Ramona Pringle's life was like a sitcom — one of those cheesy, too-good-to-be-true shows about finding love and success in the big city.
She had a good job at Frontline; a number of smart, successful friends; and a boyfriend — "a fantastic one!" — whom she planned to marry. Things were perfect.
See also: For Anybody Hurting: A YouTube Video Confronts Darkness
With a quick roll of the dice, though, everything changed. Her mother was diagnosed with a life-changing illness, and Pringle left her job in New York and moved back home to Toronto to take care of her. A week later, Pringle's boyfriend broke up with her.
The dream, the city, the perfect life — gone in a flash.
"It was absolute rock bottom," she says. "Here I was, back in my childhood bedroom — and it was so quiet. It was so eerily quiet ."
It was the type of situation in which some might turn to alcohol, drugs or even religion to cope. Pringle was looking for some kind — any kind — of answer. But her mother was sick, and she needed to be with her. Leaving wasn't an option.
"People get these 'pilgrimage moments,' you know? When something happens to them and they trek across Europe or India in search of some kind of wisdom," she says. "I couldn't do that."
Instead, she turned to the virtual realm of World of Warcraft (WoW), where she found an unexpected community of support and camaraderie. She was so inspired that she went to work on an interactive documentary, Avatar Secrets, about the lessons she learned. It's set to be released in the spring of 2014.

A Piqued Interest In her late teens, Pringle worked as an actress. She started off with the role of Heidi in the Ricola cough drop ads, then briefly hosted a pop culture show on CBC. She even landed a few movie rolls. After she graduated with an undergraduate degree in film, and continued to work as an actress, she enrolled in New York University's Interactive Telecommunications program. "I realized, through working in TV and film, that something was missing," she says. "We have all these new devices, and we're constantly connected, but how is this going to evolve with storytelling? That's what I wanted to find out." She started her job at Frontline, and began working on a project about people connecting through digital tools — specifically, through games like WoW. The idea was fresh in her head when she moved back to Toronto just a few months later. "It was almost like there was a moment of fate to it. I was researching it so much, and interviewing people about the fulfillment they'd gotten from it, that it just seemed natural to try it myself ." See also: 'Grand Theft Auto V' Is the Most Expensive Video Game Ever Made WoW is an online role-playing game where users choose an avatar, or character, to embark on fantasy-themed quests. It's a virtual world of dragons, trolls and wizards that players from around the world use to communicate, strategize and execute hundreds of missions. To begin, Pringle needed to create an avatar. She chose a healer — a tall, blue-skinned woman she named "Tristanova." Her first quest was to redeem her ancestors and find a new home for her virtual tribe. "It was incredible. The music was sweetening, the visuals were beautiful," she says. "And then, right after that, it was like: 'Oh my God ... what am I doing here?'" She felt lost — literally. After reaching level two, out of hundreds, she was stuck on what to do. She walked in circles for a few hours before finally asking another player for help. "And it was one of those 'aha!' moments — the first 'avatar secret,'" she says. "We're so often taught not to ask for help, than you can figure things out on your own, but the game really teaches you that there are no points for going out alone. You don't level up faster by finishing quests yourself." A New Breed of Storytelling It's that theory — that basic parallels exist between our virtual and real-life experiences — that Pringle's new interactive app, Avatar Secrets, will explore. Pringle describes it as an iPad app composed of 10 chapters, or "secrets," that flows with the touch functionality of an e-book. It also has the episodic pacing of a web series. At its core, Avatar Secrets is a memoir of what Pringle learned while immersing herself in the virtual world. There are two ways to experience it: One, a basic auto function, will play through each secret in sequence. The second function is interactive — users can flip through it, like a book, and pull up video interviews (including one from Vint Cerf) and other content related to Pringle's story. There are animated, graphic novel-esque portions of the app, too, as a way to visualize the virtual realm Pringle references (see image above.) See also: An Open Letter to Science... The app isn't strictly tied to just WoW, but digital environments of any nature. Pringle's most profound finding, perhaps, is that people will always crave, and deserve, human interaction — it doesn't matter if it's a face-to-face conversation, a quick "I love you" via Google Talk or a helpful exchange between two virtual characters. "We're not addicted to technology — we're addicted to each other ," she says. "If someone says, 'Oh, I'm addicted to checking my phone,' what they really mean is that they're addicted to the messages they might be receiving. A text from someone they love, for example, just saying 'hi.' "With this project, I'm really excited for people to look at their digital experiences in a new way and see that it's not just about staring at their iPhone screen — it's about connection, and empathy." Before the app launches in the spring of 2014, you can stay up-to-date by visiting the project's website. Does this sound like something you'd download? Tell us what you think about it below. BONUS: 10 Videos That Inspired Us in 2012 10 Videos That Inspired Us in 2012 1. Arthur Boorman's Transformation Arthur Boorman was a disabled, overweight Gulf War veteran for 15 years. Over and over, doctors told him he'd never walk without the support of crutches again. On a bit of a whim, he joined a local yoga program, and ended up achieving what almost everyone had told him was impossible. Watch his story for yourself. 