Well well, it has been too long since we have done one of these, and honestly, too long for me to be away. This summer was really busy working on our house & my job and family. With winter coming soon, and more time being laid off due to the freezing temps and piles of snow, I will have more time to be active on the site. So i figured we could pick up where we left off, with a new interview! Also look for new reviews, interviews and other content. As well as a ton of updates in the DB. This time I ask singlebanana a few questions. He joined in summer of last year and has been a great contributor of articles and is currently on staff as a blog writer. READ HIS BLOG!
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Rich aka singlebanana Preview
Location: Summerfield, North Carolina
Where does your screen name come from?The name actually comes from my frustration with the game MarioKart 64. My friend and I played the game when we would unwind during grad school. We noticed that every time you were in the lead and ran over a box, the majority of the time all you got was a dreaded single banana.
MarioKart has wasted many hours, How did you find RFG?A guy I went to high school with, DevIancE on RFG, knew I was a collector and directed me to the site.
What made you stay and become part of RFG?I enjoyed the articles, blog posts, and the ease and thorough nature of the database. Plus, I've met some great people to trade games with.
Have you ever met or personally know anyone at RFG?Just DevIance.
 [img width=246 height=184]https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=eb08b03467&view=att&th=1324c2cb81f66d37&attid=0.3&disp=thd&realattid=f_gsckyt5r2&zw[/img]
Basics
Number of Games Owned (at time of printing):1,605 (a mere infant compared to some on here)
Number of Games on Wishlist (at time of printing):140
Number of Systems:Around 25
When did you start collecting?I guess I've been "collecting" since I was five (1982 to be exact), but I just realized I was an addict this year when the volume of games I was buying really started to increase.
What was your first system you owned?Sadly, the notorious Atari 5200. Asked for an "Atari" for Christmas expecting to get a 2600, which all my friends/family had. Neither I, or my parents knew that a new system had just been released. It was an awkward Christmas morning. Ironically, I'm looking to purchase one now...go figure.
What was your first game?Got a few games all at once that fateful Xmas morning, so here goes: Congo Bongo, Galaxian, Pac-Man, and Popeye.
Man, Santa didn't like you much, What was your first game you bought yourself (if different from above)?T & C Surf Designs for the NES, had that sucker on layaway for 6 months...enter disappointment.
6 months of waiting for that? What made you decide to buy that particular game?I was into skateboarding at the time, guess I thought it would be "gnarly."
First game you ever beat?Contra for the NES. I actually beat it the first time I played it over at a soccer team sleepover at a local rec center. 30 men code of course.
I was gonna say, first time, holy crap. Have you ever broken anything due to frustration from a game?I kicked a folding chair once that just happened to fold up and topple directly toward my bedroom window in slow motion. Luckily, only one pane of the window broke. My parents still don't know about this, so I'd like to keep this information hush hush. I believe the game was Kid Icarus, which yes, I finally beat.
Kid Icarus was really fun, hard but fun, and I can see why you broke a chair with that haha! But we will keep that on the down low.
Interview
Are you collecting now, if so what anything specific?I'm a cartridge guy. I primarily collect for the Atari 2600 and NES that I grew up on, but I'll grab a few of the more popular/recommend games for SNES, Genesis, SMS, and N64 when I can. I also have a Vectrex fetish that stems from spending summers at my great grandparent's lake house and a convenience store within walking distance that had a Tempest cabinet.
When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?Earlier this year when I found myself going to flea markets every weekend to "hunt."
More of this flea market hunting, we never have them around me, sucks  What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them?I'd like to put together a complete collection of loose NES games and grab as many 2600 titles as possible, though I know the impossibility of doing so. I feel like I have a pretty good start on the former.
Big goals are good to have, how many games, systems, etc. are "enough"? enough? - "does not compute"
What's your proudest moment as a game collector?Finding a prototype of Gremlins for the Atari 2600, which I bought at a local thrift shop in NC for $2.16.
What's your least proud moment as a game collector?Passing up on a complete boxed 5200 system and about 8 games for $40. In my defense, the controllers were beat up and missing grips. I felt that if someone had treated the controllers that bad, then the system was probably shot as well. The flea market where I saw it was a few hours out of town and when I returned a few weeks later, it was gone. It still haunts me.
I know we all have those stories, don't worry, they happen to us all! If you had to give part of your collection away for a worthy cause what part would it be, and why?Definitely the N64, I converted from Nintendo to Playstation in college and never had one until this year. Wow, giving up a fairly cheap system...upon reflection, this answer is pretty selfish.
Wow really the N64? Where/how do you store it all?I just moved into a new home in April of this year. Luckily, it has a third floor with a playroom for my kids and a small office for myself. My wife has been kind enough to let me turn it into my gameroom.
Nice, I need to add on to our house for that! What's your favorite part of your collection?Right now it's my Vectrex, but I suppose that's subject to change. I get pretty geeked over the vector graphics and the overlays.
What about a favorite series?Big fan of the Bust-A-Move puzzle games.
What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to gaming?The kids games on the 2600, especially Cookie Monster Munch and Big Bird's Egg Catch. Ironically, I don't have the latter yet, but I remember the bouncing hens on their nests well.
