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Names: Mike Hendricks II / Sarah Blanchard

Status: Dynamic Duo! (Boy/Girlfriend)

Which one of you games? Both of us.

How often do you game?
Mike: I try to get in at least an hour a day, but it doesn’t always end up like that. Lame!
Sarah: It varies depending on how much free time I have, but usually about 3-4 times a week.

Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally?
Mike: It really depends on the genre. I love single-player RPGs and adventure games, local multiplayer for party games like Mario Kart 64, and online/local combos like Halo: Reach are awesome, because you get the best of local and online multiplayer.
Sarah: Locally, I always have a lot more fun when I play games in the same room as other people. I do love playing online multiplayer though because the people you meet online are usually so hilarious!

Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer?
Mike: I like co-op competitive myself, team-based games allow for much more strategy. Plus being MVP is more awesome when you’re on a team.
Sarah: I actually prefer competitive co-op games like Halo, especially when it comes to online multiplayer. I really enjoy the competition of online play and first person shooters in general but I’m pretty terrible at them. I like being able to work together with teammates, it’s the only way I stand a chance!

Fave game to play with others?
Mike: Locally – probably old school Super Smash Bros for N64, online I think it’s Halo: Reach so far.
Sarah: Just Dance for the Wii. It is impossible to NOT have a good time while dancing around like a crazy person to cheesy pop music.

Fave game to play with each other?
Mike: I like playing Warriors of Might and Magic for the DS with Sarah, she actually gives me some decent competition on that one. She always uses that stupid undead emo girl.
Sarah: At the moment, Halo Reach. Mike teases me because my kill-death spread is always in the negatives…but I’m getting a lot better!

Currently playing?
Mike: FALLOUT NEW VEGAS OWNS MY LIFE.
Sarah: Bioshock 2 and Metal Gear Solid. I also just got Fallout New Vegas which I’m very excited to start playing.

Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Mike: I guess I’m pretty hardcore, although that term has always bothered me. I’ve loved games forever, and it shows. I mean, I don’t act like a total douche online, and I try to curtail the bragging, but if you play with me, you’ll see that I let my gaming do the talking.
Sarah: I’d say I’m more of a casual gamer, although I do have hardcore moments when it’s hard to pull me away from my console.

What do you like about gaming with Sarah?
Mike: The fact that she’s right there next to me, so anytime I want to I can sneak a kiss in. I know that’s pretty corny, but my favorite parts of gaming with her are the little things outside the game. That and she always has some hilariously inappropriate commentary.
Sarah: I like that he’s very competitive and won’t just let me win if we’re playing a game together. If I do win I know it’s because I actually did well and not because he’s going easy on me. I also like that he has such a freaking huge collection of games that I can borrow. :]

What DON’T you like about gaming with Sarah?
Mike: I don’t like it too much when she thinks I’m upset. For example, if we’re doing poorly in a game, I might start dropping some F-bombs to myself and such, but not in a ragey sort of way, just the way you might spurt out an insult at a driver who cut you off. I think sometimes she might take it seriously and think that I’m upset when I’m really not.
Sarah: Sometimes he gets mad if I accidentally shoot him when we’re playing Halo, it’s not my fault you ran in front of me when I was shooting aliens!

What has been your most memorable gaming experience?
Mike: Jeez, there’s tons. The first thing that comes to mind for me was in the RPG Suikoden on PS1. At one point, a character named Gremio pretty much gets eaten alive to save you, after having been your family’s servant his whole life. But while it’s happening, he’s talking to you through the door about it and about how it’s ok and such. It seriously brought a tear to my eye.
Sarah: There have been so many it’s hard to name just one. In general I think the mutual love that Mike and I both have for anything video game related has allowed us to share a ton of great unique experiences. Just a couple months ago we went to E3 and Video Games Live which were a blast. I don’t think I would have had nearly as great of a time if I had gone with someone who didn’t enjoy that stuff as much as Mike does, and vice versa.

What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Mike: No specific event, but I think that being spawn-killed in any shooter game is an instant off-pisser for me. It’s like the developer just didn’t give enough of a crap to give you a fair chance.
Sarah: Any time I try to play the guitar or bass in Rock Band on hard mode. I get so thrown off by that stupid orange button!

Who is the better gamer and why?
Mike: To be honest, I think it’s me. Sarah’s catching up quick, she’s only been getting more hardcore with gaming maybe 2 years now tops, but she’s already got the addiction. I’ve gotta say though, that across almost any genre I can school her. To be fair, I’ve been playing avidly almost my entire life, so it’d be pretty sad if she were already better than me.
Sarah: Definitely Mike, he’s been playing video games since he was fresh out of the womb, there’s no way I even compare to that! Although I can totally kick his butt in a game of Tetris.

