"Fatal1ty", "Lord Briton", and "Leeroy Jenkins" are some of the most famous in-game names in the history of gaming, each for different reasons. Yes, names say something about the player, but what? When a player reaches the all-important "Insert Name Here" box, does he or she leave it as "Link" by default, or type in "Samantha", "Mr. Elfy Ears", or "Buttface"? Each of these choices reflects a different kind of gamer and a different kind of mindset.

1. "Mr Noob Pwner". The first class of gaming names is that of intimidation. Usually these names are chosen to give the player an air of supremacy, or to make enemies think twice about approaching. "Fatl1ty" is one example, and is the handle of the world-famous pro-gamer Johnathan Wendel. Having won half a million dollars playing on-line first person shooters, Wendel's moniker appears on gaming keyboards, video cards, and strategy guides. But more importantly to this subject, his name suggests what will happen to anyone who crosses his path - death and destruction. Not only is his name ominous, it also hearkens back to the gory "Fatality" killings of Mortal Kombat, as well as includes the "obligatory" 1 instead of 'i', as an homage to Internet nerds everywhere. Although Wendel is not an MMORPG player, almost every on-line game will have players with intimidating names.

2. "Sire Chester of the Northwood". Many players choose their in-game names as a means of role-playing. They pick names to "fit" with the character or the setting of the game world, either for fun, or for actual role-playing purposes. It always looks funny to see someone named "Robby the Robot" in a game set in Medieval England, so some strive to avoid this at all costs. "Lord Briton" is the handle of a famous game developer who worked on the Ultima series, and included himself as a Non Player Character. His name matches the late-medieval "feel" of the Ultima series, and allows his character to get more into the tone and mood of the game world. MMORPGs tend to have many series role-players, and thus names like this are probably the most common.

3. "ROFLCOPTER Knight". Some gamers opt for funny names instead of scary or serious ones, simply to show off their wit, or just get a random laugh. Many game names make fun of bugs or issues in a game, giving other players a good chuckle to see someone named "Druids Are Overpowered" or "Monks Pwn Ritualists" walk into town. Some players are just comic people who like their game name to match their personalities... in this case, they're both joking around and role playing. The famous "Leeroy Jenkins" of World of Warcraft has a name that blies his not-too-serious attitude and headstrong style. After getting his entire party killed on an expedition, and having the footage put on the Internet, Leeroy's name was forever burned into MMO history. I personally give some of my Guild Wars characters funny names, and every now and then someone will say "Hey buddy, nice name!" This short compliment can make it all worthwhile.

In addition to these 3 famous name types, there are a couple other name groups of less importance:

4. "Naruto Ninja". Some players are uninspired or just plain obsessed, and name their characters things like "Robin Hood 34" or "Aragon the Knight". Copying names from movies and comics is fun, but the novelty of it wears off quickly, especially when you walk into a tavern to find it filled with over 9,000 people named "Leonidas the King".

5. "sdf2w5h jfds2h3". Some players don't care about names, and just type gibberish. Often such characters are just being used as "storage mules" or even to move contraband or hacked items.

6. "Robert Jr". Some players just name characters after themselves or their best friends. This is easy, but often makes no sense in the context of the game and could seem lazy to one's friends.

Overall, game names say a lot about an MMO character. Did the person put a lot of thought into the name? Is it funny? Does the name ward off would-be foes? All of these are things to consider when choosing your own avatar's name. But please, just do us all a favor and stay away from being the next "Boba Fett 5911347".