Max: Created page with "'''Alfred Gamble''' (8 April 1926 – 8 January 2006) was arguably the biggest fan of Oddworld and Abe, and was given by Oddworld Inhabitants a n..."

2010-09-24T23:18:58Z

Created page with "'''Alfred Gamble''' (8 April 1926<ref name="profile"/> – 8 January 2006) was arguably the biggest fan of Oddworld and Abe, and was given by Oddworld Inhabitants a n..."

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'''Alfred Gamble''' (8 April 1926<ref name="profile"/> – 8 January 2006) was arguably the biggest fan of [[Oddworld]] and [[Abe]], and was given by [[Oddworld Inhabitants]] a namesake tribute in the character of [[Alf]]. From Leicester, UK, Gamble was a war hero who became suicidal after his wife died. On a whim he purchased a PlayStation and ''[[Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee]]'' and, after playing it, had a newfound appreciation for life. [[Alf's Assistant]] described him as ‘<q cite="http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=13234">Always kind, cheerful and with impeccable manners ... Alf was our beloved fan.</q>’<ref name="sadnews"/>

== Biography ==
After a long illness, Alfred Gamble’s wife died ‘<q cite="http://www.oddworld.com/firsttenyears/alf/alfiction_assets/fan2_assets/img11.jpg">on the day ''Abe’s Oddysee'' was born</q>’, 19 September 1997.<ref name="fom"/> Gamble also lost children, including a daughter after a tragic accident. In his turmoil he contemplated suicide and even bought a gun. For some reason, in 1998 he used the last of his money to buy a PlayStation and several games, including ''Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee'', which, after playing it, inspired him to continue living. Feeling he owed his life to the game’s makers, he handwrote a six-page letter to Oddworld Inhabitants. When [[Sherry McKenna]] read the letter aloud, it resulted in many Oddworld Inhabitants ‘<q cite="http://www.gamestm.co.uk/features/lorne-lanning-sherry-mckenna-discuss-oddworld/2/">crying hysterically</q>’, and to this day the story of Alfred Gamble remains McKenna’s most memorable experience, although she prefers to let [[Lorne Lanning]] tell the story.<ref name="biggestfan"/>

Gamble stayed in touch with Oddworld Inhabitants, regularly sending them letters with stories of him game-playing adventures and photographs of his Oddworld collection. This collection included the two Abe games on the PlayStation, an Abe tattoo on his right forearm, custom-made Abe collages and posters, and custom-printed T-shirts. Gamble would save up his money to print colour copies of the Oddworld characters. Gamble appeared in the magazine ''PlayStation Zone''.<ref name="pszone"/>

In November 2000, Gamble was the second Fan of the Month on the relaunched official Oddworld website when the Alf’s Rehab & Tea section reopened.<ref name="fom"/><ref name="fomdate"/> His 76th birthday was celebrated on the site’s main page in 2002.<ref name="odd76"/><ref name="owf76"/> Later that year Gamble first connected to the Internet and joined the [[Oddworld Forums]]; he had problems posting and emailed [[Abe Babe]] for advice, but despite her help he never posted.<ref name="help"/>

In his later years he spent a lot of time in and out of hospital, and on 8 January 2006 Alfred Gamble died at the age of 79. He was succeeded by at least a daughter and a granddaughter who gave their thanks to members of the Oddworld Forums who had posted their goodbye messages.<ref name="sadnews"/>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="pszone">'''oddsounds (16 March 1999)'''. ‘[http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/exoddusclub/message/242 Origin of alf]’. Message 242 on the Exoddus Club. Yahoo! Groups.</ref>

<ref name="fom">'''Alf (30 October 2000)'''. ‘[http://oddworld.com/firsttenyears/alf/ow_fan2.shtml Fan of the Month - Alfred Gamble]’. Alf’s Rehab & Tea. Official Oddworld website.</ref>

<ref name="fomdate">'''Alf (30 October 2000)'''. ‘[http://oddworld.com/firsttenyears/archives/november/whatsnew/ow_whatsnew.html What's New November 2000]’. Official Oddworld website.</ref>

<ref name="odd76">'''Oddworld Inhabitants (8 April 2002)'''. ‘Happy Birthday Alf!’. ‘[http://oddworld.com/firsttenyears/archives/april02/ow_whatsnew.html What's New April 2002]’. Official Oddworld website.</ref>

<ref name="owf76">'''Oddworld Forums members (9–10 April 2002)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=4717 Happy Birthday Alf!]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>

<ref name="profile">'''Gamble, Alfred (30 July 2002)'''. [http://www.oddworldforums.net/member.php?u=1164 Alf Gamble abes’s profile]. Oddworld Forums.</ref>

<ref name="sadnews">'''Oddworld Forums members (10 January 2006 – 26 June 2007)'''. ‘[http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=13234 Sad News about Alfred Gamble]’. Oddworld Discussion. Oddworld Forums.</ref>

<ref name="help">'''Cloverfield (7 March 2006)'''. [http://www.oddworldforums.net/showpost.php?p=246335&postcount=12 Post 12] in ‘Happy Birthday, Dear Alf Gamble!’. Welcomes & Birthdays. Oddworld Forums.</ref>

<ref name="biggestfan">'''Lanning, Lorne & McKenna, Sherry (10 August 2010)'''. ‘[http://www.gamestm.co.uk/features/lorne-lanning-sherry-mckenna-discuss-oddworld/2/ Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna Discuss Oddworld]’, p. 2. Features. ''games™'' Official Website. Bournemouth: Imagine Publishing.</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Fans of the Month]]
[[Category:Oddworld Forums members]]

Alfred Gamble - Revision history

Max: Created page with "'''Alfred Gamble''' (8 April 1926 – 8 January 2006) was arguably the biggest fan of Oddworld and Abe, and was given by Oddworld Inhabitants a n..."