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About Me

Hello all. My name is Chris. I was born in 1984. I am a textbook hardcore gamer, and have been since the day my mother handed me an Atari 2600 joystick at about age four. I have an extensive collection of games and hardware that contains over 900 pieces that I keep fully inventoried in list and spreadsheet formats. I am also a huge film buff, and am probably that guy you hate to watch a movie with because he thinks too much about things.

I have done my fair share of time in video game retail. Four and a half years working at, and weekend-managing a Microplay, and about a year and a half wishing I was dead (aka. working) at a Gamestop. I am a compulsive reader of game journalism, both here on Destructoid and on various other sites. Friends and coworkers tell me that they have never met anyone who knows as much about the industry as me, or who can talk as well and passionately about it. It may be a big stretch to say that exactly, but I do believe my love and understanding of games, if anything, is clear when you talk to me. I hope you feel that way too when you read my writing! I have a degree in Interdisciplinary History/Government from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Although I am currently employed in the purchasing and Accts. Payable department of an electrical construction company, it is my sincerest dream to eventually make writing and possibly teaching about popular culture topics (film, video games, tv, etc.) a full-time occupation. I dabble in my own fantasy-fiction stuff, and am working hard to perfect methods for analytically writing about games in the manner that one would a book or film.

I love to draw! in my (rare) spare time.

I am an absolute toy nut. I have loads of action figures all over my place, and many many more stored away in an attic that there just simply isn't enough room to display. I obviously love to scarf up any game related toys that I can. Specifically, I find Japanese Gashapon (capsule toys) by Yujin to be particularly worth wasting money on. My primary focus, however, is on robots. I have a wall of Transformers, a glass case full of hand-painted Gundam models, and a load of Lego Bionicles.

Reading is also a huge part of my life. I love to be informed, and get super into philosophy. I regularly alternate between classics like Dickens, Lewis, Carol and Twain, to violent pulp fantasy. I have a particular soft spot for novels based in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K universe.

Finally, I am a cheesball hopeless romantic, and am a member on like 40 bajillion dating sites. Of course, the ultimate would be to snag a nice gamer girl, but as there are so very few around where I live, I simply don't see it happening.

That about sums me up. If you want to know more. Feel free to message me. I'm serious about being as big a part as I can of the gamer community!

Here are some other measly facts and favorites.

Favorite Game System: Neo-Geo

Five Absolute Favorite Games:
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- Wild Arms
- Phantasy Star Online Ep.1&2 (Gamecube Version)
- Chrono Trigger
- Dragon Force

Favorite Movie: Tombstone

Favorite Anime: Shin Getter Robo Armageddon OVA

PSN Name: MrGilder1

Favorite Bands:
- Vintersorg
- Scar Symmetry
- Justice
- Chromeo
- Rush

AIM: RageofGeo

Twitter: MrGilder1

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Gamertag: MrGilder

Following (12)

Gust's New Atelier Game to be 3D Cel-Shaded, Not 2D - I Cry a Bit Mr Gilder | 11:29 AM on 03.23.2009 12 comments

Ladies and gents, the cat is out of the bag. A slew of new screenshots over at The MagicBox have revealed the look of Atelier Rorona, the newest entry into Gust's long running alchemy based RPG series. As you can see above, the series' leap onto the Playstation 3 will feature 3D Cel-shaded graphics in lieu of Gust's usual 2D hand-drawn sprites. I did not hear about this when the game was announced, and I dare say, I'm a bit depressed over the whole business. The people at Gust have been at the forefront of oldschool anime style JRPGs for a while now. Their endeavors on the PS2 (the Atelier and Ar Tonelico franchises) have been providing nostalgic fun to hardcore fans with relatively little dissapointment. As most of Gust's games, with the exception of the radically different Ar Tonelico 2, almost always feel like little more than slightly improved rehashes of their last title, I find the desire to enjoy new, quirky sprites to be one of the few reasons to fork out that cash to buy each new iteration. I was hoping that the transition to the PS3 would mean gorgeous high definition 2D visuals. I guess I was wrong. These Cel-shaded graphics certainly are attractive. They conjure up fond memories of Tri-Ace's Eternal Sonata; however, I can't help but feel like Gust is taking the easy way out, and filing in with the rest of the pack. I'm not necessarily giving up on Atelier Rorona in its entirety just yet, but the burden now lies with Gust to prove to me that the title will truly be worth my time. Am I the only one slightly saddened by this turn of events? Attached photos: