'character' = 'toon'. when and why?

[Biguns]

First time I heard the word toon reference someones character was in '97 or '98 while playing a pretty obscure game on AOL called "Magestorm". I've never liked it either..

[Hollywood]

Originally Posted by nilbog [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

People who use the term 'toon'. Cartoon?

What year did this happen?

Why did it happen?


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Hah just noticed this. We (and by we I mean the collective of adults that use the appropriate noun for whatever we're discussing), don't know. I would wager somewhere around 2003.

EQOA was out and within the first year into the game, it was ..

"hey man, I made a new toon"
"what's your toon's name, I'll add you"
"I have no more toon space"

I have zero respect for internet talk and flat out ignore anyone whom says 'toon' when talking about a character.

[Autotune]

Originally Posted by Hollywood [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Hah just noticed this. We (and by we I mean the collective of adults that use the appropriate noun for whatever we're discussing), don't know. I would wager somewhere around 2003.

EQOA was out and within the first year into the game, it was ..

"hey man, I made a new toon"
"what's your toon's name, I'll add you"
"I have no more toon space"

I have zero respect for internet talk and flat out ignore anyone whom says 'toon' when talking about a character.

char is not fun to say in your head when you read it.

Toon is.

[joppykid]

Originally Posted by Autotune [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

char is not fun to say in your head when you read it.

Toon is.

Agreed

[SamwiseRed]

i actually never heard this term til WoW. when i played eq people said alt or character

[StealthAF]

I definitely remember seeing the "toon" phrase being used in the EQ classic days around 2002 or so on Cazic-Thule, and also remember people feeling insulted by it because well...back in those days people literally portrayed themselves as their character and lived their life AS that character and didn't like being called a "toon" lol.

I always used "char" but the reason I was told by people who started using it at the time, was because:

A) they looked "cartoonish" and

B) The #1 reason I got was the word "toon" is much easier to type on a keyboard by people who literally peck at the keys

Going back to remembering groups with people who would get angry and insulted...I remember them saying "Please refer to them as 'char' or 'character'. We are not "TOONS." LOL

Aww, the good 'ol days.

[Snagglepuss]

I'm pretty sure "toon" is a misnomer for character stemming from "cartoon character."

A lot of people were new to RPG / MUDs / paper pen when EQ and other 3d games came out and might have been confused by the term character and associated it with cartoon character and 'toon' caught on.

I had never played many computer games before EQ and even the term and concept of "character" was new to me.

[Ahldagor]

Originally Posted by Snagglepuss [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'm pretty sure "toon" is a misnomer for character stemming from "cartoon character."

A lot of people were new to RPG / MUDs / paper pen when EQ and other 3d games came out and might have been confused by the term character and associated it with cartoon character and 'toon' caught on.

I had never played many computer games before EQ and even the term and concept of "character" was new to me.

!didn't read thread! always thought it had to do with the cartoon like nature of games like eq and wow.

[Resheph]

I used toon 12 years ago when I started EQ. The characters are cartoony, in some sense, and it's easier when talking to people who don't 'get it' IRL. If you say 'character' they tend to think you've lost your mind, have multiple personality disorder or like to cosplay. When I say 'toon' they understand I mean the cartoony thing I play online

It's not a 'blame WoW' thing. WoW may have popularized it, but they popularized a lot. Before WoW (as much as I hate that game), MMO players were the nerds. Now everyone and their grandma plays

[BelenosGotHeals]

Originally Posted by Resheph [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Before WoW (as much as I hate that game), MMO players were the nerds. Now everyone and their grandma plays

^^^ The reason why WoW is the worst thing to ever happen to the genre imo