360voice Dev Blog

Member of the moment: Chrome30

Posted on behalf of t4nd4r

"CHARLIES IN THE TREES!", "AIRSTRIKE INBOUND, DANGER CLOSE!", "RELOADING", these are just some of the things I could hear in the background as I sat down with Ralph Martin (Chrome30 as the interwebs know him) and asked some questions. Currently serving in the US Army overseas, he still finds time to play videogames.  Without further ado, let's get some answers from one of America's finest, HOOAH!

Where are you from, and where are you currently stationed?
Originally I am from California,but my Uncle Sam has me beating my feet in the desert at the moment (Kuwait).

You are currently in the military, what is your rank and how did you get there?
I am in the US Army and I can't discuss my rank or title =p if you knew I would have to kill you!!

What made you decide to be in the military? Are you glad you joined?
I joined the military because I believed it was my duty to serve.  I planned on only doing 3 years, but I love my job and I have been in for 9 years now.

Are you in constant danger of attack? Have you ever been sent to the front lines of battle? What's a day like in the military?
I am currently in minimal danger of attack.  My first trip to Iraq I was on the front lines in Fallujah and Mosul.  I saw my share of battle and I have horrible memories of it.  The military day to day is different all over. In my job I wear civilian clothes daily and do not do the day to day "military stuff" I tip my hat to the boys and girls doing hard battle in Afghanistan and Iraq.  They are the true warriors.

What kind of equipment do you use everyday? What type of weapons are you certified to use?
My daily use here in Kuwait sadly is my computer, fork, knife, and spoon.  I do carry my weapons when I go on mission.  I am certified on the M4, M16, M9 and several foreign weapons. I also have one mean Judo chop!!

Have you ever been a part of a "classified" mission? What was it like?
Funny thing about that question is my whole job is classified, lol so yes I have been...but I can't tell you what they are.  They are a huge adrenaline rush and it makes it feel like what you are doing is making a difference.

What is the highest ranking person you have ever came into contact with?
I have briefed a 2 star general on operational items and he was a very cool guy.

Have you ever had to use your weapon in the line of duty? What was your reaction after if you have?
Unfortunately, I have and it was on a couple occasions.  Afterwards I felt a little on edge, scared, and sick to my stomach.  I knew it was them or me though and I have to keep moving forward.

How much longer do you have in the military before you are done?  Is there a set schedule for when you get to come home, and how long is that usually?
I have at least 6 more years in the military, so that is probably a couple more deployments.  There is a set schedule for my return home and the length of time I am at home just depends on the unit I go to after I leave Kuwait.  We'll see =)

Out of all the military videogames you have played, has there ever been any that hit home? Is it logical to throw a grenade back if it lands near you, do you pick up enemies weapons if you are out of ammo, that kind of stuff?
MW2 on the first level after your training (where you are in the vehicle) the part with the ambush got my heart pounding a little faster and it made me feel tense.  It was very realistic.  Some people throw their bodies down on grenades and do what they think is right at the given situation.  There have been several people pick up live grenades and get rid of them, not the frequency it happens in COD, but some heroes do it in order to protect their own.  If you are out of rounds an enemy weapon gets the job done just like your own =)

Do you go through a lot of ready-to-eat-meals while you are over there, or do you get to go out to restaurants? Any McD's or Burger Kings in Kuwait?
Kuwait is VERY much into the western culture.  They have everything over here i.e.  Krispy Kreme, BK, Chilis, Applebee's, Starbucks, Mc'D etc etc  the extremists here hate the fact that all these places are built here, but they still have glaze on their lips every once and awhile =)

What's the weather like in Kuwait?
Currently it is nice and chill out...it is about 95 degrees.  That is nice compared to the summer as it was about 130-145 it was brutal =/

Wife/kids/dog/cat/rabbit?
I have a gorgeous wife named Stacy who is everything to me.  She is a wonderful woman for putting up with my job and I love her for it. No kids...yet.  Love dogs, but neither one of us have time to take care of pets.

How are you able to check your e-mail and browse forums? Why are you not able to be connected to Xbox Live?
The net here is wifi and is not strong enough to connect to live.  The first month I was here I was like a recovering drug addict...I needed my Live fix and couldn't get it...had to go cold turkey lol.  I also have my government computer, but that net is pretty much restricted.  So, no live for me until I get leave in December.

Before you left for service, your gamerscore was 126,578.  How much larger has that become since being offline?
I wish I could say it has increased dramatically...alas, it is only at 129, 750 at the moment.  Sad...but true.  Damn terrorists keeping my GS down!!

Your largest weekly achievement and gamerscore gain is massive, 240 and 7,979 respectively.  Were you involved in a challenge at the time? Did you end up winning?
I was involved in the first ever mega challenge =) it was amazing and I came in third on that one...CroakerTarekegypt.  One day I will win one of those darn things!!  Always the brides maid....never the bride so to speak =p

Your highest daily gamerscore gain was in March of 2008 for a total of 3,260.  What games did you play? Were you trying to win a challenge?
Oh geez, what did I play??  Ummm, probably some 2k6 titles and Surfs up possibly.  It was definitely some easy sports games...for sure.  Watch for me to destory that daily gain when I am on leave in December!! Tons of games to catch up on lol.

Do you ever play your Xbox360 with more people in service? Such as co-op in Modern Warfare 2 or rocking the set in Rock Band?
I wish I had others to play games with here, but alas I only rock the single player on all versions of my games =/ unless I play with one controller in each hand...and boy is that difficult sometimes hehe.

How did you come up with your Gamertag?
My gamertag came from my plane ride home from Iraq.  In the military you get on military aircrafts to fly home, my flight was named Chrome30. In honor of this wonderful flight getting me back home safely from a hellish year in Iraq I picked it as my gamertag and will forever be known as Chrome30.

What brought you to 360Voice?
I was browing the net one day and put in a google search.  I started to read up on the sight and thought it was an amazing idea!! I just had to join. Then I started talking to some of the people and it was pretty much a done deal from there.

What is your favorite part of 360Voice?
I would easily say the people.  They are the KEY part of 360V.  Without the great people the site would just be stats.  The people make it amazing!!

Is there anything you would like to see changed about 360Voice?
I love 360v so much that I tell everyone in Kuwait about it...as for changes...I would probably change some of the point qualifications on badges i.e. HTTK badge...you all know what I am talking about!!

If you had the opportunity, is there anyone you would like to meet from 360Voice?
I couldn't just pick one...there are so many people on the site that I would love the chance to meet.  I have had a lot of great support from everyone and I get along with a lot of folks from the site.  If you are putting the clamps on me though I would pick Trapper and talk to him about the approach to the site etc.

You recently created a Chrome30 challenge, what gave you the idea for the challenge, and all the crazy bonus scenarios?
I have done quite a few challenges during my time at the site.  I love to give back to a great community and enjoy doing the events/challenges.  The bonus scenarios were discussed between Futiles and myself and thought it would be a wonderful way to kind of shake things up and give others a fun way to score.  It worked for some and caused fits for others lol.

How long have you been gaming?
I have been gaming hardcore since Zelda came out in the gold cartridge.  I didn't grow up with a lot of money etc, so when my Dad got us a nintendo we were hooked and it just went on from there.  I remember splitting time with my brother and sister...we had 30 minutes each and that just didn't cut it lol I always went over my time limit and got in trouble with pops...ahhh well =p

What was the first game you ever played?
See above, lol Zelda..although I do faintly remember playing Pit fall and all the "old school" games. So, I guess it was pit fall and frogger etc.

What is your reason for playing games?
I play games for the amazing graphics, story and overall depth of what games are nowadays.  The technology is just insane!! And I love the progression of gaming.  I can't wait to see the next gen systems.

What do you enjoy more, single-player or multi-player?
I am a hardcore RPG fan, but some of the best games now days are multi-player.  The human interaction and unexpected actions/reactions make MP games amazing.  I just want a great MMORPG for 360 and that will be enough for me =)

What is your current gaming setup, what is your setup like back at home?
Ahhh my current setup, lol I first got my 8X10 room/jail cell and there was a 19 inch big bulky thing on a dresser trying to pass as a TV.  We all know TV's are not big and bulky anymore...they are slim and flat with lovely color and depth.  Anyway, I got rid of that thing and bought the biggest TV they sell here... So, I have a Sony Bravia 32 inch here and I use Turtle beach X4 headphones for amazing sound quality.  Back home the setup is going to change to the new Samsung LED 52inch TV and bose surround sound...I will hookup my new MW2 system as well =) All and all it is good enough for Kuwait.

Do you like to eat a snack or drink while playing games?
Yes, my wife can attest to this.  I will sleep in the wee hours of the morning and when she wakes up she will see Full Throttle cans on the TV stand I use and possibly some wrappers from pop tarts that I had previously devoured while Owning young arrogant children in COD/Halo (when that was cool to play hehe)

Do you own any other consoles?
I, of course, have my trusty PS3 blu ray player.  The only good game I played on that was Heavenly Sword.  I do have to be honest and say I am looking forward to God of War in the coming months.

When did you join Xbox Live, and why did you decide to?
I joined xbox live when I returned from Iraq in 2006.  I just bought my 360 and that seemed like something I just had to do.  I picked up Splinter Cell and played that online and thought it was absolutely amazing!!

What are your current top 10 favorite games ever, out of any console?
Top 10?? Whew, hard question.  1. Final Fantasy III as the storyline was epic and characters deep.  2. Resident Evil  3.  Dead Rising  4.  FF 7 5.  Zelda Ocarina of time  6.  Tecmo Superbowl (classic)  7. Chrono Trigger 8. Bioshock  9. Mass Effect  and 10. would be Dragon Age as of right now.

What are 5 achievements that you are most proud of?
Proud of Completing COD: WaW on Vet (damn nades!!)  Mile high club...MK vs DC Kombo challenges (finsihed 3) Anyone else? Skate 2 achievement and probably the last achievement for beating MW2 cause it just feels so good at the end of the game when you...=p you know!!

If you could change one thing about Xbox Live, what would it be?
Make it free of course!! I am sure everyone would love me for that, right??