What is your system of choice and why?
Mike: My current one is Xbox360. The social aspect is much more streamlined, and I’m used to the controller. I was a Playstation kid growing up, but one of my best friends got me a 360 and Gears of War a few years back, and changed the game up. I’ve got a 60-gig PS3 as well, but I just don’t use it as much.
Sarah: PS3! I’ve grown up playing on PlayStation consoles, it’s what I love and what I’m used to. I will always be a Sony girl at heart.

Fave game of all time?
Mike: This one’s a supreme toughy. There’s so many types of games that I don’t know if I can pinpoint a single best. On the fly though, I’d say I’m feeling Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
Sarah: Final Fantasy VII. When I first expressed an interest in gaming Mike told me this was the game I absolutely NEEDED to play. He was definitely right, I loved playing it and it’s been my favorite ever since!

What do your gamertags mean?
Mike: Mine’s Unusanimus, it’s latin for Onesoul. I made Onesoul up back in middle school, it just seemed to fit. Than once that marvelous internet age picked up, I noticed people stealing it. So I loosely translated it into Latin and went with that.
Sarah: Mine is Sarahsaurusss, it’s actually the first instant messenger screen name I made when I was in the sixth grade. For the sake of my horrible memory I try to keep it simple and use the same log-in name for most things.

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Names: Manuel Martinez / Mary Carlson

Status: In Hell! Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Which one of you games? Both

How often do you game?
Mary: An hour or 2 most evenings, up to 8 hours on the weekends
Manny: Average at least 4 hours a day

Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally?
Mary: I mainly play MMORPGs, with some pen and paper D&D and MTG along the way
Manny: Online multiplayer games

Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer?
Mary: I enjoy both, cooperative edges out competitive though – I always end up in the sterotypical female role – the healer, LOL!
Manny: Both

Fave game to play with others?
Mary: WoW (D&D, MTG for non video-games)
Manny: Left 4 Dead 2, Monday Night Combat

Fave game to play with each other?
Mary: WoW or MTG
Manny: WoW

Currently playing?
Mary: WoW, trying Dragon Age but I’m horrible at console games at the moment, Fable 3 looks like fun, I may try that!
Manny: WoW, Fable 3, Metal of Honor, Civ 5

Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Mary: Casual, used to be much more hardcore but life doesn’t permit these days!
Manny: Hardcore

What do you like about gaming with Mary?
Fun having something in common with her, able to spend time together both enjoying a game

What do you like about gaming with Manny?
Love spending time with Manny on a common interest, just need to get better at console games

What DON’T you like about gaming with Mary?
She always takes the good gear!

What DON’T you like about gaming with Manny?
He never listens to me!

What has been you most memorable gaming experience?
Mary: Raiding in EverQuest, will never forget the CH rotations (Complete Heal – macros and all, each cleric starting their heal at a specific number of seconds after the last in order to take out the big NPCs)
Manny: Bad Company on 360: Lots memorable moments of online play with friends in the room

What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Mary: Trying to play Bad Company 2 on 360 and only being able to look at the ground or the sky, and getting smushed a lot, getting killed in Everquest on a PvP server and having my gatorscale leggings taken
Manny: WoW PvP – The lack of balance in PvP whatsoever (very gear and level dependent, no skill required)

Who is the better gamer and why?
Console games – no comparison, Manny rocks!  MMMORPGs – Mary rocks as a healer

What is your system of choice and why?
Mary: PC Games
Manny: XBox 360

Fave game of all time?
Mary: EverQuest, WoW
Manny: Battlefield Bad Company 2

What do your gamertags mean?
Mary: Servilia – I saw the character in a book called “First Man in Rome”, and loved what she stood for – beautiful, nasty, treacherous scheming bitch who got what she wanted, but was still all about her family (and this was WAY before Rome came out on TV, now people keep stealing my names!)
Manny: Midnitereaper – Driving rigs on the midnight shift and always running over something!

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Names: Alma Bahman and Michael Funk

Status: Dating

Which one of you games?
Alma: He does.
Michael: Me.

How often do you game?
Alma: Rarely.
Michael: Whenever time allows without impeding on other important stuff.

Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally?
Alma: Locally. Not seeing the other people who are playing frightens me a bit.
Michael: Both have their proper lots in life.

Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer?
Alma: Cooperative. I’m a sore loser.
Michael: Cooperative competitive such as Battlefield 2 is preferred, but regularly MMO’s with good storyline are good too.

