Interviewing Gamers

[Mistermixmaster]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
First console was the NES, played Super Mario Bros 3 with my mom teaching me. Gaming has been a big part of my childhood, as me and my friends would get together on sunny days and play on our Gameboys/Gameboy Colours/Gameboy Advances outside. Gaming still is a big part of my life and it will probably stay like that until the day I die.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
Definitely, Valkyria Chronicles 1 and 2 come immidiately to mind, followed closely by Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and Persona 4. The Gran Turismo-series is also a good candidate here.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
Not really. I'm what you could call a Jack-of-all-trades, but I am however quite skilled at certain games. Not to boast, but I am undefeated amongst my friends in Gran Turismo, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. and the Super Smash Bros-series (I even won at a national cosplay convention that had a contest in Super Smash Bros Melee). However, when it comes to FPS-games I tend to enjoy the singleplayer the most. I like to max the difficulty, crank up the sound and immerse myself in the experience most games give.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
From Nintendo: NES, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, GameBoy "Pocket", GameBoy Colour, GameBoy Advance SP, Nintendo DS.
From SEGA: Sega Mega Drive (a.k.a. Sega Genesis at some parts of the world I think).
From Sony: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable (3000)
Quite obviously, I also got a PC.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
It has it's up- and downsides. Loading screens are usually shorter, but there's always the chance that your PC is out of date. It's definitely something you need to be willing to spend money on to enjoy properly in my opinion.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
Neutral I guess. I did try the Battlefield 3 Alpha (which was great), but I have been avoiding any news/screenshots/trailers about Modern Warfare 3 because I don't want the story to be spoiled. Probably going to end up getting both of these games.

------
Name: Martin
Age: 20
Gender: M
Online alias that you use most: Mistermixmaster

 

[Iron Mal]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?

I first played the Sega Megadrive (Genesis for those of you in America) at around about the age of six at my Aunt's house and the first game I can recall playing there was Splatterhouse 2, my parents got me and my sister a Megadrive soon after and I've been an avid player of video games ever since.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?

My favourite game overall has to be Alien Trilogy on the original Playstation. It was basically a DOOM clone but it was atmospheric as hell, was based on Aliens (always have been a fan of it) and was just downright fun to play (I wish my copy still worked).

Other favourite titles and series would have to be:

Red Faction series
Alien vs. Predator series
Unreal Tournament series
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series
Armoured Core series
Resident Evil series
Command and Conquer series
Drakengard
Diablo II
Painkiller
Pokemon series
The Suffering
Mass Effect series
Metal Gear Solid series
Soul Calibur series
Metroid Prime

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?

My most played genre would most likely have to be FPS or RPG but I do also enjoy RTS, TPS, fighting, Turn Based strategy, Hack and Slash, Stealth, Survival Horror and Puzzle games (I like to believe that I have a very wide and balanced diet of games).

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?

I presently own a PS2, Xbox 360, laptop, GBA and Gamecube (as well as still having the Megadrive and an old SNES kicking around somewhere) but at the moment I only really play the first four often (it just happens that most of the games I enjoy most happen to be on those consoles).

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?

I do enjoy PC games but I realise that my own knowledge and understanding of how PC's work does hinder me from being able to play more up to date titles that require a more advanced and sophisticated machine.

PC gaming is alright but it isn't for everyone and can be fairly hard to get into and keep up with (especially for not so tech savvey people like myself).

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

I've played previous titles from both the Battlefield and Call of Duty series and overall I felt they were pretty much just the same game with a few minor differences (CoD is more centered on individual PvP combat while BF focuses more on larger scale team based objective matches), personally, I prefer CoD because of the greater feeling of individuality it has and the fact that I have more friends who play it (makes it more enjoyable when you have a buddy to play online with) but overall I'm not particularlly drawn towards getting either of them any time soon.

Just quote the questions above, answer them, and then provide your name, age, gender and online alias that you use most. You can also provide a photo, but that's completely optional.

Name: Mal
Age: 20 Years
Gender: Male
Most commonly known as: Prefer not to say.

Not entirely comfortable posting a picture of myself up here and I am curious as to why you need the extra information exactly?