Are there any games you are looking forward to realeasing in the near future?
The latest installment of Final Fantasy, Mass Effect 2, Assassins Creed 2 and God of War for the PS3.

What are some new releases you've been able to grab while overseas?
I have stayed up on the popular games due to Gamefly and my wife being so awesome.  I have grabbed prototype, Overlord II, Batman, MW2, Ghostbusters, and Dragon Age: origins to name a few.  Now if I can just find some time to play them =(

Would you like to give any shout-outs?
I would love to give shout outs to the following people:  Stacy, you are my love and the reason I do all this crazy "stuff" I do, you are my world and everything I cherish.  I would also like to give special thanks to Futiles, Spider, DoT, PSonic, Sparky, and everyone who keep in touch with me while I am overseas.  Emails and communication goes a long way out here where we don't get a lot of it.  Thanks to everyone at 360v for making it the best site around.  I appreciate you all and I am honored to be MoTM.  Oh, and t4nd4r I thank you as well...thought I forgot ya huh?? =p

Thanks Martin for filling us in on what it's like being in the military, and what games you like to play.  I think I can speak for everyone when I say THANK YOU for doing what you do to keep us protected and safe back in the states.  Without you being hard at work every day, we would not be able to feel safe going outside our homes.  You really are "Being All You Can Be". I hope we all get a chance to play some games online together when you return from service.

Member of the Moment: SparkyMP

Posted on behalf of t4nd4r

I sat down with Kellen Empey from Las Vegas and began talking to him about his everyday life and personal interests. With all those school classes, it's amazing to see him getting time in to play videogames! He also USED to be a completionist, but decided to break away from it so he could ENJOY playing games (who does that?). During the course of my interview I found out something horrifying about SparkyMP and the game Halo 3... read on to find out about it, and much more!

You currently reside in Las Vegas Nevada... THAT must be an interesting place to play video games, right?
Las Vegas is an interesting place to live. It was hardly any fun while growing up, but after you become 21 the city opens up to you and your wallet. The positive side to being a gamer here is there are countless amounts of game stores. 15+ Gamestops and about 50 other local game stores. Not to mention that Las Vegas is a big host to gaming/electronic conventions.

I know your current employment situation, but would you like to explain it to others?
Currently I am on disability due to an injury I received while working for Coca-Cola. I ruptured 2 discs in my lower spine which are creating constant pressure on my nerve endings. After a few (7) months dealing with workers comp, and the corrupted doctors they hire, my claim was finally finished. I received an 8% permanent partial disability and 13 months of free schooling.

I heard you signed up for a ton of classes this year, what is the major you are going for, and why?
I signed up for a small tech school, I thought it would be a better idea than going through a traditional college. I only have 13 months and the tech school can cram everything into that time. I am signed up for A+, Network+, Security+, LAN Administration, CCNA/Cisco, and Microsoft Certified Professional. After all these classes are completed I will take them to a college and get a quick associates degree with them.

Do you have a wife/kids/dog/mongoose?
I currently have a girlfriend/fiancee (she has a ring, just not a proposal from me) and 4 dogs. We recently moved into her mothers house to save money, which added another 4 dogs, 2 cats, 1 bird, and 2 fish onto the list of pets. Needless to say, we like dogs. Kids might be happening next year, after I finish school of course.

You joined 360Voice on March 9th 2008, what brought you to the site?
My sisters boyfriend told me about the site. I had purchased my console about 6 months before joining. I was getting tired of not having any friends to play games with so he suggested looking up 360voice. I don't think he had expected me to become such an active member.

You started with 10,760 GS and you currently have 70,857 GS,  what motivated you to gain such a tremendous amount in such short time?
Challenges!! The idea of competing against others for the most amount of gamer score gain was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed gaining all those points for "bragging rights." Plus the added prize here and there was great too.

What is your favorite part of the site, what are some things you would like to see improved?
I enjoy the forums. The people on this site are truly awesome. Its what keeps me coming back for more everyday. I have expanded my friends list from 2 people all the way to 100 thanks to this site. As far as improvements, well it seems that those things are always working themselves out. The things I have suggested have all been implemented, no complaints from me.

How did you come up with your Gamertag?
I used to be an electrical apprentice, so Sparky comes from that. As far as the MP, well it sounds like my last name. Empey = MP. So there for SparkyMP was created. Its also my license plate. SPRKYMP

You have played 177 different games, what are your top 10 favorite?
Bioshock was probably my favorite game for the 360. R6V2 was really good as well, lots of good times with some buddies from this site. Pins and Beans lol...inside joke, ask Davem3 TF. I was very happy to get Vigilante 8 and Wolfenstein as arcade releases over the last year. Gears of War and its sequel are also fun favorites.

What are your top 10 least favorite?
Halo 3, go ahead bash me if you want, I hate that game. Horrible online multiplayer, and no its not because I suck at it. The only positive thing to that game is the 4 player coop campaign. King Kong, Fusion Frenzy, Ridge Racer 6, Jumper, X-men the official game, and Bionicle Heroes come to mind when I think of the crap I have played. Sad part is I will eventually have to go back and play half of those again.

[Editor's note: Before continuing with the interview, I hit SparkyMP with my Xbox360 controller several times...]

You are involved in a race to 1k for the game DBZ Burst Limit, you currently have 35GS in it, think you have a chance of winning? 
No, not really. There are several achievements in that game that are nearly impossible. And with me not being a fighting game type of person, that game may take a while. Thanks for the reminder though, I do need to keep working on that one. And I thought you involved in that race as well t4nd4r???

[Editor's note: Don't remind me... :/]

What are your top 5 proudest achievements?
Historian - Bioshock, Perfection - Track and Field, Fill Legend - Rock Band 2, Kilopiece Colossus - Puzzle Arcade, Lord of the Deep - Undertow. Those are my favorites that I busted my butt working on. There are others that I have that I like, but I am not as proud of them because I boosted to get them.

What are your top 10 most shameful achievements?
Can you say Hannah Montana and My Horse and Me 2!!

Do you ever think you will go back and finish Jumper?
NO!

In your bio you talk about wanting to reach 75k GS by 2010, think you will make it?
I think I will make it much sooner than the end of this year. I'm looking at reaching that before the end of September. Maybe even the end of this month.

You currently have a streak of 490 days, how much farther do you see yourself going?
As far as I feel like. All I wanted to do was reach 365 days. I have more than accomplished that, I am just waiting for a vacation now. I might drop the streak when I travel to Boston during Christmas break. I haven't decided yet. I'm going to be taking my laptop with me, so its not like I cannot keep my streak using a "games for windows."

What are some to-be-released games you are looking forward to playing?
Wolfenstein looks awesome. Bioshock 2 was a huge let down when they pushed it back to next year, still looking forward to it though. I played a trial for the new Batman, and I must say I was a little disappointed. That one is up in the air now, I will have to wait to see what my friends think of the story.

What is your opinion on multiplayer achievements?
I absolutely despise online achievements. Multiplayer is fine, as long as its obtainable offline as well. Being required to pay $50 a year to be able to gain all the achievements in a game is wrong. The good side to online multiplayer achievements is that it gets people to explore the multiplayer side of games. And thats why I think achievements were a great idea, it gets people to play the game to the fullest extent. Exploring every aspect.

Try to think waaaaaaaay back, what was the first video game you ever played?
An old stand up arcade version of Pac-Man. I started playing that when I was 2 at my dads favorite restaurant. Ever since then I have been hooked on gaming, and collecting for that matter. I'm still trying to get my hands on the few consoles I don't own yet.

What made you decide you wanted to be part of the Xbox Live experience?
Being able to play online with people was worth paying for. Gears of War was a major factor in my decision.

Are you glad you made the decision to pay monthly for the service?
I am. This site has made it entirely worth it. Being able to use it to just sit there and talk to people in a party chat is great. Netflix was a nice little add on. I'm getting a great amount of use out of that feature.

If you were high up on the chain of command in Microsoft, what would you change about Xbox Live?
The monthly fees are understandable so those would have to stay. I would force companies such as EA to either keep their servers on or to transfer the games onto Microsoft's servers. We as a customer have paid for the games, and then to have a company take away the usage of the game is stealing the money we spent on it. I think a stable live service would be great as well.

Are you excited for the upcoming Xbox Live update on August 11th?
I don't know yet. Every new update comes with new problems, we shall see just how everything goes. I hear the dashboard doesn't lock up like it used to, so that could be a good thing about it.

Think you will purchase a ton of new clothes for your avatar? Or just get the freebies by gaining certain achievements?
I can honestly say that I will never purchase any clothing for my avatar. I would rather buy an arcade game with my MS points. I'll take the freebies from whoever is giving them away.

If you ever got the chance, who are some people you would want to have brunch with from 360Voice?
Far too many people to count. There are about 20 people I can think of immediately who I would really like to see. Sometimes I wish I lived closer to people just so I could do those things.

You recently declared you were done trying to work on your completion %, what made you decide this?
Worrying about the completion percentage kills the enjoyment of games. I don't like having to complete one game before I move onto another. Its the reason why I have 40+ sealed games sitting next to me. I think I am living up to my word lately as well. I have opened a new game almost everyday this week.

Have you found yourself to be enjoying gaming more because of this decision?
I have actually, its been much better not having to worry about getting those last few achievements.

What is your current gaming setup?
Well that depends. I mostly play on my xbox in my bedroom. Its a 360 elite hooked up to a 50" Toshiba DLP 1080p display. I gave up my sound system when I moved. Besides that system I have 3 other xbox 360's in the house as well as two computers each with its own "Games for Windows" game on it. Cannot be too safe with the streak eh.

Do you bask in the glory of HD gaming, or do you still use those color-coded cables?
I thoroughly enjoy my HDMI cables.

If you do use HD, what are some differences you were able to notice when switching?
The colors and screen resolution between component and HDMI is huge. I don't think I could go back to component much less VGA ever again.

If you were born with any one superpower... what would it be, and why?
I was born with a super power!!! Okay maybe not, but I can dream. Flying would be nice. But I think I would rather have something a little bit more useful. Perhaps some form of telekinesis, or being a genius if that counts. Something to change the world, take money out of the oil and gas manufacturers pockets in some way. I'm tired of being cheated and not being able to avoid it.

