Community Spotlight 3 - Shame-usBlackley Unplugged

I would like to see the spotlighted person's opinion respected and these interviews aren't meant to start a console war or game bashing, they are just views of a single person. Any suggestions on how to make this feature better or recommendations on someone you'd like to see interviewed can be Private Messaged to smerlus. Any comments about the interview or further questions can be posted in this topic. Enjoy the Spotlight.

The First Community Spotlight featuring Dvader654 can be found by clicking Nyeah.

The Second Community Spotlight featuring SophinaK can be found by clicking Nyeah.

Well after a few delays I'd like to welcome all of you to the third Gamespot Community Spotlight topic. So far we've seen a forum regular and a new mod so next I went with an ex-mod that is a forum regular, Shame-usBlackley who's been around these parts since 2002. We talk about the forefather of consoles, the death of gaming and the days when everyone was Kung Fu fighting, well at least him and a friend were. Without anymore to add, here's the interview.

smerlus: Ok today we'll start at the end...You've seen how these things go, is there any question you know I won't ask you but you wish I would?

Shame-usBlackley: Hmmmmm. Not really, but if I think of one, I'll let you know.

smerlus: Okay. I think that's a tough question that people usually don't think about so now we got that out of the way we'll come back to it later. You were a mod once correct?

Shame-usBlackley: This is true.

smerlus: So what happened?

Shame-usBlackley: You mean, what happened as in why I'm no longer a mod? Or what happened as in what was it like being a mod?

smerlus: how come you're no longer a mod?

Shame-usBlackley: I don't know precisely. What I do know is that I liked myself better a poster than I did as a mod. I admire moderators, but I've never been much of a role model. I'm far too prone to speak my mind, for starters, and that's just a huge no-no when it comes to moderating. I mean, you can't expect to be a moderator long when 90% of the time you're having trouble suppressing the urge to tell people what #$%^ they are.

Shame-usBlackley: I became less and less active as a mod, and during the Gerstmann incident, became almost entirely inactive as a poster. I was basically done with the site for a short while. There was never anything said between the admins and me. One day I was, and the next day.... no mas.

Shame-usBlackley: That was cool, though, because I couldn't really fault them for doing I as I did them, you know? I mean, neither side ever told the other to **** off, it was just one of those weird unspoken things. Kind of cool, actually. IF that makes any sense.

smerlus: No, I understand, it was a mutual thing. I only asked that because as a mod I never really noticed you besides being a mod but now without that tag you're this explosive poster out of almost nowhere.

Shame-usBlackley: Yeah, which is definitely more the real me.

Shame-usBlackley: I felt like I had to temper my thoughts and statements, and that felt odd seeing as I've been on the site for a long time. I felt like a block-headed bouncer in a nice suit trying to play Jeopardy without telling Alex Trebec that his moustache made him look like a douche.

Shame-usBlackley: It didn't..... Feel like me, you know?

smerlus: Lol. I hear you. I know I could personally never do the mod thing. Anyways I was going to say that I find I don't agree with your opinions 100% of the time but they're always fun to read because of your analogies. It's almost like a Gamespot forum version of South Park where your opinion can go off on these wild tangents but still make sense most of the times.

Shame-usBlackley: Yeah, that's intentional. I always try to make sure that even if people hate my opinion, that they at least have fun reading it. And really, that's something that's needed in ALL forums, and it's one of the reasons places like GAF are so popular.

Shame-usBlackley:A lot of people can talk, but few can talk and make it interesting.

smerlus: So when you were a moderator, did you personally believe in all those mod rules you had to uphold? Did you like skip out on some moderations because you agreed with the person or ever painfully moderate someone?

Shame-usBlackley: Oh, absolutely. That's where my respect comes for the other moderators, because I guarantee you that right now, there's a dude moderating someone and he's not liking it very much.

Shame-usBlackley: I never really liked suspending people, though. I don't know if that made me a bad mod on its own merit. I always felt like a pretty big ****, to be honest. Even if the person had it coming.

Shame-usBlackley: I never minded getting advertisers and shmucks like that banned, though. That was okay.

smerlus: Yeah, those are the dirt of the forums anyways. So earlier you said you were a salesman. What kind of field are you in?

Shame-usBlackley: I actually sell HVAC equipment. It's a pretty boring field, actually. But it's a need, not a want, which makes it easier to sell in spite of how expensive it is.

Shame-usBlackley:I've always been a natural at sales. Selling people is a combination of giving people what they need, telling them what they want to hear, and delivering on MOST of it.

Shame-usBlackley: But really it's a matter of trust, and I've always been good at developing that. If people don't trust you, they'll never buy from you.

smerlus: So up until your last part of your sales triangle, you're a lot like Peter Molyneaux?

Shame-usBlackley: Yes, except I'm always accountable when whatever goes wrong..... Goes wrong.

Shame-usBlackley: But make no mistake, being a scumbag salesman makes the moves of some of these game companies seem pretty transparent. There are times when I'll hear Jack Tretton or Peter Moore say something, and I'll be like "Man, that's Jedi mind trick number 5,464. Not a bad one. I might have opted for 3,366 in this instance, but still -- not a bad choice."

smerlus: Yeah I have some cousins in the car sales and collision business. Some of their scams make me sure I don't tell my friends to take their stuff there

Shame-usBlackley: Yes, it's the same reason people never eat in restaurants once they've actually worked in one. The nice thing is that it does save you some unnecessary grief in other parts of your life. Being able to read people is a huge advantage at times. And at other times, not so much.

smerlus: True. Now on to gaming. Which generations of systems are your favorites?

