Tony Ortale
Microsoft
Well it’s that time of the week again, and I thought I'd mix things up a little bit. I realized it might be interesting for you guys to know the man behind all of these articles you're reading, so I decided to interview myself! Today you'll get an inside look on your favorite video games Examiner, so you can see what make me tick! As always, if you would like to see yourself in the spotlight on "Get to Know Your Gamers", feel free to drop an email and we'll get you in the rotation!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you like to do (besides play video games)?
I’ve lived in Iowa all my life, have a huge passion for music, and like playing sports with friends. I’m also notorious for having a massive crush on Taylor Swift and boldly flaunting the fact that my favorite band is the Backstreet Boys. I work in the electronics section of my local Target, the newest location for Gamers in Coralville, ChaCha, and write articles for Examiner.com.
What got you into gaming?
Having a NES sitting around in my house growing up was my pathway into the world of gaming. I loved that system and that’s where I developed my passion for gaming. I feel like it offers an experience that movies just can’t match, because you’re actually involved in it.
What was your first console / game?
That lovely Nintendo Entertainment System, which I still have, and it still works! My first game was probably either Super Mario Bros. or Joshua for the NES.
Some people won’t play a game if the graphics are bad. Do graphics have that big of an impact for you?
Graphics are great, but what I really look for is a truly immersive experience or something that never gets old.
What do you look for in game / what makes a game ‘fun’ to you?
I love a story you can really dive deep into and become lost in. It’s also great to have games you can keep coming back to, like the Halo series, which are great for those late night gaming sessions with friends!
Do you consider yourself a ‘casual’ or ‘hardcore gamer?
I would consider myself hardcore, however I really like the points my friends Rob Nielsen and Adison Finken brought up in their interviews. I agree that if you’re going to try to define yourself, it really varies by game; however, that it’s really just a better idea not to categorize yourself in any way.
Do you prefer a solo or co-op / multiplayer experience?
Both. I love a strong single player experience to lose yourself in, however the multiplayer is a huge component, because it’s nice to wind down each night by hoping on Xbox live and being able to game with a bunch of my friends that aren’t nearby anymore.
What are you playing right now?
L.A. Noire, MLB 10: The Show, NBA 2K11, and Borderlands.
What is the worst game you’ve ever played?
Terminator: Salvation. That was disgusting. I did manage to grind through it though for the achievements… I’m kind of an achievement hoarder.
What do you consider to be the best game ever?
Now everyone is going to know I threw a trick question into my interview, but for me, I don’t think there’s really any such thing as a universal ‘best game ever’. I think the ‘best game ever’ is the game that’s most special to you. This is going to come as a surprise to many because everyone knows I love the Guitar Hero series, however for me, that game would be Halo 2 because of the nights of endless gaming with all of my friends where we would have a massive LAN party with tons of pizza, soda, and Halo. After sticking to the normal game types for a while, we’d mix it up a little with our own game types like hide-and-seek or tower of power. Our greatest innovation may have been ‘mongoose wars’, but that actually came about in Halo 3.
Random Thought?
Ok… shameless promotion time.
I could really use some more people to interview, hint hint, so if you’d like to be featured, shoot me an email: ortale.anthony@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook. It’s a chance for your 15 minutes of fame and a great opportunity to tell the world what it really needs to hear! Well, in the realm of video games anyway…