 

[Purplecoyote]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
When I was about 8 we had several arcade games on a floppy like Dig-Dug and Pole Position. My first console was the ps2, when I was 15. As how I got into it, my sister is ten years older than me and often played video games so she introduced them to me pretty early on. But I only got really into gaming as a full time hobby after I got my PS2. I bought the classics for it like Psychonauts, Okami, Kingdom Hearts, etc and I was hooked.

2. Would you say you had any favorite games, or series?
Bayonetta, Okami, Vampire Bloodlines: The Masquerade, Portal, Mass Effect 1 and 2, Persona 3, Fatal Frame series, and so on. I mainly love any game with a good story and style. I recently got into 2D Jrpgs like Odin Sphere too. But my all-time favorite series is Legacy Of Kain, I played Soul Reaver 2 on pc years ago, quickly played all the other ones and I still think personally that it has the best story ever in the history of video games.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
I play anything but I'm not that good at first person shooters. I really enjoy RPGs (JRPGs included) or a good old hack and slash game. I can also enjoy a good RTS if it's well done, like Grim Grimmoire.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
PS2, PS1, Xbox360, Nintendo DS. I also lived together with someone who had a PS3, Wii,SNES and Gamecube which we shared.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
I use my laptop for my job first but as a game system second. I also buy most of my games for the pc but actually that's mostly out of habit. I think the PC elitism needs to go but I still believe in the pc to be a solid game platform. Everyone should just be able to play whatever game they want on whichever machine they want.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
I don't care for the multiplayer FPS genre that much and I also haven't played any of the previous Call Of Duty or Battlefield games so I wouldn't be able to judge. I think it depends on the player after they are released which they like better.

My name is Eline, I'm a 20 year old girl. I always use Purplecoyote as an alias.

 

[Loud Hawk]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?

When I was 2 I got a Sega Saturn, with Sega Rally,then I got a N64 and Playstation.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?

Mercenaries 2, it is just pure fun.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?

FPS, RTS and RPG

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?

I have a PC, XBOX 360, PS2, PS3, N64 and PSP 3000. I play Xbox and PC the most.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?

One word. AWESOME!

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

I will be getting both as I am not into this hate and love both games.


Name: Oliver
Age: 17
Sex: Male
Alias: LoudHawk

 

[SquidVicious]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?

First console that I ever owned was the PS2 and I really got that more for the DVD player and Grand Theft Auto III. Before that I played a lot of the popular N64 games at a friends place, while he would come play computer games at mine. First game I ever really got into was DOOM back in '93 when I was 7 years old, my dad would let me play it at his place, and my mum had Wolfenstein 3D on her computer, so I got to really experience the early stages of the FPS.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?

My favourite game of all time is still Half-Life, which was the only thing I wanted for Christmas in 1998. My entire family pitched in to make sure the computer could handle it and I neglected my Christmas break (we could still call it that back in '98) homework in order to play that game.

I was also a big fan of the Tex Murphy games from Under a Killing Moon up to Tex Murphy: Overseer, but I never got around to playing the first two. I know GOG has them for sale, but I've got quite a back catalog of games that I need to get through first.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?

I've always been partial to shooters because they were my first real gaming experience. It's been a lot of fun following the engines from idTech1 to Build to GoldSrc to Source to Cry to Frostbite 2.

That said though, while I find shooters more instantly gratifying, I will always go back to my old point and click adventure games of the '90's. I can play through those again and again and always enjoy myself, whereas the only shooter that can really stake that claim is the Half-Life series.

So if pressed I'd have to say adventure games.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?

Right now I own an Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Gamecube, PS2, and my desktop PC. Right now it's a horse race between my PC and 360 for usage. I've been enjoying a lot of lower profile PC games, but I've also been playing a lot of Red Dead Redemption, Assassin's Creed II, and Deus Ex: Human Revolutions. I'd probably have to say I use my Xbox 360 most because I missed a lot of the 2009-2010 gaming scene as my 2nd 360 died and my newly acquired PS3 got stolen before I could really get into it. That said though, if I had the money for a quality gaming PC I'd probably ditch consoling gaming altogether and go back to PC gaming as an exclusive way to fulfill my hobby.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?

