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I've been a gamer all my life. I started off more casually playing with my little sister in our basement on NES with the Power Pad. We had so much fun! I didn't play many computer games growing up until my Dad brought home a copy of Doom. That game changed the way I approached video games. Doom was the first game that I thought about all the time. It consumed my thoughts and it pushed me to be a better gamer. Doom was the first game that I really wanted to beat. Doom is also the first game that after I beat it I went back and replayed it. The next game that had a major impact on me was Tie Fighter. My Dad and I went to one of those old school computer shows at the convention center near our house. (I loved those shows by the way) While at the show he bought me the Tie Fight game because I was (and am) a Star Wars fan. I played that game for hours and hours just sitting there in "space" in my Tie Fighter completing mission after mission. I loved having the ability to fly where ever I wanted to. I didn't have to follow a specific path or a trail, I could do pretty much what ever I wanted. If I could find a computer to support that game today I would love to play it again to see if it lives up to my memories.
Years went by and I got into Playstation and Playstation 2 but I didn't have a passion for it like I did with Doom and Tie Fighter. I was a very casual gamer until I played GTA III. That game was the paradigm shift for my gaming mentality. It brought back the awesome memories I had of Doom and Tie Fighter...I have never looked back since.
Today, I'm on my PS3 almost daily. I am that guy who only plays the big budget, highly rated games, but I play them all through completion and some I will play several times no matter how many hours it takes. I enjoy the art of the games and the story within and surrounding them. I enjoy reading about the games and the people behind them. This is truly an art form to me. It is an escape from high pressure Corporate America. I do my research and I know what I like and I really don't stray to far from that. I have been criticized in the past for not "stretching my horizons" but I'm ok with that criticism. I know what I like and more importantly why I like it. So my gaming experience is always extremely enjoyable. Thank you to this wonderful industry and every one in it who makes my life enjoyable! Cheers!!
Outside of gaming, I am a Vice President in a global IT Talent Management Company that supports the high tech Cable/VoIP/Internet service provider industry, and the Healthcare Insurance industry; as well as other industries. In addition to the "suit" job I served 10 years in the United States Marine Corps with combat tours for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom. Semper fidelis!