If you were given the option of being able to meet a famous person (past or present) who would it be, and why?
Well that depends on if I coud take my girlfriend or not. If not then I really don't know who I would meet, maybe Einstein. If I could take her, well then it would be up to her. Something to make her happy. I really don't care for meeting famous people.

Do you like to eat any snacks/food or drink anything while playing games?
Oh all the time. Spicy Nacho Doritos is the snack and either water or diet coke for the drink. Thats almost always what I munch on. Cheez-It's are another favorite, but I haven't had them in about 6 months.

Is there anything you would like to add, maybe make some shout-outs?
I just want to thank everyone on the site for making this place so great. Thank you creators, keep up the awesome work. And thank you t4nd4r for choosing me as a MotM.

Thank you for your time SparkyMP, let us know when you receive a spot in the Guiness World Records book for having the most dogs in one house.

Member of the moment: Dog of Thunder

Posted on behalf of t4nd4r

One night, when Dog of Thunder (also sometimes known as Jonathon Klotz) went to sleep, he forgot to turn his Xbox360 off.  I immediately took the once in a lifetime opportunity to invite it into a party chat and speak directly to the device to find out every little secret about DoT (Dog of Thunder).  The super secret mission was a success, and I am now able to submit all my findings back to headquarters.  Being dormant for so long, with no one to talk to besides Hitomi figurines, it had A LOT to say.

It has come to my attention that not many people know you, could you give us some interesting facts about you that could help enlighten others? Do you have a nickname, and if you don't, what would it be?
I know him kid, better then he knows himself. I know him because I’m his 360. Every now and then he pops into my office, spins up something exotic, and then leaves me high and dry, but that’s alright, closer you get to people, more likely you are to be hurt. I should know. Happened to me. 

He talks around me like I’m a fly on the wall, that’s how I get my information. Word on the street, mutterings of sad broken men disillusioned with the city life, tell me that Dog came from Boston. He’s a mick. Great. That information went through me like a loaded locomotive on its way to destination nowhere. This poor sap used to be the Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout troop when he grew up in a two story home, with a cocker spaniel and a younger brother. Makes me sick how perfect it was. Life ain’t perfect. It’s unforgiving, harsh, just like women but not like my best friend, Jack. Been through a lot of things, me and Jack, and if the rest of your questions are like this, then Jack and me are gonna have a fun time tonight. 

Do you currently have a job? Or are you a full-time 360Voice member (*cough* Community Expert*cough*)?
Oh Dog’s got a job, he’s a librarian for a southern, state run university. Valdosta state or something. Librarian? Sissy. That’s a job for women, but it takes all kinds don’t it? Bein’ a keeper of ancient knowledge, that’s something, but telling me you wear the pants while holding down that job? Don’t know why he’s an “expert” in anything. He’s a self-styled expert on some ancient dead guy, Alexander something, once wrote a professional piece on him and all. I won’t admit it, but Dog does know his stuff. Smart enough not to make the same mistakes I did.
 
Do you have a wife/fiance/girlfriend/family, or do all those DOAX2 posters keep you company?
He’s got himself a broad. Dangerous dame with some dangerous curves. Met her while he was at college and the poor sap took the cow home with him. Women are trouble. Bad news. She got him hooked on some underground thing, something called Vampire: The Masquerade, a little Dungeons and Dragons, can’t trust a dame that plays role playing games if you ask me. 

The capital of your state is Atlanta, and The Little White House, at the city of Warm Springs, was built for the use of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He died there, and the structure and grounds, including a museum, now serve as a memorial in his honor.  Do you ever visit this area?
I’ll tell you what a real memorial is. It’s knowing that’s what you are. I know I’m his second console. His first went insane, destroyed itself instead of playing that bikini volleyball crap again. Another time, another place, that could’ve been me. I was sitting on the bench, waiting for my shot at the big time, and when Dog walked in with his handful of horrible games that only he would be fool enough to play, I knew he was looking for something big. I got pulled off of the shelf and into his life. But I know I wasn’t his first pick. I tell myself that’s unimportant, I just do my job but when I’m alone at night, it takes my good friend Jack to remind me that I can keep going.

Georgia was the first state to allow 18-year-olds to vote, how did this impact your life?
Listen kiddo, you know what happens when 18 year olds are allowed to decide anything? Nothin’ good. Know what Dog was doing at 18? He was the getaway driver. Him and his jet black, ’98 Volkswagon Golf. Blended in with the shadows of suburbia that conceal all the darkness of the human soul. He and his buddies would pile in when the Fuzz came in to break up their parties. Dog was good at it to. Never got caught. Then again, the rule of the city is that if you were on the track team and the Fuzz caught you, you were off the team. I tell you, every track star should be able to outrun the Fuzz. Dog though? He wasn’t a star. Captain of JV is just the head loser. Poor guy. 

How did you come across 360Voice? What keeps bringing you back?
I’d tell you that the sky opened up, a beam of light shone down and he heard voices telling him to come join the site, but then I hate liars. I hate the truth too, can’t handle the truth myself, but the sordid saga begins and ends with a thread on xbox360achievements.org that caught his greedy, wandering eye. As if one site wasn’t enough for him, he clicked that cursed link and saw a post by a HxS F4t1l1ty that changed the poor boy’s life forever. He and his first console saw the blogs, signed up and I guess they had some good times together, some laughs. Not me. I keep coming back because this is all I know. It’s a good life, a good site, but sometimes I wonder what else is out there. I figure it ain’t as good as what I got, so I stick around, all the ups and downs like an origami schooner going down the Hudson. 
 
What are your favorite parts about 360Voice, and what are things that you would change, if any?
I love getting the scoop from the other 360’s, especially that one guy’s, Ichya Paradise, and hearing about some golden bikini the guy wears. Makes me feel lucky that Dog is normal. Can’t beat the community here, but sometimes, I think Dog wants to beat me. He gets this crazy look in his eye, like a man caught staring into the abyss of his soul long enough that the abyss stares back. He starts talking about some “Badges” and wanders off for days. I don’t know what he does, but he always comes back happy and drops some crimson colored plastic gloves into the circular file. Knowledge is dangerous, and knowing what he does when he wanders off, muttering “We don’t need no stinkin’ badges” to himself…well knowing what he does is dangerous. 
 
Out of everyone in the community, is there anyone you would be interested in meeting, maybe even going to brunch with?
I keep telling Dog we should get out, see the sights, leave behind this murderously mundane existence and hit the road. Almost came across Fshguy earlier this year when he passed through Valdosta, but that was the same day Dog was passing through Tampa. Brunch though, that’s sissy talk. I’d kick back a sake with Ichya Paradise’s console. Japan is the holy land for pale, balding men that love giant fighting robots. Never could understand that country myself. Dignified, respectful culture until you open a book. Some things once seen, cannot be unseen.

You recently had your 1 year anniversary on the site, and also received a 3VCE (360Voice community experts) badge on the same day! Congratulations! What kind of power does this give you, and can you walk us through a day in a 3VCE person's shoes?
Dog has power? HA! He can barely find my power button. There are other spots I hear he has trouble finding, but his daily life is a succession of common complaints with no easy solution. Life has no easy solutions and you can only tell someone so many times how to turn on their console each day. Every day it’s someone new. How hard is it to take off your clothes and run around in public? Sometimes Dog will turn me on and he’ll have a bunch of messages, waiting for him like coiled vipers that suddenly strike and cause him to mutter about those “Badges” again as he grabs his sledgehammer of plot and heads outside. I ignore the screams and just smile when he comes back in. 
 
Seems like you are pretty popular on the site, with 213 people currently watching your blog, how do you keep them all satisfied? Do you have multiple accounts to watch them all back?
Time is like a swift, flowing river, catching us in the stream and never letting go until we’re dash against one rock too many and break like a fragile porcelain doll. Or Mr. Kennedy. I already have 215 watchers, making me the 9th Most Watched Console on the site. Know what it’s like having a target on your back? Knowing all these people are constantly watching your every move? Hanging on your every flowery word? Can’t keep them all satisfied. Dog can barely keep his wife satisfied. If someone starts barking, he’ll throw them a bone and returning the watching, but if they don’t? He just lets a sleeping dog lie. Ha. Dog lets sleeping dogs lie. I need a drink. 

The longest streak you had was 58 days, are you not the kind of person who likes to streak? Or did PSonic's clones get to you too?
What sort of sick person likes to streak? Besides those New Zealanders, just admit you’re Aussies and get over it. Streaking is like completion, some consoles like it, but I don’t. Never did. Marched to the beat of a different drummer all my life. Never thought it would be Tommy Lee. Dog likes to punish himself, playing these weird, Japanese games. Dead or Alive Extreme 2, Katamari, some WarTECH thing. He likes going where no man has gone before, but it’s a shame this Dacoto character beats him to the punch. Chasing the dream of a 2.0 TrueAchievement Ratio. Chasing the Dragon more like it. 
 
You think Ignorant Quarrel will ever have a day the site recognizes him playing? Or is that a known *issue* that was programmed?
Dog is insane, but that IgnorantQuarrel character? He’s loco. Boy can’t find the power button? Shouldn’t be allowed to operate heavy machinery. I think the site keeps him off so he doesn’t drag us all into his web of insanity like a mad Malkavian harnessing the Malkavian Madness Network and listening to a lizard tell him that Cain is alive or something. 

Badges that caught my eye on your blog include the oddball and fighting 1-star, how long did it take to get those?  I also heard from sources that you are competing in a challenge to see who can earn the 3-star oddball badge the fastest... think you can win?
Dog and I were racing. And we won. Easy to win when you’re the one dog in the race. Oddball, Fighting, Strategy, Dog wants them more then he wants the comfort of a good woman. Those badges are addictive and dangerous, corrupting influences on a once good man. Used to be he’d play good games, but now? Now he plays crap. Stinkin’ badges. 

Doing everything you do, how do you find time to complete a full Dumpster Diving review every couple weeks (sometimes even weekly!)?
Lemme let you in on a secret. All he does is write some bad puns, make a pop culture reference and post a picture. That’s not effort, that’s not creative. Creative would be if he imagined his Xbox 360 as a hard boiled private detective from a horrible film noir. That would be creative and take some time, but those reviews? Piece of cake. Cake is a lie and not very satisfying so I hear he’s planning something bigger, better and more bad-ass for the future. Something about movies and reviewing every fighting game ever made at the same time. But what do I know? I’m just a hard boiled Xbox 360. 

