I bought my first computer 20 years ago. The first day I searched "Flying Games" through AOL and Airwarrior came up. My first bill was $300.00 for that month. I played that game untill it closed, then I searched again and played Warbirds. Then Warbirds was just dying, everyone had left. the squad I was in, "JG27" all left for this new game called "Aces High". I hated them for it. One day soon after that I got pissed off playing Warbirds (mainly because I was a jerk), so I closed my account and tried "Aces High". Done. Gunna play here forever and ever and ever.
I am an Aces High evangelist. I tell alot of RL people about it. I've gotten 2 co-workers hooked on it and have a 3rd guy gearing up so he can start soon.
I met a WW2 vet in my Honda Motorcycle store a couple years ago. He flew P38's and was shot down. I sat him down and showed him some of the films on my work computer. We talked and talked and talked. I could never get him to join us, and that really bummed me out. I even told him I would buy him a computer and pay for his account, still no luck. His name was Ervin Cloyd. He passed away about a year ago. Just after that, his grandson walked into my store and told me Ervin had died. He held his hand out and said, "My grandfather wanted me to make sure that when he passed away, that you got these", and he dropped Ervin's "Wings" from his uniform in my hand. I cried. I have tears in my eyes now. I pinned those wings on my motorcycle jacket which I wear every day. When people ask me about the Wings they see on my jacket, I get to tell them about Ervin. I think about Ervin every day.
It is funny how a silly little game like this can be the impetus that might make you a better person.
I have no choice. I have to be nice here, Ervin might be watching <S>.