Shame-usBlackley:Oh, that's easy! 16 bit, followed by the PS2 era. I say the PS2 era not just because 128 bit doesn't aptly describe it, but because it WAS the PS2 era. There were a few other systems out, but the PS2 was the life of the industry.

Shame-usBlackley: I have a love/hate thing going with the current generation, though.

smerlus: I agree, I've never had a more mixed emotion about the consoles like this current generation. I think ones fantastic which makes the other not so great and then there's one just off on the other end by itself.

Shame-usBlackley:Well, I've never felt more like the systems were a barometer of companies having their heads up their ass as far as seeing what people want, and it's so simple! People want the goddamn PS2 again. And Sony and Microsoft are trying to sell them on hi-def and home theaters. Web browsers and downloadable content. Cutting edge visuals and big ticket pricing.

Shame-usBlackley: It's like -- Guys, you've just seen a system come in and sell 140 million systems, and you're gonna try and mess with that formula? *Gives Steve-O thumbs up*

smerlus: I guess it's the "Bigger is better" Theory in effect. So what do you think gaming will be like next generation? PS3/360 graphics with waggle or 18 core processors with 400 GB of hard drive space and all that new technology?

Shame-usBlackley: I think it'll be almost just like this one, only with more reasonably priced hardware and much, much sooner than people think. I expect both Sony and Microsoft to have new consoles out by 2011 at the latest. And I think as a result, the winner will change from this generation.

Shame-usBlackley: I think Nintendo hit a nerve with the general public, but there were 140 million PS2's sold before the Wii came out -- a conventional videogame console can do pretty damn fine I'd say without relying on the creamed corn crowd and the tykes.

Shame-usBlackley: I think the other two companies (particularly Sony -- God, I have no idea what happened there, but it wasn't pretty) got caught with their pants down, but I think they'll come back for blood in the next round.

smerlus: Honestly I think you're a better industry analysis than the ones that get featured on Gamespot. How come you're not working in the industry?

Shame-usBlackley: I'm not corrupt enough. I'd tell people to go **** themselves. I have enough trouble staying employed as it is, and people in my field curse like drunken sailors.

Shame-usBlackley: I think that's part of the problem -- way too many "yes men" in videogames. Too many people afraid to tell Molyneaux that he's doing it again, or Kutaragi that he's acting like a loon, or Kojima that he should be working on his game instead of talking about plant growth and physics damage.

smerlus: I guess that would be like telling Lucas and Spielberg that their movies were great without CGI

Shame-usBlackley: And so we all watch helplessly as these people tie themselves to the cross, pour the gas on, and pop the match with their tooth. Some of the stuff that goes down is so obvious. I mean, who inside Sony really thought it was a good idea to launch at six hundred bucks?

Shame-usBlackley:Yes, exactly! Lucas is the film equivalent of video gaming's icons. He's this giant monolith of a guy, and he's made history, so people are too afraid to tell him when he's being lame. And so **** like the Clone Wars animated film get made. Sometimes the big guys just need to hear that an idea is lame and why.

smerlus: Lol Yep. So from a recent topic we already know you're a silly achievement whore but what is your real take on games. Do you just play them, beat them and move on or do you have to get everything out of them?

Shame-usBlackley: Well, it depends on the game. I've always been a completionist, but I sure as hell won't even finish a game I don't like, let alone go back for more.

Shame-usBlackley: In all honesty, I don't understand a lot of people these days who seem intent on getting less value from their games. If there are things that can be put into games -- be they unlockables, god codes, achievements, whatever -- that give people reasons to go back and turn that 10 hour $65 investment into 15 or even 20 hours, then I'm all for it. Of course, I'm not saying play games you're sick of, but damn, if there's a game you like, why not get the most out of that mofo, you know?

Shame-usBlackley: So yeah, I keep games around indefinitely. And I'll go back and play old games when the time is right. I still go back and play Freedom Fighters and Panzer Dragoon Orta on the original Xbox. And God of War (both the original and the sequel) still get playtime from me.

smerlus: You're right. I think achievements and now trophies are a great idea. I didn't see the big deal at first but trying to get some of these things is actually fun. And who can blame you for stretching the time on that dollar you spent as long as you're doing something for the fun of it and not just the point system

Shame-usBlackley: Well, it's a connection, a..... Dialogue.... an unspoken dialogue between the developer and the player. The developer is able to give the player hints about things that are really cool to do in these worlds they've created, and I don't know that there's ever been that in gaming before. I feel like achievements have this goofy; devil may care awesomeness about them that everyone is still having fun with. You can see a lot of developers really thinking about how to make these things work, and then, you've got games like King Kong, that give you a 1000 points and every achievement just for showing up to the party.

Shame-usBlackley: Yes, it should always, always, ALWAYS be about the fun. If you're not having fun, you're missing the point of playing games. And there are, contrary to popular belief, a lot of games out now that ARE NOT fun. Achievements or no.

smerlus: Speaking of, what has been the biggest disappoint in your gaming life? And don't say Mass Effect.