Tell me honestly, how did you get involved with DOAX2, how many countless hours have you put in it, and what has been your source of motivation for completing it legitly (not using the gambling trick)? 
I’ve had to endure that disc spinning in me for over 150 hours so far. Know what started it? Failure. That’s what starts all great men on their path to greatness. Think if Spider-Man had stopped that burglar, he’d be Spider-Man today? Of course not. Dog was a failure with a measly 10k gamer score after 10 months of running his first console. Wanted to do something big, something to be remembered. That’s what we all want isn’t it? To be remembered? Someone to cry when we’re gone. My buddy Jack, he’ll cry for me. Jimmy and Johnny too. But that’s what spurred Dog on this crazy quest. To be remembered for being one crazy bastard. Have you noticed FarCry 2 multiplayer? WarTECH? Or the horrible abominations that are Spectral Force 3 and Operation Darkness? Dog gets motivated by horrible, horrible games.

Have you ever considered making a leather-bound book out of all your reviews? 
Remember what I said about knowledge kiddo? You like the leather I take it. That’s all right, we all have our demons. I hear that Dog’s planning something beyond a book. Something about a capture card and editing software.

You are currently participating in the Fshguy's MegaChallenge #2, and I can see you from high atop my 1st place throne, do you think your position will increase from 137th?
Son listen, from what I hear Dog has half the site convinced you’re a dirty dame named Tiffany. That your stage name sweetheart? There’s other ways to win besides being number one. Life has real winners and real losers, and sometimes, we get a little dirty getting there.  

Do you play your games for fun or completion?  Or even a bit of both?
Dog gets a kick out of being a clown, here to amuse you, part of the reason he plays such horrible games. His suffering is someone else’s fun, which I won’t touch with a twenty foot pole. Never did like Freud. Made my head hurt like a symphony of jackhammers working their way to Beijing via my cranium. 
 
How long have you been gaming, and if you can remember, what was your first game (arcade included)?
My first game was Dead or Alive Extreme 2. Dog needed his fix, like a dog eying the fire hydrant. His first game? Super Maro Bros. for the NES of course, but his first love? That would be Dragon Warrior 3. His uncle got him into those RPGs, which are just gateway games into other more horrible genres. Like bikini beach volleyball, wrestling or Foosball. 

What is your gaming setup like, and how many hours a week do you play?
I sit next to a Warhammer box. Ogre Kingdoms Army Box actually. Right above me is his 28” LCD HDTV which hooks right into his computer. It’s a sad little setup, but Dog doesn’t spend much. He turns me on, fiddles with my joysticks, all in high-definition. 

I'm selling magazine subscriptions to help pay for my college tuition, how many can I put you down for? We have DOAX2.....DOA4....Rumble Roses XX.....Onichanbara...X-Blades... all monthly issues for a low price of $9.99 each!
If you get your jollies from looking at Japanese schoolgirls, then good for you. Dog doesn’t watch Sailor Moon or anything like that, and just because his twitter icon is that Hitomi dame from DoA, his forum signature has the Kokoro broad, and he rocks Street Fighter IV with Rose, Sakura and Cammy, it doesn’t mean he has some sort of unhealthy fascination. He’s quite healthy.

There you go... the Dog in all his glory!

Member of the Moment: Koding

Posted on behalf of t4nd4r

I finally got a chance to chat with Ken Rumsey from Kissimmee, FL.  Have no idea who I'm talking about??? Then maybe the name Koding will ring a few bells!  He's been a member of 360Voice for 2.5 years and is a parent/gamer/coder/teacher/ among other things.  I won't spoil all the juicy details he disclosed to me, and give you a chance to read them for yourself!

Where do you work, and what do you do there, how long have you been doing it?
I currently work at Valencia Community College where I am a Learning Assistant II, or in more understandable words, I'm a tutor. I tutor all levels of math from Elementary Mathematics up through Calculus III, and all computer programming, OS, and application classes. I have been doing it since June 2008 and plan to keep doing it while I attend classes at the University of Central Florida.

Family life?
I am divorced and have 2 kids. Bryan (GT: Lucien Vicious) is 21 and Ashley (GT: QuadGlitch) is 19. Both are college students, Bryan at the University of Central Florida and Ashley at Valencia Community College. And both are pretty active gamers although with school and work, I know they don't get to play as much as they would like. Ashley owns her own 360 and Bryan, well, he's not big on the 360. He prefers his Wii and DS.

You currently live in Florida... are you next to a beach??  Even if you aren't... the weather must be nice right?
I am very landlocked as I live just south of Orlando, but I'm still only an hour or so away from the beach on either coast. Right now the weather is great, low to mid 80s but in a few short weeks the heat will be back in full force and it won't be so nice. Thankfully, someone invented air conditioning! :)

How did you come up with your GamerTag?
A while back I wanted to change my gamertag from Boardgameplayer (my original gamertag) to something a bit shorter. I like to program, you may have seen my 360vui web app, and was trying to think up a gamertag related to coding. Everything with "Code" in it seemed to be taken so I started looking at "Kode" instead. That's when I became Koding. Now, I'm thinking of changing it to something math related. Any ideas?

What brought you to 360voice?
Honestly, I don't remember. It's hard to believe I've been a member here for 2 1/2 years. I'm sure it was probably a Google search I did right after I got my first 360. I was looking for interesting sites related to the 360..I found the best one!

What is your favorite part of 360voice?
Well, it's very cool that my 360 can do a daily blog (something I myself have tried...twice...and failed at), but the best thing here is the forums and the community of people that populate it. While I don't currently have the time to roam the forums like I used to, I still try to get in the odd post here and there.

What is something you would like to see on 360voice?
Hmmm...free MS points for every 100 forums posts? ;-) Honestly, I can't think of anything the site needs but I'm sure the guys will add something soon and I'll go "that's awesome...I wish I had thought of that!".

You have at this moment accumulated 3220 forum posts... can you believe that?
Not really. In all the years I've been on the internet, I've never been this active on any forum. The fact that I have is yet another testament to the great community of mods and users there are in the 360voice forums.

If you had the chance, who would you like to meet in-person from 360voice?
I don't think I could choose just one, although if I had to, she'd be single and over 6 feet tall. Better yet, I think we should do a 360voice Meet-Up (in Orlando would be nice) so I can meet all of you (including any single tall females). ;-)

You currently have a streak of 0 days... but used to have 153 days, what happened??
Life, school, stuff like that keeps my streak pretty low right now. And, if I remember correctly, I lost the 153 day streak when my daughter came over one day and I forgot to play. With this semester, my time to play has been extremely limited. I'm hoping I have more time in the summer.

You are currently in Auto Challenge #27031, do you only participate in Auto Challenges? What do you think the outcome of this one will be?
Not only in Auto Challenges but with my hectic work and school schedule this semester, I haven't tried to compete in any real challenges. And this one  will end the way all of the other ones have, I will lose and most probably be in last place. However, when this semester is over, I'll be back in regular challenges...and I'll be doing my best to win them!

How long have you been gaming?
32 years. Wow...that's a long time...

If you can remember, what was the first game you played?
Pong, 1977. Back when a 'bleep', a 'bloop', and monochrome graphics were the things that made us "ooh" and "ahh" over games.

Why do you play videogames?
Actually, this was the subject of a pretty recent forum posting. Here's what I said...

"Because it's fun... where else can I drive a NASCAR race car, jack another car and drive over pedestrians while shooting automatic weapons out the window, get involved in a street fight and punch the lights out of someone, and fight as a soldier (on all sides) of World War II...

...all in the same day...

...without going to jail...

Gaming...where do you want it to take you today?"

I think that pretty much sums it up.

You currently have a GamerScore of 68,739... are there any games you would like to point out that helped you achieve this impressive score?
Avatar: The Last Airbender. :)  OK, maybe not. No games really pop out at me. I've enjoyed playing most of the games on my list and don't (usually) play them just for the gamerscore. However, in the past, I have played games I've not really liked simply to get the gamerscore (*cough* Avatar *cough*), but I don't do that (much) anymore.

Think you will reach 100,000 GS by the end of the year? Or do you not think about GS milestones?
It's possible but not highly probable. It really depends on how many, if any, classes I take during the summer. If I take the summer off, the probably goes up a bit. Still...I don't think it will happen.

Do you enjoy single-player more, or multiplayer, or does it depend entirely on the game?
Usually I prefer the single-player as that's where the story primarily is. For some games, the Call of Duty's for instance, I enjoy the multiplayer more because the single-player campaign is so short.

Seems like every game nowadays is having some form of Co-Op, what are your feelings on that?
I'm all for it. Well, as long as they give us both local co-op and co-op over Live. I've local co-op'd a few games with my son and I started co-op'ing Halo 3 over Live. Actually, that reminds me...I need to finish Halo 3.

What is your favorite food/drink when gaming?
Just water, Coke Zero, or DMD. No food. I don't need Cheetos dust on my controllers. :-)

What is your current gaming set-up?
360: I have an Xbox Premium with a 120 gig hard drive and HD-DVD player. It's connected to a 61" Samsung DLP HDTV for video and a Sony Home Theater Dream System 5.1 channel speaker setup for the audio.

PC: Intel quad-core 2.4 GHz on an eVGA 780i mainboard, 2 gig RAM, eVGA 8800GTX video card, Creative Labs Fatal1ty Platinum Champion Series audio card, 2.5 TB hard drive space, Antec 900 gaming case, 24" Dell LCD monitor displaying 1920x1200 resolution

Yeah, I know, you probably don't want to hear about my PC setup but I do play some games on it and some of them are Games For Windows games that 360voice tracks. :-)

How many xbox360 games do you currently own, including XBLA?
52 retail and around 45 XBLA.

It says on your blog you have played a total of 297 games... what do you think your 300th game will be??
Puzzle Quest Galactrix

Do you have a subscription to GameFly? If so, how many games do you think you "rent" a month?
Not anymore. I'm on and off with GameFly. If I don't take any classes during the summer, I'll probably rejoin until my fall classes start. When I had the service, I usually got between 6 and 10 games each month.

