[QUOTE]Brian Wood spent his life thrilling millions of faceless gamers, but his last moment was spent saving the lives of those he loved most.
Wood, a 33 year-old lead designer at popular game developer Relic Entertainment, was on his way back to his Washington home when his wagon was struck by an oncoming Chevy Blazer being driven by a 21 year-old woman believed to be driving under the influence. With his pregnant wife Erin in the passenger seat, Wood swerved his car to put himself directly in the path of the oncoming SUV -- a decision that ultimately cost him his life, but protected his wife and unborn child from harm. Two other passengers riding in the backseat of the Blazer were also killed.
"All the policeman say that if we had hit the car head-on all of us would be dead," Erin Wood told The Province. "At the very last second (Brian) braked really hard and turned right so that he would be put in the path of the SUV and not me and the baby, and that is the only thing that saved us both."
"He was always sacrificing himself for me and the baby," she added.
But while Wood's impossibly brave act left a permanent void in the life of Erin Wood, the same people who Brian strived to please with his work have returned the favor with a striking show of support for his bereaved widow.
A memorial trust was set up within days of the accident. Countless game developers, journalists and fans posted links on Twitter and Facebook, leading to literally thousands of supportive comments, messages and financial donations, prompting Wood to send an open letter to the gaming community to popular game blog Kotaku.
"Brian always told me about how close-knit and wonderful the video game community was, but I had no idea until this tragedy just how special a group it really is," she writes. "From all the articles and comments, to the emails and donations, I am simply stunned and so touched by the love, kindness, and generosity shown to me and my family."
At the time of his death, Brian Wood was working on Company of Heroes Online, a free-to-play version of Relic’s award-winning strategy game. It's currently in open beta-test.
To help Erin, please visit the Brian Wood Memorial Trust . [/QUOTE]
Source: [url]http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/gamers-lend-support-to-widow-of-heroic-developer/1410899[/url]
Heart.
That's amazing. And it should shine some light on the fact that gamers aren't soulless shut ins.
This has had like 3-4 threads already.
It's amazing nonethenless though, heartwarming.
[editline]06:28PM[/editline]
Oh rate me bad reading, sorry!
is it just me or does this seem a bit over the edge? i mean it's nice and all, but for some reason it seems kind of odd...
maybe it's just me because of all the grieving, scamming and trolling i've seen in various games
What he did was selfless and incredible, and he paid the ultimate price for it.
A true hero. :frown:
[QUOTE=Peluri;24882300]is it just me or does this seem a bit over the edge? i mean it's nice and all, but for some reason it seems kind of odd...
maybe it's just me because of all the grieving, scamming and trolling i've seen in various games[/QUOTE]
Not everyone is 12.
[QUOTE=Peluri;24882300]is it just me or does this seem a bit over the edge? i mean it's nice and all, but for some reason it seems kind of odd...
maybe it's just me because of all the grieving, scamming and trolling i've seen in various games[/QUOTE]
Yeah sure, so I can either die [I]or![/I] I can take my wife and future child with me :dance:
e: nevermind i was being :downs: again
'hero'. he didnt swerve to save his baby and wife on purpose he simply swerved to try to move his car out the way...
-self informed comment further down-
[QUOTE=gBimbomcb;24882496]'hero'. he didnt swerve to save his baby and wife on purpose he simply swerved to try to move his car out the way...[/QUOTE]
Heartless as it sounds, I was thinking the same.
He couldn't have had more than a second to react.
[QUOTE=Viper202;24882515]Because pointing the front of the car towards the oncoming vehicle is swerving out of the way :downs:
Well done asshole.[/QUOTE]
nice one you didnt read the article
[QUOTE=gBimbomcb;24882496]'hero'. he didnt swerve to save his baby and wife on purpose he simply swerved to try to move his car out the way...[/QUOTE]
You have a point, wich makes me rate you agree although I'd rather see him as a hero.
He still swerved himself in the direct path of the oncoming vehicle. If he was swerving the opposite direction away from the vehicle the SUV would've hit the rear of the car, killing his wife and baby.
