We begin February with our first of many 2-Player Spotlights. Watch for them at the first of every month! This month we have Julian and Mandie from Los Angeles, CA.
If you would like to be featured in the 2 Player Spotlight, email us at 2player@marriedwithvideogames.com.
Names: Julian & Mandie
Status: Dating
Which one of you games?
Julian: Both of us.
Mandie: Both, thank goodness!
How often do you game?
Julian: After work ever day, and usually a bunch on weekends (unless we’re going out somewhere. Gotta have RL friends too.)
Mandie: When I’ve got free time from school. Usually on the weekends or late in the evening.
What systems do you own?
Julian: Xbox 360, Wii, PC, PSP, 2 DS’s, PS2, Gamecube, Dreamcast, Neo Geo Pocket Color… am I forgetting anything?
Mandie: Super Nintendo!
Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally?
Julian: I prefer locally. It’s nice to be able to slap someone if they’re being a jerk, lol.
Mandie: Hmm, it is fun to play locally but I’m a big fan of playing online with people from different parts of the world. I mean if I didn’t play multiplayer I would have never met Julian!
The two of you lived on the opposite sides of the country for a while, did you game online together?
Julian: Totally. We lived apart for 2 and a half years, but online gaming really helped us feel like we weren’t that far away.
Mandie: We sure did! Even though we were on opposite sides of the country, gaming made us feel like we were still hanging out and doing fun activities together.
What kind of games did you play?
Julian: Mainly MMORPGs. We met in Final Fantasy XI and we’d play together all the time. Even though we weren’t always close in level we’d still find ways to play together. Mandie also got me into World of Warcraft, so we played that too.
Mandie: I was crazy for MMORPGs before I started college. Julian and I played FFXI together for a few years, and then moved onto WoW.
Did you prefer one console over another or did you play via PC?
Julian: I’ve become a big fan of the 360. I mainly use the PC for Mugen when I need a 2D fighting fix.
Mandie: I love the DS but playing games on Steam has been a lot of fun. I’d say the PC is becoming my console of choice.
How do you juggle game time with school and/or work?
Julian: Normally I’m pretty responsible about balancing the two, but when there’s a particularly awesome game out I sometimes end up going to work with a few hours less sleep than usual.
Mandie: School always has to come first for me so I’m pretty behind on playing a lot of new releases. I even own some PS2 games with the shrink wrap still on ‘em.
Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer?
Julian: I like co-op. I’d rather work with someone than against someone.
Mandie: Julian is definitely the co-op fan, I’d be pvping in battlegrounds in WoW and he’d be questing with a pal. Co-Op can be a lot of fun though, I think it totally enriches the experience of certain games. Particularly Marvel Ultimate Alliance and all the LEGO games.
Fave game to play with others?
Julian: New Super Mario Bros Wii is awesome with a group.
Mandie: That game is vicious! I prefer Mario Party or Band Hero/Rock Band.
Fave game to play with each other?
Julian: Marvel Ultimate Alliance (I think the first was more fun).
Mandie: Same
Currently playing?
Julian: Dragon Age: Origins (contemplating starting a 3rd character), Megaman 9 (practicing for 10), and Mugen on the PC.
Mandie: Dragon Age: Origins (on my second character), Left for Dead 2 (Spitter ftw), and Poupee Girl DS (a Japanese dress-up game).
Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Julian: I definitely used to be hardcore, but now with a job and grown-up responsibilities like rent and bills I’m getting a little more casual in my old age.
Mandie: I think I’ll always be a hardcore fan of games but in terms of playing I’d say casual. Damn you real life responsibilities!
What do you like about gaming with Mandie?
We work great as a team. There’s no puzzle we can’t solve together.
What do you like about gaming with Julian?
He let’s me break all the destructible objects!
What DON’T you like about gaming with Mandie?
She’s a great winner, but not great at losing. I still love her though.
What DON’T you like about gaming with Julian?
Nothing, he’s swell! Also, losing sucks.
What has been your most memorable gaming experience?
Julian: When I was going for my Epic Warlock Mount in WoW. I couldn’t find ANYONE willing to help with the raid, so Mandie and I ended up doing the entire thing with just the two of us. It was rough, but we did it. I was so proud of us.
Mandie: This is going to sound dorky but getting married in Final Fantasy XI. It took weeks for Square Enix to approve our application for the “official SE wedding”. It was a lot of fun to gather our linkshell
(guild) and participate in the ceremony.
What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Julian: The damn vehicle portions of Lego Star Wars. Mandie and I did it
2 players and that actually makes it worse, since BOTH players have to perform flawlessly. A weaker couple would have killed each other over it, lol.
Mandie: Oh man, Julian would probably say I’ve had a lot of them. I’d say the last boss in Champions of Norrath. I was convinced the game was broken because we could not kill him. Julian died pretty quickly but I kept running the boss in circles. Finally, I just ice arrowed his face for what felt like an hour and he went down.
Who is the better gamer and why?
Julian: I’d have to say I am. We both excel at different genres (I can’t play a shooter to save my life) but I’m more patient and willing to die 100 times just to master a single tricky jump.
Mandie: Yah, Julian definitely is. I have little patience. Though I’d probably kick his ass at any FPS he always wins at fighters and side scrollers.
What is your system of choice and why?
Julian: I like the 360 a lot. It has a great variety of games and Xbox live is pretty awesome.
Mandie: PC, I don’t feel limited by console hardware and we get most, if not all dlcs free!
Fave game of all time?
Julian: Megaman 2. Pew pew pew!
Mandie: Donkey Kong Country. It came free with my SNES and I played the crap out of it. Even when I go back to it now it’s tons of fun.
What do your gamertags mean?
Julian: UltraRoboNinja. I just thought it sounded awesomely dorky. 
Mandie: kunoichi. Its Japanese for female ninja.
w00t w00t! the above couple is playing Tatsunoko vs. Capcom!! Notice the Hori sticks for the Wii?