Fave game to play with others?
Alma: Wii Sports games seem to be the most fun with a group.
Michael: Final Fantasy XI

Fave game to play with each other?
Alma: Little Big Planet.
Michael: Little Big Planet.  Gotta start Alma off small and then graduate her to FFXIV online when it comes out.

Currently playing?
Alma: Nothing.
Michael: FFXI…literally.  Filling this out and doing Moblin Maze Mongers.

Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Alma: Less than casual.
Michael: Casual.  Hardcore would have to entail Alma being as into them as I am or me choosing games over social life.

What do you like about gaming with Alma?
Watching her bust up when we blow up sack dolls.

What do you like about gaming with Mike?
When he wants me to play, or even if I want to play, he’s very considerate and makes sure I’m having fun.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Alma?
The fact that she thinks gaming is “childish” and “immature.”  Last I checked studies proved that gaming, in moderation, gave you better cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Mike?
When he starts talking gaming jargon I don’t understand.

What has been your most memorable gaming experience?
Alma: We played a Wii Sports game that was a hula-hooping competition. It was embarrassing to gyrate like that in front of friends but it was hilarious and he was a good sport.
Michael: Uh…probably just high school.  Everyday we’d go my buddy Sam’s house and play games for three hours or so.  Wrestling, sports…you name it.

What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Alma: When I sit with him as he plays Final Fantasy online. It’s not always frustrating but at times, I get bored with the book I’m reading or the paper I’m writing and want to do something else. Also, I hate the music and the sound effects.
Michael: PS3 not being backwards compatible…

Who is the better gamer and why?
Alma: Him. Hands down. Cause he plays.
Michael: Me, cuz I am.

What is your system of choice and why?
Alma: No preference. They all seem to serve a similar purpose to me. I think I’d get a Wii if I had a choice though.
Michael: PS3 or PC

Fave game of all time?
Alma: If I had to choose, Beatles Rock Band. It has fulfilled my dream of walking in Ringo Starr’s shoes.
Michael: Chrono Trigger

What do your gamertags mean?
Alma: Nothing… because I don’t have one. However, my sackperson’s name is “Kylan Blake’s Best Friend” on Little Big Planet, which I quite like actually. It means I’m Kylan Blake’s best friend.
Michael: Absolutely nothing. lol

Names:
Oscar Bermejo & Anvarri Meija

Status:
Long term relationship

Which one of you games?
Oscar: We both game but she often prefers to watch me play than to join in.
Anvarri: We both do but Oz a lot more.

How often do you game?
Oscar: As much as my schedule allows which can range anywhere from 15 minutes
to 4 hours depending on the day.
Anvarri: A few times a month if I can. I don’t game as much as I used to.

Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally?
Oscar: I tend to enjoy single player games a lot more than multiplayer.  I’ll
play the occasional multiplayer game when a bunch of my friends are
playing but I grew up on RPGs so a good storyline is important to me.

Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer?
Oscar: Cooperative. I’d rather have a friend fighting by my side to get
through the story than compete against a bunch of strangers jumping
around acting crazy.

Fave game to play with others?
Oscar: What  ever the latest co-op game is. People forget about games so
quickly that’s it’s tough to stick to just one. I think Gears of War
was one of the first games I had fun playing with a friend so it holds
a special place.
Anvarri: LofTR Return of the King.

Fave game to play with each other?
Oscar: We don’t really play together much, mostly cause we both hate split
screens. We usually just watch what the other is playing.
Anvarri: Lol! bedroom games. =P

Currently playing?
Oscar: God of War 3
Anvarri: Luxor, prince of persia and ufo joe.

Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Oscar: Hardcore gamer
Anvarri: very casual

What do you like about gaming with Anvarri?
Her commentary, like when she suggests I deal with a group of enemies
by throwing a grenade despite the fact that I’m playing Oblivion.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Anvarri?
When I’ve got the adrenaline flowing and am ready to go kill something
and she wanders around the level looking at the scenery.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Oscar?
He plays too fast and I don’t get to enjoy the game’s visual. I’m a big environment fan.

What has been your most memorable gaming experience?
Oscar: The first time I hit a winning streak in Street Fighter 2. For the
first time other people were using their lunch money to try and knock
me off the game.
Anvarri: Back in the day, LAN parties.

What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Oscar: Halo multiplayer, any of them, they’re all the same, a bunch of people
bunny hopping around the map.
Anvarri: That I’m not very good.

Who is the better gamer and why?
Oscar: I am just because I play a lot more unless it’s Samurai Showdown 3
she’s never lost those skills. If this was during the years she hosted
Counterstrike LAN parties things might be different.
Anvarri: Oz – cause he actually plays.

