In the latest podcast episode of Henke’s Corner, Erik “Gronkh” Range talks about the time before his success as a Twitch streamer. He worked for a game company where he had to come up with a new role-playing name. He chose “Gronkh,” a “silly stone troll.”
Where did Gronkh work before Twitch and YouTube? Before his time as a successful YouTuber and Twitch streamer, Gronkh started working as a freelance web designer around the year 2000. He taught himself the skills needed, and as a trained software developer, it was no problem for him.
For the company of the developers of the MMO Meridian 59, Gronkh offered to create a free website. After it was created, Gronkh slipped into customer support for the game company. Ultimately, he handled all matters related to the software: among other things, the backend and management of customer data.
Gronkh poses as a stone troll
How did the name “Gronkh” come about? For his work there, he had to come up with a new role-playing name. While he already had an account in Meridian 59, he was not allowed to use his old name from the game, and he does not provide a reason for that.
For this reason, he chose the name “Gronkh.” The role behind it: A “silly stone troll” who “couldn’t speak properly” (Source: YouTube from minute 43:35). According to Gronkh, these also appeared in the game Meridian 59.
In this role, Gronkh corresponded with customers via email accordingly. He played his role as a “silly stone troll” so well that a complaint email reached customer support. In the email, it was said, according to Gronkh, that employees who could speak proper German should please be hired.
In response, Gronkh wrote an email in lofty German and concluded with: “Gronkh also has a lawyer” (Source: YouTube from minute 44:10).
In the game itself, Gronkh continued to play the role. He took gold from other players and justified it by saying that his “stone troll wife would beat him up if he came home without money.”
When asked if Gronkh ever thought about changing his name, he replied that he never did: “It has settled so firmly within me. It has simply become a part of me” (Source: YouTube from minute 44:47).
Gronkh has been active as a Twitch streamer for many years. His first Twitch streams were still a bit rocky, and his first donation during a livestream surprised him. Especially since shortly thereafter his PayPal account was suspended: Because his fans liked Twitch streamer Gronkh so much, his PayPal account was suspended for a short time
