360voice Dev Blog

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!

Member of the moment: SoupyC

(posted on behalf of Syndelin and Mr. Achievement)

I'm not sure what these postcard nominations are all about, but this one came in with a picture of the Queen on it, or is it a potato?  Well, either way, it had SoupyC scrawled along the back of it!

Congratulations, SoupyC, you are our Member of the Moment!   We know a little about SoupyC, since he's been hanging around posting like crazy in our forums for quite awhile now.  He seems to split his time between the UK and Ireland, so we know he probably owns an umbrella!   We know he's a handsome bloke, thanks to our recent "faces" thread.  We all know that he is an amazingly nice guy, and we love having him around.  We also know that he likes to put up side challenges with other members of our community.   Will SoupyC or dieselv2 get 10 completed retail games first?!   The world may never know...   so we decided to ask a few questions that we can get some answers to for certain.

How long have you been gaming?
I'm now 20, and have been gaming for about 16 years! It seems scary when I think I've been gaming over three quarters of my life but it also makes sense given the amount I game now, lol!

What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?
Woah that's a long time ago... Ummm, I think it was a game I had for an Amstrad CPC 464. Check here to see what that is! The thing is, I don't remember the name of the game, just that the object was to run across bridges, from one corner of the screen to the opposite, and the bridges raised and lowered...was fun when I was 4, lol! What really drew me into gaming was my Amiga A1200. I had LOADS of games for it (all legit of course *cough*) and I would spend every free minute of the day before and after school playing on it. I played SWOS a lot on it, and was pleased to see it recently released as an XBLA game! Other favourite games of mine were Lemmings, Wings of Fury and Super Cars II. Ohhh...what a system it was! =D

What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?
I was told about it by a friend (Bill00) in university and thought it sounded decent. Checked it out, signed up for the blog...all was good. Then I met the forums, which he never did, and I've been here since, sometimes more frequently than others!

The challenges are a GREAT feature, and they're actually what made me come back after a period of absence. It was the e-mail that let me know I got to be in the beta (Red Rabbit FTW!!) that attracted me back and but getting back into the community has kept me here, and it is definitely the best feature on the site. The people are friendly, helpful, witty and insane...but so is every family, right? It's the family atmosphere that makes it great!

I see you had a 100 day streak, what ended it?  What were some of the efforts that you made to keep it going?
Arrghh...don't remind me, lol! I was going on vacation for a week in Spain and up until 2 nights before leaving I was planning on taking the 360 with me. My girlfriend decided that wasn't happening, so I raced to find another solution. My answer was her brother...I told him he could borrow my 360 as long as he kept my streak going, I walked him through it, even made him do it for me, I was confident it was secure. I checked my blog after a few days and almost cried! =( Confused I phoned him and asked what happened. He thought he'd done everything right and was confused himself. It was only when I returned that I discovered he had forgot to turn the router on, and when it said I'd been signed in (not to Live) he thought he had done his part.

I don't mind though, 100 days was my ultimate aim...and now my aim is to beat the previous highest, every time I break it. We'll see how that goes! ;)

Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?
Not really to be honest! Everything is pretty sweet as is. I would like to see some form of LiveEye-esque data now that squidpunch is part of the dev team, but I understand why the concept of LiveEye is hard to achieve with the Microsoft data, so I'm not too bothered. And apart from that I'm just awaiting the arrival of Badges 2.0...that'll be sweet! =D

When did you sign up for live?
I signed up for it when I had my original Xbox. I think it would've been October 2004 but can't be sure. I think at the time the 360 wasn't released, yet I also know that I didn't get a 360 at launch. I transferred my live account from my xbox to my 360 when I did get one.

What is your game setup?
I actually have 2 setups. One, is a 32" Hannspree XV (cheap HDTV flat screen with GREAT quality!) with a 360 Core system through component cables and the other a 20" Goodmans HDTV with a 360 Premium system through component. I also have 2 wireless controllers, one wired controller, a chatpad, 3 headsets, 20Gb Hard Drive (which I share depending which setup I am using), Live Vision camera and a media remote. Not exactly 'top notch' but it does for me! Plus, next year I'm hoping to make my room more 'gaming' orientated. That means new furniture and sound system! =)

What other systems, if any, do you own?
I have ownED a lot of systems in the past but currently I own 2 Xbox 360's, a PlayStation 1&2 and a Nintendo DS. I never play the PlayStations anymore, they're just accumulate space at the moment. I play the DS quite regularly but mainly that's because it's quite new. I bought it when I was in Spain and I missed gaming, lol! That's what 100 days solid will do to you, lol!