What other consoles do you own?
Sony PS2, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo DSi, and Sony PSP. I also have a Sega Genesis (with Sega CD and 32X) and a Sega Master System boxed up somewhere but I haven't seen them in a while. I'm thinking about getting a PS3 but haven't convinced myself I really want one yet.

When did you join Xbox Live, and why?
The day I got my first 360. At the time, I did it so I would be able to play Gears of War online. I never had an original Xbox so I wasn't exactly sure of what the Xbox Live service provided to me. I was pleasantly surprised.

Do you think you get your money's worth paying for a gold xbox live subscription?
Absolutely. For only a few bucks a month, I get a quality online experience. If there was something similar to it on the PC, I'd sign up in a second.

What are your current top 5 favorite games for Xbox360?
GTA IV, Saints Row 2, Call of Duty 4/World at War, Puzzle Quest (and Galactrix), Burnout Paradise

What are your current top 5 most hated (Read: made you want to throw your controller
out the window) achievements you have earned?
30 year franchise achievement in Madden '06, beating all the time trials in Forza 2 (I had a lot of trouble with Nurburgring), any collection achievements (such as the CD's in Saints Row), and any from Devil May Cry 4.

Are you an achievement whore, completionist, or neither?
OK...I admit it, I used to be a big-time whore. For instance, I hate football, baseball, basketball, etc. but went out of my way to get, play, and beat those games simply because most were easy 1000's. However lately I haven't had time to play games I enjoy, let alone ones I don't just for their score. And I am definitely not a completionist as the short list of games I have completed vs how many I have played can attest to.

What are 5 of your current achievements you are most proud of?
Beating all of the time trials in Forza 2 (like I said above, Nurburgring gave me a lot of grief), getting all of the driver badges in NASCAR 08 (that one took a while), and ... hmmm, that's the only ones that come to mind.

If you could change one thing about Xbox Live, what would it be?
Increase (or remove totally) the cap on how many friends you can have. I'm always near the 100 friends limit and find myself constantly deleting people so I can add new friends.

What games are you looking forward to releasing in the near future?
Splinter Cell: Conviction, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Prototype. And a little bit further down the road, Bioshock 2 and Assassin's Creed 2.

Is there anything you would like to share with everyone, or give any shout-outs?
To my kids, Lucien Vicious and QuadGlitch: Hey, look at me! I'm the Member of the Moment!! To my math students: do your homework and study! To everyone else: Thanks for reading this far. I'm honored to have been chosen at the Member of the Moment and hope everyone learned a little something about me.

Defendit numerus!!!

Thanks again for your time Koding, I have no idea how you found some with everything you do! Hopefully we all will see more of you this summer, and get a chance to play some co-op games as well!

Member of the Moment: MLC2074

Posted on behalf of t4nd4r

Hello, t4nd4r here. I really enjoyed reading MotM when it was posted, so I decided to help out by doing some additional interviews to keep the content fresh! So here is your new Member of the Moment, MLC2074!

How did you decide on a gamertag name?
The MLC stands for my late grandmother's initials.  She was very important to me so I decided to dedicate the gamertag to her.  The 2074 represents the age I was when I joined live (20) and the age she was when she died (74).  Every time I fired up my 360 and log in to Live, I think of
her. :)

What brought you to 360voice?
Actually, I forgot how I got here.  I know someone mentioned it to me, but I can’t remember their name.  If the person who introduced me to this site reads this, I’m sorry for forgetting you!  Please forgive me and remind me know who you are!  :D

What is your favorite part of 360voice?
The community, hands down.  It’s a pleasure to come to a site and interact with people who are mature, open-minded, and as laid-back as the people I’ve encountered on this site.  The forums on this site are the only ones I go to now.  There’s really no reason to post anywhere else!  The forums here are like a bottomless pit of awesome!

What is something you would like to see on 360voice?
Honestly, I can’t think of anything, right now.  The only thing I really wanted and suggested (weekly gains listed in the bragging rights section) got implemented.  All is fine in the world, now. :D  This site is already loaded with features.  I don’t think I could come up with a suggestion even if I tried.

If you had the chance, who would you like to meet in-person from 360voice?
Hmmm… I’ve never thought of that before.  I guess I’ll say it’d be pretty cool to meet Syndelin. I’d get to meet Cormyre, too.  A two for one deal!  I like to look for bargains, lol!  Can’t go wrong with that. :D

You currently have a streak of 4 days, but you had 222 at one point, what happened?
Yes, I don’t like to talk about it too much.  I played one day, came on the site the next, and saw that the games I played hadn’t been captured.  Needless to say, I was upset.  It still annoys me to this day.  All good things must come to an end though.  Eventually, I would have lost the streak.  I guess I was just more annoyed about the way I lost it.

You are currently in a very close auto-challenge, you think you can pull out the win?
Who knows?  I don’t really think so, since I work on weekends and probably won’t have too much time to get many points.  Definitely don’t think I’ll win if my competition drops another 1200 points in a day!   Anything can happen though.  I’ll try my best to win it!  I’m pretty used to losing challenges though.  :D

How long have you been gaming?
Been gaming for 19 years and have loved every moment I had a controller in my hand.  It’s so awesome to see the progress video games have made since I started playing.  It’s even more fun and interesting to go way back before my time.  I’m excited about the future of gaming.  Can’t wait to see what’s next but I still have a soft spot for the past.

If you can remember, what was the first game you played?
Super Mario Bros. on NES.  It was a gift from my cousin when I was three years old.  I loved playing Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.  They were the only two games I would play!  I eventually tried some new stuff (obviously).  I still play Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt on my NES though.  The NES sits right next to my 360.

Why do you like to game?
It’s an awesome way to relax and just forget about everything.  When I’m gaming, I have a good time and just focus on the game.  No stress at all.   Just complete relaxation and I love it.  Plus, it’s cool when you get to play those games that have you feeling like you’re in it.  Also, since I have to come clean, I sometimes imagine that dude I just bashed over the head with a bat is someone who’s been annoying in real life.  I’m too nice to assault someone in real life, so I do it in games. :D

Which do you enjoy the most: single-player, multiplayer, or a little bit of both?
I like SP, mostly.   That has more to do with just not wanting to run into people who don’t know how to just chill and want to kill the mood, I guess.  I’ll play MP if I know the people I’m playing with are cool people.  Otherwise, I’m hesitant.

What do you think about games nowadays having Co-Op campaigns?
I’m all for co-op campaigns.  The A.I. in most games is just plain stupid, lol.  I can’t tell you many times I got blocked by the A.I. while trying to get up the stairs on Mile High Club, in Call of Duty 4.  That’s just one example.  It’s nice to be able to play with a human who usually isn’t going to suck.  Also, it’s good when I want to be lazy and let my partner do all the work.  :D

What is your favorite food/drink when gaming?
I tend to drink cranberry juice or apple juice. Only Simply Apple (go buy some!) though.  Best apple juice ever!  As for food, I usually end up eating some Pop Tarts or chips.  You know, some junk food that’s easily obtainable and doesn’t make much of a mess.

What is your current gaming set-up?
For now, it’s a 42-inch HDTV, mounted on a wall, looking pretty.  :P  That’s pretty much it.  No crazy home theater systems or anything… yet.  I’ll be getting a few goodies in the next few months.

What other consoles do you own?
I’ve got a Wii, PS3, Xbox, Nintendo DS, PSP, Gameboy Color, NES, PSone, PS2 and a Dreamcast.  I think that’s it.  I regret getting rid of some of the other consoles/handhelds I had.  The 360 gets most of my attention though.  That darn sound when you get an achievement keeps me hooked.

When did you join Xbox Live, and why?
I joined right after I got my 360 in November of ’06.  I figured I may want to play online and it would be a good investment.  I wasn’t wrong.

Do you think you get your money's worth paying for a gold xbox live subscription?
Sure.  However, it’s pretty easy to please me.  Considering I’m only paying four bucks and some change per month, it’s hard for me not to think I’m getting my money’s worth.

What are your top 5 favorite games for Xbox360?
Hmmm… of all the games I’ve played for 360, NBA 2k9 (What?  I’m a basketball fan!), Fallout 3, Crackdown, Soulcalibur IV, and Lost Odyssey.  Hard to pick just five, but I’ll go with those as current favorites.

Do you game for points or for fun? Or a combination of both?
Honestly, I game for a combination of the “Achievement Unlocked” sound and fun. :D  Having points associated with the achievements is cool but it’s all about the sound!  If Microsoft suddenly got rid of the sound that plays when you unlock an achievement, I’d be sad.

What are some achievements you are most proud of?
Mile High Club, from Call of Duty 4, is definitely the achievement I’m most proud to say I have.  I am also proud of the Perfectionist achievement from Bully: SE.  I had fun getting that one.

If you could change one thing about Xbox Live, what would it be?
I’d make the rep system actually mean something and tighten up on people who make the experience bad for others by being jerks.  I also kind of want to eliminate random FRs that don’t come with a message. :D

What games are you looking forward to releasing in the near future?
I don’t really keep up with releases.  I know, sounds crazy.  I’m more of impulse kind of gamer though.  I usually go to a store without having any idea what I’d like to buy.  I’ve never been too good about keeping up with release dates.  I’d rather not think too much about games until they’re released.  Otherwise, you get all excited and your head just implodes…

I would like to play Street Fighter IV soon though.  Waiting for that one from Gamefly.

How many times have you been asked for "booty pics"?
Oh goodness, this is going to turn into a fad isn’t it?  I’d like to thank Kiss Me Goodbye for starting this mess with her crazy stories. :D

I have never been asked for “booty pics,” fortunately, lol.

Is there anything you would like to share with everyone, or give any shout-outs?
I want everyone to know that I ha… love you all. :P If anyone who doesn’t visit the forums is reading this, you’re missing out on a great community.  Stop by and introduce yourself.  Oh yeah, add me to your watch list.  All the cool people watch me.  You’re not cool if you don’t.  Don’t worry, I’ll watch back.  Was going to say a little more but, once again, my attention span has failed me.

