Remembering Angela Peterson, Gamer Chick

Remembering Angela Peterson, Gamer Chick
By, Isal Guillermo, Rayette Martin, Pilar Palos, Joanna Wong, and Stacey Aragon

On November 29th, 2009, just two weeks after her 24th birthday, Angela N. Peterson was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. Angie was a special person. She was a daughter, a girlfriend, a best friend, an avid gamer, a spectacular UNLV student, and the list can go on forever. What was most striking about Angie was her open mind and her ability to care so much for so many people.

Whether speaking of Angie’s approach to life or to school, she truly upheld the creed of equality among all, regardless of race, gender, religion, academic interest, or personal taste. She was a true Anthropologist, in that her enthusiasm spanned all specialties of the academic field. In friendship, she cultivated a mass of friends from various backgrounds. Her gaming choices ranged from role-playing games (RPGs) and platformers to shooters and action-adventures. Below are just a few accounts that reflect the impact Angela Peterson had on the people around her:

Isal Guillermo (friend and research lab supervisor): One of my fondest thoughts of Angie is recalling her distinct ability to consume the greatest amount of “all you can eat” sushi during a single meal. Another would be her almost fanatical interpretations of all things gaming. If Angie passed a frustrating section of the current video game she was playing, I would have the common pleasure of listening to her rant about how ridiculous it was to overcome her latest triumph. I will miss her dearly, not only for her exuberant personality but also her contagious drive to achieve in all things.

Joanna Wong (long-time friend and soul sister): An ever-popular story that showcases typical Angela is when we vacationed in Japan, and after being assigned as group leader, I consistently lost track of her wanderings! It seemed like every time that I turned around, she would find something shiny and disappear, and I would end up searching frantically for her until she peeked out of some shadow with her head down and the look of excitement and then shame across her face when she realized my worry. Eventually, I figured out that Angie’s a cat… who will roam wherever, do her own thing and then come back home when she gets hungry or tired. There is no one else in this world that could light up a room with a smile like Angie’s.

Stacey Aragon (friend and mentor): Just a few of the countless memories I have of Angie include going to Anime Expo in 2009, over the 4th of July weekend, where she met Rocco of the infamous Mega 64 series; when Angie would come over to my house and reenact the whole of Advent Children with my original FFVII action figures, and the hilarity that ensued thereafter; as well as listening to her plan about upcoming summer events, like her graduation party, visiting college campuses, and attending various conferences and conventions in which she would present her latest research for kindred spirits who were just as dedicated to the study all things otaku and/or video-gaming related as she was. I will cherish each of these moments for all time.

Angie's parents will receive her double Bachelors’ of Arts (dual majors in Anthropology and Psychology, with honors) in memoriam, on her behalf, during this coming spring 2010 commencement. Angie was researching the understudied male gothic/lolita subculture for her Anthropology studies, and self-identity and self-association in guild character creation in MMORPGs for her Psychology studies. She recently won The UNLV Department of Anthropology's Future Anthropologist Award posthumously for her attendance at various manga, anime, and visual kei roundtable discussions and panels during Anime Expo 2009 in Los Angeles, California last summer.