Gamers vs Violence: Michele Morrow on RIP Ethan Nichols & Carissa

Michele Morrow told me about this today, and I wanted to forward her message to you. A few months ago, one of her fans and Facebook followers, Ethan Nichols, was murdered along with his girlfriend Carissa Horton, point blank — execution style.

Ethan was # 36 in Call of Duty: Black Ops rankings, and loved World of Warcraft and StarCraft II. Ethan befriended Michele Morrow in Facebook, and interacted often talking about video games. Through Michele’s friend list — I have no idea why Ethan Nichols sent me a Facebook friend invite. I accepted the invitation, and sadly never interacted with him.

On April 21, 2011 — Ethan Nichols created a frisbee with the image of Michele Morrow as Lady Sylvanas, knowing well her wish to be an actress playing her role in the upcoming Warcraft film.

He was very happy when Michele Morrow answered in his Facebook page that she loved the frisbee, and shipped it to her. It touches me in a way, because one of his last moments of happiness was triggered indirectly by me. I created the original image he used in this frisbie he gifted Michele. He likely saw the image on Michele Morrow’s facebook gallery and used it.

It’s astonishing how simple actions sometimes become part of a complex domino effect.

While I never interacted with Ethan, I read Michele’s facebook page often throughout the week, and got to read some of his messages. One day I saw a post on Michele as Lady Sylvanas Facebook Wall. It was Ethan’s mother: Theresa Nichols. (September 20, 2011)

She told Michele that Ethan and his girlfriend were killed in a park. His pontiac car was stolen, and the bodies appeared several hours later. The killer ironically was spending his time in the park while a TV Reporter was interviewing people about the safety in the parks. The killer appeared on TV eager to talk. Four hours later, the police found him and the weapon he used.

Ethan Nichols and Carissa died for no reason, in a way they didn’t deserve. All Michele Morrow asks is that the news goes around the web so that everyone gets to know who Ethan Nichols was, and his passion for Blizzard games. She wants a memorial of Ethan be included in World of Warcraft or StarCraft II, and wants fans to be creative and submit ideas on how this in-game memorial could be developed.

Conclusion

With this campaign, the actress wants Blizzard Entertainment to add an in-game memorial in honor of Ethan Nichols as a nod to him.

Blizzard Entertainment is known for their real life and pop culture references in their video games including quests, NPC names, and items. Blizzard has also added in-game memorial nods to friends who have died like Blizzard artist Michel Koiter (Twincruiser) who has an in-game memorial atop a hill near Crossroads in the Barrens.

Chris Metzen reveals in the Wrath of the Lich King Behind-the-Scenes DVD he wrote a quest story in memorial to Brad Bridenbecker, brother to Rob Bridenbecker VP of Online Technologies. The entire questline memorial named “A Tale of Valor” is started by an NPC curiously-named Bridenbrad. It’s one of the most warm-hearted stories in-game about a paladin who sacrificed his life to safe his batallion team, now affected by the Undead Scourge’s plague (in reference to the cancer that killed Brad), and you have to go all around Azeroth and Outland to meet important leaders in order to find a cure. Unable to cure his disease, the Naaru manage to literally ascend Bridenbrad’s dying body into the Light.

Crildor in Darnassus is an NPC that roams a path and sits to rest often. He was added in-game in memorial to a popular Dutch Warcraft fansite moderator who died in a car crash prior to the release of World of Warcraft (2004).

The most notable and emotive in-game memorial based on a community fan was performed when the kid was still alive. Ezra Phoenix was invited to Blizzard Entertainment thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Ezra recorded his voice at the Irvine studio, and created an NPC and a quest all by himself.

He created the quest Kyle’s Gone Missing! by NPC Ahab Wheathoof. Ezra passed away on October 20, 2008, but players remember him close to their heart.