On the 24th of August 2014 a young man, known as NickNackPadiwack on the EvE reddit explained that he and his ill grandfather, known as PopPaddi, had been playing the game together but that they could no longer afford to keep his Grandfathers account active and asked for 200m ISK to keep it going for another month.
He received a great response from the greater EvE community and continued to play with his grandfather over the next month. A number of people invited Nick and PopPaddi to fly with them and they enjoyed flying through Wormhole space together and being shown through the different chains by the residents. It was a great out-pouring of generosity and compassion from the EvE reddit community and it’s great to see that it touched both Nick and his Grandfather.
Borrowing a quote from Nick’s reddit post;
“He used to say, Nicknack, I’m in a shoe in space, on my computer, in my house, with a cup of coffee, in’t that something.”
The ‘Shoe’ is how he described his favourite ship in EvE to pvp with, the Ishkur.
Sadly Nicks’ grandfather died early this morning, the 16th September 2014. He spoke to Nick for the last time the night before his death when Nick had to go and rescue him after he got lost in a wormhole. Nick is planning to include a couple of things for his grandfather’s last and greatest journey including a picture of his favourite ship and a Rifter USB to help him fly among the stars.
A number of people lit a cyno today in PopPaddi’s memory and I was one of them.
Sindel Pellion of Sindels Universe will be handing out 1000 Ishkurs, or ‘Shoes’ in Amarr this weekend in memory of Popaddi, so get over there and make some spaceslosians!
It is great to see that something like a violent hard mode space simulator game can have such an effect on 2 people’s lives.
Not only did the Reddit community come together and enable them to spend their last month together in a shared interest, but that a grandfather and his grandson, though separated by distance, can spend time together online and enjoying a common interest and build some lasting memories, memories that Nick will carry for the rest of his life. Flying with his grandfather through the stars!
You can see the original Reddit post here and the update post here.
I have managed to get in touch with NickNack from Reddit, and while he is very busy in the next few days, he has agreed to an interview. I am very much looking forward to talking to him and getting some of his best memories of his grandfather and of the EvE player base to share with the EN24 readers.
I think I speak for all the Writers, Editors, Staff and EN24 readers when I say that we all offer NickNack our warmest wishes in this difficult time and send condolences to his family.
o7 Poppaddi.