I've always been a die-hard proponent of PC gaming. It's where I started and it's where 95% of my fond video gaming memories lie. I think the only disadvantage to PC gaming is the cost for continually upgrading your rig to handle the newest games with cutting edge graphics. A solid PC gaming computer can run you in the 1000's cost wise, whereas a console is a one time (unless you go the 360 route) purchase that will handle every game that comes out on it. I've found a nice little compromise where I have a somewhat decent PC that can handle a lot of the lower profile PC games, and a console that can allow me to keep up with the bigger releases that my PC can't handle.

Overall I think the PC will always be the top contender for gaming, because of the versatility of the machine and the modding community, it can do things that are just too beyond what a console can do at the moment.


6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

It kind of depends on what you want from a game. Granted most people excited for both games are only excited about the online multiplayer aspect, I'm interested to see where the single player campaigns on both of them go as it looks like a good amount of effort has gone into both of them. The Battlefield series has always stressed multiplayer and has catered to that demographic, but after the disappointing follow-up to Modern Warfare 1's surprising single player campaign I'm a little hesitant. Right now I'd have to say that my money is on Battlefield 3 for this pissing match.

My info:

Name: Pete
Username: LoathsomePete
Age: 25
Sex: Male

 

[ThePirateMan]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?

PC - While the first game that I played was Zoo Tycoon, that was mostly just me mashing the keyboard as a 4 year old. I first started playing at all seriously at about 6-10, mostly playing games like Red Alert 2, Warcraft 2/3 and Command and Conquer: Generals with my father. But also some more classics in the way of Fallout, Baldur's Gate and Stronghold.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?

Europa Universalis 3, Half-Life 2 and Warcraft 3 are some of my favourite games.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?

I mostly prefer Strategy games (TBS, RTS, Grand Strategy, I love them all), Western/Classic RPGs (For example the Fallout and Diablo series) and FPS:s(Team Fortress 2, Battlefield 2, Source-Engine games..).

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?

I own a PC, an Xbox 360 and a Gamecube. I mostly play on the PC as I grew up playing one and find most console games to be unappealing, I greatly enjoy classic PC games and the more precise controls of a PC.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

I will be getting and most likely enjoying Battlefield 3 whilst ignoring MW3 unless I hear praise of it from the most unlikely sources. Such as some of my friends who despise the Call of Duty franchise. I don't really care for the "conflict" between the games and their fans or anything like that. I just want to enjoy a ruddy good FPS.

 

[garjian]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
Before i can remember... first console i really got into was the Sega Mega Drive... i mightve been 5, and that would be 15 years ago.
2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
Yes. Saints Row, Soulcalibur.
3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
Yes. I'm picky, but if i like anything, its usually an RPG or Fighting game.
4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
Xbox360, Friends.
5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
Only useful for modding.
6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
No.

Name: Oliver
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Alias: whatcouldyoupossiblyneedanaliasforiunderstandageandgenderandatastretchnamebutwhyalias

 

[Poisoni]

Good afternoon, evening, morning, or whatever greeting your time zone requires, Escapists.


1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

1) I've been gaming for as long as I remember, although I probably started with Mickey's Wild adventure on PS1 (please don't laugh). From that I played Crash Bandicoot 1 and when the Xbox came out my Dad bought one; mainly as a DVD player.

2)My favourite games are : Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer, Digimon World 2000, Pokemon Silver, Halo 2, Halo 3, Lost Planet, The Jak + Daxter games; Ratchet & Clank 2+3; CoD: MW2, BF:BC2, GTA: San Andreas and Oblivion.

3) I mainly play first-person games be they Shooters, RPGs, Action RPGs, or anything that was made in Flash.

4)Xbox, Xbox 360, PS1+2, Nintendo DS and GBA SP, an okay computer (when it was bought 5 years ago) and I play the Xbox 360 waaay more than any of the others.

5)So far as I know it is superior in many ways; but just not as satisfying to me. Triggers and thumbsticks FTW. And a console will cost less to run a game at the same standard. However, me and a few of my gamer friends are pondering switching from Xbox 360 to PC, though if we do we will be building our own to the standards we want. This is because around 1/2 of the gamers we know are PCs (no Macs) and while we can use a mouse, they really can't play on a console. I'd also like to say that while I may be biased as a Halo 3 fanboy I am generally agreed to have made a good call on the Xbox 360 - several of my friends were originally Wii/PS3 but they have all switched over even though I was the only one to go for an Xbox outright.