What is your system of choice and why?
Oscar: If I have the option I’ll usually buy the Playstation 3 version of a
game because it has better graphics and I live in constant fear of
those red rings.
Anvarri: 360, the controller and xbox live.

Fave game of all time?
Oscar: Street Fighter 2 (any version) especially when I got good at it.
Anvarri: Vector man and Samurai Showdown 3.

What do your gamertags mean?
Oscar: My 360 gamertag is sparky0 at the time I created the account I was
performing at kids parties under the name “Sparky”. The 0 was just
added cause the name was taken. If it wasn’t for the $10 fee I would
have changed it to match my PSN gamertag OscarBdrunk which seems self
explanatory.
Anvarri: I hate my gamer tag, I’m going to change it as soon as I can.

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Names: Tommy Lawler, Kristine Macabuhay

Status: Dating

Which one of you games?
Tommy: We both game, but I game a whole lot more.

Kristine: Tommy and I both play games.  He is the more avid enthusiast, though I may pick up a controller every once in a while.

How often do you game?
Tommy: Daily

Kristine: I don’t do it too often unless it is with a game I really like, at which point I get morbidly obsessed and play at every chance I get.

Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally?
Tommy: I’m generally a local gamer these days. Nothing like playing with good friends in the same place.

Kristine: If I had to choose, I would rather play locally.  However… (See question below)

Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer?
Tommy: Coop for sure. That’s where the laughs are. Competitive can be fun, but I get a little… too competitive

Kristine: Neither.  For me, gaming is a solitary activity for two reasons.  First, I find gaming to be very relaxing and mind-clearing.  I take it up especially when I feel the need to de-stress and withdraw.  Also, I avoid playing with others for fear of sucking ass.  I will be the first to admit that I am a sore loser.

Fave game to play with others?
Tommy: Either Street Fighter or Rock Band

Kristine: Beatles: Rock Band.

Fave game to play with each other?
Tommy: Rock Band. I’d say probably other games but she stops and says “I’ll suck!” before even trying.

Kristine: Beatles: Rock Band, although Little Big Planet and Super Mario Wii are also fun.  We’ve tried playing Halo and Left 4 Dead together, but I do not have the penchant for shooting games so that did not last too long.

Currently playing?
Tommy: Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, Assassin’s Creed 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia… I have no life.

Kristine: I’m currently playing Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, which was a Christmas gift from Tommy.

Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Tommy: These days, I don’t have the skill to call myself hardcore, but I also play too much to call it a casual thing. I will just shoehorn a term in there and call myself an Enthusiast.

Kristine: I am definitely a casual gamer.  I probably play a bit more than regular folks, but I don’t play a well-rounded enough selection of games and don’t keep up with industry news.

What do you like about gaming with Kristine?
Tommy: I have a pal to enjoy Beatles Rock Band with.

What do you like about gaming with Tommy?
Kristine: He is very helpful and patient when we play together, which is nice because I kind of suck most of the time.  He’s very encouraging with me when it comes to gaming in general.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Kristine?
Tommy: She’s better than me if it’s something she likes, and it’s a blow to the ego if ever there was one.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Tommy?
Kristine: He and I are both sore losers, which can be a bad combination.  Whereas I approach it by not even trying to compete at all, he is very competitive and has a short fuse when it comes to losing.

What has been your most memorable gaming experience?
Tommy: With Kristine? Probably when she actually sang in Beatles Rock Band

Kristine: Guitar Hero 1.  I was introduced to it at friend’s house.  I liked it so much that I bought my own copy the very next day and played for seven hours straight—I went from being an easy-level player to expert all in one night.

What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Tommy: She passes some songs on Expert guitar before me! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!?

Kristine: The whole concept of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow eludes me.  I can never get past the stupid first boss.

Who is the better gamer and why?
Tommy: If it’s a game she likes, she is. I think I spread myself thin. I play a huge variety of games and thus don’t get very good at any them. She plays a small handful, and thus gets pretty good at them as they come along.

Kristine: Tommy, hands down.  He’s been playing since he was three years old!

What is your system of choice and why?
Tommy: Really, I don’t care. For multiplatform games, my choice is generally contingent on which will get me the most friends to play with if it has multiplayer. Otherwise I’ll look at the features or performance. I picked up Arkham Asylum on PS3 to play as the Joker, but got Assassin’s Creed 2 on 360 for the faster load times and slightly improved visuals, Dragon Age on PC because of the tactical view just completely lacking in the console versions.