[QUOTE=Maurice;24882526]Heartless as it sounds, I was thinking the same.
He couldn't have had more than a second to react.[/QUOTE]
At the same time love can override self-preservation. With the adrenaline he might have realized that the only shot his wife and child had were if he swerved.
Either way the guy is fucking amazing.
[QUOTE=Viper202;24882600]He still swerved himself in the direct path of the oncoming vehicle. If he was swerving the opposite direction away from the vehicle the SUV would've hit the rear of the car, killing his wife and baby.[/QUOTE]
a car was driving head on at him he started to swerve the car. without thinking about who was in the car with him or what the consequences were he swerved right and just happened to be the one killed. if anything he was trying to preserve his own life because thats just what the body does in a situation like that
[editline]07:55PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=FKop_Dragon;24882604]At the same time love can override self-preservation.[/QUOTE]
not in a split second situation
[QUOTE=gBimbomcb;24882650]a car was driving head on at him he started to swerve the car. without thinking about who was in the car with him or what the consequences were he swerved right and just happened to be the one killed. if anything he was trying to preserve his own life because thats just what the body does in a situation like that[/QUOTE]
What? His split second instinctual decision was to turn his side toward the oncoming car?
[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;24882695]What? His split second instinctual decision was to turn his side toward the oncoming car?[/QUOTE]
do you understand how a car works
I don't understand why you're arguing so hard against the testament of a woman who was IN THE CAR.
[editline]03:08PM[/editline]
You can argue she is blinded by love and not thinking rationally yadda yadda yadda but in the end we have no fucking clue what happened and she does
im defending my completely valid point!!
I agree with gB on this one. Your natural response is both slamming the brake (a futile attempt at reducing impact) and steering away. A bad combination.
Given that he was selfless [i]before[/i] this event, people probably just assumed that he did this "heroic" thing to save his wife and child.
A guy got killed and you guys are arguing whether he tried to save his wife or not. That's kinda sad. He did what he could to save himself and his wife, but he only managed to do the latter. still a hero IMO.
He needs a medal of honour
[QUOTE=The mouse;24884077]He needs a medal of honour[/QUOTE]
I doubt they have pcs in heaven
seriously, some one got killed and all you can think of doing is arguing over the reason he turned in the direction he did
tbh no matter what his intentions he saved his wife and therefor is a hero
to OP add the link to the trust
[url]http://www.brianwoodmemorialtrust.com/[/url]
[QUOTE=gBimbomcb;24882862]im defending my completely valid point!![/QUOTE]
Shut up.
If there are two passengers in the front seats, and a car is traveling towards them, his turning right would have put his side directly in the face of the oncoming car. This would mean that the collision pushes the one car away, and spins the car the woman was in.
[QUOTE=deltasquid;24884052]A guy got killed and you guys are arguing whether he tried to save his wife or not. That's kinda sad. He did what he could to save himself and his wife, but he only managed to do the latter. still a hero IMO.[/QUOTE]
everyone interested in self preservation is a hero so everyone is a hero so that means that no-one is a hero because no-one is doing anything more than anyone else
[editline]09:58PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Sickle;24884568]Shut up.
If there are two passengers in the front seats, and a car is traveling towards them, his turning right would have put his side directly in the face of the oncoming car. This would mean that the collision pushes the one car away, and spins the car the woman was in.[/QUOTE]
im not saying he didnt swerve into the oncoming car im saying he clearly didnt do it on purpose to save his wife and child
i love company of heroes so im donating!
[QUOTE=gBimbomcb;24884830]everyone interested in self preservation is a hero so everyone is a hero so that means that no-one is a hero because no-one is doing anything more than anyone else
[editline]09:58PM[/editline]
im not saying he didnt swerve into the oncoming car im saying he clearly didnt do it on purpose to save his wife and child[/QUOTE]
Just shut the fuck up arguing, either donate or get the fuck out, seriously, there's no debate what he did, what's happened has happened and my thoughts are with his family.
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