What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?
I guess Friends Management (I say management because it includes a lot of things!) I like having a list of Friends that I can quickly see what they're all doing, or what they were last doing, and I like the new Friends of Friends facility.

You have 123 played games in your 3v list. What games that you have played in this last year really stand out for you, and why?
I had a lot of time for the Guitar Hero series and Mass Effect this year. I had played friend's copies of Guitar Hero 1 & 2 on the PS2 before and loved the idea of it, so when 360 versions were released I knew I had to have it! Great fun to play at any time and one of those games you can just pick up, play, and set down again. Will be a firm favourite of mine until Rock Band is released for me! Mass Effect was interesting to me as I wasn't previously into RPG games but this one sucked me in. The only reason I got out of it was challenges and the fact that I wasn't earning very many points for it, but I want to go back and finish some more playthroughs sometime soon!

Do you own or rent games for the most part?
Own the most, but starting to rent more recently. I subscribe to LoveFilm (UK based online rental company) and they started to offer 360 games not so long ago. I've had a few from them but most of the games I've played I've owned. Not really a fan of trading games until recently either, but the amount of new games and lack of money to spend on them has led me down that path!

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?
I think GTA IV will take game of 2008 for me simply because I love the series. I've played every one since the original on the PS1 and can't get enough of them. They developed my love for sandbox games and with each new one I look forward to it more and more. Now, that they're releasing the next one on my favourite console (360 of course!) I'm over the moon! Bring on April 29th...

I see you have participated in quite a few challenges, and even won a few! What do you feel is the best part of the challenges feature?
Seeing the progression daily is great fun. The LiveScore feature that was added has really helped improve the experience but checking in each day to see what gain the others are putting up is fun. I always check it out and think "Hmmm...what could I play to help me overtake him" etc. They really bring a whole new perspective to gaming and deciding what to play!

When you aren't in a challenge, do you play for points... or fun?
I play a lot for points I'm ashamed to admit...but to me, points=fun! I love the feeling when you unlock an achievement that you've been aiming for and what's more fun is unlocking an achievement that you weren't expecting...always great! I do play a lot for fun, especially when playing with friends online. I don't care much for online achievements to be honest.

What is the Achievement are most proud of?
Probably finding the agility and hidden orbs in Crackdown. It's probably my favourite 360 title to date and the fact that I actually found all but 7 of the agility orbs WITHOUT a map makes me proud. For the hidden I think I found over 240 before a map but I can't really remember!

Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?
Group Private Chat! That's all...if that was the only feature in the next update I'd be over the moon! =D I don't understand why they haven't got it already but they better get it sorted soon, lol! They actually put my second favourite request in last time with DivX support. Boy that saved me a lot of encoding, lol!

Is there anything else that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?
I live in Northern Ireland. It's an awesome wee country! Come visit sometime, lol! Apart from that I don't think I should talk anymore...I might have said a tad too much already, lol! Just keep being the awesome people you all are! =D

Thank you so much for your time and your contributions here at 360voice. Community members like you are what make this place one of the most amazing things to be a part of!

Member of the Moment: ZeroDesolation

(posted on behalf of Syndelin and Mr. Achievement)

This selection of Member of the Moment was not made by Area-51 Alien Hostages or World Leaders. This one came down from the Highest of all places... Mount Everest. We still can't figure out who mailed the Postcard, but we rolled with it anyways!

Congratulations, ZeroDesolation! (Who has also been known to go by the name Jeffrey Klepper.) He is a 30-year old proud Father (of 2 daughters) and Husband. He currently is employed as an IT Specialist for Boeing. He is from South Carolina and enjoys watching Panther Games and NASCAR Races when he has a chance. He has been a loyal and Active User here at 360voice since January 27, 2007... although his 360 has been blogging here for about 6 weeks longer. Zero has found ways to make many friends and even mounted an effort of Activity last Month that pushed him into the Top 5 on the "Most Popular Blogs" for last month. Congrats on that accomplishment too, Zero!

...on to the questions!

How long have you been gaming?
I'm guessing a little over 20 years now.

What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?
Well the first game I remember playing was Contra over at a cousin's house.  I was so wrapped up in playing that game that I didn't want to leave when it was time to go home.  I don't own a NES anymore but I still own that game.