Shame-usBlackley: Mass Effect was just last year! I'm bottling that **** up like a fine varietal wine and letting it age. It'll turn into a vintage year eventually. :P

Shame-usBlackley: I think my biggest disappointment was watching the industry die. You had to be there. I hear a lot of people talk about crashes, but man that was really bad. REALLY bad. Games being sold in bargain bins for .50 cents. It sucked, because we had all gotten a taste of this magic thing -- something we knew was going to change how we entertained ourselves forever, and we had to sit there and watch it die. It was ******** terrible, man

Shame-usBlackley: That's why, as angry as I get at Nintendo for, well, being Nintendo, I'll always be grateful to them for bringing us back from the brink.

smerlus: So when people say "What we need is another game depression to get thing back to the way they were." do you agree or disagree?

Shame-usBlackley: Absolutely disagree. People who say that haven't experienced it firsthand I'd say. It wasn't a slowdown, or a drawing in, it was flat dead and it stayed that way for a while.

Shame-usBlackley: And really, when you look at what brought it back, it was still super-risky. The Famicom was kicking ass in Japan by then, but there was no assurances that America would come back.
In a way, I believe only Nintendo could've done it. They have a Disney-like way about them, a magic. And even though they're annoying as hell at times, they caught lightning in the bottle when there wasn't a storm cloud in sight. It was amazing to see. There wasn't even any decent advertising for the system at first. I saw the NES for the very first time in the back of a Boy's Life magazine.

(Continued in next post)

smerlus: So sticking with bad moments, do you have a gaming moment you're ashamed of?

Shame-usBlackley: Ashamed of? Hmmmm. Yeah, I got into a fist-fight with my best friend, but that was as funny as it was tragic. We ruined the goddamn house, just like Clouseau and Kato. But I broke his glasses and said some really nasty things to him, and we were never friends like we were before that.

smerlus: lol Which game caused that?

Shame-usBlackley: The sucky thing is -- the fight was over Kung-Fu on the NES.

smerlus: Kung Fu is totally worth a good friend.

Shame-usBlackley: I can't even remember the circumstance that caused it, but man, it was on all of a sudden. And we went through the whole house like a cyclone, like two Tasmanian devils in a Warner Brothers cartoon.

smerlus: Did you at least win?

Shame-usBlackley: I don't know if there was a winner, really. I think the house took the worst of it, to be honest. I guess I did, because I didn't have glasses and he needed new ones afterwards.

smerlus: How about a gaming moment you're proud of?

Shame-usBlackley: Two moments. One was when I beat Perfect Dark Zero on Dark Agent. Many people crap on that game, but if you play it on Dark, it will be THE GAME that walks away laughing. But I beat it, and it felt great. It wasn't even the most difficult game I've ever played, but it felt the most rewarding,

Shame-usBlackley: The second was about five years ago. I had a gardener who didn't speak English, and he'd bring his son here to do the talking for him. I had them over for yard work around Christmas one year, and the kid seemed down. I asked him what was wrong and he said nothing, but I knew something was wrong. So I asked him again, and he said his dad couldn't afford to get him anything for Christmas. And that bummed me out.

Shame-usBlackley: So I gave him my Playstation and a few games. It wasn't that big a deal to me -- the PS2 was already out and in full swing, and it played all the old games for the most part. I needed the old PS1 like I needed a crapper on my forehead, so it felt good to give that kid something. It felt real good.

Shame-usBlackley: But now he's probably bugging the hell out of his dad every week for new games (I do my own yard now, so I don't see them anymore), and his dad probably thinks I'm the biggest tool under the sun. :P

smerlus: It's the thought that counts. What are some games you're looking forward to and some quick reasons why?

Shame-usBlackley: Mirror's Edge, because I think it takes balls to take the shooter out of an FPS. Fable II, because I think (even though there's been some troubling signs lately) that Molyneaux may hit one out of the park again. Fallout 3 -- mostly because it's Bethesda, and I think Oblivion was just fantastic.

Shame-usBlackley: The AC/DC album in Rock Band, because it's AC/DC (that's ALL that is necessary). Little Big Planet, because I think a world without platformers sucks a little and also because a platformer that you can make your own levels in is a beautiful thing. And, of course, Gears 2. I can't wait. I don't even know what it is about Gears, but it's just a badass game. It's the first Epic-made game that lives up to the moniker in my opinion.

Shame-usBlackley: In other words, I'm gonna be broke this winter.

smerlus: Those are some good choices and a lot of those are on my list too. How about telling us how you found Gamespot?

Shame-usBlackley: I found Gamespot back when it was videogames.com

Shame-usBlackley: Way, way back in the day and the forums back then were both the most beautiful thing you've ever seen and also incredibly savage. It was like GAF. In the jungle. And only the fittest survived. GGD more closely resembled System Wars and that's probably because there WAS no System Wars. There were only a few, to be honest.

Shame-usBlackley: But yeah, how did I find it....? Oh, of course -- when I got my first computer, the word videogames was the first thing I searched for and up it popped.

smerlus: It sounds like some kind of Bizarro world. I remember Videogames.com too but never ventured into the forums portion and I found it the exact same way

smerlus: What is the single series you're a diehard fan for?

Shame-usBlackley: It used to be Metal Gear, but you know..... Well, I won't get into that. That will cause the whole thread to explode when you put it up.

smerlus: Oh go for it,

Shame-usBlackley: Well, Metal Gear was awesome as long as you didn't pay attention to the story. If you were a fan of the story, the fourth game was a pretty big letdown in my opinion. I mean, Metal Gear has always been zany and kinda out there, but MGS4 was like Kojima had secretly become a paint huffer and would write the story only when he had a fresh can on hand.