I am seeing a trend here in these interviews, always going back to the kids games. What is the most valuable part of your collection(Value or sentimental)?There is nothing too valuable in my collection, but I'll go with my Vectrex.
What game do you have the most nostalgia for?Probably Grand Prix on the 2600. My grandmother use to play it with my cousin and I when we were very young. I distinctly remember the electrocution sound of running into other cars in the game and my grandmother's high pitched scream when she would crash.
A grandma that plays is cool in my book. What would you like to improve in your collection?I'd like to beef up my 2600 collection, which is currently around 336 games.
What do you think was your best deal while game buying?Snagging Aero Fighters (SNES) from a flea market vendor for $5.
What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for?Pole Position and Polar Rescue (CIB) for the Vectrex.
Good spending is crucial in collection. What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection?Several months ago, I purchased a Panther light gun that looks like a semi-automatic handgun for .99. From the research I've done, I have only been able to find one online that is similar and plugs into a PS1. This one has an Atari/Genesis plug on the end. I'm sure it's for a bootleg system, but I think it's cool.
What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have?Probably an XBox 360 or a PS3. I'm not adverse to having newer consoles and do own a Wii, but I honestly wouldn't even know what to buy if I ever considered purchasing one. I'm just the kind of person who is not in a hurry to get his hands on a new system or game. Even with Wii titles, I tend to wait to buy used copies or new ones that have dropped in price considerably.
Not to surprising, I don't have any of the new age systems at the moment! Is there any way you'd ever stop collecting? Maybe if my wife put her foot down. She's not a gamer (though she can be tempted by the occasional game of Warlords), but she's very cool and supportive of my collecting.
Nice, sounds very similar to mine. She did ask me to get rid of a few things that weren't my favorite and I was fine with that. Do you have a funny story about your collection?My friends and I will call in for a mental health day about once a year to game. We fittingly refer to as "Nintenday." There have been songs written about our exploits. Is that too weird?
That is awesome, I would do the same but I get the entire winter off to play!  Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like? Yeah, I recently moved my collection in April. At the time, I had just under 1000 games. Our old house was very small, so I had everything in our guest room and boxed up to keep it out of site. Since everything was already boxed, the move was quite easy....except for hauling everything up two full flights of stairs at the new place. We used movers for the larger stuff, but of course I did the games myself and wouldn't let anyone else touch them.
If your significant other told you no more games, what would you do? I'd probably have to concede. If she told me I'd have to sell the ones that I already have, then there would be an issue.
What percentage of your games are still sealed?less than 1%
What percentage of your game have you actually played? Completed?probably about 50% played; as far as completed, probably well under 5%. Can you ever really "complete" Atari games though? I could totally score some Activision patches if they would still let me send off for them.
Do you own any complete collections (every game for a certain system)? No, but I'm working toward a complete NES collection at the moment and am very close to completing an originally released Vectrex collection.
[img width=246 height=207]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/collections/necrom99/Vectrex.JPG&sizex=246[/img]
I am the evil interviewer with these questions....
What is your favorite game of all time?Missile Command is my favorite. I'm not sure why, but I've always loved this game and pick up copies for various systems whenever I can and Warlords would be my multiplayer selection
Least Favorite?Since E.T. is too generic, I'll go with the Swordquest series on the 2600. What a bunch of nonsense!
Others
Do you collect anything else besides games?Vinyl, a few G.I. Joe action figures (1982-1987 exclusively) when I find them, DVDs, and many books which I'll probably never read.
What do you outside of games? Work, spend time with my wife, wrestle with my 2 year-old daughter and newborn son, drink with friends, listen to indie music and attend shows.
What other features would you like to see more of at RFG (Example: Reviews, Articles, Interviews, Previews, etc)?I'd like to see more pre-NES game and console reviews.
Agree, if I played more Pre-Nes games I would love to review, I just don't get into to many. Do you have a question for the next interview?What is your favorite gaming cabinet of all time?
Sweet look for that question coming up in the new interview. Thanks for your time!
Click the banner below to check out more of singlebanana's, collection, RFG Profile and many more picture of his awesome collection.
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The time has come after the busy holidays to get you guys some new content. I have posted a review about a DS game that I have just played beaten and shelved, look for that right here. Now with that in the bag it is time for another Interview with the People of RFGeneration. This time an Editor from across the pond in the UK steps up and takes his turn, none other than Ga5ket.
 Anton aka Ga5ket
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Where does your screen name come from?Back in my motorcycle days at university I had a bike that I blew 5 head gaskets in 3 weeks, hence the name
How did you find RFG?I hung around racketboy's forums for a while, but they didn't really understand the collecting obsession, and someone there mentioned RFG
What made you stay and become part of RFG? It's the first (and only site) that I've ever come across that caters properly for Euro releases. Every other site seems to list US releases with a small note about the Euro version. The community was an added bonus. Plus now I'm an editor it'd just be rude to leave at this point
Have you ever met or personally know anyone at RFG?Data and I work for different branches of the same company, and we've got together a few times
Basics
Number of Games Owned (at time of printing): 1694
Number of Games on Wishlist (at time of printing): 0, on RFG, but about 4000 on paper
Number of Systems: Including variations, 51
When did you start collecting? Not really sure about games, but I've collected something of one form or another most of my life
What was your first system you owned? Dragon 32. Dad bought it for me way back when, been programming and gaming ever since.
