MLB.com Interviews the Phillies' Todd Pratt
More and more these days we're hearing about celebrities and sports stars that play computer games like we do, and now there's one more to add to the list. The Phillies' Catcher Todd Pratt recently interviewed with MLB.com and told them of his passion for gaming when he was younger, as well as today...
The Phillies' Todd Pratt is recognizable even through the catcher's mask and chest protector he wears when he's behind the plate. He's taller than starting catcher Mike Lieberthal and has a certain gait around the bases that resembles a chugging, early 1900s steam locomotive. When he's not blocking pitches in the dirt, Pratt frequently establishes a different persona -- that of Ian Stormbringer, a sword-wielding knight whose life's mission is to thwart evil. This includes storming castles, slaying hobgoblins and restoring peace to faraway lands. MLB.com caught up with Stormbringer/Pratt, during a break from one such adventure, and discussed the hobby and the web site that was created out of it. MLB.com: Who is Ian Stormbringer? Todd Pratt: Ian Stormbringer is my role-playing name that I created many years ago. I have been interested in role-playing since the '70s. I created the name as my first character in a game called Ultima Online. He's the same age as myself (35), same height (6-foot-3). He's human, but can change within the worlds he visits and is a cross-breed if needed. He is a Knight of the Church. Some may call him a Paladin (ultra-good fighter). MLB.com: I thought the character resembled you? What's with that long flowing blond hair? Pratt: I could ask you the same. Remember, it is fantasy. MLB.com: What has been Ian's most dangerous situation? Pratt: Well, due to the way he lives, he has been fighting off evil daily. MLB.com: How does Mrs. Stormbringer feel after a particularly long adventure? Pratt: Well, Mrs. Stormbringer does not like me adventuring at all. She is always glad to see me when I get back to my keep, though. There was actually a day when I played 20 hours straight. It was bad. The wife and kids were out of town, it was the weekend, and I got so deeply involved that I woke up and started drinking coffee. A couple of meals during the time period, and I finished up a 20-hour session. Thank goodness the family came home. The game never turns off. The world in Ultima Online and EverQuest and in Dark Ages Camelot keeps going. It's a great hobby and I've met a lot of interesting people online. MLB.com: Do you hope that (sons) Quade or Jake will one day be Ian Stormbringer Jr.? And have you drawn any teammates into your Ian Stormbringer lair? Pratt: (Quade and Jake) will live their own lives, but if they choose my path I will show them how they can make names for themselves. As for the players, I try not to push the games on anyone. If they're interested, I'll explain what I do. I try to stay out of the baseball web when I play. MLB.com: How many years have you been gaming and how many games have you played? Pratt: Since the late '70s when I got into Dungeons and Dragons. I used to play the pencil-and-paper role-playing games back then. I still have much of the literature saved. As far as computer gaming, I started out playing the Gold Box series with my PC, then I heard of this game being designed (Ultima Online). I started playing what I thought was D and D online, but it turned out to be different and it was thousands of online players. It was great. Ultima Online was probably the first huge online game for multiple players. I have played them all; this is one thing I spend my money on. Computer games are my hobby. MLB.com: How does online gaming actually work? Pratt: The worlds never sleep. There isn't one goal to finish in these games. You create a character and play within a built world that will allow you freedom of choice. You decide what you want to do. In some cases you can own a home or a business. We organize guilds and then roam around the world with each other. I play many games and there are many campaigns, so to single one out would not be a easy task. Basically I try to play like it is a campaign of life: to teach the ways of good and to defeat the evil that surrounds us. MLB.com: And what of the public side of Ian Stormbringer? How long has the great Paladin been seen at Florida Renaissance Festivals? Pratt: About five years. I love them. I love the people who work in them, the culture, the flair, the song, the dance. Everything about the fair is great. I have gotten more involved over the years. I have an outfit I wear now. I even have (my wife) Tracy in a nice-looking dress. We walk around and people think we're part of the show, as a prince and princess. It's a great experience every time I go to the fair. People make it easy to be comfortable joining in. MLB.com: Beyond the gaming and the Renaissance festivals, Ian Stormbringer has evolved into Ianstorm.com, a gaming destination for fans. How did that happen? Pratt: I just decided to start a regular fan site for Ultima Online to provide information about my character and our guild. Some people decided to make it a company. Some of the people involved are players I met through the game or online chats at different sites. I recruited a lot of volunteers who wanted to help. When I decided to get a web-hosting company, I called this guy out of Virginia, David Hernly, and it turned out he was one of the original guys playing Ultima and was excited to help me. We met in 1997, but didn't get serious until 2000. We incorporated and started the web site -- it's a gaming portal that provides information on not just computer games, but on console games. Any avid gamer can check out the site to find news. We update it every day and link to headlines from about 50 other web sites. There are separate worlds for each individual interest. There are about 25 people in the company, and all are volunteers. Some of them are college students who show the site they helped design to their professors. We have people as far away as Australia working for us. The site doesn't cost that much to maintain. It's not bringing in any income now, but the potential is there. Doing this is something I'd like to get into after baseball. I'd also like to get into coaching and managing, but this is something I can also do. Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com and can be reached at philliesfans2002@yahoo.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
