Fallen Friend
by mnmsgin, HSM guest contributor; machinima by Godzprototype, HSM filmmaker
Friendship. Does anyone know the meaning of the word? Well, good old Webster says:
Friendship: (n) 1. Friendly feeling or disposition: to valuea person’s friendship. 2. State of being a friend; association as friends: The two countries professed friendship. 3. A friendly relation or intimacy.
With that said, when I started using PlayStation Home I was just looking for people my own age to talk to. I found that at a space called Novus Prime. The people there are the most wonderful, down-to-earth people I have found on Home. It’s kind of like the old TV show “Cheers” — everyone there does know your name. I’ve been in Home for a little over a year now and already in that time I have made some friends – some good and some not so good. The good ones I have made, however, are what keep me coming back every day to Novus. When I see that someone hasn’t signed on in a couple days I start to worry: is everything okay? Did they get hurt?
The club I belong to is called the Black Hat Squad. We area group of “wiser” adults. We came to be an extended version of our real-life families.When someone goes through some problems in the real world, we are there for support; we help them get through it the best way we can. I know we are spread throughout the world, but we are there. We’ve had our scares with some members and their health and we were there every step of the way as much as we could be. This era of technology makes it easy to be in different countries and still be there for each other. When they make their way back into Home we are there, waiting with open arms.
I know none of us are going to live forever, and some get taken away from us way too soon. While we have our friends with us, we can make the best of our friendships. When the day comes that we have to say goodbye to a friend, I think we would all want our friends that are left behind to remember the good times that we had together. In the physical world we are able to mourn the loss of friends by going to their wake or funeral. We are able to meet with friends, and families and sit in the same room and reminisce on all the memories shared. You are able to hug and have a shoulder to cry on.
On Home, it’s different. We all live in different countries or far away from each other. There are a few of us that are married or dating another person on Home so we have their help dealing with death, but for most they are alone to deal with it. This is one way that we came up with to celebrate one such person. One way that I know the Black Hats remember a fallen friend is to fly in their memory.
I am writing this to talk about what a friend of mine did when he lost a friend. I know, there’s all this talk about Home being a trolling ground, and nothing good is in Home. Well this next part will change your minds about some of the people on Home.
HGG13 lost one of his teammates, Jester. He came to me and asked if I could help him give Jester a Novus send off. I asked the help of the Black Hat Squad and Godzprototype. Within two weeks we had a plan. We sent out messages and asked for whomever would want to help to show up wearing their uniforms, and of course the Black Hat. Not knowing what support or help we would get, to my amazement the show of support from the Hatters was outstanding. They came and asked what they needed to do. No one asked inane questions such as when it would be done, or was mad at how long we had them stand there doing nothing. In our community of Novus Prime, we all came together to say goodbye.
Those who knew him did it in the way they knew he would be proud of. And the rest of us that didn’t get the chance to meet him were there in support of our friends that suffered the loss. As you can see in the video at the end, this is how we at Novus say good bye to our fallen fellow pilots. Another way was to fly in his honor for the day. That is just what HGG13 and the rest of his team did. Most of H’s team hasn’t stepped foot at Novus after the drama that chased them away. Some flew with the Tiger Witch Doctor, the ship Jester flew. I even switched to that paint for the day. HGG13 made it his goal to be number one for the day in Jester’s honor. A goal that he made with help from his old team, and from help from his new friends he has made at Novus.
These are the words HGG13 had to say about his fallen friend: “We are here to pay tribute to the memory of Jester, a.k.a. Joker, a fellow Novus pilot. It is incredibly sad that Jester’s life ended so soon, and I cannot put into words how much we will miss him. Jester was a good pilot that everyone looked up to. He was a great asset to his team here at Novus. He continued gaming with White Knight Chronicles 2, where he led by example, being a mentor who aided anyone needing his guidance. Jester was a funny man and there were always jokes and good times when he was here with his teammates: Duke, Sunshine,and Buddy Lee.
“These four players made up one of the best teams I have ever seen at Novus. We will always look back on our time with you and will think of you with love, friendship, courage and admiration. Joker has taken the last step on his journey, and although he may be gone, Joker will never be forgotten. On behalf of my old team to yours, we join you to honor the memory of a great man and Novus pilot. You fought a good fight, Joker. We will battle the bots in your stead.”
From Dr_Do-Little, co-founder of the Black Hat Squad and Black Hat Squadron: “To kill bots and meet our friends is the reason why we usually come to Novus. On a lucky day you can also meet new, wonderful people. Today is different. We gather here to honor the memory of a lost friend. I never had the opportunity to meet Jester. But our little community is our expanded family. Friends of friends quickly become friends of ours. And friendship is what this place is all about. We need people who, like him, make our days better. In the turmoil of our day to day physical life there are some names we love to see on our navigator. People you know will make you laugh and forget your outside problems. Jester was such a man. Fun, joking around, and playing the Novus Prime game is what brought the Black Hats together. There is no doubt in my heart that Jester was a Black Hat before its time. On behalf of The Black Hat Squad/Black Hat Squadron, farewell Jester.”
