When it comes to Web3 gaming, certain voices rise above the noise. Verfy few can bring the humility, authenticity and community spirit to this cutting-edge space. Vincent Van Ho, known for her role as Dark Times community lead and Avalanche gaming ambassador, represents one such voice. Her journey from playing old-school Nintendo games to becoming a prominent figure in Web3 gaming is a story of reinvention, determination and getting back to her roots. In this exclusive interview with GMGames, Van Ho shares how a childhood passion transformed into an unexpected career.

Early Gaming Roots

GMGames: Let’s start at the beginning – what were your first memories of gaming?

“I was about five or six when my mom and dad found a Nintendo at a garage sale,” Vincent recalls with a smile. “My mom was really big into garage sales. It was old school Mario – you know, the kind where you had to blow into the game cartridge to get it to work. That’s probably where it all started.”

But this wasn’t just about playing games. Growing up in a family that wasn’t wealthy, gaming became a special bond between Van Ho and her father. “We weren’t rich by any means. I don’t think we even had the funds to be buying these types of consoles. But that was my dad’s thing – he worked really hard, and his reward was gaming.”

GMGames: How did gaming evolve for you through your childhood years?

As technology advanced, so did Vincent’s gaming experiences. From the classic Nintendo, her family gradually acquired more platforms. “We got the Sega, the computers… I think my first computer game was Rainbow Six, which was basically before Call of Duty. It was kind of similar,” she reminisces.

Gaming wasn’t just a casual hobby – it became a significant part of her identity throughout her early years. But as with many gamers coming of age in that era, societal expectations would soon create a fork in her path.

Little did teenage Van Ho – her gaming passion would need to take a backseat for over a decade before coming full circle in an unexpected way.

The Pivot Years

GMGames: At 16, you made a significant change in direction – what led you to step away from gaming and pursue nursing?

“When I was around 16, my mom and dad were like, ‘you need to be more serious in life, you need to grow up,'” Vincent explains. But what truly shaped her career pivot was a powerful personal story her mother shared.

“My mom told me about a time she was pregnant with me. She had this experience with a nurse who was very rude and impatient with her. This nurse told her she shouldn’t be having me as fast as she was, insisting everything was fine. Then, the next thing they knew – hello! I made my grand entrance into the world,” she laughs. This story of poor patient care sparked something in Van Ho. “That conversation really hit me. I realized I did like helping people, and so I decided I wanted to go into nursing.”

GMGames After dedicating 15 years to a completely different path, what eventually brought you back to gaming?

“It was a long break – probably even 14-15 years of not really playing anything substantial,” Vincent reflects. “Sure, we would still play things like Nintendo, Mario Kart, or Mario Party, but it wasn’t at this level. It wasn’t in Web3. I wasn’t working with it.”

The real turning point came through her husband’s involvement in Web3 gaming. “When I got into Web3, my husband was already into Web3 gaming, and I was online quite a bit. I just wanted to spend time with him, so I was like, ‘Hey, tell me what you’re doing. I want to join in.'” This curiosity led her to discover Love Monster, the project that would eventually change her professional trajectory.

“Now I literally get to game as a profession,” she says with evident joy. “It’s so funny how life comes full circle – from being told ‘you won’t make anything gaming’ to now making more than I did before. Do I love it? Absolutely. Am I good at it? You can jot down that I’m not,” she adds with characteristic humor. “But I love what I do.”

This return to gaming would lead to the creation of a unique identity in the Web3 space – enter Vincent Van Ho

Finding Her Place in Web3

GMGaames: Your username “Vincent Van Ho” has become well-known in the Web3 gaming space. How did that come about?

The story behind the name showcases both creativity and humor. “My husband’s username is Edgar Allen Bro, and I thought Vincent Van Ho was pretty cute,” she explains. “It really tied in with what was going on in Web3 at that time, which was NFTs – it was 2021, NFT time.”

But the evolution of her online identity came with some amusing confusion. “My name initially was Vincent Van Bro to match ‘girl and bro.’ People couldn’t figure out if I was a girl or a man, so they would call me ‘sir.’ I decided to change it to Vincent Van Ho – and I’m still called ‘sir’!” she laughs.

GMGames: Take us through your journey from community member to community leader. How did that progression happen?

It all started with a simple desire to help others. “I’ve always loved helping people. When I jumped into the Love Monster discord, I would answer questions and help people out,” Van Ho recalls. Her natural inclination to assist others quickly caught attention: “I eventually got invited to be a moderator because I was so helpful.”