Shame-usBlackley: I guess it's still my favorite series, but Team Ico is hot on its heels after MGS4. I think Team Ico is just brilliant.

smerlus: So can you narrow things down to a favorite game?

Shame-usBlackley: Man, that's tough. Probably Super Mario World. I know it's been said time and again, but that game was just ace. I remember totally not having the money to buy a SNES when that game was shown (it was a pack-in -- remember those awesome things? God, I miss pack-ins) and I decided right then and there that I would have that game no matter what, and I literally played it for two days straight when it came out. I think I slept like 7 hours total between the two days. I was, literally, cracked-out.

Shame-usBlackley: A close runner-up would be Metal Gear Solid, just because it challenged what my expectations for a game were.

smerlus: How about what that first game that got you into gaming?

Shame-usBlackley: Defender on the Atari 2600. It was awful. Even back then. It was a horrible version of the arcade game. But I loved it all the same. Because it was Defender, but in my house! It was just... crappy looking and was missing all the buttons.

smerlus: And now back to the beginning. Anything you'd have liked me to ask that I missed?

Shame-usBlackley: Well, I can soapbox this a bit, but hey, what the hell. I'd take this one as a chance to say who the most influential person in the industry was, and I'd say hands-down that man is Ralph Baer. Baer is basically the father of the industry, and we all owe him our thanks. If you are a gamer, and you haven't read up on Baer, you owe it yourself and your hobby to read up on the rocky road to fruition the game console had. It's a pretty fascinating tale, and Baer is an awesome guy who doesn't get near the credit (although it's gotten better in recent years) that he deserves.

smerlus: I guess I'll have to look him up. Any last words for the forumites?

Shame-usBlackley: Yeah, I didn't mean to single you out, I meant people in general. But DO look him up -- it's a great read. As for the last question....

Shame-usBlackley: I'd say to the forumites: Whatever you have to say, always keep it interesting. People can dig disagreements, but man, there's nothing worse than a ******* bore, you know?

smerlus: Lol so no poll threads?

Shame-usBlackley: No. God, please..... No. Lol

smerlus: well it's been a pleasure and you should see this up in a day or so.

Shame-usBlackley: Right on, man. Thanks for doing it. Hopefully it doesn't end up with the pitchforks and torch treatment.

smerlus: That would make it better. Later man

Shame-usBlackley:See you

Good read.

Did you beat PD0 on Dark Agent in co-op? I can barely squeak some of the levels on the difficulty notch below that, although I suppose after you've memorized the levels it would get easier, since enemy location stays the same.

I'm surprised there was no mentioned of the awesomeness that is Geometry Wars 2 either. :P

edit - also, the reasons and timing of Shame-us' departure as a mod are extremely similar to my own, so I know exactly where he's coming from.

Wow, good read.

I thought this Smerlus dude abandoned GS anyway. He seems like a cool user anyway.

OK, a question for SB: What in particluar about MGS4's story didn't you like?

Kickass interview. Major props to both smerlus and Shame-us.

It's good to see one of the longest standing posters around here take a more dominant role. It spices up things.

And GodMode, don't take this too personally, but I'm giving you purple nurples. ^__^

Good read.

Did you beat PD0 on Dark Agent in co-op? I can barely squeak some of the levels on the difficulty notch below that, although I suppose after you've memorized the levels it would get easier, since enemy location stays the same.

I'm surprised there was no mentioned of the awesomeness that is Geometry Wars 2 either. :P

edit - also, the reasons and timing of Shame-us' departure as a mod are extremely similar to my own, so I know exactly where he's coming from.

DJ_Lae

I beat it in both single and co-op. Beating the game on Dark requires rote memorization of the level, lightning fast reflexes, and full knowledge of which weapons to start with, which weapons to pick up throughout the course of the level, and which to have on hand for the boss fights. Knowing the best cover points is also key. And then there's a good bit of luck involved at some points -- like the jungle on Dark Agent is just ridiculous. You can get the thermal goggles off the pilot's dead body, but by that point, the jungle is swarming with enemies that are almost meticulously camoflauged in the environment and machine gun fire and grenades making swiss cheese out of the whole level. Your only hope of survival is to run left to cover, and use the Superdragon grenades to spam a path through the enemies, picking up RCP90s to replace your now empty Superdragon. The RCPs work great, because the secondary mode is heat vision -- huge help in the jungle. But yeah, if you ever wanna have a run at it, I'd totally be down for a co-op run again.

And Geometry Wars 2 is so awesome that it deserves its own interview. A mere mention can't contain the greatness that is Geometry Wars 2. :P

Shame-Us has always been one a staple at GS, one of the few posters who seemed truly unique and is someone I could point to whenever I began to ask myself what makes GS so special or what do we have that other sites don't have...Even when he wasn't posting all that regularly, whenever he popped in it was with something not only insightful but hilarious. I'm kinda suprised that when GS was starting to run out of reviewers that didn't approach Shameus with an offer.

I have two questions:

What version of Fable 2 did you finally decide upon, or have you decided just to hold off altogether on it?

And one more general question, where can I get tickets to your gun show? :oops:

[QUOTE="DJ_Lae"]

Good read.

Did you beat PD0 on Dark Agent in co-op? I can barely squeak some of the levels on the difficulty notch below that, although I suppose after you've memorized the levels it would get easier, since enemy location stays the same.

I'm surprised there was no mentioned of the awesomeness that is Geometry Wars 2 either. :P

edit - also, the reasons and timing of Shame-us' departure as a mod are extremely similar to my own, so I know exactly where he's coming from.