6)Imma get both (probably) because they may both be shooters, but the play style is very different: BF has large lobbies and long-ranged combat with accurate weaponry whereas CoD is close-ranged and faster. Also I like vehicle combat from my Halo 3 days, but MW3's Point Streaks are the things which I think give it an edge.

Age: 16
Name: J Burgess
Location: England
Gender: M
Online: NO THANK YOU IDENTITY THIEVES (just in case)

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
I was about 4 years old and my dad got a sega mega drive, that's pretty much it lol. It never was anything like a "hobby" back then, just a fun thing to do whenever you could, young kids don't really differentiate fun activities, categorizing some as "hobbies" and whatnot.


2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
Of course lol, everyone probably does. I have tons of favorite games and series, a lot of them being on the top of my list since it's too difficult to say you like one more than the other, it's like saying you love one of your kids more than the rest. Just to list a few:

Legend of Dragoon, Okami, Blazblue, Shin Megami Tensei (and spinoffs), Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Star Ocean, Dragon Quest.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
RPGs and Fighting games.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
Which generation are we talking about? Cause if I were to start listing all platforms I own it'd be a while lol. Lets just say the last 2 generations are what you're going for. I've got them all except the 3DS.

I play most on my ps3 because the game I play the most is Blazblue:Continuum Shift (2) and that game is more alive on the ps3. Note that second place goes to PS2, since there's still a couple of Jrpgs on that baby I've not completed and they surpass most new $60 offerings on most other current systems.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
It's the same as a console, the input method differs and you can play a lot of different stuff on it, both old and new but beyond that it's not any different.


6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

I don't care for FPSs and I have no interest in either game, have never played any game in the series and probably never will...so I can't really answer this since my answer would be meaningless.


Name: Thanasis
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Origin: Greece, been living in USA for about 5 years now
nickname: Dreiko

 

[Chalacachaca]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
-The first console I owned was an Atari 2600, I was about 4 or 5 years old at the time, I also played games on the PC mainly Operation Wolf and Nightmare on Elm Street by Westwood. I started considering games as something more than just a passtime when I was about 13 years old.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
-Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Legacy of Kain and Assassin's Creed. I got a lot of favorite games from different eras, so keeping up with these current generation I would say BioShock, Mass Effect and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
-Stealth Action and Strategy (be it RTS, Turn-based, 4X or Grand Strategy).

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
-A PS2 slim, Xbox 360 and PS3. Along with an Atari 2600, I used to own a NES, Genesis, N64, PSX and a Dreamcast.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
-Chevere.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
-Cojones.

Name: Alejandro
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Alias: Chalacachaca

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Hope you enjoy my awnsers

1. In terms of you first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby
At about 11 with the first PlayStation. I remember playing the Tarzan game on top of the massive drawer in my first house. Good times!

2. Would you say you had any favorite games, or series?
Hmmm, I would say that the fallout games have always had my top spot. As for my favorite game, I dont really have one. Fallout 3 used to be my favorite, but now its deus ex: hr, and when I start getting some more games like skyrim etc they will probably replace deus ex as my favorite.

3. Any genres you prefer playing?
I would say that First Person Shooters and RPGs (NOT JRPGs or Turn Based) are my favorite, ive currently been playing civ 5 a LOT so I could add Strategy to the list.

4.Regarding platforms, which do you own, what do you play most and why
I own pretty much all of the current gen platforms, if you want a list here it is.
PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, 3ds, DS(all except the XL), PSP, Xbox Original, PS2. Im trading in the 360, DS, Wii, Xbox and PSP to get a powerful gaming PC rig. I play the ps3 the most for actual gaming, but for older games I play on my craptop.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine
I think that if you want to have the best gaming experience, then get a PC. But the entering price is too high and there is quite a few setbacks that many people dont want to deal with. Im a console player, raising money for a PC. But when I get that PC it will be amazing since ive never experienced the community, graphical fidelity and control that pc games have to offer. I still think console is a viable option if you don't have the money, but you have to make a few sacrifices because you chose it.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
Im probably going to get both, but I ultimately think that Battlefield 3 wont be able to even come close to CoD's popularity, seeing as they have made it a primarily pc game. Sure its on consoles, but you will be getting a watered down and neutered version of the greatness that would be the PC version. Its not really a good strategy to 1) Make your game primarily for pc and 2) Make the graphics so good that only few people can run it the way you intend, thus lowering the people who can actually buy the game.

