Friends and players honor deceased FFXIV player with in-game memorial
Osa Talo, an Elezen female in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on the Cerberus server, has passed away in real life. Friends, guildmates, and fellow players gathered in-game for a memorial in honor and remembrance of Osa.
Redditors came together today to share memories of Osa and the service, which took place on the front steps of the Sanctum of the Twelve in the East Shroud. Reportedly, Game Masters (employees of Square Enix who monitor in-game activity and respond to help requests) thanked one 'Mizori' for hosting the service and changed the in-game weather as the memorial began.
Mcguyver Zero of Cerberus had this to say about Osa:
"I hit a low as a tank and was ready to hang up my sword and shield, Osa pushed me and gave me the strength I needed to continue, for both the game and life in general.
I will never forget the first time she took me through [Crystal Tower] along with Miz, I didn't understand the loot system and rolled on some monk gloves she needed, We all laughed about it and every day she would tell me she was going to whip my monk into shape. I never bothered to level my monk until now. I am going to be the monk she wanted me to be. . . .
Rest in piece Osa, you shall never be forgotton! I owe you so much, most of all a huge thank you for being such a great person! <3"
Others echoed Mcguyver's feelings, saying Osa was something of a backbone for the server, a kind, helpful player and person who would reach out the hand of support to anyone. She also created the "Cerberus Alliance" linkshell, uniting many of the server's Free Companies.
"Osa will surely be missed. She was a wonderful player and person who was willing to do everything she could to help everyone. RIP Osa you will be forever in our hearts"
"While I was never as close to Osa as some of the others on the server, I did meet her briefly in game. we ended up adding each other on PSN, and we discussed Demons Souls and Dark Souls. I had planned to ask her to do a Co-op playthrough with me, but kept putting it off, and now I'll never have that chance, nor will I have the chance to play with her in FFXIV.
Cheers Osa, you've been a great friend"
According to SoriSilverwolf, Osa Talo "passed away due to illness".
As gamers, Final Fantasy fans, and human beings in spirit, PSU would like to express its condolences to the family and friends of Osa Talo. By all accounts, we've lost an outstanding person.
http://www.psu.com/a023270/Friends-and-players-honor-deceased-FFXIV-player-with-in-game-memorial
There's something really beautiful and poignant about this. People who play games like this are often seen as geeky or social outcasts but this demonstrates something I find remarkable in an age of growing virtual space. Whilst family and friends can gather around and attend the real life funeral or gather around the grave to lay down their flowers, those who are distanced by geography can come together as one and grieve too.
They may only appear to be polygonal representations of real people, but this shows how emotions can transcend earthly limitations and bring out the very thing that makes us human. Perhaps lobbyists who rail against video games as a force of evil should consider moments like this when gamers show solidarity in the face of great sadness.
I don't believe in God, I never have and I never will, but I do believe in people, and it's moments like this that cement that notion and remind me to never forget.
"I hit a low as a tank and was ready to hang up my sword and shield, Osa pushed me and gave me the strength I needed to continue, for both the game and life in general."
"Osa will surely be missed. She was a wonderful player and person who was willing to do everything she could to help everyone. RIP Osa you will be forever in our hearts"
This should be a reminder to everyone that we are not just text on a forum or a character in a game, we are real people communicating in the only way we can.
The PS5 Exists.