I hope you enjoyed this MotM!

Member of the Moment: Disbron

[posted on on behalf of Syndelin and MightyMango]

The MoTM has been on a bit of hiatus the last few months. Lawl Pwned has been “Pwning” it quite well for sometime. Its time to bring the pain and announce the new victor of the MoTM status, Disbron, who hails from the Southwest corner of the USA.

Q: So here it goes…..How long have you been gaming?
A: Since 1984 on an Atari 2600.

Q: What was the first game that you played and what drew you to gaming in general?
A: My first game that I have ever played was Pitfall. What drew me to it? I guess you could say I’ve always been a computer geek. Oregon Trail anyone?

Q: What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?
A: I guess it would have been Major Nelson. The best feature would be the great community atmosphere that we have here.

Q: You have a streak of 316 days as of this writing, what have you done to keep it going?
A: Sure determination, which has been influenced by PSonic. Plus I’ve got to stay ahead of General Tynstar, and DomeJohnny.

Q: Is there anything on 3v that isn’t that you would like to see?
A: Well the infamous Badges 2.0 which is supposed to be out soon [8P]

Q: Who from 3v would you like to meet in person?
A: Wow, well there is a lot of cool and interesting people that I would like to meet and couldn’t really narrow it down to one. I would like to meet you (Mightymango), General Tynstar, ZeroDesolation, Jack Burton, Slim Pizza Boy, I could go on.

Q: What is your game setup?
A: Right now I have changed setups, because the wife was not pleased with me playing games in the Living room. It was a 72 inch HD Mitsubishi TV set with a Yamaha surround sound system. Now down to a 32 inch Sony SD TV. BIG difference now.

Q: What other systems do you own?
A: I do own a Playstation 2, but that’s for the kids so they can play Sing Star on it.

Q: How long have you been a part of Xbox Live?
A: Since June 06

Q: What is your favorite part of Xbox Live?
A: Friends List and the Achievement System.

Q: As of this writing you have played 176 games, is there any new games that you are really looking forward to?
A: Gear of War 2, there are a few others but I’m really looking forward to this one.

Q: You are in the “Epic” Challenge to 100 retail completions, currently in first place. Do you think you can keep that momentum?
A: I’m not sure if I can, there is some really good competitors that I’m going against. It was a real challenge to pass General Tynstar.

Q: What achievement are you the most proud of?
A: Well there has been quite a few, Completed all Scenarios in FIFA 06, Mile High Club in Call of Duty 4, and Completing Call of Duty 2

Q: What feature of the “Next Xbox Experience” as it is now called are you looking towards the most?
A: Party Chat, and Netflix integrations.

Q: Is there anything you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?
A: I would like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity for being the Member of the Moment. And that this is by far the best community out there.

Q: If you could live anywhere but in the heat of Arizona where would you live?
A: Back in my home State of California.

Thanks again Ron!

Member of the Moment: Lawl Pwned

(posted on behalf of Mr Achievement and Syndelin)

It's been a long month or so people...  let's see if we can get a new face on the front page! This one is newer (to the world) then most of our members for sure. The young gamers are always the ones to watch out for though, as they will be making the big decisions in the gaming world someday soon! Lawl Pwned has been around the 3V forums long enough to wrack up over 1,100 posts, and I think at least a few of those were rather useful!  Let's see what all he has to say when we try to get even more text out of him!

Q: Let's get some basic stuff out of the way first. How long have you been gaming?

A: Well I started out gaming at age 4 with the SNES. It was around Christmas in 1997 and I was ecstatic cause all of my friends were Nintendo freaks and were dieing to get the SNES when it came out. Luckily when I ran downstairs I grabbed that box hooked the wires and started gaming up a storm. Haven't stopped since!

Q: What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?

A: Well its a game that has been remade quite a few times and its still my favorite game of all time to this day! Mario Kart for the SNES was a heck of a fun game to beat your pops in when your at age 4 and even at age 15 its STILL fun! I wasn't a major fan of the other Mario Karts but the 2D version made my gaming into what it is today pretty much.

Q: What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?

A: Gotta give my shout out to Oddball DeIta for showing me this site. I was in computer class goofin around and doing my classwork when I saw Oddball sign into 360voice. At first I was confused about the whole concept of making a blog and having it write on its own but it grew on me and look at me now! I really like the feature of being able to watch 100 people cause now I can actually watch way more people I've been meaning to check into. ;3

Q: Your current streak is 0, but you had 218 days at one point, wow! What happened? Do you plan to keep going past your record again at some point?

A: Ah. Well thats hard to say. I never even thought I'd pass 100 but luckily like the mighty PSonic I've found ways to pass 100 and then eventually 200 with no sweat. As for what killed the streak lets say the beach is a killer (gaming wise).   Streaking wise I'm not even sure if I could get back on there again but if I get a good streak going along, I'd do it again :)

Q: Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?

A: Man is there a list! One of my old ideas was the "Renting" portion and it was added so that made me a happy gamer. I'd like to see a few games I have in mind added to certain genres. Lastly, I remember seeing this idea of adding different types of challenges to the site that made me say, "Hey! Thats not a bad idea!"

Q: Who would win in a fight, Fatty Chubs or Squidpunch?

A: Sorry Chubs but Squid looks like he can pack a "punch" when it comes to fighting ;D

Get it? Eh, Eh? Oh nevermind...

Q: When did you sign up for live?

A: Still remember the exact date! September 9th 2007 (also same date I received my Xbox).

Q: What is your game setup?

A: I don't really think I have one. I just randomly play some songs on my iTunes and pick any game that I thought or have been meaning to complete lately :)

Q: What other systems, if any, do you own?

A: I am glad to say I own a Wii. I know people say its a childish system with its "korny" games and unusual game play but I guess thats what makes it fun and entertaining to play with others! I also have a PS2 but since I got the Xbox I haven't touched that thing xP

Q: What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?

A: Private chat and the ability to mute people. Sometimes when your playing a game of Gears or Halo and you really don't wanna hear the random noises or yelps people make, the mute button is there to tell you "SILENCE THEM!"

Q: Do you own or rent games for the most part?

A: I'll put most of my games in the rented. I've had Gamefly for around 2 and half months and I could say that easily 15 or so of my games have been rented through Blockbuster or Gamefly. Though don't get me wrong! I buy games, I just prefer testing them out before buying :)

Q: Are there any genres that you prefer over the others, or do you just like to game, no matter what type it is?

A: Well I'm a MAJOR fan of two genres at the moment. The music and retro genre. I've been a metal head since elementary and GH has been an EPIC way of playing and practicing my fingers for the actual guitar. (I'm currently learning the actual guitar while playing GH so I'm hoping the speed I got from GH will help with it).

As for retro as the old saying goes, "like father like son".

Q: Any must-have titles for remainder 2008, or ones that you have played already this year that you think will take the title of "game of the year" for you?

A: I'm going with Fable 2 or Fallout 3 on this one. Both are majorly anticipated games and I sure can't wait for both of them! CoD5 looks like it might be a stick bomb in my opinion and Halo Wars might be pretty epic so all of them might be part of the pot in the game of the year for me :)

Q: You have the HTTK badge. Do you play for points... or fun?

A: I like mixing the two. I usually am a competitive person and enjoy making "challenges" against with other people on the site. I also like making competitions with other people out there may it be for gamerscore, a match on Halo 3, or even badge score (that was intended for you Zero!) as long as its fun and entertaining I'm game :)

Q: What contest did you win to get the highly sought after contest winner badge?

A: I really didn't "win" a contest. I just joined the gamerDNA live chat with a mess of cool people talking about the union 360voice and gamerDNA were making and ended up winning a shirt in a raffle for just being in the chat and talking up a storm with a mess of cool people.

Q: I see that you have quite a few watchers!  What do you think is the most interesting part about being a watcher of your blog?

A: The responses that I get on my blog towards my mass comments are a blast! I've met quite a few people through the comments I've gained and even friend requests over live due to my mass comments to them.

Q: What is the one Achievement you are most proud of?

A: Guitar Hero 2: 1 million. Duo Expert Free bird...Enough said.

Q: Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?

A: Multichat! I would love to be able to talk to multiple of my friends over Live or clan battle for certain games. I'd love to have the P0 (Pwn Own) Clan on Halo start clan matching over live and winning tons of matches again! (Bet none of you knew I was in a Halo Clan huh? ;D)

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?

A: Theres not much I can add to this. I'm just your average 15 year old boy that loves gaming, hanging out with his friends, and watching movies with his girlfriend. (Sorry ladies ;3) I know I've been kind of inactive in the forums but comment wise I'm still active! I'll be back to major gaming by August 1st so keep your eyes on the watch for me in the forums guys and thanks for having me as your MoTM! :)

Thank you so much for your time and your contributions here at 360voice.   The members truly do make the community what it is!

Member of the Moment: T360UK Smiley

So the "Wheel of Members" stopped with a grin this month.. Well, maybe not so much a grin as a T360UK Smiley! Rather than force you to read a bunch more of my oh-so clever one-liners, I will get to questioning the newest Member of the Moment!

What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?
The first game I played must of been on my Dad’s BBC Acorn, it was something he had written himself where you attempt to move various animals from one side of the river to the other, but various animals can't be left together else they will eat each other. This must have been when I was about 4-5, so around 20 years ago! I think the fact that I could "do it" when other things such as spelling failed me so badly. Finding something I was good at gave me a push to want more.

All my Dad ever made was Barbeque.. How long have you been gaming?
My first console was the Master System. I remember it came with Alex the Kid (in Miracle Land) built-in. I got it for one of my birthdays; I estimate I was around 10 at the time. The mega drive had just been released and so the price of the Master System dropped so my parents could afford it.

So here is the real question, What brought you to 360voice?
When my flatmate at the time decided to buy a 360, I saw GeoWars and decided that if in anyway I could find the money to get my own, then it would happen. Randomly a few months later University decided to tell me that, in fact, I didn't need to pay my own fees and they were covered by part of a grant I had received. With this I knew I could get one, and started Googling for various 360 sites, this is how I found 360voice!