 

[Da Orky Man]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
Early. I'd say about 2000, when I used to watch my dad play Age of Empires. I tried it, and was instantly hooked. I was 6. And soon tried Pokemon Blue, which I still love.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
Homeworld, Tachyon: The Fringe, and Age of Empires are my favourites. Still mildly depressing that the first two are essentially dead series'. And possibly Mass Effect.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
RTS, space-sims and story-based RPGs, particularly Mass Effect. Though I'm good for anything based around a solid universe with a decent story, so Half-life gets a big thumbs up.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
PC and Xbox 360. Probably play on my netbook the most, though we just got a decent computer, so that will soon change.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
It's the best one. Horrifically expensive to get a good rig, but it's got the best experience all-round. And you can always get copies of old games.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
Battlefield 3, simply because I've generally preferred the Battlefield series, though I'm not suprimarily ally a player on online FPS.

Name: Alexander
Age: 17
Usual Handle: Da Orky Man

 

[Lunar Templar]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
*dates self* the atari 2600, demon attack and burger time, and my dad was a god at demon attack o.o

2. Would you say you had any favorite games, or series?
WAY to many to list here, but I recently 'discovered' No More Heroes (Wii) and loved it

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
platformers, 3rd person action games, RPGs, MMOs, the rare RTS and rarer stealth title

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
PS3, 3DS, Wii, PS2, and PC. mostly on the PC cause i can chat and break faces at the same time, and far easier to

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
i think its good, its got its pros and cons like every thing else, but i like it

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
forgetting they exist in favor of Space Marine


29
male
William
Kitsune10060 or Nekomata

 

[Michael Hirst]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
I was about 5 years old when I got my first console which was a Mega Drive, prior to this I only did a little bit of gaming in the arcades. As a 5 year old my first major game was Sonic The Hedgehog.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
My absolute favourite of all time is Deus Ex, probabl the first aciton-rpg I had ever played, every detail of its world (even though its graphically lacking) sucked me in and made for a deep immersive experience.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
RPG's Shooters and RTS are the dominant genres in my collection, I like a good RPG to give me an immersive experience but also ones that have varying solutions to problems, sometimes just shooting everything gets old and I need to think in a game.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
I have a PS3, PSP and a good PC, I play on the PC most often because it has the best internet access and also the cheapest and often best games.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
The PC has a versatility that most people are not aware of, sure it can run your latest AAA titles and give a very graphical look at these games but there's also a large market of cheap, affordable indie titles such as Super Meat Boy which provide lots of fun for a low cost. PC's also offer emulation to gamers allowing us to relive those good old days of consoles such as the Mega Drive and the SNES.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

In recent years I've become disappointed with Call of Duty releases, there seems to be no sense of game balance and the increasing price of the series that very rarely changes in any significant way is a huge put off as a consumer. I also find the gameplay to be utterly mindless with so many systems in place that makes the skill curve a mere bump.

Battlefield 3 will offer a bigger experience for me as a game, especially on the PC, and also has an actual skill level required to master playing it, Battlefield is also a series that actually attempts to improve itself with each instalment unlike Call of Duty which had its hit with COD 4 then sat on the same spot for years to come.

My name is Michael, I'm 22 years old, male and go by many online aliases

 

[Mallefunction]

Name: Heather M.
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Location: United States
Alias: Mallefunction or Malle
Photo:

Spoiler

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?:

Well my uncle first let me play the original Sonic when I was about four, but I got my first system (PS1) when I was five. I only had handful games for it (Spyro the Dragon, Rugrats: Search for Reptar, Rayman, Crash Bandicoot WARPED, and Jeopardy...for my sister who was obsessed with the show at the time) I never really considered gaming a big part of my life though. I played for fun and never saw them as anything more than just a toy until I was probably 17.

