DEBUNKING THE GAMER STIGMA
IsThisThingOn? - I've been a stand-up comic since 2008. I spent 4 years as a door guy at the World Famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. "Is this thing on?" is a throwaway line old catskills comics would use when they were bombing. Joke dies. Tap the mic. "Is this thing on?" Get a cheap laugh and move on.
2. How long have you been gaming and what does gaming mean to you? (Yes, we can be sentimental too. Style points if we get a little misty-eyed with your answer here...)
I'm from the "Oregon Trail" generation. I started with educational games in school, then when I was around 6 years old my grandmother bought me the original Game Boy. I spent hours on Tetris and Super Mario Land (both were launch titles). 30 years later, I'm a full time professional in the MOBILE gaming industry.
Outside time is most spent throwing various flying discs. I'm a lifelong Ultimate Frisbee player and avid disc golfer. I recently moved to Texas and the disc golf here ROCKS! (The player card pic is me at a local course).
4. We’re told health and fitness are important in the pro gaming space. What is your overall health, exercise, and nutrition routine? If you don’t have a routine, per se, what’s the one thing you do to be in top form for competing?
As a broadcaster, my focus is on vocal and vascular health. With long days in the commentary booth, I need to maintain a focused and energetic delivery. I don't have a specific exercise routine, but getting my lungs working hard is key. I enjoy a good Muay Thai pad session to get my heart pumping.
Current life hack: wear sunnies inside. My eyes have looked tired since 1991, so it's a great way to look refreshed no matter what!
6. What is your favorite song right now that gets you pumped every time either to work out or compete, and why?
Pump up music is a Run The Jewels playlist. RTJ4 in particular is FIRE and the perfect soundtrack for getting ready to go.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I make a MEAN chipotle hummus and a KILLER chicken korma.
Emy sounds feminine and I started wanting to be called Emy since I started playing Back Ops 2 when I was 13.
2. How long have you been gaming and what does gaming mean to you? (Yes, we can be sentimental too. Style points if we get a little misty-eyed with your answer here..)
I have been gaming all my life. Gaming means an escape from reality and an introduction into a new one.
3. How do you spend your time outside (no, mobile gaming doesn't count)?
Talking with friends and spending time with family.
4. We’re told health and fitness are important in the pro gaming space. What is your overall health, exercise and nutrition routine? If you don’t have a routine, per se, what’s the one thing you do to be in top form for competing?
I take vitamins everyday and drink Emergen-C everyday to get my fill of Vitamin C. I don't exercise very much though.
5. What is one life hack you would like to share with the world? (Don’t have anything revolutionary? No prob. This could be some simple or quirky thing that you do or habit you have that you have to do ro be your best.)
Vitamin C and living life with no regrets.
6. What is your favorite song right now that gets you pumped every time either to work out or compete, and why?
Listen in Spotify, we dare ya.
7. Anything else you’d like to share?
Nope.
It comes from the style of piano music “Toccata.”
2. How long have you been gaming and what does gaming mean to you? (Yes, we can be sentimental too. Style points if we get a little misty-eyed with your answer here..)
I've been gaming since I was 5 years old. It's a passion that I have turned into a career.
3. How do you spend your time outside (no, mobile gaming doesn't count)?
Outside of gaming I spend my time expanding my digital media skills, cooking, learning random skills, and trying food which is new/exotic to me.
4. We’re told health and fitness are important in the pro gaming space. What is your overall health, exercise and nutrition routine? If you don’t have a routine, per se, what’s the one thing you do to be in top form for competing?
I stay away from carbs as much as possible as it makes me not only feel slow physically but also mentally. Eating in not so large quantities but instead smaller quantities and more times throughout the day is key. I try to get a morning run/walk to wake me up and keep me fit (my gym is closed due to Covid so running outside is a good solution).
5. What is one life hack you would like to share with the world? (Don’t have anything revolutionary? No prob. This could be some simple or quirky thing that you do or habit you have that you have to do ro be your best.)
Don't be scared to take opportunities that are brought to you. Say yes.
6. What is your favorite song right now that gets you pumped every time either to work out or compete, and why?
x gon give it to ya - DMX. Music motivates my passion of editing videos. This song always makes me want to edit a really cool video to the song and motivates me (gets me pumped) not only physically but creatively as well.
7. Anything else you’d like to share?
I speak 3 languages (English, Spanish, Basque) and have attended 7 different schools due to moving so often.
I googled "cool 4 letter words" since that was how long most people's tags were in Smash at the time (Usually it could only fit 4-5 characters in game) and went backwards from Z. Saw "Void" and it just stuck.
2. How long have you been gaming and what does gaming mean to you? (Yes, we can be sentimental too. Style points if we get a little misty-eyed with your answer here..)
