CLEVELAND--The answer is Elder Scrolls Online, but you probably heard that already.
In a televised spectacle Monday night that was equal parts hype and hagiography, Kevin Jurgens, the 34-year-old MMO Legend better known as Sir Copperfield, whose contract with Star Wars: The Old Republic expired last Thursday, announced that he had decided to join another MMO full time. Elder Scrolls Online.
"Elder Scrolls online is where I belong," Mr. Jugrens told Olivia Munn, a former G4 TV personality, during a live broadcast from the Lakeview, Ohio Gamestop . "That was the conclusion I woke up with this morning."
By choosing Elder Scrolls online, Mr. Jurgens has rejected overtures from five other MMO's that had recently come to Cleveland to pitch themselves. High level executives from World of Warcraft, Wildstar, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Lord of the Rings Online and Guild Wars 2 all flew to Cleveland to try and lure Jugrens to their game. "This is a business and I had three great years with Star Wars: The Old Republic and hopefully the fans will understand, but maybe they won't," Mr. Jurgens said during Gamestop's broadcast.
Midafternoon Monday, 14 satellite trucks had parked in a community lot near the Lakeview Gamestop, which is roughly 30 miles from Cleveland. By early evening, the crowd across the street swelled to more than 2,000. Mr. Jurgens management company, Game Hard or Go Home, paid 19 Lakeview police officers $60 an hour apiece to provide security. No one was allowed near the store, or even on the sidewalk. An ice-cream truck drove by and threw ice-cream bars into the crowd while canvassers passed out "Sir Copperfield, Hometown Hero" stickers.
By choosing Elder Scrolls online, Mr. Jurgens—a two-time MMO Gamer of The Year, joins a very passionate and proud player base. Mr. Jurgens said he flip-flopped on the decision throughout the process. "It went day-to-day," he told Miss Munn in the interview. "Wake up one morning, it's this game. Wake up another morning, it's this game."
Mr. Jurgens said he didn't make his mind up until Sunday night, after he had a conversation with his mother. "And once I had that conversation," he said, "I felt like I was all set. I was having fun playing Elder Scrolls for the first few months of launch, and I decided to make a long term commitment".
The Associated Press also contributed to this report.