2. Would you say you had any favorite games, or series?

My favorite game is definitely Bioshock right now, but I admit to being kind of a Valve fangirl and I am a total sucker for Assassin's Creed. I like old school adventure games (Grim Fandango is my favorite) as well and horror titles like Silent Hill and Eternal Darkness. Some other games that have my love are: Okami, Pokemon, Sly Cooper, God of War (first game only), Amnesia the Dark Descent, Earthbound, and for shits and giggles Katamari Damacy.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?

I prefer games that have good atmosphere, regardless of what that atmosphere is. I don't play any sports, RTS, driving, JRPGS, MMOs, or fighting games though. I find those too repetitive for my taste. I notice that I gravitate a lot toward historical fiction and games that have good strong story elements to them though if that helps. The rest of my collection is a blend of platformers, FPS, adventure, action-adventure, horror, WRPG, and puzzle games.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?

I currently have a Gamecube, a PS3, and a DS Lite. I've owned several other Gameboy variations as well as the PS1-2 in the past. I play my PS3 the most simply because it has such a huge library of games and it's backwards compatible so I get to play as far back as my PS1 stuff. I admit that I am also very groomed toward the PS controller as the design hasn't ever changed. It's just comfortable for me. I also prefer having a controller in my hand over a mouse and keyboard. I feel more like I'm playing a game rather than typing up a strange term paper.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?

Well ultimately all gaming machines are just computers so yeah, I have no problem with PC gaming outside of the people who act like you are a retard if you enjoy consoles and controllers. I admit that the PC is more adaptable and much more powerful but I'm not that good with technology and I don't trust myself to be able to take apart and rebuild a machine like that...let alone maintain it over several years.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

I don't care either way. I do enjoy my FPS games, but I've never been a huge fan of the multiplayer FPS, especially these 'gritty realistic' types. They just look the same and feel the same and it doesn't look at all fun. However I am kind of sick of all the CoD fanboys on campus screaming about how CoD 3 is gonna be "teh best game eva" so I'll throw my vote in for Battlefield just because it seems like the fans for that series is at least slightly more mature.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

Spoiler: Questions

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

Just quote the questions above, answer them, and then provide your name, age, gender and online alias that you use most. You can also provide a photo, but that's completely optional.

Thanks in advance.

My name is Ray, I'm a 40 year old male, and Riff Moonraker is always my alias.

1. My first console was the Atari 2600, but I liked gaming before I ever got that. I used to play games on a friends Apple IIe, and I loved to go to the local arcade to play Pac-Man, Joust, etc.

2. Yes, my favorite series would be the Mass Effect series. Followed closely by the Elder Scrolls games, Fallout games, Gears, and Halo series.

3. My favorite would be RPGs, first and foremost.

4. I own an Atari 2600, a NES, an N64, Xbox, and the Xbox 360. I enjoy playing the 360 the most.

5. I used to game alot on the PC, but I quit after I pulled myself out of EverQuest, and havent gamed on the PC since, except for Urban Rivals, which I still play on the PC. To be honest, all fanboyisms aside, the PC is a fantastic gaming device, if you choose to invest in it. Nowadays I just prefer the more simplistic approach with my 360.

6. Well, I have never played Battlefield, and I havent played the multiplayer in a call of duty game since the first Modern Warfare. I do, however, really like the intense action in the modern warfare series, so I am looking forward to picking up MW3 sometime in the near future. Beyond that, I am not qualified to say.

 

[miketehmage]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
Playstation 1, bought by my dad, I was 7.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
Battlefield 2, Medal of Honor Allied Assault, World of Warcraft. Call of Duty 4.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
FPS, RPG, MMO

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
PC, Xbox360. I play the PC more as I find the controls to be easier to use, I also find games more immersive when I'm sitting closer to the screen with headphones on. And the Access to mods for games like Oblivion is nice too.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
It is the best gaming machine out there, and it is saddening to see so many games ported from console to PC.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
Battlefield 3 will most certainly be better. Multiplayer encourages teamplay, maps are expansive and immersive, vehicles can be used and there is no ridiculous kill streaks(which further discourage teamplay). Some of my best gaming experiences came from battlefield 2, and I expect BF3 to be even better. Call of Duty, in my opinion has been going steadily downhill after Call of Duty 4.

