An Interview with Tiggs
By Shayde

“Support our Troops”. You see that simple sentence everywhere you turn these days. Reminders of the brave men and women who are overseas putting their lives on the line everyday. It doesn’t matter if you’re for the war or against it... you still admire the selfless act of our country’s bravest. You ask yourself, “What can I do to help?”

Look around your computer desk right now. If you’re anything like me there’s at least one game you don’t play anymore. There’s a couple console games you just got tired of, there’s a box in your closet filled with games you loved but just don’t play anymore.

That’s where Gifts From Gamers http://www.giftsfromgamers.org/ comes in. Their mission is simple. Get those games to those who need them. The person spearheading the effort is someone who many SWG players came to know well… Diane “Tiggs” Migliaccio. She now works for Turbine’s Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online… but her heart is really into her work at GFG. Why? Because it’s personal.

RealMMO: Where did your inspiration for Gifts From Gamers come from?

Diane “Tiggs” Migliaccio : For the past 9 years, I’ve been working in the PC Entertainment industry supporting online communities for massively multiplayer online games. The idea to start GiftsFromGamers.org came about when asked by one of my son's Sergeants if I could get a hold of some games for one of their deployed units. After giving this some thought, I realized how many games I have sitting around in my home that we don't use, and I know many friends have piles of games they never play any longer—even some that were never opened.
After approaching some of my colleagues and contacts from the industry, support for this project grew and my goals became clear. I needed to create a space on the Internet where gamers could easily and effectively donate old and new systems as well as software to the soldiers deployed who so desperately need a piece of home to keep them grounded in time of war.

What has the reaction of the gaming community been like?

The reaction from the various gaming communities regarding Gifts from Gamers has been astounding! Donations have been arriving daily and our next shipment is due to be sent out any day.

Are you just targeting the MMO industry?

No, Gamers come in all types: mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles and most importantly friends. Many of us don't even realize that we fall under the category of a gamer, since gamers come from all walks of life. Gamers can be simply defined as people who have desire or passion to play games. These games can take all forms: from card games, board games and puzzles, to role playing, and certainly computer games, console/arcade games and internet games.
In fact, gamers span all levels of passion and interests. Some may hold their puzzles dear, or their console system, while MMO and Internet gamers spend their time online. Being a gamer is not even about how much time is spent gaming, but the fact that you game.

In one way or another we are all gamers. We may have different tastes in games but we all have similar reasons for playing. We play to relax. We play to escape our daily toils. We play to be something we can never be in real life. We play to socialize. And we play to stimulate our minds. The games and entertainment items that are shipped to these young men and women will help relieve their minds of where they are and let them feel for a time a sense of normalcy and familiarity of the life they left behind. I encourage you to bring them some enjoyment and relaxation until they can be back home again with their families and loved ones.

So what can we do to help?

Take 15 minutes of your time to do some spring cleaning and make a difference in the lives of these brave young men and women. Don’t have anything lying around that you can part with? Next time you are looking for a game to play or a movie to watch, why not purchase one to donate to a soldier that is deployed also?
If you are unsure on what to send; Gifts From Gamers also accepts gift cards so that purchases can be made for requested items from soldiers.

Since many readers know you from the games we play (or used to play) is there anything you'd like to say to them?

I ask that you take into consideration that it's highly likely that allies or even adversaries in fights in the virtual worlds are real life soldiers who must fight battles in the real world. Let your online comrades-in-arms know you support them in real life as well by donating to Gifts From Gamers!

I would also like to thank everyone that has helped Gifts From Gamers, from our sponsors to those that have been working endless hours behind the scenes. If you would like to become a sponsor or donate financially to cover shipping costs please email sponsor@giftsfromgamers.org .

So it’s time to do a little early spring cleaning. This time it can really make a difference. Go to http://www.giftsfromgamers.org to find out more. Who knew cleaning out your closets could make someone happy?