Questions about my gaming history


Over the years when I have interviewed at game studios I almost always get asked a few questions that are used, I guess, to find out more about an applicants gaming history/passion.  For some reason these questions make me crazy, because they seem to me more like a question people would answer over coffee or drinks and not during a phone interview.

Thus today I finally decided to sit down and answer some of them for myself, simply to finally have my answers down in one place.

Three favorite video games of all time?

I hate this question with a passion and maybe for that reason Studio recruiters like to ask it.  Most people that know me, know I don’t like “all time” or “best Ever” questions and statements.  They are simply way too over reaching, and with all the games I have played over the last quarter century its super tough to answer.

But since they keep asking I will break down and answer.  This is not a list of bests, or a list of “if all were released today which would be your favorite’, I know for sure those lists would be very different.

This is a non ranked list of which 3 game’s stand out over the course of my gaming history as favorites, based on how I enjoyed them when I first played them.

AutoDuel (orgin systems):

I thought this game had it all. I could level up my driver, buy and update my car, take jobs and undercover a (small) back story as I played.

Wasteland (interplay)

Post apocalyptic setting, controlling a party of characters, trying to save humanity, color graphics all rolled into one game. I had played many CRPGS before it and many more after, but something about this game simply stuck with me.

Everquest (soe)

Yes, I have played more of World of Warcraft (and other mmos) than I played EQ. And yes, if I tried to play it today I would probably cry.  But both of those don’t matter to me, because for me EQ changed everything about my gaming life. I had played and seen other virtual worlds / online games, but EQ was different.

I remember like it was last night, the first time sat and played EQ. I created a Dark Elf, and got completely lost in Neriak,  when I stumbled into someone else.  When I attempted to communicate and get directions, I almost fell out of my seat when they replied directly to my question. This was not an NPC but another player character.  They guided me out and I could not believe my eyes as few dozen or more players were also out battling monsters.  I was in a live D&D game being played with people all over the world.

Honorable Mentions

There are so many that I have played that left specific memories on me or that impacted me in some way and I can not list them all. But I do I feel I should mention several of the ones that stand out.

Ultima 3, Starflight,  Fallout (series), Mechwarrior 2, Baldurs Gate (series), Interstate 76,  Outlaws, Thief (1/2), System Shock 2, Deus Ex, Diablo 2, Jedi Knight 2,  World of Warcraft,  City of Heroes, Civilization 4

What is your favorite genre of game?

Role Playing Games. I enjoy games from pretty much all genre’s but I do enjoy RPGs and MMORPGs more then others.

When did you first get into gaming?

The first time my brother and I went head to head in a game of “Combat” on our Atari 2600. I could ramble on for a long time about my journey through computer/video gaming, but I will save that for another time.

What consoles do you own?

Currently in my possesion: SNES, Sega Genesis, Playstation 1, Playstation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Game Cube,  Nintendo 64, and 2 computers.

What MMOs have you played?

I know I have played more than this but I am going to limit this list to ones I played for more than a week or two and for longer than just trial period.

  1. Ultima Online
  2. Everquest
  3. Asheron’s Call
  4. Anarachy Online
  5. Asheron’s Call 2
  6. Everquest online adventures
  7. Eve
  8. Dark Age of Camelot
  9. Star Wars Galaxies
  10. Final Fantasy Online
  11. Horizons
  12. Puzzle Pirates
  13. City of Heroes/Villains
  14. Everquest 2
  15. World of Warcraft
  16. Matrix Online
  17. Guild Wars
  18. Dungeons & Dragons Online
  19. Auto Assault
  20. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
  21. Lord of the Rings Online
  22. Pirates of the Burning Sea
  23. Age of Conan
  24. Warhammer Online
  25. Runes of Magic
  26. Free Realms

Of those MMOs which is your least favorite? Why?

Horizons. There were a few good concepts in there, but the execution was bad. Lots of performance, graphical, and mechanical issues along with lackluster UI all added up to me looking for an alternatives.

Which of those MMOs is your favorite? Why?

Everquest, see above. Followed right up with World of Warcraft because it does most things ‘right’.

What are you playing right now?

I could answer this for the time of this posting, but since what I play changes often I am not going to answer this for real.  I should make sure I always have a small list ready.

What upcomming games are you excited about?

As with the question above, this answer is constantly in flux.  I should make sure I have a three upcoming games ready to list off.

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