Shame-usBlackley

I beat it in both single and co-op. Beating the game on Dark requires rote memorization of the level, lightning fast reflexes, and full knowledge of which weapons to start with, which weapons to pick up throughout the course of the level, and which to have on hand for the boss fights. Knowing the best cover points is also key. And then there's a good bit of luck involved at some points -- like the jungle on Dark Agent is just ridiculous. You can get the thermal goggles off the pilot's dead body, but by that point, the jungle is swarming with enemies that are almost meticulously camoflauged in the environment and machine gun fire and grenades making swiss cheese out of the whole level. Your only hope of survival is to run left to cover, and use the Superdragon grenades to spam a path through the enemies, picking up RCP90s to replace your now empty Superdragon. The RCPs work great, because the secondary mode is heat vision -- huge help in the jungle. But yeah, if you ever wanna have a run at it, I'd totally be down for a co-op run again.

And Geometry Wars 2 is so awesome that it deserves its own interview. A mere mention can't contain the greatness that is Geometry Wars 2. :P

I wish the game had more tracks, I get tired of hearing the same music all the time, but thats just about the only negative thing I can say about it.

Wow, good read.

I thought this Smerlus dude abandoned GS anyway. He seems like a cool user anyway.

OK, a question for SB: What in particluar about MGS4's story didn't you like?

MetalGear_Ninty

In a nutshell and put nicely, I think Kojima just got too carried away with the story. The ending was laughably bad for the game that was supposed to finish off the story arc. It's hard to say too much more than that for fear of spoilers. The best way to put it is this -- I wanted more Snake Eater and less Sons of Liberty in MGS4.

Shame-Us has always been one a staple at GS, one of the few posters who seemed truly unique and is someone I could point to whenever I began to ask myself what makes GS so special or what do we have that other sites don't have...Even when he wasn't posting all that regularly, whenever he popped in it was with something not only insightful but hilarious. I'm kinda suprised that when GS was starting to run out of reviewers that didn't approach Shameus with an offer.

I have two questions:

What version of Fable 2 did you finally decide upon, or have you decided just to hold off altogether on it?

And one more general question, where can I get tickets to your gun show? :oops:

HiResDes

You are too kind, Des. Thanks, man.

Technically I cancelled it, so at the moment, I don't have a version to pick up, and it's going to KILL me waiting for that patch to hit, because I really want to play Fable. I really want to go with the CE still, because of the goodies, but I'm also somewhat conflicted about that, because it feels like content is being withheld to sell even though it's ready at launch, and I oppose that practice 100%. If I had the will, I'd probably just buy the regular version, but I don't know yet that I could for sure put money on that.

And I can always arrange a screening -- just name a caliber, any caliber (except .50!).

Hey Shame-us, does this mean you would like to work in the game industry as a producer or marketer?Oilers99

I really don't think I'm cut out for videogames. Like I said, I get a little too vocal about things and the first time my boss tried to ship an unfinished game, or hold back content, or buy/sell an exclusive review, or any of the multitude of other nonsense that goes on in the games biz, I'd be in the soup kitchens, because that person would know exactly how I felt about them at that point. I think advertising would be about the only field I'd be interested in when it came to gaming, because it's still somewhat creative, but it's removed from all the political horse manure. It would be fun to design ad campaigns for games.

Also, I got your Live message a few days ago, but I haven't been able to listen to it because I can't find my damn headset. I've been an unsociable cur lately, but I didn't want you to think it was intentional in your case. :)

[QUOTE="Oilers99"]Hey Shame-us, does this mean you would like to work in the game industry as a producer or marketer?Shame-usBlackley

I really don't think I'm cut out for videogames. Like I said, I get a little too vocal about things and the first time my boss tried to ship an unfinished game, or hold back content, or buy/sell an exclusive review, or any of the multitude of other nonsense that goes on in the games biz, I'd be in the soup kitchens, because that person would know exactly how I felt about them at that point. I think advertising would be about the only field I'd be interested in when it came to gaming, because it's still somewhat creative, but it's removed from all the political horse manure. It would be fun to design ad campaigns for games.

Also, I got your Live message a few days ago, but I haven't been able to listen to it because I can't find my damn headset. I've been an unsociable cur lately, but I didn't want you to think it was intentional in your case. :)

Interesting response.

Anyways, the message was about playing Castle Crashers. If you're up for a game, let me know.

but I've never been much of a role model.Shame-usBlackley

You were the closest to a role-model to me as anyone on an Internet forum can ever be. You were one of the first posters I noticed when I started posting in GGD. I remember being nervous about sending you a friend request because I was afraid you wouldn't accept it. I remember having a huge grin on my face every time you replied to something I posted regardless whether it was in agreement or not. I thought you were the coolest guy on these boards. You may not be aware of it, but you had a lot to do with what kind of a poster (and later on, moderator) I became.

We disagree quite a bit and I think you're completely clueless when it comes to anything PC-related, but my respect for you has always been sky high. Keep fighting the good fight, man.

/melodrama

[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"]but I've never been much of a role model.UpInFlames

You were the closest to a role-model to me as anyone on an Internet forum can ever be. You were one of the first posters I noticed when I started posting in GGD. I remember being nervous about sending you a friend request because I was afraid you wouldn't accept it. I remember having a huge grin on my face every time you replied to something I posted regardless whether it was in agreement or not. I thought you were the coolest guy on these boards. You may not be aware of it, but you had a lot to do with what kind of a poster (and later on, moderator) I became.

