alt Hacker News> RuneScape was what led me to become a software engineer (through the private server communities)
I have the exact same story. Mopar, RuneServer, then SoulSplit (look at what the founder of SoulSplit is doing now...)
I wonder how many people have the same background?
No sooner than I replied to OP, your message mirrors my experience. I really am interested now how many people had their introduction from similar things.