Thank Heavens for Google! Any 360voice memorable moments you want to share?
Being chosen for the "Red Rabbit" Beta of the challenges was awesome, I remember randomly finding the email from the site and thinking "Oh, they are launching a new idea", then I actually read it and it invited me to join the Beta! I was so excited. It kind of proved to me that I was an accepted member of the community, and that was really nice.

There was a Beta? Man, I never get in Betas.. Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?
I really can't think of anything - what a rubbish answer, but 360voice does soooooooo well to already fill all of my requirements.

Here comes a tough question... Who would win in a fight, Fatty Chubs, ChangeAgent or Squidpunch?
Fatty Chubs, if the other two won, he would remove their badges and proclaim the contest never happened! - Badges prove the truth! ;). In reality, I hope we never find out, as they should never fight! They are maybe the greatest team I know and I'm glad to be able to say that I take part in what they have created.

Aren’t we all... When did you sign up for Live?
About 20 minutes after I got my 360 home. In fact, I had already created my "Live ID" many years before when the original Xbox's version of Live was new. This was due to working within a LAN Gaming Center and us doing various testing and events on behalf of Microsoft. I also helped with trials for the World Cyber Games and various other "Pro-Gaming" Events.

Simple enough, NEXT! What is your Game Setup?
I have a full Desktop PC running gentoo linux, and this provides sound mixing for my 360, allowing me to play my mp3s and mix the volume nicely with whatever game I'm playing - I also have a VGA Switchbox which lets me switch between having the 360 or my computer in control of the monitor. It’s a bit of a power user setup, but that’s what I am. :)

What other systems, if any, do you own?
I have a Wii, which gets some playtime when friends, etc. come around but it gets nowhere near as much attention as my 360! WiiFit is interesting, as it’s made me consider my health, which I believe is something all Gamers should do really.

Health conscious gaming... Beautiful. What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?
I think I'll have to sadly say Achievements, however not for the fact you can wave them in other people’s faces. It’s the fact they have allowed games to be played to death and you actually getting some end result from it instead of thinking "oh, I've wasted 20 hours of my life" I can now say "I wasted 20 hours, but got 1000/1000!". Sounds weird, but to me, it’s worth it!

Your not the only one that feels that way. What new ones coming up are you looking forward to?
Gears of War 2, apart from this, not much really. I tend not to set my sights on any given game in case I can't afford them when they release or something else happens which ends up meaning I can't play. I also don’t play demos for this same reason. If it play it, I want it. If I want it, I buy it!

After that I can almost guess the answer to this one. Do you own or rent games for the most part?
Own, there is no way of easily renting in the UK which would fit how I play games. I try to get 110% out of a game and this means generally I can spend anything up to a few months playing a single game. As rental costs generally factor you having the game for a few weeks maximum, it just doesn't make sense for me to rent. Oh, and I get 25% discount on software because of my job. ;)

No Gamefly? I weep for you. Are there any Genres that you prefer over the others, or do you just like to game, no matter what type it is?
RPG's are my love. Nothing gets me hooked like a good RPG, it’s just a shame that they are so time consuming! Also I really enjoy playing FPS as I've played them pretty much all through my gaming life. Sticking with what I know seems best. ;)

With that said, Any must-have titles for 2008 or something that you have played already this year that you think will take the title of "Game of the Year" for you?
Grand Theft Auto IV is amazing at the moment, and GoW2 should hopefully take this title, but I'm sure there will be other games in the meantime which might even steal it off these two giants of gaming quality. At least, I HOPE someone can produce something to live up to the style and finesse that GTA has shown us. It would be a shame if no one can do better.

We can only hope. What is your most memorable moment on Xbox Live?
Once lagging while playing GoW on Gridlock. I managed to fire the Boomshot, run across the map, glancing sideways to see my own shot traveling along beside me. I ran into a group of Locust and then my shot hit me in the back. As you can't "self kill" it instead blew up killing the entire Locust Team, much to the shock of myself and my teammates!

Nice! What is the one Achievement you are most proud of?
I think 7-day Survivor on Dead Rising - This achievement needed about 4 attempts before I finally managed it, and anyone who tried for it knows that one little mistake can mean instant doom in that mode. Also the fact you can't save means you have to sit down and play for a LONG hard period of time seems to make it so much more worthwhile when it finally unlocks!

Is there anything else that you would like to add, or that you would like the Community to know about you?
I'm part of Team 360 UK, a wonderful group of guys who just like to have fun, we did play professionally for awhile, appearing on XLEAGUE TV and various websites, before deciding to just play for fun... and I once won a T-Shirt from HMV for playing "Rollcage" at a stupidly high speed ;)

And there it is!

Do you find yourself longing for the past? Remembering the members that already had their moments? Go discover the forgotten.

Member of the Moment: MightyMango

For this rounds Member of the Moment, we had to stop and ask ourselves a few questions. "Can you know the mighty ocean? Can you lasso a star from the sky? Can you say to a rainbow... 'Hey, stop being a rainbow for a second'? No! such is Mango!"

MightyMango, that is. He certainly does have a mighty gamerscore to go along with his name, at an amazing 80,619 at the time of this interview! He is in the top 1% after all. He also plays well with others, and has a mighty forum presence, including helping people out in support threads. Not bad for a fruit! Some people may also know him as Ryan, and he resides in my home state of Minnesota!

Let's see what the good word is from the fruit bowl today!

Q: So here goes... How long have you been gaming?

A: My wife tells me all my life, but probably since about 1982. I started on an Apple IIe of all things. I didn't actually play on a console until 1983 and my first console was an Atari 5200. I actually still own it.

Q: What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?

A: Well, if you want to call it a game it was "Turtle". You basically had to "command" the "Turtle" which was nothing more then a triangle through a maze. My first console game that I really remember was the awful Pac-Man port on the 2600. The game that really sucked me in though was Dig Dug on my 5200.

Q: What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?

A: Well my friend Sothy kept posting in a IRC channel about his blog on 360v. So I signed up and kinda forgot that I did until around August of last summer. The I discovered the forums and was instantly hooked. It is a friendly forum and I felt right at home. ZeroDesolation was the first person I really started to talk to and then I joined the Order. I guess the rest is history.

Between the forums and the blogs I don't think I can really pick out one feature that I really think is the best. There are so many things that the site and the community do so well. The one feature that I know I obsess about the most though is the streaks. Yeah, I know I'm just over 100 days right now but the lengths that I go to to keep it going are just silly. I just moved and I was having problems getting my internet up and running, I was just about ready to take my 360 to my work to use the internet on my day off.

Q: Speaking of streaks... your current streak is 105 days, but you had 167 at one point, wow! Do you plan to keep going past your record this time?

A: Well I have 3 systems now as well as my PC so I think my streak will be safe. It all depends on my wife going into labor. I looked and the hospital looks like it has wireless so I may be bringing a 360 with.

Q: We need video if you're sitting there playing the 360 while your wife is in labor! Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?

A: One thing I would like to see is the time that you played a game recorded like it was over on Liveeye. Other then that the guys in charge seem to be doing an excellent job adding features all the time so by the time I think of something to add its already there.

Q: Who would win in a fight, Syndelin or Mr. Achievement?

A: Syndelin because she is from Minnesota, women from here are fighters, mainly because of the 6 months of winter we have to deal with.

Q: Good answer, and too true!! When did you sign up for live?

A: Well, I signed up when live was available over 5 years ago. That was on a different gamertag that I haven't used since the 360 launch. So I've been on live since the beginning.

Q: What is your game setup?

A: Well, right now its mostly in cardboard boxes pretty SWEET. It will be two 360's on a 63inch DLP, one US system and one Japanese system. The 3rd xbox will be in my bedroom on a 50inch or on a 42 inch plasma in my new family room. Though the cardboard boxes do look pretty sweet.

Q: I think I'll have that setup in a week or so (The boxes that is)! What other systems, if any, do you own?

A: This is a funny question. I'm a video game collector and have systems from the PS3 back to the RCA Studio II (Yes thats a system). I currently am pushing close to 3000 total titles and my 360 collection is at 214 US retail titles as well as all the arcade games and a few imports as well. I will say that my favorite older system is the NES with about 491 titles.

Q: No wonder you have so many boxes for your setup! What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?

A: Other the achievement points, the voice chat. I like that I can talk to a friend who is playing a completely different title than I am.

Q: You have played 250 games! That's amazing. What new ones coming up are you looking forward to?

A: Gears 2 has my interest. Bionic Commando looks interesting as well. Grid, Haze, and Lego Indiana Jones all look fun as well.

Q: Do you own or rent games for the most part?

A: Own, but I do have an account on Gamefly. I end up buying a lot of games through them because the games are complete and in really good shape. I have been know to "rent" games to people though :-P

Q: You have enough, you could be your own gamefly! ;) Are there any genres that you prefer over the others, or do you just like to game, no matter what type it is?

A: I just like to play games pure and simple. FPS and Race titles tend to be my favorite genres but hack and slash games tend to be ones I play the most.

Q: Any must-have titles for 2008, or ones that you have played already this year that you think will take the title of "game of the year" for you?

A: I think Grid could end up being my game of the year. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is another excellent title as well, I just haven't had enough time to really get into it.

Q: You do seem pretty busy lately. You have a 3 star challenge badge, but not the HTTK badge yet? Do you play for points... or fun?

A: Well, every challenge that I really tried in someone tried harder. I had the first chance to get the viral badge and Fatty and Disbron walked all over me. So now I play for fun, if I get the HTTK badge thats just an added bonus.

Q: You have a badge that everyone seems to be after!  What contest did you win?

A: I got randomly picked on a contest that was on the front page. I won "The Simpsons Video Game" and its actually a game that my kids request me to play all the time.

Q: I see that you're one of the members of the race to 100 completed retail games as well. How is that going and who do you think will be the first to pull it off?

A: I think Tynstar will do it, but it depends on his future schooling. I think I still have a chance now that I've finally moved. Its going to be interesting to see in the end, everyone of the people that are in it have a good chance of pulling it off.

Q:What is the one Achievement you are most proud of?

A: Beating COD2 on Veteran. People say its a fast 1000 points, but its a VERY hard 1000 points. That is one that I will remain proud of.  Closely behind that would be the score 50,000 in Discs of Tron.

