfortunate accident of switching off his mobile phone completely and not remembering his pin. So instead of spending time with us he ended up spending time at a mobile phone shop. When I finally saw his SMS and called him about it, I couldn't but help laugh at the unfortunate event. I'm not sure if he realises I laugh at these things, not because I intend to demean but they're just humourous, are they not? These random coincidences?

Bumblestreak turned out to be a minor and was not allowed to go by his mom. This was school holidays and he explains he's been going out so much the mom wanted him at home. Too bad, so sad...hahahah. (Whoever says I'm not evil just DOES NOT KNOW ME!!)

Karb? Who? Well, no offence, but this was the guy who posted least and hardly made an impression he really wanted to turn up. To me anyway..

So 4 guys and a mamak store. What do you think happened? Some random facts:
1) We were all in glasses (contacts people, contacts...zzz)
2) 3 Chinese 1 Malay (All Malaysian, so huat???)
3) 30, 25, 22, 20. Go figure what those figures are. No, it wasn't the body measurements of some hot chick there, since I don't think those numbers describe much of a hotchick. Try harder...)
4) The conversations were mostly in English (poor Gabrial. Name of an Angel but had to speak in a somewhat foreign tongue...:p)

Gabrial's foreign nature were telling as he couldn't decide what to order in a Mamak!!! Feels like I'm having one of my foreign country guest. hahaha. Though I'm sure in time he will get accustomed to this Malaysian culture...Everyone else was rather comfortable. Gabrial and Zeifer ordered Roti Hawaii (per Gabrial had beef, pineapples and some other stuff I can't recall) while LoD had Clyapot "Lou Shee Fun" (some kind of short, fat semi-transparent noodles). By the speed LoD ate it, either he really eats slowly or it didn't come out very good. I'm still under oversight of my dietician, so most, if not all the food there were off-limits. I ended up with 2 Teh Tariks and 1 Mango juice/punch/something....

We started of with some customary introductions (hmm, wait, I don't recall introducing myself and what I do..hehe, I must have talked too much about myself then so much so they didn't need to ask about me...:p) and I asked LoD about the cost to maintain the game. I also asked about the things he needed to do to keep the game going, stopping short at the technical bits as I knew nothing of those sorts. Then most of our conversations were on the game and the gamers.

Before we knew it was 9.30pm. A short photo session later (Must have for photo evidence!!) we went our seperate ways and maybe we'd gather again in the future..Maybe.. You know these thing....All talk......hehehehehe..I dropped off Gabrial at the same station and realised I couldn't find anyone to watch BPL with. So I went home.


Epilogue:

The pictures have since been posted. The verdict's out....Someone commented I didn't look as 'big' as I say I am..Well......hehehehe..Not to say I don't like that...hehehe..

It was a good meet up and hopefully there's more. It's funny how internet acquaintences aren't as different normal acquaintences......

It's also nice to have a story to tell compared to my recent posts here....hahah