What was your first game? Probably Quest or Madness and the Minotaur
What was your first game you bought yourself (if different from above)? No idea, but it'd be for the Dragon
First game you ever beat? Franklin's Tomb on the Dragon. It's a text based adventure, and I remember my friend and I spending hours playing it.
Have you ever broken anything due to frustration from a game? Not that I remember
 [img width=246 height=184]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/collections/ga5ket/figures20080912.JPG&sizex=246[/img]
Interview
Are you collecting now, if so what anything specific? Bundled games & peripherals, but just about anything I find really
That is always a good thing because you can usually find a deal somewhere on something you like. When did you feel a tipping point from gamer to both gamer and game collector?I've always collected, it just took a while to admit it
Yeah it is kind of like a habit, sometimes it takes time to realize what has happened What are your goals as a game collector, how have you developed them, and how do you feel about your progress toward them? I'm aiming for a full set of Dragon games, although I can't see it ever happening. I have a passion for bundled games, i.e. ones that come with a controller or similar, so I'm picking those up as and when I find them
That is a pretty impressive goal, how many games, systems, etc. are "enough"?
I didn't realize that I had to have a limit?
Well no there is no limit, hey sometimes people finally realize we collector types have way to many games!  What's your proudest moment as a game collector? My longest serving friend donating his Dragon 32 to me, along with a ton of games
That is a true friend right there, anyone who donates games to a collector's cause is a true friend. What's your least proud moment as a game collector? Selling my original Dragon, back in the 90s
Where/how do you store it all? The media boxes and billy bookcase system from Ikea. I'm rapidly running out of space though, so I need to have a bit of a rethink
[img width=246 height=184]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/collections/ga5ket/Nintendo.JPG&sizex=246[/img] 
Ikea is a great place to pick up storage things like that. I really like the way you have things set up. What's your favorite part of your collection? The Dragon stuff (see a pattern emerging here?)
Yes, the pattern is a good thing though, it shows you have a passion and really enjoy that system.What about a favorite series?
Difficult one that. Probably PS1 era Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Solid, Ratchet & Clank or Bioshock
Sorry that can be difficult. What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to gaming? Female characters in games. Nothing weird, or maybe it is! Given a choice between male and female I always pick female. No idea why.
No doubt, same here. And if there is a choice, I will always pick the dark sinister type that may not be on your side in the end. What would you like to improve in your collection? A proper stand up arcade cab, probably Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters. I loved that game back in the day
What game do you have the most nostalgia for?Sonic the Hedgehog 2
What is the most valuable part of your collection?I don't think there's anything especially valuable
What do you think was your best deal while game buying? ICO, original release with art cards. I found it in a charity shop for 3
Awesome, that is a great game BTW. What item in your collection do you feel you overpaid for? Bioshock 2 Collector's edition. Bought it once at full price to keep sealed, and then again when I found it in a sale so I could enjoy the contents. I don't regret buying it, but I could have just waited and bought 2 copies at sale time
I have done similar things so don't feel bad. What do you feel is the strangest or weirdest item in your collection? It's not a game, but it's related. It's a MGS4 Ga-Ko alarm clock. It quacks and shakes it's head.
That is sweet, although my wife would probably not like it What item(s) do you not have in your collection that people are surprised to hear you don't have? SNES games. I think I only own about 4, but it was just never part of my scene growing up, so it doesn't have the same draw for me as say the Mega Drive or Master System
Really? Quite different from the last interview with bickman who was crazy about his SNES. Diversity makes us who we are! Is there any way you'd ever stop collecting? Death or financial crisis maybe?
Do you have a funny story about your collection? Not that I can think of
Have you ever had to move your collection to another house? What was it like? Not really, been here 15 or so years now, I guess it's grown mostly during that time
That is probably a good thing, it is difficult to move and people really don't understand what it means to be gentle with totes full of games. If your significant other told you no more games, what would you do? Never happen. She buys them for me too. She bought me a 320Gb PS3 a couple of months ago because she knew that the limited space on the original 40Gb one (that she bought me) was winding me up. In fact thinking about it, she's bought all my PlayStation consoles.
Sounds like you have a keeper! What percentage of your games are still sealed? Less than 1%.
What percentage of your game have you actually played? Completed? Probably about 20% max, sadly
Do you own any complete collections (every game for a certain system)? No, and I don't think I ever will. I only (usually) buy games that I intend to play, so no Barney for me
Actually, that's not quite true, I'm attempting a sealed collection of Tiger Game.com just cuz
[img width=246 height=184]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/collections/ga5ket/Misc.JPG&sizex=246[/img]
Well, Barney can be fun according to bickman, he revealed later in undisclosed notes of the interview he plays it frequently.... Anyways, I am the evil interviewer with these questions....
What is your favorite game of all time (Top 5 if you need to)?Original Tomb Raider, Ratchet & Clank, Bioshock, Gran Turismo, MGS4 in no particular order
Least Favorite? Halo. Not generally a fan of FPS or online multiplayer. Can't see what all the fuss is about. Let the flaming commence.
The funny thing is, I have Halo, but I also don't like FPS as much. I have never played it online and barely made it past the first stages without regretting turning it on.
Others
Do you collect anything else besides games? SF Books, over 1200 and still counting. Records, mainly metal & 80s. Gaming memorabilia.
Sweet, metal rocks What do you outside of games? Time with the family, camping (UK style), hiking
Do I need to ask what UK style of camping is??? Finally, what other features would you like to see more of at RFG (Example: Reviews, Articles, Interviews, Previews, etc)? As we're a retro community I'd like to see more reviews. We've got some really good bloggers now, and the quality of stuff they're putting out is great. More I say! Oh, and image submissions.
Agree, Reviews and image submissions, non-stolen images ahem, would be great. Lastly, do you have a question for the next interview?If you had to give a part of your collection away for a worthy cause what part would it be, and why?
Sweet look for that question coming up in the new interview. Thanks for your time! Below you can find Antons RFG Collection.
Click the banner below to check out more of Antons, collection, RFG Profile and many more picture of his awesome collection.
[img width=468 height=60]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/banners/RFGFullbanner01.gif[/img]
And on a last note, the end of the year is approaching quickly, make sure you add a few more submissions to get your yearly total just that tad bit higher! And always I am open to suggestions/comments and everything else. Please let me know via PM or email if you are interested in being interviewed. Thanks again!
Hopefully this is the start of a strong come back for the People of RFGeneration! As in the past things have changed and am sure will continue to do so in the future. After this Paully3433 will be taking the lead. I appreciate his assistance in bringing back the series!
This installment is all about Paully3433. I figured he might as well get the spotlight since he is going to be writing it from here on out. Interviewing yourself might be a bit awkward...
Also in keeping with an unintentional tradition this interview is longer than previous ones.
Let me/him know what you think of the new and improved PoRFG. Also please do not hesitate to help us come up with new ideas/questions for future installments.
Alright so without further delay...Holy hell I just* noticed how long it has been since the last one!...
THE INTERVIEW!
General
How did you find RFGeneration?
I actually found RFG while being active in a Union on Gamespot. Some of the collectors I was friends with used RFG to keep track of their collections.
What made you join?
RFG seemed like a good community with tons of potential, and it was exactly what I was looking for.
What made you stay?
I stayed because I liked the way the Database was set up. I used to use Gamespot and IGN to track my collection, but it wasn't fulling me needs.
How did you come up with your username?
My username is just a name that I used to use for almost everything computer related way back in High School. So I just left it and made things easier.
Have you met or personally know any of the other members of the website?
I have not met any, although Tondog and Oatbob live within an hour or so from me.
Are you an active collector? If so anything specific?
Yeah I am actively collecting when my income allows me too Mostly RPG's and strategy games. I am trying to find some of the stuff I played when I was younger, NES and Genesis games mostly.
Whats your favorite game or series? Why?
That is, as it would be for most collectors, incredibly difficult to answer. The Final Fantasy series is pretty high up there for me. Others worth mentioning would be: Dragon Warrior/Quest, Wild Arms, Suikoden, Gran Turismo, Grandia, Lunar, Crash, and Spyro, off the top of my head. Otherwise anything Atlus, NIS or Square.
What are your passions?
Passions in collecting or otherwise? In collecting the goal is to get the games I played when I was younger, as well as the RPGs for the systems I have. Otherwise my family is my passion, I love them dearly and if it came to it, would give up my games in a heartbeat for them.
What do you do outside of RFG?
Anyways, I work as a Mason, which means I can lay block, brick and stone, as well as pour concrete. For fun, I fish/hunt, play sports, take the kids to park and just be outside. It really is amazing I find time to do what I can at RFG.
Specific
Your collection(and wishlist) is VERY RPG heavy. Do you have a favorite kind?
Hrm tough one there..... I love Turn-Based RPGs, that is why the Final Fantasy Series got me hooked into RPGs. I also am big fan of Diablo or Baldur's Gate type of games.
What makes you gravitate towards that style?
I seem to like the chance to plan out an attack. Some of the newer RPGs run in active mode and that turns me off a little. I like to think and the chance to perform a devastating combo.
What is your most valuable collection item?
Man, you make this hard If I had to choose one, I guess it would be my sealed copy of SMT: Digital Devil Saga Deluxe Box Set. Value wise it isn't extremely high, but sentimental value came when it came in the mail the same day as my daughter was born. So I doubt I will ever get rid of it. I have an opened normal version so I can play through it as well
What is your most prized part of your collection?
I like my Sega CDX system personally. Sounds dumb but ah well. Not everyone has one of those right? Another cool thing I have is a trunk that has Mario on two sides and Zelda on the other two. Very cool storage box and has gotta be rare.
What do you feel is the most unique(strangest or weirdest) item in your collection?
Up until a few months ago, I had a Ghaleon Hand puppet from one of the Lunar games. But I ended up selling it since it was taking up space I didn't have. Now I would say the SMT: Devil Summoner 2 for PS2 Doll thing that came with it. Kinda creepy looking!
What item(s) do you not own that might surprise people?
The only "Next-Gen" systems I have are a DS Lite and a PSP Slim. I do not have a PS3, Wii, or 360 and may not get any of them for sometime. My true colors are old school RPGs and not this new crap Graphics are good but not something that I need.
What has been your proudest moment in collecting thus far?
Just the fact that I keep my games in great condition and for the most part, have original versions and not Greatest Hits. I am proud of that. When I get something Mint, I intend to keep it Mint.
Your most embarrassing?
I don't really have anything to embarrassing, once and awhile I will buy a game I have already. I feel crappy when I find a game on sale that I just bought, that's embarrassing.
GAMING FIRSTS
What was the first game/system you played and how old were you?
The first system I played was an Atari 2600 that my uncle had. As for the first game, probably Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back or Asteroids, I don't remember for sure.
First console owned?
The first system I owned was Christmas of 1988 when I got the NES bundle with Super Mario/Duck Hunt Combo, I was 5
First game you bought yourself?
Gosh I don't remember for sure. I do remember begging my mom to let me spend my money on "NES Play Action Football" at Shopko. $50 for that was a rip off wowzer!
What made you decide to buy that particular game?
If I remember right, I think I rented it for $.50 at a store in town. Thought it was cool and wanted it. Like I said that was like 20 years ago
First game you beat?
Super Mario Brothers for NES
First time you wanted to destroy something because of a game?
That has been many times, many many times.... specifically I remember played Warcraft III for PC and getting so mad I through my disc out my bedroom window. Another time I remember my friend beating me on the Power Pad in Track and Field for NES. You know the running and jumping off the pad quick trick during long jump? I was so bad I refused to play that with him for weeks lol.
First game to surprise you?(by being better than you expected)
Dark Cloud for PS2 was a huge surprise for me. May not have been the first but probably the one that stands out to me. That game combined great gameplay with some cool concepts. RPG to City Building, what a great idea?
First game to disappoint you?
Remember that NES Play Action Football" story? Can we stop there again for a visit? I should have just stuck with Tecmo Bowl..... Others to disappoint were Unlimited Saga for PS2 and Final Fantasy X-2 for PS2. Both huge Square let downs for me.
Hopefully this has shed some more light on Paully for you guys He has been here for 2 years and a couple months now. While he hasn't been super vocal on the boards or blogs he is definitely an integral part of our community doing quite a bit of work "behind the scenes".
Much thanks again Paully for taking the torch. Looking forward to the next installment of this series!!
* This was actually started in/around May...
It pains me to end my part in the series but obviously I have let it flounder into near oblivion :-/. Did I already mention I am really looking forward to future interviews?
Tynstar is one of the RFGeners i have known for quite some time. Off the top of my head i think him and Captain Nintendo joined a couple months after me and Danvx6. The main difference being my online sidekick went AWOL quite sometime ago and they are both still wreaking havoc.
Well let me get on with this i guess...
GENERAL
How did you find RFGeneration?
A long time ago I was looking for a list of all the Genesis games that were released and I found RFGeneration. It was awesome since I am a list freak.
What made you join?
The collection tool and the way stuff got added. I tried for almost a year to get some Genesis games added to IGNs collection tool and they didnt get added. I havent touch IGN collection tool since I found RFG.
What made you stay?
The community and collection tool.
Have you met or personally know any of the other members of the website?
Jagdiesel and Captain Nintendo are friends of mine. I have met Den68, Phoenix1967, Suaza12 and S1lience.
Are you an active game collector? If so anything specific?
Yes I am an active collector. Right now I am collecting Xbox 360 games.
Whats your favorite game or series? Why?
Favorite series Command and Conquer. Favorite games Ms. Pac Man (Arcade), Crackdown (Xbox360), Warcraft 2 (PC), Landstalker (Genesis), Nightstalker (Intellivision), Warlords (Atari2600) and Pac Man CE (XBLA)
What do you do outside of RFG?
Hang out with friends, family and play with my dogs.
SPECIFICS
Why have you decided to stop collecting for multiple consoles and focus on the 360?
I had too much stuff and all it did was sit there. So I figured I would sell it and payoff my bills.
What made you decide to become the hugest Gamerpoints whore* in the world? (*self proclaimed)
I am no where near the biggest point whore around. Yes thats why I play 360 games but the highest score in the world right now is a little over 300k and I am only at 111k. The game that got me started on achievements was Crackdown. I liked it so much I wanted to play it more so I started going for the achievements I didnt have. Then I started talked to s1lence who was already and point whore and he ruined my life. He was a good mentor but know I just kick his ass.
What is/was your most sought after 360 game?
Dont really have one. I have both Amazon exclusive. I have Mass Effect SE which was online only. I picked up a Canadian exclusive Asterix at the Olympic Games. I would like to get the Canadian exclusive Forza 2 CE.
What is the "rarest" one you know of?
Maybe one of the Fallout 3 Special Editions but I am not sure.
How did you find out about being able to earn points multiple times on consoles from different regions? And have you been able to do this yet?
S1lence and different achievement websites. I have 1000 points in a Japanese game. I did that when I was staying at S1ence house.
How many consoles have you had complete collections for?
It used to be 7-8. I am down to 5 now. Those being Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, Sega CD and Sega Pico. See a pattern there? I am about 30 games away form having the Sega Saturn done.
I know you were going to be keeping your Genesis collection. What other parts of your collection are you planning on keeping?
I am keeping all my Sega stuff and Xbox 360 stuff. Well I am selling my Sega Game Gear stuff because I hate handhelds. I am keeping a couple 2600s I had as a kid and Intellivision II plus some games. Oh and I am keeping my Ms Pac Man cabinet.
GAMING FIRSTS
What was the first game you played and on what system and how old were you?
First.maybe Pong I know we had one when I was a kid. If not that the Atari 2600. I have no idea what game or how old.
First console owned?
Well my family had the Atari 2600 and Intellivion. I had a NES and the first system I bought myself was the Sega Genesis model 1. Bought it the week it came out and I still have it. Cost me 217 bucks.
First game you bought yourself?
I am not sure but I remember buying Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun for the Genesis.
What made you decide to buy that particular game?
I liked RPG's at the time and D&D so I wanted it.
First game you beat?
No idea I am too old to remember that.
First time you wanted to destroy something because of a game?
Probably a Genesis games. Last thing I destroyed was the case and manual for NFL Tour for the Xbox 360. I also threw the game out the front door. Man did that last achievement piss me off. Also that game is 100% pure crap.
Also want to note any and all errors in replies are all on him. I haven't edited anyones responses and don't plan on starting now or in the future. Don't want to be accused of misrepresentation 
So now we meet Den! I'm not going to give a huge preface on him just because the interview is so long compared to my previous two entries.
But something we did not get into in the interview was that Den has done many of the animations/gifs/banners/other artwork you see around RFGen. In fact i believe he has done nearly all of it! I could be wrong about him doing all of it(if i am wrong someone please feel free to let me know ) but i know he has done quite a bit for the site over the years.
And now onto number 3.
GENERAL
How did you find RFGeneration?
I knew Mike Collins (Lord Nepenthean) when we were both members at a site called Video Game Bible. When he started RFG I was right on board. I've been an RFG member since the site launched. That was June 8th, 2004.
What made you join?
Mike was a dedicated guy so I knew RFG was going to be a top notch outfit. I wanted to be there from the start and see where it went. I was honored when Mike asked me to be a part of the staff.
What made you stay?
I like the ideals that the site was founded on, no one is ever forgotten. It's great that every person who contributes anything is credited. It truly makes RFG a community effort. The members of the site are awesome, our board is a great place to hang out. It's very informative and rarely bitchy. And that Collection Tool we have here is a Marvelous BEAST!!!
Have you met or personally know any of the other members of the website?
Many! Phoenix1967 is great friend of mine. We met in High School so we've been friends nearly 30 years. Cawsccs is a friend of mine from work, he doesn't post but does have his collection logged here. I've met Tynstar, he's originally from Michigan and we did a trade in person when he was home visiting family. I know Sauza12. We did a trade and decided to meet at a bar for the swap. We've hung out and been to each others places a few times. A few years ago Sauza and I drove to Cincinnatti for the Cinci Classic. There I met TraderJake, St0rmTK421 and The Evil Leon. I think that's everybody.
Are you an active game collector? If so anything specific?
Yes, though I'd say obsessed game collector rather than active. I don't collect anything specific. If it's a video game or video game related I collect it.
Whats your favorite game or series? Why?
I guess Guitar Hero/Rock Band. Why? Because I'm 40 and I get to act out my adolescent Rock Star fantasies.
What are your passions?
My passions are my family and friends. Trying to be a good husband and dad. Helping my daughter grow up to be a good person. Music, Video Games, Books, Cartoon, Movies... all sorts of stuff.
What do you do outside of RFG?
I am the Creative Services Manager for a marketing company in Taylor, Michigan. I do a lot of graphic design, digital photography, web development and whatever else customers throw my way.
SPECIFICS
Right now your collection stands at just under 5k entries(only 3 of them being hardware). How much of your collection would you say is actually on the site right now?
With the exception of my hardware most of my collection has been uploaded. I still have a bunch of PC games and Plug N Plays that I haven't entered. I have a few hundred handhelds that I need to enter. I've been putting that off. I know a bunch of them need to have game entries created.
How have you managed to amass such a fantastically large collection?
I still have every game and console that I've gotten through the years. So when I started seriously collecting 7 or 8 years ago I already had an Atari 2600, Vic-20, C64, NES, Genesis, PS1, Gameboy Color and about 300 games between them. I've acquired the rest mostly from thrift shops, garage sales, flea markets and used game shops.
I'm very persistent with hunting. I'm fortunate to have several thrift shops near me and I hit them as often as I can. I'm also not shy about talking about my collection. I've had many people give me games or sell them to me cheaply. I also check the clearance aisle at Target often and make good use of those coupons Gamestop e-mails on Fridays.
