Over the last year, my involvement with GameSpot has exponentially increased. When I first came to the site in 2000, I never would have thought I would be where I am today.
Recently, the Uncanny Vinny Caravella (UVC) created a trailer for a feature I appeared in.
[video=cHIzkWH75b4KuTfZ]
The same week Button Mashing aired, people who tuned in to watch the Brain Bust tournament got to see me again. In both instances, I had a good run, but failed to win . . . and by win, I mean win outright. It kind of reminds me of that time I was awarded Ultimate VIP status when the popular vote was in favor of somebody else. It is at this point many people will stop reading because they misconstrue my comments as the self-aggrandizing ramblings of a braggart. What the following retrospective has taught me is the importance of showing up.
I've been frequenting GameSpot since 2000, but in 2003 I signed up for the forums. I was probably no more than a blip on the radar at that point. In 2005, I was in the final round of interviews with Logitech and I wanted a career in gaming. After winning tickets to G.A.M.E. (GameSpot's Games and Music Experience), I knew I had the opportunity to meet and mingle with the GameSpot staff, publisher representatives, and any interested individuals who may be in attendance. So, after finals on Saturday, my father, friend, and I drove out to San Francisco for the event. While there, I had the opportunity to talk with Rich Gallup, Ryan MacDonald, Greg Mueller, Bob Colayco, and many others. I was handily destroyed in the then-unreleased DoA4 by the indomitable Jeff Gerstmann . . . I can only hope the footage of that experience is not available anywhere.
As I was waiting for my turn to face Jeff, I struck up a conversation with Bethany. I was curious how moderators were selected for the forums. At the time I was a moderator, administrator, and Dungeon Master for a Neverwinter Nights server and discussion board. She recommended I make lots of friends on the forums, post a lot, and send her a PM if I was serious about assuming the role. Then she would consider it. While that counsel was given in 2005, it may yet still be the poilcy.
From the contacts, discussions, and time spent on what seemed to be the slowest night of the convention, I committed to being more active in the forums. After all, the event yielded a bag full of other booty. Despite slowing activity in the GameSpot Live Union, I tried posting there regularly. I tried hard to create new and interesting topics to discuss, provide feedback on how great the shows were, and use my past as an advertising copywriter to hype upcoming shows and activities. After Rich announced the Union was coming back (promise!) I had a PM exchange in which he offered me the only non-staff officer position in the Union. I was tasked with ensuring the Union came back.
Me?
I was so excited by that appointment I called my wife and told her the news. Rich announced the appointment and the official return of the Union during The HotSpot, On the Spot, and in the forums. Thanks really goes out to Jody Robinson who made the recommendation. She had been posting, contributing, and watching over the Union, but saw a great opportunity to bring in some additional activity. If it wasn't for that recommendation, I would probably still be an overactive forumite with a penchant for pop-culture references.
I've been to the offices, interviewed for jobs, and participated in various events, but in the end my GameSpot experiences have taught me one thing: If you want to be there, you need to show up because you never know when the right opportunity will become available.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