Kristine: For sentimental purposes, the Nintendo DS.  Some of my friends, who were also co-workers at that time, got them the day it came out.  Pre-boyfriend-status Tommy was one of them.  He and another friend spent that whole morning at work playing with the Pictochat feature, which I thought was the coolest thing ever.  That afternoon, I went to Target during my lunch break to buy my very own.  I was a bit apprehensive about it at first because it cost quite a bit of money, but Tommy promised to make sure I don’t let it go to waste.  He’s been making good on that promise ever since.

Fave game of all time?
Tommy: One of the hardest question for me to answer right here. My immediate reaction to this question is always Chrono Trigger because it was the first game where I got really swept up in the characters and story. Just a terrific game. But Half-Life and Street Fighter 3: Third Strike also come to mind. The former’s pretty standard desert island fare, the other I feel I should justify. I realize that Street Fighter 2 is the groundwork and the more important game, but to me personally I’ve had more fun learning and trying to master its direct sequel with close friends. I love that game, and I have amazing memories playing it at home and arcades.

Kristine: Super Mario 3.  It is the first game I ever owned.  My parents bought it for me and my older sister for the Nintendo Family Computer when were little.

What do your gamertags mean?
Tommy: Tawler is just the first letter of my first name tacked onto my last name without its first letter. On PSN I made it TawlOtter because uh… Otters are awesome? Hellooo?

Kristine: Gamertags are for nerds!

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Names: Aaron & Misha

Status: Long Term Relationship

Which one of you games?
Aaron: 7 days a week, Misha when she has free time.

Misha: He does…a lot. I do…some NOT anywhere close to how much he does.

How often do you game?
Aaron: Any chance I can when it’s not warm and sunny.

Misha: Depends on my mood – some weeks it’s 3-4 times for an hour or so, and some weeks it’s not at all.

Do you prefer to play online multiplayer or locally:
Aaron: Locally unless my friends are on back home.

Misha: Depends on the game – for an example – Carcassone online and Scene It locally and 1 vs 100!

Do you prefer competitive or cooperative multiplayer:
Aaron: Co-op being able to play with friends across the US is amazing.

Misha: I like both, but I do think healthy competition is a lot of fun.

Fave game to play with others?
Aaron: Gears of War 2, Modern Warfare 2, Castle Crashers, 1 vs. 100, 2 Uno Games.

Misha: Any Scene It game (for 360) and Wii Sports Resort.

Fave game to play with each other?
Aaron: Uno and 1 vs 100, we play almost every night.

Misha: UNO Rush – we are a force to be reckoned with when we team up together.

Currently playing:
Aaron: MW2 and anything with achievements I don’t have yet.

Misha: Peggle Nights for XBOX 360/Super Mario and Donkey Kong Country for the Wii.

Do you consider yourself to be a hardcore or a casual gamer?
Aaron: I’m casual hardcore – I don’t have nto play but when I do, it’s go time!

Misha: I started very casually but am getting into it more.

What do you like about gaming with Misha?
Aaron: Sharing my love for the tech and experiencing new games with her.

What do you like about gaming with Aaron?
Misha: It’s something that he loves to do and I enjoy also. And it’s a lot of fun.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Misha?
Aaron: That I get upset because she doesn’t pick things up as fast as I do.

What DON’T you like about gaming with Aaron?
Misha: He sometimes gets frustrated with me because I’m not as fast of a learner as he is. My hand-eye coordination is not the best.

What has been your most memorable gaming experience?
Aaron: I will never forget Aeris Battler with Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII).

Misha: Playing Donkey Kong Country again – it was my favorite game growing up – SNES.

What has been your most frustrating gaming experience?
Aaron: Same as above – didn’t want to play it for a week after it happened.

Misha: Trying to keep up with Aaron in Gear of War – Wingman, ONCE.

Who is the better gamer and why?
Aaron: Me because I have been playing since Atari.

Misha: AARON! For Sure! He has the coordination and understanding of the physics of the games he plays. It’s crazy how fast he gets through games.

Fave game of all time?
Aaron: Final Fantasy VII

Misha: Hard to choose – loved Donkey Kong Country growing up, Carcassone is awesome, Peggle is CRACK! But then there’s TETRIS, BEJEWLEED 2, HEXIC, the list goes on and on…

What do your gamertags mean?
Aaron: Theboycharlieb: The boy (nickname); CharlieB is short for Charlie Brown – because I was balding in high school.

Misha: They’re our nicknames – he’s The Boy and Charlie Brown (theboycharlieb)
and mine is Misha and Kittie (mishakittie).

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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.