A Jumbled-up Blog
September 09, 05:00 PM
I’ve been in hiding (aside from my short appearance at PAX, which we’ll get into later). But I haven’t blogged since MLG Orlando, so its only fitting that I jumble all of my updates into one blog. (1) I am making a career change (sorta). For the past 8 months, when I’m not gaming, I’m working at one of the top 3 pharmacies in the nation. It’s kept me on my toes and personally involved with people’s health and well-being. But when opportunity knocks, you have to reevaluate what will be better for you in the long-run. So when my roommate, Lady PMS, approached me with a job offer at her company, I hopped on-board the bandwagon. In one short week, I will begin my career in the Information Technology Industry (yay networking)! Officially, between being paid to play games and this, I am a GEEK! But all joking aside, I am super excited to start my new job. And it doesn’t hurt that the bread will be much bigger. (2) Penny Arcade Expo was AMAZING!!! Although we worked our butts off, getting to play all of the new Ubi titles and spending time with everyone was a great reward. It’s like a big family reunion when the Frag Dolls meet up for big events like this - but even more so when surrounded by the coolest and most hardcore of the gaming community. Its enough to make any gamer …
September 09, 05:00 PM
I’ve been in hiding (aside from my short appearance at PAX, which we’ll get into later). But I haven’t blogged since MLG Orlando, so its only fitting that I jumble all of my updates into one blog. (1) I am making a career change (sorta). For the past 8 months, when I’m not gaming, I’m working at one of the top 3 pharmacies in the nation. It’s kept me on my toes and personally involved with people’s health and well-being. But when opportunity knocks, you have to reevaluate what will be better for you in the long-run. So when my roommate, Lady PMS, approached me with a job offer at her company, I hopped on-board the bandwagon. In one short week, I will begin my career in the Information Technology Industry (yay networking)! Officially, between being paid to play games and this, I am a GEEK! But all joking aside, I am super excited to start my new job. And it doesn’t hurt that the bread will be much bigger. (2) Penny Arcade Expo was AMAZING!!! Although we worked our butts off, getting to play all of the new Ubi titles and spending time with everyone was a great reward. It’s like a big family reunion when the Frag Dolls meet up for big events like this - but even more so when surrounded by the coolest and most hardcore of the gaming community. Its enough to make any gamer …
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XBOX LIVE GAMERTAG: Pyra FD
GAMES I'M PLAYING
Halo 3
Quake 4
Rainbow Six Vegas
HEIGHT: 5'6"
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Dark Brown
LOCATION: Texas
HOMETOWN: New Orleans, LA
FAVORITE GENRES: FPS, RTS, MMORPG
FAVORITE GAMES: Unreal Tournament 2k4, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Counter-strike, Halo, CoD4
FAVORITE SNACK: Popcorn from the movie theater
FAVORITE CHARACTER: Lion from FFXI!
FAVORITE EMOTE: /joy
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Love, peace and chicken grease."
FAVORITE MUSIC: Jason Mraz, Jude, Regina Spektor, Metric, Radiohead, A Perfect Circle, Madeline Peyroux
FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy, Rome, Dexter, Buffy, Angel
FAVORITE BOOKS: A Light in the Attic (Silverstein), Where the Sidewalk Ends (Silverstein)
FAVORITE COLOR: Pink and Black (whoa!)
FIRST GAME ADDICTION: Super Mario Kart, my brother knew to stay away
FIRST CONSOLE: SNES
GREATEST MOMENT: Winning first place in my very first tourney (Halo) at GameRiot Dallas
LONGEST SPREE: 72 hours straight on Unreal Championship for Xbox (Love at first sight.)
OBSESSIONS: Video games, Photoshop, Photography, Box Set DVDs, My dogs, Travel
I HATE: when my camera, cell phone, or DS run out of battery life! (/cry)
I LOOK LIKE: someone you’ve met before
GAMES I'M PLAYING
Halo 3
Quake 4
Rainbow Six Vegas
HEIGHT: 5'6"
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Dark Brown
LOCATION: Texas
HOMETOWN: New Orleans, LA
FAVORITE GENRES: FPS, RTS, MMORPG
FAVORITE GAMES: Unreal Tournament 2k4, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Counter-strike, Halo, CoD4
FAVORITE SNACK: Popcorn from the movie theater
FAVORITE CHARACTER: Lion from FFXI!
FAVORITE EMOTE: /joy
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Love, peace and chicken grease."
FAVORITE MUSIC: Jason Mraz, Jude, Regina Spektor, Metric, Radiohead, A Perfect Circle, Madeline Peyroux
FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy, Rome, Dexter, Buffy, Angel
FAVORITE BOOKS: A Light in the Attic (Silverstein), Where the Sidewalk Ends (Silverstein)
FAVORITE COLOR: Pink and Black (whoa!)
FIRST GAME ADDICTION: Super Mario Kart, my brother knew to stay away
FIRST CONSOLE: SNES
GREATEST MOMENT: Winning first place in my very first tourney (Halo) at GameRiot Dallas
LONGEST SPREE: 72 hours straight on Unreal Championship for Xbox (Love at first sight.)
OBSESSIONS: Video games, Photoshop, Photography, Box Set DVDs, My dogs, Travel
I HATE: when my camera, cell phone, or DS run out of battery life! (/cry)
I LOOK LIKE: someone you’ve met before
With a mouse in one hand and keyboard in the other, Marcella Fernandez – now known as “Pyra” of the Frag Dolls – took on the virtual world of monsters and avatars at age eight. Learning how to use keys and controllers to combat digital vice at a young age, she started gaming in a breeding ground for fierce competition.
At the launch of Xbox Live, Marcella was able to translate this experience into a true passion for online multiplayer games. As one of the original recruits dubbed “Co-founder” of Pandora’s Mighty Soldiers (PMS), one of the largest Xbox Live clan communities, she learned from predecessors Athena Twin and Athena (now teammate “Valkyrie” of the Frag Dolls) the first-hand responsibility of competing with and supporting other female gamers.
Marcella’s track record of gaming hours during the early years of Xbox Live ran between 40-60 hours per week. With this experience under her belt, she went to the big leagues known as CPL (Cyberathlete Professional League) in 2005 to prove her place among the male ranks. As a result of her team taking 6th place in Halo 2, the highest an all-female team had placed in the league’s history, she discovered a hidden passion for in-your-face competition and girl gamer support. She has since competed in games like Quake 4 for PC, Gears of War and Rainbow Six Vegas.
Seeking to branch out into other arenas of gaming and still hold on to tournament team play, Marcella tried out to be a member of the Frag Dolls, a long-standing aspiration for both her career and personal life. Alongside long-time friend and teammate, Tart (now “Mischief” of the Frag Dolls), she was one of the two new recruits in the 2007 Casting Call. Now as a member of the team, Marcella hopes to dispel the mystery and uncertainty toward women gamers and take on contenders in upcoming next-gen game tournaments.
When Pyra isn’t stuck on her computer or mashing down her trigger button, she can be found dabbling with classes at her local community college or working in a medical setting like a pharmacy, her second ambition in life.