These are the words of Duke: “Jester was a great man. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Jester was my second cousin, my best friend and was like a big brother. May you rest in peace. Thank you all for your kind words. And thanks to everyone for being so supportive. Jester was a true gamer. Thank you all for this tribute. Home is just like the real world. Some friends come and go and then there are the few that we will never forget. We will always keep the memories of a lost friend near and dear in our hearts forever. Remembering the good times, laughing at memories of shared times, and talking to them as if they were still with us. Please join me in saying goodbye.”
Time is a vagary of perception when having fun with friends online. But it becomes real when someone you care for deeply is no longer there.
Jester. 7/18/2012.
August 10th, 2012 by Godzprototype | 21 comments
Godzprototype is learning the art of creating Machinima, and would like to share it with you. Hope you enjoy.
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That was really good guys.
*stands up, applause*
Incredible story of friendship and an incredible film as well. I loved the send off and the show of respect for another person. Home is just a “game” huh? I think not. Bravo!
Beautiful tribute. Thanks for posting the video for those of us who couldn’t be there… I’ll share this with the Novus Prime community today.
R.I.P. Jester. The Hellfire Games team salutes you.
This really touched me, I had a few conversation’s with Jester; AKA, “Joker” & If I had known prior to this article, I would’ve attended the Ceremony, My Sincere condolences for the loss of a Home Friend. May he rest in peace.
I think this is your best one yet, Godz. Your work just improves with each one you make. You really captured the moment to establish the empathy. Quite the tribute. R.I.P Jester
Thank you everyone!
Next to life itself, friendship is the greatest gift. Beautifully expressed, both the written and the visual parts.
When our friend HGG asked Gin and I to help him held a ceremony for a lost friend we accepted without hesitation. Then he told us he wanted something that could show the community Home is more than drama and trolls. Something to show that good thing happen on home. We knew we would need help.
Thank you Godz. You put your soul in that project as if it was your own.
Special thanks to the HSM team. By publishing this. You made a real good man simple wish become reality.
Wow. This article and video really brought a tear to my eye. What a lovely tribute to your friend. I’m so sorry to all of you who knew him, but it sure seems you are glad of one thing… that you DID know him while he was here. Your Home memorial is a wonderful way to acknowledge his gift to you.
I want to say ty to all who helped to do this tribute for our good friend Jester. Home isnt just a game i have meet very nice ppl there and have lost 1 good one now. Ty for all you have done. God bless you all. Rip Jester you will be miss.
i can’t say how much i’m touched by the help i’ve gotten from ppl with this idea i had. jester was a great man. couldn’t find anyone nicer. i couldn’t just sit still and do nothing for a good friend. yes i’ve never met jester in life, but i saw him being a mentor to so many ppl. there were so many good jokes when we were all playing. good times to never forget. it helped us want to come on home and go play novus somemore. same thing with another game. so many good times, i can’t count them all. a very big thank you to gin, doc,godz, and hs magazine for letting me setup a tribute and to let others know that good things do happen in home.
What a wonderful article and video. It is all true what was said about the people at Novus. We are all friends and some of us are lifelong friends. Yes we do stick together as Gin said. The video says a lot more than words could express. Nice works on that. To each of you who wrote here, it is good of you to keep all of us in your hearts. Jester would have been pleased with all of you who worked on this.
Bill, Heartwarming tribute to a fellow friend hes memory lives on, May you Rest in Peace Joker You will be remembered
Thank you for the great video and article, Jester would be proud. And ty for all the kind words about my cousin and best firend.
Bill, I bow to you my friend there is no better proof then this video to show that all you need is the idea and nothing more just stay out of the way the end results will be nothig less than amasing.as a black hat I am deeply sadden by this Jester AKA “joker” R.I.P cammander” maybe we will still get to meet because we are all going to make that final flight and For all the ppl that helped with this tribute my blackhat off to you all specially Gin AKA “mnmgin” you work hard at keeping us in check lol.
WOW.. this was wonderful guys. I never new Jester, but H has become a great friend and I was there without hesitation to support him in honoring his lost friend. True friends are hard to find, but I believe Home has helped so many people develop friendships that would have never been possible. thanks H and thanks Godz and thanks Sony.
A wonderful, touching tribute. Life is fleeting. We should all make the most of the time we have with friends and family.
This is a beautiful final send-off for a friend. It touched my heart. None of us know how long we are here and should all enjoy life more. HGG, this was a wonderful ideal and very touching words to honor a lost friend. Gin, what a beautiful article to go with the film. Godzprototype, simply fantastic.
I don’t like it when in my mind anyway, a person dies before they are done.
If they leave a friendship or relationship of their own choosing and still live, they still have a tomorrow.
R.I.P.
that was beautiful i wish i could have been a part of the send off in novus but i wasn’t around but i will say right here right now r.i.p. jester and to HGG13 im sorry for your loss it must be hard but stay strong your friend will always watch over you
BRAVO