**FOR UPDATES and related stories, see links below**

Not many Warcraft fans get to step inside the headquarters where virtually everything in the world was produced. Ezra Chatterton, a 10-year-old from Riverside, will likely live in infamy for what he got to do.

Blizzard invited him in, let him go crazy with power in the game, helped him design new characters, a quest and a weapon and then piled all sorts of goodies on him before he left. But it’s a small token considering that Ezra has metastatic brain cancer. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, which helped him get his wish, was told by doctors that if it would be better to fulfill the wish sooner than later.

I met Ezra. He knows Warcraft inside and out even though he’s only been playing since the fall. He wasn’t just a boy in awe of the great Blizzard (maybe a little), but he knew what he wanted when he sat down with Blizzard’s top game designers like Jeff Kaplan who helped him create characters. The characters — Ahab Wheathoof, an aging Tauren, and his dog, Kyle — will show up in the game within four weeks. How cool is that!

Ahab Wheathoof, a Tauren, is the creation of Ezra Chatterton, 10. Meet “Captain Ahab” in Outland and learn about a new quest. Click image to see Ahab hanging his quest at the entry gate.

“Ezra’s knowledge and enthusiasm really impressed us. He had obviously thought through his requests and suggestions thoroughly, and his grasp of the details of World of Warcraft was extensive. We do see requests from players regularly in various contexts, but this was a particularly gratifying case. To be in a position to grant someone’s wishes directly and immediately was truly special” – Jeff Kaplan, Blizzard’s lead game designer.

If you happen to wandering in Outland in the next month, look for Ahab, a graying Tauren in blue overalls. He has a quest (See the QUEST) for you: find his “frenzied” (that’s Ezra’s description) dog Kyle and tame him.

Read my tale about how Ezra got to meet the game company of his dreams, here’s a LINK to the story. And don’t forget to look at the slide show, which includes photos of Ezra recording the voice for Ahab, or as Ezra has already nicknamed him, Captain Ahab.
The Ezra Chatterton archive:

* Aug. 21, 2008: Ezra Update: WoW fan with cancer suffers stroke
* June 15, 2008:  WoW fan’s cancer spreads but family remains upbeat
*Feb. 29, 2008: Ezra update: Still recovering, playing World of Warcraft
* Sept. 28, 2007: Ezra Update: Warcraft fan has ups and downs
* July 18, 2007: Ezra update: Warcraft fan with cancer turns 11
* June 13, 2007: UPDATE: Condition of Warcraft fan with cancer improves
* May 31, 2007, Big screen for Ezra?
* May 25, 2007: Fund for Warcraft fan with cancer set up
* May 23, 2007: Gamers show their support for Ezra
* May 22, 2007: Images of Ezra’s WoW creations, thanks to Blizzard developers
* May 22, 2007: The original story and slideshow:Blizzard makes WoW wish virtual

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