From there, her role continued to expand: “I worked my way up from moderator to hosting their Twitter spaces, then was invited to the team level as a community manager. I advanced to executive assistant, then team lead.”

This progression taught her valuable lessons about community leadership: “I really like being that community voice because sometimes when you get to that team level, you kind of forget what it was like in the beginning. People don’t always understand what’s going on behind the scenes.”

Now, as Dark Times community lead, she applies these insights daily: “Right now at Dark Times, people might see a void of information as us not doing anything, when in reality, we’re working like busy ants in the background. Being in a community lead role keeps you grounded to what it’s like not having all the knowledge of the back end of the team.”

This deep understanding of community would soon catch the attention of one of Web3’s major players – Avalanche.

Current Success & Growth

GMGames: You’ve become an Avalanche ambassador – quite a milestone! How did that opportunity come about?

“My journey with Avalanche actually started in 2021 when Love Monster moved to their chain,” Van Ho explains. “As I started exploring the ecosystem, I made lots of friends in the community and partnered with projects like Chicken – one of the first projects on Avalanche. They were super welcoming, and I spent about a year just hanging out with them, going to spaces, and supporting people.”

The ambassador role came unexpectedly. “In 2022, they opened up their Avalanche Ambassador DAO. Everyone was applying, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh, I’m not gonna get it.’ I kind of applied for it almost as a joke,” she laughs. “But hey, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, right? I applied in December ’22 and got accepted around March ’23, during GDC. I was shocked!”

GMGames: What does your role as a gaming ambassador entail today?

Van Ho’s involvement has grown far beyond her initial ambassador role. “I help a lot with their game nights every Thursday. I don’t schedule them, but I show up and help host them, plus I moderate the Discord,” she explains. “I post so much about Avalanche – I don’t mean to, it just happens! I’ve got the merch, I’ve got everything, and somehow became like a poster child for Avalanche.”

Her dedication led to an even bigger opportunity: joining Gaming on Avalanche. “That was my goal at the beginning of the year. I didn’t care how hard I worked, I wanted to be Gaming on Avalanche. It took 10 months, but I did it, and I’m still so proud.”

What’s particularly refreshing about Van Ho’s approach is her view on gaming across different blockchains: “As a gamer, I get asked all the time, ‘If you’re Avalanche, why are you working with projects on other networks?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, at the end of the day, I am a gamer, and I go where the games are.’ Avalanche is my home, that’ll never change, but I can still enjoy a good game on a different chain.”

With success comes the challenge of balance – managing community leadership, streaming, and family life.

Looking Forward

GMGames: How do you manage to balance your roles as a community leader, streamer, and family person?

“I’m still looking for that optimal, ideal way of managing everything,” Vincent admits candidly. As a professional streamer with a husband and two children, she emphasizes the importance of establishing boundaries and traditions.

“Streaming takes a lot of time, and it’s not just about the actual streaming – it’s the preparation, negotiating with games, and everything else that comes with it,” she explains. “But we have our own traditions with my husband. Friday is my family day, and I can maximum host one space on that day. We try to have lunch together before picking up the children from school.”

These boundaries extend to weekends too: “I try not to work, stream, or jump on Discord calls during weekends. That time is dedicated to family – it’s about being present and taking care of them.”

GMGames: What advice would you give to aspiring streamers who want to follow in your footsteps?

Vincent’s answer is refreshingly straightforward: “Just do it.”

She elaborates: “If you’re thinking about starting your streaming career or just testing it out, just do it. Don’t try to figure out how your stream will go perfectly. Everything will happen as it should – you will definitely have technical issues from the beginning. Something will fail, either your internet connection or OBS or whatever else. But you’ll learn on the go from these mistakes.”

Her philosophy is about embracing imperfection and learning through experience: “You’ll see what can be improved by watching your streams back. The key is to start – everything else follows.”

Closing Thoughts

Vincent Van Ho’s journey from a young girl playing Nintendo to becoming a prominent figure in Web3 gaming embodies the evolving nature of gaming careers. The same passion that her parents once worried wouldn’t lead anywhere has become a successful profession, proving that sometimes life’s best opportunities come from following your authentic interests.

Her story teaches us that it’s never too late to return to what you love, and that success often comes from combining different life experiences – whether that’s the empathy learned from nursing or the technical skills gained from gaming. As Web3 gaming continues to evolve, voices like Vincent’s help shape not just the technology, but the community that makes it all worthwhile.