Q: Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?

A: Group voice chat is greatly needed. It would make the 360 enviroment in gaming more like PC gaming.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?

A: Well, most of the things I say are just to egg people on. It was fun to pick on Fatty a few months ago that I was going to catch his gamer score. I would like to think that I'm a helpful member of the community that is willing to help out other gamers achieve their gaming goals. I would also like people to check out Rfgeneration.com if they are into collecting as its an excellent database for collectors to keep track of their games. Thanks to 360 voice for choosing me to be the  Member of the Moment, its a pretty sweet honor.  Thanks Everyone, you are what makes this site great!!

Congrats Ryan, on the new house, the future hospital visit for the birth of your new baby, and also congrats on them having wireless internet there! Oh yeah, and the whole Member of the Moment 15 seconds of fame on the front page thing too. Thank you so much for your time, and contributions to 360voice. Community Members like you make 360voice the wonderful place that it is!

Member of the moment: Bill Mcdougal

(posted on behalf of Mr Achievement and Syndelin)

So the recount is finished and the Supreme Court has ruled that Bill Mcdougal is the newest Member of the Moment! Bill has a cat named Halo... yes, Halo... wanna hear the best part? His Mother named the cat! Fanboyism must be a genetic trait... one that I hope my children obtain. So without any further delay, I'll get to the interview...

Q: So here goes... How long have you been gaming?

A: I was born in 85 and I believe that I received my Nintendo Entertainment System at four years old, so I've guess I've been gaming for 19 years now. It was a Christmas present, and I have an old VHS around here somewhere of myself jumping around, excitedly exclaiming "intendo!" over and over.

Q: Santa... a Gamers Best Friend! What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?

A: Well, like most everyone who started on the NES, my first game was Super Mario Bros (and Duck Hunt, of course). I was young, so I'm sure I was drawn in to gaming simply because I was amazed at being able to control what happened on the TV with a little controller. I know I wasn't drawn in because of skill, though, because I don't remember ever getting very far at all in that game! It was also my first adventure in multiplayer gaming, though of course this was back when that meant taking turns playing a single-player game. My childhood friend and I would constantly fight over who got to be Mario and who had to be Luigi!

Q: Luigi never ran as fast, Mario was always better! What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?

A: I started off by making a blog because I thought it was really neat to be able to have my gaming recorded without having to actually write it myself. I would check in often to see what interesting or funny things my Xbox had to say about me and my gaming. It wasn't until I heard about the Old Spice Experience Challenge that I really became active. I thought it was incredibly cool that I could win actual prizes for playing games. I mean, how can it get any better than that? Now that the challenges for prizes are over, I still join challenges just for fun.

Overall, I'd have to say that the challenge system is the best feature of the site. Everything just works great, it's innovative, and it's a lot of fun. However, my favorite part of the site overall would have to be the forums. I can't really say it's the best "feature," considering most gaming sites have forums, but it's definitely the reason I keep coming back. This is because, out of all of the gaming forums I've ever visited, 360 Voice is the first to really make me want to post frequently and get involved. I have to say it's because the forums here have the best gaming community I've ever seen. There are so many regulars here that are just incredibly helpful, nice, and simply awesome to chat with. I don't feel like I'm one poster in a sea of random gamers all looking out for themselves, but part of an amazing community, so I feel a constant need to check in on the forums many times a day!

Q: 10 Posts per day says you are definitely busy! So your current streak is 157 days, wow! How long do you think you can make it last?

A: Yeah, it amazes me to think about it! I actually haven't really had to TRY to make it last, as I play games every day, even if its just long enough to play a song or two on Rock Band during a busy day. I guess it will probably last until I finally go on another vacation!

Q: No Wireless Adapter for the Hotel Connection... and you call yourself a streaker! Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?

A: Honestly, the only thing I can think of would be to see some part of the late LiveEye service integrated  with this site. I know it was closed because of technical limitations, though, so I doubt we'll see it happen. It was just so cool to be able to look at how many hours I've played in a particular game. It really made me feel like a purchase was worth it when I could go prove that I've spent SO many hours in it! Other than that, I'd just like to see this site continue with the successes it deserves.

Q: Good choice... maybe impossible, but good choice! Who would win in a fight, Fatty Chubs, ChangeAgent or Squidpunch?

A: Hahaha, what a strange question! I don't know, it seems like they all do a ridiculous amount of work to keep this site running strong and always improving, and I respect them so much for being active in the community, that I'd hate to see them fight! Don't do it, guys!

Q: You can thank andyg8180 for that one... When did you sign up for live?

A: Immediately! I knew that being able to play Xbox games online would be huge and I couldn't wait! My previous experience with online play was just so amazing, between PC games like Unreal Tournament and Worms 2 and my first console-based online play with Chu Chu Rocket on the Sega Dreamcast. I picked up the service when it came out and started with the bundled MotoGP racing game. Playing against other people online was just tons of fun, though I'm glad the 360 has abandoned the voice-masking feature of those days! Of course I was a big fan of Halo 2 when that came out, but then I moved on and I at least try the LIVE multiplayer portion of every game I play.

Q: I saw your "Founding Member" Gamerpic... Jealous? I am. What is your game setup?

A: A 50" Samsung Plasma is the center of my gaming setup! My girlfriend and I basically went in to debt for the thing, but it was totally worth it! We woke up early in the morning to buy it on Black Friday, 2006. And then on Black Friday of last year, we went back to pick up a surround sound system to go with it. We love it, and it really does make these new-gen games much more immersive and incredible.

Q: Black Friday... Santa's Best Friend! What other systems, if any, do you own?

A: The Xbox 360 is really all I need! I kept my Xbox until recently, but I had only played one game for it since the 360 came out, so I decided to go out and sell it. Also, my girlfriend owned a PS2 and brought that with her in the move, but we don't even have it hooked up. The 360 really has everything I could want in a console.

Q: Fanboy, FTW!!! What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?

A: I guess I'd have to go with the service-wide friends list. Trying to meet up with your friends in PC games was just so much of a hassle. It's really helpful to be able to have one list of friends that goes across all games. If I'm off playing one game and a buddy is playing something else, the fact that we can still send messages back and forth or go off to play something together is a spectacular feature! And if I'm not sure what to play, it's great to be able to pull up my friends list and see what all of my friends are playing.

Q: You were the creator of the "Friends of 360v" project... Was there anything unexpected that has occurred since its creation?

A: Yes, I saw that the Friends-of-Friends feature that let you view the friends lists of your buddies could be used to make social groups, so I thought it would be perfect for this community. I made a gamertag called "Friends of 360v" that the forum regulars could join, so that they could select this tag on their friends list and have access to all of the other participants, to see what they're playing and send them messages and game invites. It really was everything I thought it would be, and I got to play some games with some of you guys, but the idea kind of hit a snag when the gamertag filled up to 100 members. I added a second gamertag named "FriendsOf360v2" to the original list, so that people could join that one and be able to select the original list through it's friends list, but I discovered that the feature only went 1-friend-deep. I have the tags' options set so that "everyone" can see their friends list, but for some reason, you can't view it through another friend's list of friends. It worked great up until that snag, though, and hopefully Microsoft will fix the issue.

Q: A Friends of 360v Petition should be made immediately! Do you own or rent games for the most part?

A: I rent most of the games I play. I play a lot, so Gamefly seemed to be the best option for my wallet...

Q: Gamefly Members have no reason to buy anyways! What games were lucky enough to have made it into you permanent collection (why?)?

A: I only actually purchase a game when I know it's something I'll be picking up for months and months to come, so I only own a few games. I purchased Viva Pinata (well that one was more like my girlfriend's purchase), EDF 2017 (used from Gamefly for very cheap), Halo 3 (that's a given, right?), Guitar Hero 2, as the music genre was the biggest thing I felt the original Xbox lacked, and I was jealous of PS2 for their support from Harmonix all those years, and my definite favorite, Rock Band. I still play it almost every day. I don't see it ever getting old, especially with the downloadable content

Q: Rhythm Games make me say "Uncle"... Any must-have titles for 2008, or ones that you have played already this year that you think will take the title of "game of the year" for you?

A: Game of the Year is hard to call, but there are a lot of games that I am REALLY looking forward to. GTA IV looks great; Gears of War 2 should be amazing; Soul Calibur is my favorite fighting franchise; tons of incredible Xbox Live Arcade games to look forward to; and anything that my girlfriend is excited about playing (or watching) with me, like Ghostbusters and Aliens. Mostly, I'm just excited about what a huge selection of titles will be out by the end of the year. It should be another terrific year for the 360!

Q: HTTK Badge? 2 wins in 6 Challenges? NICE! When you aren't in a challenge, do you play for points... or fun?

A: I won the first two challenges I was in, as I was really in to the idea of winning free stuff for playing games. It turned out to be a little more difficult than I expected, so it was basically my introduction to the whole concept of playing for points. I like the achievement system, and would always pay attention to what achievements were available and try to shoot for them, but the challenges really took it to a new level. It was a lot of fun in its own way, as getting as many points as possible is kind of like a meta-game itself. However, since then, I've decided to just play for fun. I still can't help but go out of my way for the achievements, though! They're addictive!

Q: I can hear that... What is Achievement you are most proud of?

A: That is a really tough one! So many are based on being persistent or just playing a game a whole lot, so I guess the achievements I'm most proud of are some skill-based achievements found in some Arcade titles. If I had to choose, I guess I'd say the hardest game I've completed would be Jetpac Refueled, so I suppose I'll go with "You can stop now!" for beating the game.

Q: Good call! Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?

A: I think they knocked out my most-wanted last time with divx support. But next time, I'd really like to see them let you see your friend's friends list, so that the Friends of 360v project would work the way I intended, and would be able to grow more. That, or full-fledged clan support, which could basically accomplish the same thing.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?

A: I love this site! This is honestly my favorite website. I'd like the community to know that I'd like to play more games with you guys. Unfortunately, the hours I game in don't always overlap with most of the community, but I'd love to play some upcoming games with more of you, or hop on Rock Band with a couple of you guys. You're an awesome group of gamers and I'll see you on LIVE!

Thanx so much for your time, Bill. Without community Members like you the site wouldn't be the same!