2. Nike 'Find Your Greatness' Ad Originally aired during the Summer Olympics, this Nike commercial -- featuring a 12-year-old boy named Nathan -- is surprisingly simplistic, but carries a big message: "Greatness is not beyond [Nathan's] reach, nor is it for any of us." Read more. 3. Procter & Gamble 'Thank You, Mom' Ad This Procter & Gamble ad, also aired during this summer's Olympics, was part of its "Thank You, Mom" campaign. The video shows a number of different kids, all across the world, growing up to eventually compete in the Olympics -- with their mothers supporting them during the entire journey. 4. U.S. Olympic Team Tribute To Muhammad Ali This tribute to Muhammad Ali, created by DJ Steve Porter for Team U.S.A., mixes some of the boxer's best phrases and glory proclamations with a catchy, pump-you-up-to-the-max beat. Read more. 5. The Last Wong Fu Productions created this touching short film about a man, played by Glee's Harry Shum, Jr., who is asked by his girlfriend how many people he's loved before her. Watch it to see his heartfelt answer. Read more. 6. Hey (St.) Jude In celebration of its 50th birthday, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital made a buzzing rendition of the Beatles' "Hey Jude," featuring the hospital's patients singing alongside nurses, doctors and celebrities like Betty White, Michael Jordan and Robin Williams. Read more. 7. Ugly Yet Beautiful Chester Lee Ridens of Dubuque, Iowa describes himself as "ugly." Nine months ago, he began posting a series of short video clips to YouTube under the username GuyWithCrazyIdeas. In this particular short, above, Ridens gives what's come to be his signature expression -- chin tucked in, eyes open wide -- while James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" plays in the background. "Beauty is only skin deep," he told the Daily Dot, adding that the purpose of his channel is to promote that everyone treat each other with respect and dignity, appearances aside. Ridens' YouTube channel currently has more than 8,000 subscribers and his videos have been viewed around 3.3 million times, the Daily Dot reports. Read more. 8. Meyers Leonard Reunites With Marine Brother After Two Years Meyers Leonard, a recently drafted center for the Portland Trailblazers, lost his father at an early age. From that point onward, his older brother, Bailey, took on a fatherly figure role through the hard times that ensued. In this video, Bailey returns from duty in Afghanistan -- unknown to Meyers -- to watch his little brother play basketball for the first time in two years (Meyers, at the time, was with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.) Watch it to see their touching reunion. Read more. 9. With A Piece Of Chalk This short film, produced by German filmmakers JuBaFilms, tells the story of a young boy overcoming a painful past -- problems at home, bullying at school -- though breakdancing. Really good breakdancing, we might add. Read more. 10. Military Dad Surprises Family at Football Game Sergeant First Class Scott Faile was supposed to be in Korea while his family -- wife, daughter and son -- were being honored as the "military family of the game" during a University of South Carolina football game in early October. His family stood on the field, surrounded by 85,000 fans, as a message from Faile was played on the stadium's jumbo screen. What they didn't expect, though, was to see him walking out onto the field minutes later. Read more. Images: Ramona Pringle Topics: apps, Apps and Software, Dev & Design, feautres, gallery, Gaming, Home, Lifestyle, Mobile, profiles, Work & Play
In her late teens, Pringle worked as an actress. She started off with the role of Heidi in the Ricola cough drop ads, then briefly hosted a pop culture show on CBC. She even landed a few movie rolls.
After she graduated with an undergraduate degree in film, and continued to work as an actress, she enrolled in New York University's Interactive Telecommunications program.
"I realized, through working in TV and film, that something was missing," she says. "We have all these new devices, and we're constantly connected, but how is this going to evolve with storytelling? That's what I wanted to find out."
She started her job at Frontline, and began working on a project about people connecting through digital tools — specifically, through games like WoW. The idea was fresh in her head when she moved back to Toronto just a few months later.
"It was almost like there was a moment of fate to it. I was researching it so much, and interviewing people about the fulfillment they'd gotten from it, that it just seemed natural to try it myself ."
See also: 'Grand Theft Auto V' Is the Most Expensive Video Game Ever Made
WoW is an online role-playing game where users choose an avatar, or character, to embark on fantasy-themed quests. It's a virtual world of dragons, trolls and wizards that players from around the world use to communicate, strategize and execute hundreds of missions.
To begin, Pringle needed to create an avatar. She chose a healer — a tall, blue-skinned woman she named "Tristanova." Her first quest was to redeem her ancestors and find a new home for her virtual tribe.
"It was incredible. The music was sweetening, the visuals were beautiful," she says. "And then, right after that, it was like: 'Oh my God ... what am I doing here?'"