We disagree quite a bit and I think you're completely clueless when it comes to anything PC-related, but my respect for you has always been sky high. Keep fighting the good fight, man.

/melodrama

Raw Raw Fight the Power!

[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"]but I've never been much of a role model.UpInFlames

You were the closest to a role-model to me as anyone on an Internet forum can ever be. You were one of the first posters I noticed when I started posting in GGD. I remember being nervous about sending you a friend request because I was afraid you wouldn't accept it. I remember having a huge grin on my face every time you replied to something I posted regardless whether it was in agreement or not. I thought you were the coolest guy on these boards. You may not be aware of it, but you had a lot to do with what kind of a poster (and later on, moderator) I became.

We disagree quite a bit and I think you're completely clueless when it comes to anything PC-related, but my respect for you has always been sky high. Keep fighting the good fight, man.

/melodrama

Why do I have this sudden image of Big Boss's salute at the end of MGS3?

Anyways, the message was about playing Castle Crashers. If you're up for a game, let me know.

Oilers99

Has it been patched? If you guys need a third I'd be up for it, so long as you don't mind a skeleton who fights with a chicken backing you up

And Shame-us, I'd definitely be up for some Perfect Dark, although with the surge of games the next month I'm not sure when I'd get back to it. I haven't played it in a year and I'm sure I'm even rustier now.

[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"]but I've never been much of a role model.UpInFlames

You were the closest to a role-model to me as anyone on an Internet forum can ever be. You were one of the first posters I noticed when I started posting in GGD. I remember being nervous about sending you a friend request because I was afraid you wouldn't accept it. I remember having a huge grin on my face every time you replied to something I posted regardless whether it was in agreement or not. I thought you were the coolest guy on these boards. You may not be aware of it, but you had a lot to do with what kind of a poster (and later on, moderator) I became.

We disagree quite a bit and I think you're completely clueless when it comes to anything PC-related, but my respect for you has always been sky high. Keep fighting the good fight, man.

/melodrama

[QUOTE="Oilers99"]

Anyways, the message was about playing Castle Crashers. If you're up for a game, let me know.

DJ_Lae

Has it been patched? If you guys need a third I'd be up for it, so long as you don't mind a skeleton who fights with a chicken backing you up

And Shame-us, I'd definitely be up for some Perfect Dark, although with the surge of games the next month I'm not sure when I'd get back to it. I haven't played it in a year and I'm sure I'm even rustier now.

I don't know if it was patched; I thought it was a server issue. Anyways, I managed to get in an online game. Haven't tested in extensively... so I'm not absolutely sure whether or not it's functionally totally properly.

[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"]but I've never been much of a role model.UpInFlames

You were the closest to a role-model to me as anyone on an Internet forum can ever be. You were one of the first posters I noticed when I started posting in GGD. I remember being nervous about sending you a friend request because I was afraid you wouldn't accept it. I remember having a huge grin on my face every time you replied to something I posted regardless whether it was in agreement or not. I thought you were the coolest guy on these boards. You may not be aware of it, but you had a lot to do with what kind of a poster (and later on, moderator) I became.

We disagree quite a bit and I think you're completely clueless when it comes to anything PC-related, but my respect for you has always been sky high. Keep fighting the good fight, man.

/melodrama

You are ten times the mod I ever was, dude. Thanks for the compliments, and the respect is mutual.

There are acquaintances, and there are friends. Glad to have you as the latter, Flames.

[QUOTE="Oilers99"]

Anyways, the message was about playing Castle Crashers. If you're up for a game, let me know.

DJ_Lae

Has it been patched? If you guys need a third I'd be up for it, so long as you don't mind a skeleton who fights with a chicken backing you up

And Shame-us, I'd definitely be up for some Perfect Dark, although with the surge of games the next month I'm not sure when I'd get back to it. I haven't played it in a year and I'm sure I'm even rustier now.

Absolutely. It'd be a total blast.

And yeah, anytime down the road. I've still got it's not going anywhere. You know the weird part? I've played over a hundred games since PDZ, and I could still recite every one of those levels like it was yesterday. I don't know what that says more -- that I played the HELL out of that game (and did I tell you that Scomer played the hell out of it too?) or that the level design was better than it got credit for.

That was a great read. It's really interesting learning more about the community.

Keep 'em coming, smerlus. :)

Do you still don't like chocolate?

Also, I think Enrique Iglesias describes the atmosphere of this thread perfectly.

[QUOTE="DJ_Lae"][QUOTE="Oilers99"]

Anyways, the message was about playing Castle Crashers. If you're up for a game, let me know.

Shame-usBlackley

Has it been patched? If you guys need a third I'd be up for it, so long as you don't mind a skeleton who fights with a chicken backing you up

And Shame-us, I'd definitely be up for some Perfect Dark, although with the surge of games the next month I'm not sure when I'd get back to it. I haven't played it in a year and I'm sure I'm even rustier now.

Absolutely. It'd be a total blast.

Cool. I'm going to be busy in about three hours, but if you want to hop online before then, or later into the evening, we can get a game going.

Do you still don't like chocolate?

Also, I think Enrique Iglesias describes the atmosphere of this thread perfectly.

inoperativeRS

I believe he still hates chocolate, puppies and kittens. I've heard that his stance on rainbows and lollipops has softened. Just not chocolate lollipops.