What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?
Xbox.com brought me here believe it or not.  There was a link on the site to here about making your 360 blog and I wanted to see what it was all about. Comments are the best feature on this site to me.  I talk and leave so many comments right now to friends, new people, random people I pick out of the air, etc...  If it didn't show my total in the forum for my comments made (over 5000), I wouldn't believe it myself.

I see you had a 136 day streak, what ended it? What was the first thing you thought when you realized it was over?
Yeah, I lost my streak because I had to move and the cable company really messed up my transfer.  They cut off my service at both locations and not just at one.  I really hated to lose it but the fact I made it that long is an accomplishment. My first thought was how to get the cable company to refund me my money since they made me lose my streak.  They wouldn't budge on owing me 136 days of cable service to make up my lost time.  8(

Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?
It has been discussed already in the forums but I would love to see team challenges with the new challenge system in place.  That would just be so much fun and open so many more possibilities.

When did you sign up for live?
About 4 months after I bought my Xbox 360, so Sept 2006 I believe is right.

What is your game setup? When do you most often game?
I own a Samsung 55in HDTV using the HD cables running at 1080i.  I'm hoping to upgrade to a flat panel with 1080p by the end of the year if things work out. I mainly game at night after I spend time with my wife and 2 daughters.

What other systems, if any, do you own?
I own a Wii (Wife's console) and the 3 Nintendo DS's.  Which a 4th will come along with the baby is old enough to play.  8)

What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?
The core of it.  Being online with friends playing games without having to be in the same room as each other to play.

You have 88 played games in your 3v list. What games that you have played in this last year really stand out for you, and why?
COD4 of course, it's game of the year.  GRAW2 is still one of my favorite games, it is just a fun game to play with your friends whether co-op or deathmatch.  I really enjoy playing Carcassonne from the arcade games and just helping people get 200 points in it.  Scene-It! is my friends and family game.  It's so much fun when company comes over.  If that would have been over LIVE, I probably would have played it every day.

So do you have a big collection of games?
I own around 15-20 games but I'm not big into collecting them anymore like I use too in the past.  I'm becoming more focused on buying games I know I will play over and over again that I would want to keep.  Games should hold their value more and not drop in price 2 months after it comes out.  So I either rent games now or trade the ones I buy back in with in 1-2 months of owning them so they have a high trade in value to get some of my money back to put towards the next game I plan to purchase.  That way I don't lose out too much if the game isn't really that good or worth keeping.

Any must-have titles for 2008?
Army of Two has caught my eye so far.  I usually play it month by month for new releases though.

I see you have the HTTK badge.  What do you feel is the best part of the challenges?
The competition is by far the best thing ever.  One word of smack and someone might lay the smack down back on you making you think, "Why did I make that comment".  It's so much fun trying to win whether it's first or just to do beat another person in the challenge for a personal win.

When you aren't in a challenge, do you play for points... or fun?
Well right now I've made a side challenge to Davem3 TF to see who can get to 85% first.  So I'm all about points right now but I still play for fun as well.  I will however stop at anytime to help someone out if they need help in a game as well.

What is the Achievement are most proud of?
I don't have a specific achievement but every ding I hear, I'm happy.

If MS moved all online games to PC/360 Cross-platform... Would you continue to play on a 360?
Without a doubt.  I like having a console that doesn't need upgrading each time a new game comes out.

Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?
I really wish they would expand the 100 names list because 100 isn't enough anymore.  I keep having to delete people off now.  That or fix the private chats so that you can talk to a group of people and not just one person at a time.

Is there anything that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?
I'm a family man so my family always comes first.  Which is why I always get on and play late at night.  I love getting comments on my 360's blog from gamers and I always leave a return comment back on there blogs as well.  In which I make even more great friends through this site every day.

Last Words?
This is one of the best sites I have ever been on.  I've never been so wrapped up in a web site this much my entire life.  I check this site any free chance I get in between family and work.  I can't wait to see what they come up with next.  GO 360V!

That's some good stuff. Thanks for your time, ZeroDesolation. You are one of the many reasons that 360voice is such a great place to be a part of.

Member of the Moment: Cormyre

(posted on behalf of Syndelin and Mr. Achievement)

We decided to put the Area 51 aliens hostages back to work this week, and they came up with our third Member of the Moment!

Cormyre has been part of 360voice since May 1st, 2006.  He likes to spend his time on the forums offering punch and pie, answering support threads any time he can help out, and generally being helpful and friendly to his fellow gamers. Apparently it was enough to get the aliens attention and make a good impression. He refused the crown, stating that he didn't want to end up looking like that picture of Steve we have floating around from PAX, but he did agree to answer our questions at least.