How often do you pick up games/gaming related items?
I stop somewhere looking for games pretty much every day. It's getting hard to find stuff I don't already have but I still manage a few finds every week.
When did you make the change from just being a gamer to also being a collector? What was it that made you make the change, if anything, or did it just kind of metamorph into a dual hobby?
I was surfing one day and stumbled onto Digital Press. I was reading some stuff about the Atari 2600 and got nostalgic. I had my dad dig it out of the attic. I played it again after many years and had a blast. I picked up a few more games for it. Then did the same for my NES and Genesis. One day my wife says "Why don't you just try and find every there is." She was of course being sarcastic but several thousand games later I'm still taking that advice.
How long have you been collecting vinyl?
Much like my game stuff I still have all the vinyl from my youth. It was tucked away in a cabinet out of sight out of mind. One morning I was riding my bike. It was garbage day and I passed a house with a HUGE box of records on the curb. It was 6:00 and the morning and still dark so I took a peek. Black Sabbath, Hendrix, Zeppelin, The Doors, The Who, Pink Floyd... yeah, that box went home with me. I nabbed close to 100 records all in immaculate condition. Thus began another collection. That was about 3 years ago.
Do you go for all formats or try to stick more towards 33s or 45s or 78s?
My turntable doesn't have 78 speed so I only collect 33's and 45's.
GAMING FIRSTS
What was the first game you played and on what system and how old were you?
The first video game I ever played was Coleco's Electronic Quarterback. I got that in 1978 or 79 so I was 10 or 11. The first console I played was the Atari 2600. The game was maybe Combat or Asteroids, I was probably 13.
First console owned?
The Atari 2600. It was a gift from my parents when I made my Confirmation in 8th grade.
First game you bought yourself?
I think it was Starmaster for the 2600. I remember going to Service Merchandise to buy it.
What made you decide to buy that particular game?
That was 27 years ago. I have no idea.
First game you beat?
Strider for the NES. It was my first or second year of college and a joint effort between phoenix1967 and I. I remember we almost finished it in one night. We got stuck on a boss near the end. It took a few weeks to figure out the trick to take him out. We finished the rest of the game in short order after that.
First time you wanted to destroy something because of a game?
Well I've come close to smashing my Guitar Hero controller a few times but that's about it.
This is the second (technically third) installment of The People of RFGeneration. I went with one of our Canadian members Link41 aka Aaron . It should be noted that the number of members who live in Canadia is small (18 members on the World Map, which more people need to use so i would know how accurate i am being...) but growing. Before they grow any larger we must absorb them into the U.S.of A... and steal their health care!
I've talked with him both inside and outside of the chat and had a pretty strange and interesting convo, mostly related to his college classes. So I decided he could be the next at bat.
Alright lets get to it I guess.
Q:How did you find RFGeneration?
A: I was looking for a site to document my collection online back around Christmas '08, and a fellow member of this site, suggested RFGeneration.
Q:What made you join?
A: I took a look at the site, after receiving info from sunfireman. I was amazed at all the collectors that were here, not only that, but the Database was loaded with games I had and/or needed.
Q:What made you stay?
A: Honestly? The forum and the chat. I am in the chat almost everyday, also I enjoy having my collection right at my fingertips! 
Q:Have you met or personally know any of the other members of the website?
A: I know sunfireman, he is also a parrysounder. I am starting to get to know lots of other members, that is why I'm on the chat so much.
Q:Are you an active game collector? If so anything specific?
A: I am an active game collector, I currently have 11 consoles, and 314 games. I collect alot of Nintendo games and consoles. I am however looking to start collecting the Sega consoles and possibly the Atari consoles. I am looking to catch up to den68, his collection is massive!
Q:Whats your favourite game or series? Why?
A: I have to pick The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time as my favourite game, as for my favourite series, I would go with either: Zelda, Resident Evil, Metroid, or Final Fantasy. Ocarina got me into gaming back in 1998, when it came out. I played everyday after school. After I beat the game I was like "I wonder if any other games are good?" and the rest is history. I love alot of game series, so I narrowed it down to four!
Q:Why is the chat your second home!?!
A: I like meeting new people, and discussing new games. I happen to have found a nice community here, I like chatting on the IRC, and posting on the forum. I have made a few friends on here so far, I'm very impressed with the site thus far.
Q:What are your passions?
A: I LOVE the outdoors, biking, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, swimming, reading, my morning jogs, my schooling, video games, my family, my friends, going to bar with my friends. I guess that pretty much sums it up. I am certainly a pretty common guy
Q:What do you do outside of RFG?
A: I am currently attending school for forensics, I also work part-time at a store 99% of you have never even heard of. Giant Tiger is where I work, it is fun. I like to go and spend time with the girlfriend and my family whenever I get the chance. I have four brothers, so I am used to having a shadow
Q:What made you decide to go into forensics?
A:At first,I just wanted to become a cop, but I soon realized I wanted more. Over the past few years,I became a fan of CSI, I was amazed at the procedures that went into solving crimes. I enrolled for the course in 2007 and I haven't looked back. 