Man there are some excellent lines in that interview, I love reading what you write Shameus, even when you want to crap on MGS4 but hold back. :P

Great stuff, didn't know you were uber old school, I missed that gen, for me it all starts with the NES so its like reading about colonial times in the US when you guys talk about Atari. (Don't feel old, Im now a dinosaur too for living through the NES era).

So yeah, honestly, I can read pages and pages more of you commenting on stuff cause it is entertaining. I might agree with it all, and where is the fun in that if you do, so yeah, brilliant stuff.

dvader654

Thanks, dude.

And yeah, neither of us are spring chickens -- such a weird feeling. I hear kids talking sometimes about how the PS1 was their first system and it FREAKS me out. Father Time is a real bastard. :P

[QUOTE="inoperativeRS"]

Do you still don't like chocolate?

Also, I think Enrique Iglesias describes the atmosphere of this thread perfectly.

rragnaar

I believe he still hates chocolate, puppies and kittens. I've heard that his stance on rainbows and lollipops has softened. Just not chocolate lollipops.

There is no such thing as a good lollipop. There are only Tootsie Pops, and then some hollow imitators of Tootsie Pops. Speaking of which, is a Tootsie Roll even chocolate? I mean, it's DEFINITELY chocolate-like, right? But I don't feel comfortable calling it chocolate, either. WHAT IN THE HELL IS IT MAN!?

[QUOTE="rragnaar"][QUOTE="inoperativeRS"]

Do you still don't like chocolate?

Also, I think Enrique Iglesias describes the atmosphere of this thread perfectly.

Shame-usBlackley

I believe he still hates chocolate, puppies and kittens. I've heard that his stance on rainbows and lollipops has softened. Just not chocolate lollipops.

There is no such thing as a good lollipop. There are only Tootsie Pops, and then some hollow imitators of Tootsie Pops. Speaking of which, is a Tootsie Roll even chocolate? I mean, it's DEFINITELY chocolate-like, right? But I don't feel comfortable calling it chocolate, either. WHAT IN THE HELL IS IT MAN!?

I believe it is a chocolatey soft nougat. I guess?

[QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"][QUOTE="rragnaar"][QUOTE="inoperativeRS"]

Do you still don't like chocolate?

Also, I think Enrique Iglesias describes the atmosphere of this thread perfectly.

Oilers99

I believe he still hates chocolate, puppies and kittens. I've heard that his stance on rainbows and lollipops has softened. Just not chocolate lollipops.

There is no such thing as a good lollipop. There are only Tootsie Pops, and then some hollow imitators of Tootsie Pops. Speaking of which, is a Tootsie Roll even chocolate? I mean, it's DEFINITELY chocolate-like, right? But I don't feel comfortable calling it chocolate, either. WHAT IN THE HELL IS IT MAN!?

I believe it is a chocolatey soft nougat. I guess?

I have to say that out of all the interviews I've read here thus far, I've definitely enjoyed this one the most. I'm glad the analogy quirk was brought up because that's the one thing that made me notice Shame-us from the rest of the posters. Sometimes whenever I see his username on the 'last post', I would immediately check the thread just to see what his thoughts are, and also to see what his next analogy is going to be. What also makes him stand out is that despite the nature of text, you can really feel the passion and feeling behind his words. So yeah, those are my thoughts on the matter. We definitely need more posters like him on the board.

And here's a question for ya: what would you be doing right now if you weren't at your current job?

We disagree quite a bit and I think you're completely clueless when it comes to anything PC-related, but my respect for you has always been sky high. Keep fighting the good fight, man.

UpInFlames

Sorry, but that one actually made me giggle. That is so straightforward.

I believe it is a chocolatey soft nougat. I guess?

Oilers99

That's about as close as it gets, I suppose.

Also, I'm still at work, but I'll be home in an hour and a half, so we can crash castles then if you and Lae are up for it.

Sorry, but that one actually made me giggle. That is so UpInFlames.

BladesOfAthena

fixed.:D

Well, Metal Gear was awesome as long as you didn't pay attention to the story. If you were a fan of the story, the fourth game was a pretty big letdown in my opinion. I mean, Metal Gear has always been zany and kinda out there, but MGS4 was like Kojima had secretly become a paint huffer and would write the story only when he had a fresh can on hand. ShameusBlackley

lol. That was a great read! :lol:

I also came to GS when it was videogames.com!

I have to say that out of all the interviews I've read here thus far, I've definitely enjoyed this one the most. I'm glad the analogy quirk was brought up because that's the one thing that made me notice Shame-us from the rest of the posters. Sometimes whenever I see his username on the 'last post', I would immediately check the thread just to see what his thoughts are, and also to see what his next analogy is going to be. What also makes him stand out is that despite the nature of text, you can really feel the passion and feeling behind his words. So yeah, those are my thoughts on the matter. We definitely need more posters like him on the board.

And here's a question for ya: what would you be doing right now if you weren't at your current job?

BladesOfAthena

Aw shucks, thanks, Blades.

That's a really, really good question. If I had my choice to just *poof, voila* new career? I'd probably be a vet. I've always liked animals, because of their pure natures, and I've always liked people who like animals. And while I think a lot of doctors get a God complex, I haven't met many vets with one. It seems like most vets I've run across were people who were in that field because they enjoyed it.

But a close second would be private investigating. I'd like everything about that -- the hours, the work, everything.

Aw shucks, thanks, Blades.