How long have you been gaming?
For about 25 years (god I feel old =P), my uncle bought me an Atari 2600 when I was 3ish and I was flipping games like Asteroids and Centipede by the time I was 4. (which the release of Centipede on the arcade made me think my skills have dropped, I suck at that game now)

What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?
The first game that I played where I felt like I needed to get it was the original Legend of Zelda (yes the good ol' gold cartridge).  My parents rented an NES (for reasons I seem to forget) and I ended up playing hookie a few days from school to play that game. I ended up buying it a year or so after its release and playing it at my cousins (I did alot of my gaming at friends and relatives, at home I jumped from the Atari 2600 to the SNES so I missed a bit...)

What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?
A link on live.xbox.com when 3v was a featured community site. Remember thinking "My 360 can blog?!  WTH!?" and then I was intrigued to figure out how it all worked.  Best feature is the community of course, I think for the most part we're a close-knit family. ^_^

Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?
A button that says "Vote Cormyre for 3VCE!". Other than that I think its progressing great, and with Squid a part of the team now, it'll be interesting to see the added or combined features.

When did you sign up for live?
When I bought my original xbox...  I was kind of late to the game, as I was happy with my PS2; so I guess not until fall 2004. After hearing the hype I had to play through Halo and get Halo 2 when it came out, plus I knew I needed to play through Ninja Gaiden (and then Black and then Sigma...).  But I didn't really get into Live until I got my hands on Halo 2 and finished the main campaign, and still wanted to play it.  Even then, until the 360 came out most of my gaming was done on the PS2.

You seem to like the GH line/music type of games. What do you enjoy most about them?
I'm almost always listening to music, so to actually be able to interact with it was a great change. I have been playing the Harmonix games since before Guitar Hero, (Amplitude and Frequency on the PS2) so it was just a natural progression.  The fact that these games take actual skill is a plus (though I'm not skilled enough to stand up to some of our community members =P)

You have a pretty good streak going. How far are you willing to go to keep that?
How far? Unfortunately not as much as one may think, I always make sure to play something, and I'm in a household with 2 360's at the moment (soon to be 3 since The Third End is hooked on DMC4).  Plus being that I'm part of the IT dept at my work, even if my internet cuts out I can always run in there and play something online for a few, haha.

When do you most often game?
In the evenings/late night after work mon, wed-fri and the other days are just random if any.  I lose entirely too much sleep to video games.

What other systems, if any, do you own?
I've tried to own every system since I've been out on my own, but it hasn't always entirely worked out with systems dying, given them away and whatnot.  Currently owned systems are: PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox, 360, Wii, DS, GBA.  The one that gets the most play by far, is my 360. =P

What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?
The fact the Microsoft opened the data to community developers. That idea just blew my mind at first.  Other than that, the ease of linking to friends (when NAT problems aren't involved... grrr), and just the whole integration of everything.

You have 156 played games in your 3v list. What games that you have played in this last year really stand out for you, and why?
X_x  Oy, so many great games came out this past year.  Bioshock, and Call of Duty 4 I think are the ones that stuck out the most, though I certainly put more time into CoD4 than anything else. I've been weening myself away from the MP of that game though... I'm sure I'll relapse when the DLC comes out in a few months.

Any must-have titles for 2008?
Almost every title is a must have for me, =P (as a drawer full of games shows) but the ones that come to mind mainly is Ninja Gaiden 2 and *cough* sorry 360 fanboys, but Metal Gear Solid 4 *cough*.

I see you have the HTTK badge.  What do you feel is the best part of the challenges?
Its an interesting push to see what people are willing to do to win challenges, going back and playing kids games and whatnot. Just an overall change in playing style.  I know I've went after a few titles I've played that I wouldn't have, Kong and Avatar to name a fe.... OK, actually that's pretty much it.

When you aren't in a challenge, do you play for points... or fun?
C: all the above. I think I have modified my style of play a little bit trying to build up my completion percentage.  The Orange Box is one example. It's been sitting here for a while, but I'm not sure I want to play it on my main gamertag being that I know I won't get the TF2 achievements.

What is the Achievement are most proud of?
It use to be finishing CoD2 on Veteran, now its easily the most frustrating achievement I have... Mile High Club from CoD4 X_x I played that level sooooo many times, just barely failing.

Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?
There's so many ways they can clean up the dashboard and speed it up. Caching gamerpics, arcade games and whatnot, making it so the users don't have to wait so long for lists to show up. I have TONS of gamerpics and dread it every time I go to change it because of this.

Is there anything that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?
...I'm the one that's been spiking the punch with non-alcoholic beer... sorry. And thanks to Trapper and Steve for all the hard work and our 3VCE' as well ^_^

Thank you so much for your time and your contributions here at 360voice. Community members like you are what make this place one of the most amazing things to be a part of.

Member of the moment: Davem3 TF

(posted on behalf of Syndelin and Mr. Achievement)

Using our super-secret-devices-of-randomness, Davem3 TF grabbed this installment of Member of the Moment from the hands of many great choices and now wears the crown. Dave is a hard-working family man that hails from Massachusetts. He has been a very active part of the Forum Community since joining back on April 24th 2007 and is an all-round nice guy. So take a minute to sit back and enjoy his awesomeness!

How long have you been gaming?
Since the mid 1970's… My first systems were the Magnavox Odyssey and the Atari Pong. Although back then most gaming was done at video arcades and bowling alleys since that was the only way to gain bragging rights and high scores....

What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?
Pong, believe it or not, we would spend hours trying to trap the ball so we could put down the controllers and watch the game "loop"! 

What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?
I came here because my best friend (acidicwolverine) showed me the site and we were both cracking up over the blog feature with our Xboxes talking smack about us. i love that feature :-) It was months later when I met fshguy and the community and activated a Full-Membership, started leaving comments on the blogs, watching people and actively posting on the forums.I still love the Watchers List the best to see who is doing
what :-)

Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?
I am not sure, the site really is awesome.  I love the fact that the Owners are very active here to the point that when you have a question, you usually get a response within minutes not hours or even days later like some sites and the Moderators are cool, down to earth people. The gamers I have met on here are the most helpful, coolest people I have ever met and I have learned a lot about gaming styles, competitions, and what games stink and to avoid.  :-)  LOL

When did you sign up for live?
In 2002 (on the original Xbox), My Boss and Cousin were on LIVE and I jumped in so we could all play Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six together. Shortly after, my Best Friend jumped in and away we all went...

Why are 50% of your most played games are shooters?
Hmmm… I love FPS and I am seriously hooked on the Tom Clancy Series. I have bought every single one dating back to the original Xbox. Rainbow Six Vegas was an absolute blast online. The only one I didn’t beat was Rainbow Six Lockdown.

What is your game setup?
I have Two Sony Grand Wega's CRT 34" TV's (one for me, one for the boys) (2) Xbox 360's with 120G HD's and a Camera on both. There is an HD-DVD player on mine, (3) Messenger Kits, (5) Controllers, MS racing wheel, Rock Band Kit and Wireless Les Paul Guitar for GH II and III.

When do you most often game?
Usually when I get home from work, shower and eat. Most of the time from 5pm EST until 9pm EST weekdays and usually all-night Friday and Saturday night if I am not working on a Saturday.

What's your favorite feature on Xbox LIVE?
Comparing Gamercards. I can find the easy K's to play and meet new people. Stallion83 has the ultimate card… but it can be deceiving as well, his level of playing is far superior to mine!

You have 84 played games in your 3v list, what games that you have played in this last year really stand out for you, and why?
Well, I have to thank Gamefly,Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, my best friend who now has moved to Texas (bummer)  and my cousin, Todd who helps me by borrowing or renting a lot of my games. I only own 36 to 38 games for the 360. My favorites last year were PGR3, Rainbow Six Vegas, GRAW2 and COD4.

Any must-have titles for 2008?
End War , GTA IV, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, and hoping for a new Ghost Recon soon.

I see you have the HTTK badge.  What do you feel is the best part of the challenges?
I like challenging myself against other gamers who, in my mind, are better than me to push me to do better. I think more wisely and rack up the points. The first Old Spice Challenge I did, I think I racked up like 7,500 points to finish it. This year I have racked up I think like 12K and no sign of slowing down. Although, I am taking a slight break right now.

When you aren't in a challenge, do you play for points... or fun?
Both, but mostly fun… Guitar Hero II and III are fun, but playing them has my Gamerscore flat-lined.

What is the Achievement are most proud of?
Elite in Rainbow Six Vegas and Reward Card Hustler/Beat an Ea Moderator (in need for speed carbon).

Is there a feature you would like to see in the next Xbox 360 System Update?
I would like to be able to sub-categorize my buddy list. Such as my FPS friends, Racing friends, 360V friends and so on.