She felt lost — literally. After reaching level two, out of hundreds, she was stuck on what to do. She walked in circles for a few hours before finally asking another player for help.
"And it was one of those 'aha!' moments — the first 'avatar secret,'" she says. "We're so often taught not to ask for help, than you can figure things out on your own, but the game really teaches you that there are no points for going out alone. You don't level up faster by finishing quests yourself."

It's that theory — that basic parallels exist between our virtual and real-life experiences — that Pringle's new interactive app, Avatar Secrets, will explore.
Pringle describes it as an iPad app composed of 10 chapters, or "secrets," that flows with the touch functionality of an e-book. It also has the episodic pacing of a web series.
At its core, Avatar Secrets is a memoir of what Pringle learned while immersing herself in the virtual world. There are two ways to experience it: One, a basic auto function, will play through each secret in sequence. The second function is interactive — users can flip through it, like a book, and pull up video interviews (including one from Vint Cerf) and other content related to Pringle's story. There are animated, graphic novel-esque portions of the app, too, as a way to visualize the virtual realm Pringle references (see image above.)
See also: An Open Letter to Science...
The app isn't strictly tied to just WoW, but digital environments of any nature. Pringle's most profound finding, perhaps, is that people will always crave, and deserve, human interaction — it doesn't matter if it's a face-to-face conversation, a quick "I love you" via Google Talk or a helpful exchange between two virtual characters.
"We're not addicted to technology — we're addicted to each other ," she says. "If someone says, 'Oh, I'm addicted to checking my phone,' what they really mean is that they're addicted to the messages they might be receiving. A text from someone they love, for example, just saying 'hi.'
"With this project, I'm really excited for people to look at their digital experiences in a new way and see that it's not just about staring at their iPhone screen — it's about connection, and empathy."
Before the app launches in the spring of 2014, you can stay up-to-date by visiting the project's website.
Does this sound like something you'd download? Tell us what you think about it below.
BONUS: 10 Videos That Inspired Us in 2012
Arthur Boorman was a disabled, overweight Gulf War veteran for 15 years. Over and over, doctors told him he'd never walk without the support of crutches again.
On a bit of a whim, he joined a local yoga program, and ended up achieving what almost everyone had told him was impossible.
Watch his story for yourself.
Originally aired during the Summer Olympics, this Nike commercial -- featuring a 12-year-old boy named Nathan -- is surprisingly simplistic, but carries a big message: "Greatness is not beyond [Nathan's] reach, nor is it for any of us."
Read more.
This Procter & Gamble ad, also aired during this summer's Olympics, was part of its "Thank You, Mom" campaign.
The video shows a number of different kids, all across the world, growing up to eventually compete in the Olympics -- with their mothers supporting them during the entire journey.
This tribute to Muhammad Ali, created by DJ Steve Porter for Team U.S.A., mixes some of the boxer's best phrases and glory proclamations with a catchy, pump-you-up-to-the-max beat.
Read more.
Wong Fu Productions created this touching short film about a man, played by Glee's Harry Shum, Jr., who is asked by his girlfriend how many people he's loved before her.
Watch it to see his heartfelt answer.
Read more.
In celebration of its 50th birthday, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital made a buzzing rendition of the Beatles' "Hey Jude," featuring the hospital's patients singing alongside nurses, doctors and celebrities like Betty White, Michael Jordan and Robin Williams.
Read more.
Chester Lee Ridens of Dubuque, Iowa describes himself as "ugly." Nine months ago, he began posting a series of short video clips to YouTube under the username GuyWithCrazyIdeas.
In this particular short, above, Ridens gives what's come to be his signature expression -- chin tucked in, eyes open wide -- while James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" plays in the background.
"Beauty is only skin deep," he told the Daily Dot, adding that the purpose of his channel is to promote that everyone treat each other with respect and dignity, appearances aside.
Ridens' YouTube channel currently has more than 8,000 subscribers and his videos have been viewed around 3.3 million times, the Daily Dot reports.
Read more.
Meyers Leonard, a recently drafted center for the Portland Trailblazers, lost his father at an early age. From that point onward, his older brother, Bailey, took on a fatherly figure role through the hard times that ensued.
In this video, Bailey returns from duty in Afghanistan -- unknown to Meyers -- to watch his little brother play basketball for the first time in two years (Meyers, at the time, was with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)
Watch it to see their touching reunion.
Read more.
This short film, produced by German filmmakers JuBaFilms, tells the story of a young boy overcoming a painful past -- problems at home, bullying at school -- though breakdancing. Really good breakdancing, we might add.
Read more.
Sergeant First Class Scott Faile was supposed to be in Korea while his family -- wife, daughter and son -- were being honored as the "military family of the game" during a University of South Carolina football game in early October.
His family stood on the field, surrounded by 85,000 fans, as a message from Faile was played on the stadium's jumbo screen. What they didn't expect, though, was to see him walking out onto the field minutes later.
Read more.
Images: Ramona Pringle