I've been gaming even longer than I can remember! Gaming is a fun way to learn a world to me. Someone can create a completely fictional world but have so much depth to it, both in terms of gameplay, story, etc. That's magical to me.
3. How do you spend your time outside (no, mobile gaming doesn't count)?
I generally just spend time with my loved ones hanging out and watching shows.
4. We’re told health and fitness are important in the pro gaming space. What is your overall health, exercise and nutrition routine? If you don’t have a routine, per se, what’s the one thing you do to be in top form for competing?
WASHING YOUR HANDS WITH WARM WATER FEELS SO GOOD. I used cold water for pretty much my whole life LMAO.
5. What is one life hack you would like to share with the world? (Don’t have anything revolutionary? No prob. This could be some simple or quirky thing that you do or habit you have that you have to do ro be your best.)
Don't underestimate the power of fish oil :D (1280 mg omega-3 or more)
6. What is your favorite song right now that gets you pumped every time either to work out or compete, and why?
Shine by James Landino ft. Mike Haze. Good song about the journey and it is Smash related.
7. Anything else you’d like to share?
No.
My first time encountering the #1 player in our region asked me what my handle was-- I was so nervous that I blurted out PewPewU and 14 years later I'm stuck with it.
2. How long have you been gaming and what does gaming mean to you? (Yes, we can be sentimental too. Style points if we get a little misty-eyed with your answer here..)
I've been gaming since around 2000, so that makes 21 years of gaming. At first gaming was mostly just a way to pass the time and enjoy a hobby-- these days it's a path to self improvement and a way to learn more about myself.
3. How do you spend your time outside (no, mobile gaming doesn't count)?
I love cooking and playing/listening to music! I listen to a minimum of three albums a week across different genres and eras. I also work out nearly every morning with a cup of coffee and some tunes.
4. We’re told health and fitness are important in the pro gaming space. What is your overall health, exercise and nutrition routine? If you don’t have a routine, per se, what’s the one thing you do to be in top form for competing?
8 Hours of sleep minimum, and no sleeping past noon. Three meals a day and no unhealthy snacks. Workouts almost every day. No sitting for too long without stretch breaks. Manage blood flow and circulation, listen to my body's needs. 3000 ml of water every day! (I have a 1000 ml water bottle, so it's easy to keep track of.)
5. What is one life hack you would like to share with the world? (Don’t have anything revolutionary? No prob. This could be some simple or quirky thing that you do or habit you have that you have to do ro be your best.)
One life hack I'd share with the rest of the world is to create a list of your daily needs. This list should be tangible and visible to you every day until it is made into routine. Some people's needs vary, but for instance I always need to brush my teeth the moment I get out of bed. Breakfast is a must, and sunlight every day.
6. What is your favorite song right now that gets you pumped every time either to work out or compete, and why?
Oddly enough my favorite song to pump me up right now is Montagues and Capulets by Prokofiev. I'm usually not a classical kind of guy to get me pumped, but this one is especially amazing. (The intro to the song is abrasive for some versions of it, but not this version.)
7. Anything else you’d like to share?
The Golden State Warriors are a playoff team.
There is no story :( I figured I have an uncommon first name so I just used it with random capitalization.
2. How long have you been gaming and what does gaming mean to you? (Yes, we can be sentimental too. Style points if we get a little misty-eyed with your answer here..)
I started in 2003. It's been my entire life because back then, it was just a hobby I got into to bond & hang out with my older brother and eventually it ignited my competitive drive and it essentially consumed me.
3. How do you spend your time outside (no, mobile gaming doesn't count)?
Before COVID, I was working out 3 times a week but now there's nothing to do. I just became a first time homebuyer so I've done nothing but learn about buying a home and researched furniture and things for the last 2 months.
4. We’re told health and fitness are important in the pro gaming space. What is your overall health, exercise and nutrition routine? If you don’t have a routine, per se, what’s the one thing you do to be in top form for competing?
Before COVID: I was working out 3 times a week with a personal trainer & I wasn't necessarily counting everything I was eating but I was very aware and attentive to keeping my daily calorie intake from 1200-1600.
After COVID: Literally all out the window. I've done nothing since March.
5. What is one life hack you would like to share with the world? (Don’t have anything revolutionary? No prob. This could be some simple or quirky thing that you do or habit you have that you have to do ro be your best.)
Don't underestimate the power of fish oil :D (1280 mg omega-3 or more)
6. What is your favorite song right now that gets you pumped every time either to work out or compete, and why?
This isn't going to necessarily answer the question but my all time favorite song that just puts me in the badass mood is Kendrick Lamar - Money Trees.
7. Anything else you’d like to share?
Nada.
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