That's a really, really good question. If I had my choice to just *poof, voila* new career? I'd probably be a vet. I've always liked animals, because of their pure natures, and I've always liked people who like animals. And while I think a lot of doctors get a God complex, I haven't met many vets with one. It seems like most vets I've run across were people who were in that field because they enjoyed it.

But a close second would be private investigating. I'd like everything about that -- the hours, the work, everything.

Shame-usBlackley

A vet? Hmm...wow, that's really admirable profession. I love animals too, and being with them can be quite an endearing experience. It always puts a smile to my face when I see a dog running around in a state of happiness. Its like you look them in the eye and you can clearly sense that there's a mutual bond and energy you share between the 2 of you. It pains me too see some animals like parakeets, goldfish, bunnies, or hamsters get trapped inside these cages or containers. I always get the impression that they might be depressed being confined in these prisons with very little space to roam around. Sometimes I just want to release them back into their natural habitat where they can truly live and prosper, although that may piss some people off LOL.

Nice interview, keep up the good work smerlus.

Great read Smerlus and Blackley. Its posts like this that keep me coming back to gamespot day after day, even if I don't post as regularily as I'd like to.

Man, Defender.... now THAT brings back memories.

nice interview...probably the best one of the 3 so far...

smerlus: Yeah I have some cousins in the car sales and collision business. Some of their scams make me sure I don't tell my friends to take their stuff there

Shame-usBlackley: Yes, it's the same reason people never eat in restaurants once they've actually worked in one. The nice thing is that it does save you some unnecessary grief in other parts of your life. Being able to read people is a huge advantage at times. And at other times, not so much.smerlus

i should ask because this response piqued my curiosity - do you know people who've worked in restaurants? i'm an up-and-coming chef and find that after a hard day's work cooking for other people, the last thing i want to do is to go home and cook for myself as well, so a bunch of us will just go out for a beer and a light meal at a bar or something like that...i also wouldn't mind going out to the fancier places as well...

i think you're right in that people wouldn't want to eat at their own restaurant after working at that same restaurant, but i think that changes once they've experienced what other places have to offer...

just thought this would be an interesting question after answering all game-related stuff so far in this thread...

Great interview, you two!

I don't remember when I first saw Shame-us's posts or blogs, but reading what he had to say was always so enjoyable that I decided to send a friend invitation and a message (I forget how separated in time they were, though). Unfortunately, I was in a strange phase at the time I sent the message and the wording gave it a really bizarre tone that I don't see myself repeating in the future. Sorry if said message weirded you out a bit, Shame-us. :P

I tend to find Shame-us's posts concerning NPD data, sales, consoles, games, and DLC to be extremely accurate and/or entertaining reads. In fact, I might go so far as to say that if I were to ask only one person about the positives and negatives of each gaming platform (minus the PC--I'd ask UpInFlames or my former roommate about that ;) ), it would have to be Shame-us. He's just so very articulate and analytical about all these things. He seems to be someone I can trust to be objective on these matters.

Man, one of those Atari guys. I kind of wish I were old enough to have experienced console gaming from the outset, but since I was born in '86 (I'll be 22 on the 25th of this month)--a year after the debut of the NES--I came in after all the market crash and Atari E.T. fun had been had. :P It must have been after the SNES came out, but I got a used NES when I was a little over... oh, must have been 6 years old. That thing was my drug back then. Boy was I an addict. Super Mario Bros. owned my soul. But I suppose that if I wanted to make you feel older, I'd tell you that the first system I got new was the N64. Er, oops.... ;)

I also came here when videogames.com was still the advertised URL. I got ahold of a magazine right before the launches of the Xbox and GC that had info about them, the PS2, and games for each. It was text from the site, basically, just physically published. It was the first gaming site I ever went to, and I lurked on the forums for about a year before becoming a member. So I've "been here" since 2002, but a user only since 2003.

It's harder to recognize you at a glance now since your Mod thingy is gone, and I did like the idea of a person like you being a mod, but if you're happier as a normal user, more power to ya, dude!

i should ask because this response piqued my curiosity - do you know people who've worked in restaurants? i'm an up-and-coming chef and find that after a hard day's work cooking for other people, the last thing i want to do is to go home and cook for myself as well, so a bunch of us will just go out for a beer and a light meal at a bar or something like that...i also wouldn't mind going out to the fancier places as well...

i think you're right in that people wouldn't want to eat at their own restaurant after working at that same restaurant, but i think that changes once they've experienced what other places have to offer...

just thought this would be an interesting question after answering all game-related stuff so far in this thread...

Prodigy_basic

I know of two, and both of them say they'd never eat out unless they absolutely had to. But then again, this is Arizona, and Arizona is prehistoric when it comes to health inspections and an informed public. You know those little placards with "A,B,C" or whatever they make restaurants post in their windows in California? They don't have that here, which is pretty alarming, because as a customer, you could be going to a place that straight up failed its health inspection and not even know it.

But even watching what kind of food tries to get passed off to Gordon Ramsey on Hell's Kitchen, it makes you realize that not everyone in the food industry is meant for it. Ramsey also has another show called "Kitchen Nightmares," and after seeing an episode of that where there was black mold growing on the walk in coils, I asked my friend whether he'd ever seen stuff like that before and he replied that, yes, he had.

I don't know, because I still go out and eat out regularly, despite being informed by people inside the industry what goes on.

Shame-usBlackley, I don't post much here, but I read the boards constantly. You're definitely one of the standout members here and just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your contributions the most. You seem like a standup guy, so keep it up.