Q:What is the creepiest thing you have learned so far from this course?
A: lol, gross is a pretty loose term in forensics. I thought assisting in autopsy's would be the worst, but as it turns out there was something worse. I had forgot that after a DB has been dead for around an hour, his muscles begin to relax and urine and feces then come out. That happened during my first examination of a dead body, needless to say I was one of the many students who threw up in class. Not such a great day.
GAMING FIRSTS UPDATE
So i thought of some questions a few nights ago at work. One of my coworkers asked me what the first game i beat was and then the rest of these popped into my head in rapid succession. They will be standard from now on When Eddie sends me back the response i will update his interview as well
Q: What was the first game you played and on what system and how old were you?
A: The very first game I played was Super Mario Bros on NES. I was on my March break in 1995, and my family was visitng some relatives down south and I went to see what my cousins were doing up in their room, it turns out they were playing two player SMB. I just stood in awe over the game, it was like a cartoon only 100 times better!
Q:First console owned?
A: I received my first console at Christmas 1998. I got an Nintendo 64 and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. I was hooked on games from that point on! I would rush home from school as fast as possible to play more! I was addicted.
Q:First game you bought yourself?
A: Well I bought my first game and bought my first conole at the same time. I purchased a PS2 in 2003 and I bought WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth to go with it. In the months that followed, I had started to build my collection into the one you can see today.
Q:What made you decide to buy that particular game?
A: I was a HUGE fan of WWE up until 2006, then I jumped to UFC and TNA. I thought the games was awesome, having had a few N64 wrestling games. I wanted to see what the next gen was going to bring to the table.
Q:First game you beat?
A:...hmm. I know! Pokemon Red. I had borrowed my friends Game Boy Color while he went to Florida with his family, so I promised I would get him some good pokemon. I beat the game in just 2 days, I did set him up with the legendarys, who I caught with master balls. I used that missingno cheat on Cinnabar Island, and made 99 master balls!
Q:First time you wanted to destroy something because of a game?
A: I wanted to break my NES Zapper before....I just hate that Duck Hunt dog soooooo much!
This is my first interview so be gentle
I had in mind a couple of people that i wanted to start this out with. I ended up starting with St0rmtk421 (aka Eddie). I chose him because he is and has been and still is a very important and integral part of this fine website. But I feel very few people know of him or if they do they don't know much about him.
Many years ago (about the same time RFGen went to MySpace and Wikipedia...)
It was rumored that this was the only known picture of this
mysterious individual.
[img width=200 height=294]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/staff/18.jpg[/img]
Now without any further adieu....
How did you find RFGeneration?
I knew Mike Collins since grade school, so when he told me he was putting a website together for video games, I volunteered to help out. We started talking about creating a games database, and I wrote up a simple search page and game pages. Then we talked about having collections, and it kinda steamrolled from there.
What made you join?
I've always enjoyed video games, even though I never had any real consoles growing up (became more of a PC gamer as a result). I was just learning how to program websites at the time, so when Mike mentioned he was working on a website for video games, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me.
What made you stay?
Well when I was the only coder for the site I kind of had to stick around to make sure things keep working... But seriously I knew a lot of the original founders and for some reason we've always had such a great community around this site which has always made me want to continue helping out and being a part of it.
Have you met or personally know any of the other members of the website?
Obviously Mike (Lord Nepenthean), and of course the man who has since stepped up to help captain the ship in his stead (TraderJake), and The Evil Leon, all of whom I have known since grade school. I also know Hydrobond, The Maligned Leon, SFS/Three, Seamar, Shimra, Maccabeus, Mrs. C, and MPHDeltaForce. A couple of years ago at Cinciclassic I had the pleasure of meeting Den and Sauza in person, both of whom are great guys.
What sort of work do you do on/for the site?
Back in the day I was the lone programmer who maintained the search, collection, and submission tools. Since then Dave has joined in and has rewritten the new submission system, the blogs, and many other new features. I still maintain and work on the collection and search systems, as well as some other administrative stuff.
Are you an active game collector? If so anything specific?
Can't really say I'm a collector of games. As I said I was more of a PC gamer and I love finding the old shareware games online and giving them a go every once and a while. But as for collecting games, I really don't do that.
Whats your favorite game or series (or even genre if your like me and have trouble pining down specifics.)? Why?
Being an engineer, I've always enjoyed strategy games, RTS in particular. One of my neighbors had the old Genesis game Herzog Zwei back in the day and I always loved taking him on in that game. Another of my favorite RTS games was a little known PC/PS game called Warzone 2100 (which is open source nowadays, so you should all go download it )
What do you do outside of RFG?
I'm currently going to school at the University of Cincinnati to pursue my masters in Computer Engineering.
What are you passions?
Gaming wise, I always enjoy a good LAN party or playing a game of rock band/guitar hero. I also enjoy movies (have a projector in my basement) and I've always been interested in photography as a hobby as well.
So in closing I would like to share one of my favorite(and probably earliest) RFG work related quotes from St0rm:
"Alright people, I didn't make this so you could all tell me how cool I am. I made it so that you can create and share your collections.
SO USE IT!! "
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