I know each and every one of us also have had those 20 hour sessions... We feel ya Todd!! Big thanks to MLB.com and Todd Pratt for being such an awesome sport! -Kenti
The Phillies' Todd Pratt is recognizable even through the catcher's mask and chest protector he wears when he's behind the plate. He's taller than starting catcher Mike Lieberthal and has a certain gait around the bases that resembles a chugging, early 1900s steam locomotive. When he's not blocking pitches in the dirt, Pratt frequently establishes a different persona -- that of Ian Stormbringer, a sword-wielding knight whose life's mission is to thwart evil. This includes storming castles, slaying hobgoblins and restoring peace to faraway lands. MLB.com caught up with Stormbringer/Pratt, during a break from one such adventure, and discussed the hobby and the web site that was created out of it. MLB.com: Who is Ian Stormbringer? Todd Pratt: Ian Stormbringer is my role-playing name that I created many years ago. I have been interested in role-playing since the '70s. I created the name as my first character in a game called Ultima Online. He's the same age as myself (35), same height (6-foot-3). He's human, but can change within the worlds he visits and is a cross-breed if needed. He is a Knight of the Church. Some may call him a Paladin (ultra-good fighter). MLB.com: I thought the character resembled you? What's with that long flowing blond hair? Pratt: I could ask you the same. Remember, it is fantasy. MLB.com: What has been Ian's most dangerous situation? Pratt: Well, due to the way he lives, he has been fighting off evil daily. MLB.com: How does Mrs. Stormbringer feel after a particularly long adventure? Pratt: Well, Mrs. Stormbringer does not like me adventuring at all. She is always glad to see me when I get back to my keep, though. There was actually a day when I played 20 hours straight. It was bad. The wife and kids were out of town, it was the weekend, and I got so deeply involved that I woke up and started drinking coffee. A couple of meals during the time period, and I finished up a 20-hour session. Thank goodness the family came home. The game never turns off. The world in Ultima Online and EverQuest and in Dark Ages Camelot keeps going. It's a great hobby and I've met a lot of interesting people online. MLB.com: Do you hope that (sons) Quade or Jake will one day be Ian Stormbringer Jr.? And have you drawn any teammates into your Ian Stormbringer lair? Pratt: (Quade and Jake) will live their own lives, but if they choose my path I will show them how they can make names for themselves. As for the players, I try not to push the games on anyone. If they're interested, I'll explain what I do. I try to stay out of the baseball web when I play. MLB.com: How many years have you been gaming and how many games have you played? Pratt: Since the late '70s when I got into Dungeons and Dragons. I used to play the pencil-and-paper role-playing games back then. I still have much of the literature saved. As far as computer gaming, I started out playing the Gold Box series with my PC, then I heard of this game being designed (Ultima Online). I started playing what I thought was D and D online, but it turned out to be different and it was thousands of online players. It was great. Ultima Online was probably the first huge online game for multiple players. I have played them all; this is one thing I spend my money on. Computer games are my hobby. MLB.com: How does online gaming actually work? Pratt: The worlds never sleep. There isn't one goal to finish in these games. You create a character and play within a built world that will allow you freedom of choice. You decide what you want to do. In some cases you can own a home or a business. We organize guilds and then roam around the world with each other. I play many games and there are many campaigns, so to single one out would not be a easy task. Basically I try to play like it is a campaign of life: to teach the ways of good and to defeat the evil that surrounds us. MLB.com: And what of the public side of Ian Stormbringer? How long has the great Paladin been seen at Florida Renaissance Festivals? Pratt: About five years. I love them. I love the people who work in them, the culture, the flair, the song, the dance. Everything about the fair is great. I have gotten more involved over the years. I have an outfit I wear now. I even have (my wife) Tracy in a nice-looking dress. We walk around and people think we're part of the show, as a prince and princess. It's a great experience every time I go to the fair. People make it easy to be comfortable joining in. MLB.com: Beyond the gaming and the Renaissance festivals, Ian Stormbringer has evolved into Ianstorm.com, a gaming destination for fans. How did that happen? Pratt: I just decided to start a regular fan site for Ultima Online to provide information about my character and our guild. Some people decided to make it a company. Some of the people involved are players I met through the game or online chats at different sites. I recruited a lot of volunteers who wanted to help. When I decided to get a web-hosting company, I called this guy out of Virginia, David Hernly, and it turned out he was one of the original guys playing Ultima and was excited to help me. We met in 1997, but didn't get serious until 2000. We incorporated and started the web site -- it's a gaming portal that provides information on not just computer games, but on console games. Any avid gamer can check out the site to find news. We update it every day and link to headlines from about 50 other web sites. There are separate worlds for each individual interest. There are about 25 people in the company, and all are volunteers. Some of them are college students who show the site they helped design to their professors. We have people as far away as Australia working for us. The site doesn't cost that much to maintain. It's not bringing in any income now, but the potential is there. Doing this is something I'd like to get into after baseball. I'd also like to get into coaching and managing, but this is something I can also do. Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com and can be reached at philliesfans2002@yahoo.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
I know each and every one of us also have had those 20 hour sessions... We feel ya Todd!! Big thanks to MLB.com and Todd Pratt for being such an awesome sport! -Kenti