You’ve read about Megan Winget, the University of Texas School of Information assistant professor recently awarded a $255,040 grant to study the collection and preservation of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. Now meet her World of Warcraft avatar, Orlai (Level 1 Mage, inset).

Scary, no? But Winget tells LJ she mostly just has an avatar “so I can hang out with my son online—I don’t kill things, so I can’t improve my skill level.”

Her son is a different story. He's a World of Warcraft Level 23 Warrior (says Winget: “I’m so proud!"). And, though just nine years old, his own avatar, Bruven, totally outdoes Mom's.