 

[Sp3ratus]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?
I first got into gaming when I was around 5. My dad and I used to play Simon the Sorcerer and some RPG I can't really remember much about. I do remember us playing together though and slowly began playing on my own, among which I can name Jazz Jackrabbit, The Lion King as a few of the games I played back then.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?
I have a top three, which consists of Half-life 2(and episodes) at the top, followed by Planescape: Torment and rounding it off with Demon's Souls. After that, I don't really have a set list, because I can't really decide which game deserves to go where. The top three has been set for the last 2 or 3 years, though.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?
I tend to play a variety of different games, but I'd say I probably prefer RPGs, especially ones with long and complex stories.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?
I own a PS1, PS3, Gamecube and PC. I mostly use my PC, because most of my games(and favourites as well) are on there, but also because right now, my consoles aren't connected, because my apartment is being worked on.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?
Brilliant. Has a lot of different games, from freeware to indie to big AAA titles. Also, the fact that you have complete control over how powerful hardware you want and how much you want to shell out appeals to me.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?
Couldn't tell you. I don't really like where either of those titles have been taken, but if I was forced to choose one, I'd probably say BF3, solely because of BF1942, one of the best multiplayer games ever.

Name: Michael
Age: 22
Alias: Sp3ratus, just like my username.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?

When I was four, I was babysat at one of my aunt's house. They had a NES and Super Mario Bros. 3, so in the morning, I would play for a bit before the sun came out and then I played outside. My uncle (who is 8 years older then me) was very tech savvy and bought the Sega Genesis in '93. I played Sonic 2 and from that moment on, I was hooked. I asked for a Sega Genesis and got one that same Christmas.

2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?

Sonic all the way. Also, a lot of the Disney based games that appeared during the 8-bit and 16-bit era. Now, I enjoy the Uncharted series, Marvel vs. Capcom series, Assassin's Creed series, inFamous series, BioShock series, Pokemon series, Final Fantasy series, Disgaea series, Megaman series, and Legend of Zelda series.

3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?

I like games with a story, so RPGs are the games I gravitate towards. I also enjoy Action, Adventure, SRPG, some FPS, Racing, & Fighting, and Platformer.

4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?

I own an old Sega Genesis, PS2, Nintendo DS, PS3, and PSP. I play the PS3 when I have a lot of time to kill because I enjoy the exclusives, the great graphics, and some PSN titles that I enjoy playing. Sometimes I would play the DS because it is easier to pick up and put down, and I have a library of casual games for the DS.

5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?

PC has it's own spot in the gaming community and was actually the driving force towards better graphics and textures for the current Gen consoles. Certain games just run better on the PC and it's a pretty good contender, especially for those who enjoy Steam and don't feel committed to purchasing the latest Gen console.

6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?

My house is dominated by COD, so I could not really comment on Battlefield. However, I have played it the latest installment and the scope of the game is amazing. I feel that for a greater scale of combat, Battlefield is better. For those who only want to pick up the the latest rifle and paint the town red, COD is the better contender.

 

[GeorgW]

[li]1. In terms of your first consoles and games, how and when did you first get into gaming as a hobby?[/li]
I had played games with friends before, but in terms of my own console I was very late, it was the NGC, and my first games were melee and mario kart. I got really into it meeting friends and playing together. It's a great way to bond and some of my best memories with some of my best friends are from gaming.
[li]2. Would you say you had any favourite games, or series?[/li]
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is my all time favourite.
[li]3. Any genres you tend to prefer playing?[/li]
Not really, I like them all.
[li]4. Regarding platforms, which do you own? Of those, what do you play most and why?[/li]
I have all the current, I play most multiplayer games on 360 since my friends play there, but I prefer to play games on the PS3. I also spend a lot of times on my PC playing.
[li]5. What do you think of the PC as a gaming machine?[/li]
I love it, it's a great source for creative and unique games. I almost never play AAA games on PC though.
[li]6. Finally, with the imminent release of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there's a lot of debate amongst the online FPS crowd as to which is better. Where do you stand on this?[/li]
I'll most likely buy both. I think Battlefield 3 will be the better, quality-wise, I have huge respect for the team over at DICE, but I'll likely still get CoD for more mindless fun with friends.

I'm a man, that's all you get.

I hope that's helpful.