Console Games (Nintendo, Sony etc.) and Arcade Games/Expert Profile

Expertise

TOPICS I can answer questions about: Game Strategy, Recommendations (based on age or genre preference), History of a game, Recalling a game you played, Game music, Company or Creator info, and some simple system troubleshooting GENRES: My specialties are Adventure, RPG, Survival Horror, Action, and a small amount of Strategy and Puzzle. I avoid sports games like the plague, and have little interest in any racing games save for a few, F-Zero, Mario Kart and Wipeout being the main ones. Nor do I know many fighting games, mainly Bushido Blade and a few others. I am not much of a fan of First Person Shooters either. I am especially well versed in RPGs, particularly Final Fantasy and most of SquareEnix's other titles. GAMES: Not limited to the following. These games are series, and I know them all. There are MANY other individual ones. Feel free to ask and I will let you know if I can help you. Actraiser, Alundra, Breath of Fire, Bushido Blade, Castlevania, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Donkey Kong, Dragon Warrior/Quest, Drakkhen/Dragon View, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, King's Field, Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver, Mana, Mario, Mega Man, Metal Gear Solid, Ninja Gaiden, Metroid, Parasite Eve, Resident Evil, Rygar, Silent Hill, Spyro, Star Fox, Suikoden, Tomb Raider, TMNT, Wild Arms, Xenogears/Xenosaga, Zelda, and Zone of the Enders SYSTEMS: NES, Super NES, N64, Gamecube, Wii, Gameboy Color, GBA, DS, PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP plus computer, but I'm not really a big computer gamer. Systems I plan on getting in the future are XBOX 360 and Wii U. I am also a big fan of emulators on the PC. I have many of the old 8-bit and 16-bit systems and ROMS for my computer and know a lot about them. These include NES, Super NES, Genesis, Turbografx, MSX, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and GBA.

Experience in the area

I have been a video gamer for over 20 years. I started with the original NES way back in 1988 and have owned or played nearly every popular console since then. I have completed hundreds of games and played thousands. I have a large file cabinet filled with hundreds of hand-made maps, lists, and various strategies for many of the games I have conquered in the past two decades. I subscribe to 5 different game magazines to keep up to date on the newest stuff out there. I would officially call myself an expert on the subject of videogames. And if I don't know the answer, I can find out about it and direct you to someplace that does.

Publications

I have had three things published in Nintendo Power magazine as well as a piece of artwork. I also participate regularly on the GameFAQs forums. I am wanting to write FAQs for GameFAQs as well. I would also like to write columns for other video game magazines.

Education/Credentials

Experience with games baby, and lots of it. On the academic side, I am currently attending ITT Tech and am two quarters into an Associate's in Visual Communications. I will then be continuing for a Bachelor's in Video Game Design.

Awards and Honors

These are not academic awards. I am still working on those. These are video game related things of note about me. I do consider them honors as they are the most secret things in each of their respective games, and I am very proud of having found them. I am the discoverer of the Ryu Fireball in Megaman X, the Dragon Punch in Megaman X2, and the Golden Armor in Megaman X3. All three of those discoveries have appeared in Nintendo Power magazine. I have also broken the password systems for Megaman 4 and Megaman 5.

What do you like about this subject?

It has taken me a while to get to the root of why this pasttime appeals to me so much. But as I start thinking about what I could accomplish if I were to design a game, it makes me think of all kinds of possibilties.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I am on my way to designing video games for a living. I am working on a Final Fantasy CCG, thinking of ways to improve MMORPGs and in the process of creating a tabletop roleplaying game company and product line. I may also want to create games for Facebook down the line.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Will Wheaton gives one hell of a keynote speech. If you haven't heard his speech from the 2007 PAX convention, you can watch it here. Any gamer worth his Wii-mote needs to see this. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4616592653905673144# Some of it may be lost on the younger folks, but it is quite funny. There are a few swear words in it here and there though, so be aware.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

It fascinates me how a group of people can get together and create something so engaging, but that you can be a part of instead of just a passive observer too, such as a movie or TV show. The sights, the sounds, the gameplay, the direction, all come together to form such an amazing piece of art and technology. With SO much variety, there truly IS something for everyone.