GoIO was introduced to me by my best friend, who used to play it together with his buddies. I jumped headfirst into it, determined to prove that I, a girl, could become better at a video game than 4 guys put together. Naturally.
Now before I started GoIO I played a game called RuneScape for (*counts fingers*) 8 years. Four of those years I spent in a minigame named Barbarian Assault, which focused entirely on teamwork. This teamwork created something that can be found in any game that requires great amounts of working-together-ness. And that's a bond. A bond between a whole bunch of 'pros' who keep coming back day after day to play with the same people they played yesterday. And because of that we became the best of friends (cue "imagine me and you, I do" to start playing).
Eventually I quit RuneScape (successfully, after about 20 attempts). And then I downloaded GoIO after wandering directionlessly around the Internet for a few months.
I stuck around the first few months because of competition. Being considered 'one of the best' in Barbarian Assault brought this stubborn attitude about. GoIO was one of those games where you could hang around the lobby and show off your levels, and people would go 'woahhhh that's a level 8 (levels were different back then), better jump on his ship!' I wanted this. Recognition, admiration, everything I had in RuneScape. I was a conceited penguin. I still am. Bow to me, young padawans. *awkward pause*
Anyway.
One beautiful, sunny day (who am I kidding, I don't even know what 'sun' is) I found myself in a match where people were using their mics (I usually played with the beginners before, so I could learn the game before I hung out with the experienced people). Specifically, I played with the Ducks who were Vatic - when he was still a duck - and another guy with a British accent who doesn't play anymore - his name also started with V, but I can't remember it for the life of me. They were totally drunk. And utterly hilarious.
And that's when I realized that this teamwork-centered game was just like my old one.
So I went out in search of friends. GoIO friends because, who needs real friends anyway? I started using the mic. Being incredibly shy, at first I could manage only to choke out a few 'testing's and maybe I could squeak out an 'okay' to an order. I also began leveling up and was able to play with higher levels, who were more liberal with their mic usage.
And then I met Tropo and some other people who don't play anymore and I became who I am now and I don't care so much about competition but rather friendship and teamwork and that's why I keep playing. Cut short because who reads this anyway?! I know you will Redira and thank you for sympathizing with me, here have a cute baby and a dog:
http://i.imgur.com/4a8OVzb.gif.