If MS moved all online games to PC/360 Cross-platform… Would you continue to play on a 360?
Yes. I like it better and I do not have to upgrade my PC every month to keep up. I did love PC gaming but between defragging every morning and upgrades… I was happy to jump over to consoles and not worry about it anymore.

Is there anything that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?
I love to game and play MP and learn new things constantly. If anyone needs help on a game online and if i have it, I will jump and help out the best I can. I try to have fun, be friendly and have a few chuckles in the process :-) and I am always trying to get tricks and tips to help me through games. Please… advice is always needed over here.

Last Words?
Let's all have fun and learn from one another. We should have a good time pushing each other to get to the next "level" of gaming greatness… and of course, do unto others as you wish done to you… or something like that. We have a awesome community and fantastic people here willing to help out all the time, jump in with us and have some fun :-)

Thank you Davem3 TF so much for your time and your contributions here at 360voice. Community members like you are what make this place so great!

Member of the Moment: Firecracker92

We at 360voice are happy to introduce a new feature this week. It was suggested in the forums and will be managed by Syndelin and Mr. Achievement. A special to thanks for them diving in and making it happen.

So without further delay, our first Member of the Moment, Firecracker92.

Firecracker92 was picked by our secret cadre of world leaders, political influentials, community special-forces, and Area 51 aliens hostages. As complete luck would have it, Firecracker92 actually thought up the whole idea of this Member of the Moment craziness. In addition he is known for many other suggestions rather active in the support threads and the forum in general. We like seeing people get involved and that is practicallyFirecracker92's middle name.

How long have you been gaming?
Well, let's just say some people here have been gaming longer than I've even lived. Being 14 years old and all, my "classic" game system is the Nintendo 64. I'd say I've been gaming for about 9 years now.

What was the first game that you played and what drew you into gaming in general?
The first game I have ever played was Super Mario 64, and I was hooked to it for the longest time. What drew me into gaming was definitely the original Xbox. Sure, I loved the Nintendo 64, but I didn't play it all the time. For the Xbox, I played much more during the day, but still not as much as I play the Xbox 360 now!

What brought you to 360voice, and what do you think is the best feature of the site?
I think I was actually brought here by one of my good friends on Xbox Live, Ten Stitches. He told me about how great this place was, and I must say I completely agree. There are a lot of great features on this site, but it's not the features that keep me coming here, it's the community. There are so many friendly people here that I think my Xbox Live friends list went from about 30 friends to 80 friends.

Is there anything that you would like to see on 3v that isn't already here?
Well since this suggestion worked for me, maybe I can throw another one out there! The only thing I can think of that I want to see is everyone's blog popularity. Maybe a leaderboard or a spot under the "bragging rights" section. I think it would be pretty cool.

What is your game setup?
Nothing special...at all. Standard 22" Toshiba, and yeah, nothing else worth saying! I get extremely jealous after looking at some setups of other people here.

When do you most often game?
On school days, I usually play around 3:00 PM ET. You could see me on around 7:00 PM ET when my homework is done too lol. On weekends and vacation days you'll see me online at random times, whenever I feel like playing. Those are days when I just feel like relaxing and taking a break from school.

It looks like you have a pretty good variety in your played games list, what games that you have played in this last year really stand out for you, and why?
Haha yeah I have to thank Gamefly for that, I don't own too many games. In this last year, games that stood out for me most would have to be Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, DiRT, Rock Band, Guitar Hero III, Madden 08, skate., Assassin's Creed, and finally, GRAW 2. I don't have much of a reason why, but all of them are just great games. 2007 was definitely an awesome year of gaming!

I see you have the HTTK badge.  What do you feel is the best part of the challenges?
The best part of challenges is that they push you to earn achievements. People always say that you should get awards from achievements, and by joining a challenge, you have a chance at doing just that.

What other systems, if any, do you own?
I own the original Xbox and a PS2. I don't play either of them anymore.

Is there anything that you would like to add, or that you would like the community to know about you?
I would like the community to know that even though I'm only 14, you shouldn't be afraid to play online with me. I'm nothing like those immature kids that you come across in a game of Halo 3, so feel free to send me a friend request anytime!

Thank you so much for your time and your contributions here at 360voice. Community members like you are what make this place one of the most amazing things to be a part of.

In addition to the interview, the Member of the Moment is featured on the homepage (left column) until the next interview is posted.

(click the title of this post to leave a comment about Member of the Moment)