As this site incessantly encourages me to write about my hobby, I have done so. I used to do so on the GameSpot but have decided against using that place. So here I am.

Who is the Koobert? What does he do? Here are five interesting facts about Koobert that help define him within the milieu of gaming.

FACT 1: KOOBERT HAS BEEN VIDEO GAMING FOR, YIKES, ALMOST 25 YEARS

I consider my first foray into video gaming the VIC=20, which entered my household in 1983. I learned how to type on this machine, and how to seek the games my dad had programmed onto tapes using the VIC=20's optional cassette drive. Next was the Sega Master System, then the Sega Genesis, and from then on, I branched out onto many different systems, especially after getting a job and being able to waste much disposable income on them.

FACT 2: KOOBERT IS NOT VERY GOOD AT VIDEO GAMES (citation needed).

I'm not very competitive. I don't have a lot of time to play games, and those I tend to soak a lot of time into are single player only. So, when I do venture online, I hit the virtual skill wall that pushes away many a casual player. The gulf between the skill of people I can play locally, and those I can play online is huge. With my friends, I tend to be one of the better players, especially in racing games. Online, however, I am always near dead last in racing games, while in games like Halo I am merely mid-pack. I can't seem to get past the learning curve that separates the "new" players from the experienced one.

FACT 3: KOOBERT IS NOT PARTICULARLY BRAND BIASED

It's not that I don't understand the basis for brand loyalty. Having two Sega systems in a row means that you get attached not only to the brand, but feel personally involved in this system's success. And I've never regretted not owning an NES, although I do feel bad that I missed out on some of the SNES's greatest moments. By the time the SNES came out, one of my brothers purchased one, so I did get to play it. But I only got a handful of games for it. Apart from Final Fantasy II and Lost Vikings, none of them were particularly great titles. Since that era, I've had an open mind about systems. I was even far enough removed from my love for Sega that when it came time to decide between a Sega Saturn or a PlayStation, I believe I made the right choice for my budget at the time, which was the PS. It really is the games that make the system for me, not the manufacturer. As it should be.

FACT 4: KOOBERT IS TOUGH TO PLEASE.

I admit it. I'm pretty harsh on games. For me, game demos can have a negative effect. Instead of giving me a little soupcon of the game to come, they just make me bored and angry. Game demos should highlight the best part of the game. There should be no drudgery. Or camera issues. Of course, it might not be the game's fault if it is wrapped around a genre of which I have no love, like 3D platforming. But there are some games which should be embracing me in their greatness, like Uncharted, but leave me a little bored during the demo. Yeah, the graphics are nice, but so what? In two years, you're left with a dated looking game which wasn't that entertaining to begin with. I get a little grumpy with game reviewers that get so caught up in rather insignificant details that they neglect to see the overall value (or lack thereof) within the game. Why do reviewers love Ratchet and Clank? What is it that I'm missing? Oh well.

FACT 5: KOOBERT IS A FUN PERSON TO GAME WITH.

It's true. Even if I'm not great, with a bit of practice I can at least not be a liability. I know when is a good time to be witty, and when to just shut up and try to win. Even if I sound grouchy in my writings, I assure you that it does not effect my effervescent wit.

So that's a beginner's guide to me. Feel free to add me on the PSN or the XBL... Koobert on both systems. Not that I have any online games that I want to play on the PlayStation Network, but assumably, in time, I will. Maybe the new Burnout.