So, I've never actually wrote an introductory post. After joining Destructoid last March I didn't even think about doing an introductory post and since then I've just been putting it off feeling it wasn't really necessary. But, now I'm thinking that it is necessary. People like to know something about the author of the blog or comment they're reading. I know I always pay more attention to comments and blogs posted by users that I recognize and know a little about.

So, here is my attempt at an introductory blog. Let's take a wonderful journey to the land of March 2009. It's was a different world back then. For one, Bayonetta was just a glimmer on the horizon and my hair was a little shorter.

Now close your eyes.

Take a deep breath...

and.....

...



Hewooo, mah names Alex! I like vidyagaimes! Wanna be frieends? Do you laike Teenate Munant Ninna Turles?




...


Whoops, sorry. I accidentally took us to March 1989. I guess my homemade TARDIS isn't functioning properly quite yet.

Okay, here we are.

Rather than this introductory post be a long winded autobiography about my entire life I've decided to do a list of quick facts and bits of information that may or may not be relevant to your interests. Plus, what would the ghost writer I hired to write my autobiography work on if I went and did it myself? You got to think about these things people!

Anyway now starts the listing:

- Most of my video game playing as a child was spent playing many of the early Apogee PC games. Mainly, Commander Keen and Biomenace. I liked them.

- I didn't own a console at home until I bought my Sega Dreamcast on launch day. Before then my parents felt I would play too many video games if I owned a console. So, I just played PC games all the time instead.

- I've always been obsessed with Sega since the days of the Sega Genesis. My parents would often let me rent systems for a weekend and I would almost always rent a Genesis with Toejam and Earl and the Sonic games. My brother would always rent X-Men. I got very sick of that game. It was hard.



- Since 8th grade I've been collecting Sega systems and games. In the last few years my obsession has grown and I now own a version of every Sega system and over 600 games for them.

- I tried really hard to enjoy Sonic Unleashed. Some of the Sonic levels are incredibly fun but there are so many poor design choices and crappy werehog stages that I can't finish the game. Get rid of the adventure portions, the collecting of the sun and moon tokens, and the werehog stages and a good 3D Sonic game you may have.

- I'm excited about Sonic the Hedgehog 4. (I know this is March 2009 but I'm looking into the future)

- Twinsen's Odyssey was the game that changed the way I looked at video games. I had never played a game before where the characters and environments where so engaging that I actually missed seeing them once I finished the game. I still replay it every once in a while and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in adventure games.



- I'm engaged to a lovely lady who likes to play retro games with me. Our wedding is in August 2010.

- Outside of video games I play and write a lot of music. I've been in quite a few bands and am currently in the band Murnau. I don't know how to describe our music. The last person who described it called it "Experimental Metal-esque". Before that I was in a band called Far From Words, which, was a little more accessible. More along the lines of the Cure or Smashing Pumpkins. All of the music recorded by both bands is available for free off of our website.

- I really wish Retro Game Challenge 2 would come out in the US.



- I bought a PS3 just for Heavy Rain. Omikron and Indigo Prophecy are two of my favorite games of all time. I had to do it.

- I don't like strategy games or turn-based RPGs. I try to play them but I have trouble enjoying my time with them. The only JRPGs I've ever finished were Skies of Arcadia and Grandia 2. I like exploring the towns in JRPGs and the story aspect of them but I get bored with the battles and grinding.

- I don't play games competitively very often. I love co-op games and the occasional casual competitive gaming but I don't ever play stuff online like Modern Warfare, Halo, etc.

- I love first person games with great settings and story. I sometimes spend long periods of time just walking around various levels and admiring the work and effort that went into creating the environments.

- I had a roast beef sandwich and potato salad for supper tonight.



- I listen to a lot of music. Current favorites are: Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Neurosis, Leonard Cohen, Katatonia, Talk Talk, The Cure, Rasputina, Daniel Johnston, and Warren Zevon.

- I think Virus mode in TimeSplitters 2 is one of the most addicting multiplayer modes ever created. Playing with no weapons is my setting of choice.

- I like old movies. Especially, German cinema like FW Murnau and Werner Herzog. I don't watch many modern movies and rarely go to the theatre. Netflix gives me enough stuff to watch.



- I just started watching Doctor Who after listening to Anthony Burch talk about it all the time. I found a guide on the Onion that gives you a rundown of what episodes to watch of the past seasons before watching the new Doctor Who series. So I've been following that. Here's a link if anyone is interested.

- I'm waiting for a survival horror game that is better than Silent Hill 2.

- Shadow of the Colossus was amazing. I didn't like Ico that much.

- Postal 2 is not a good game but I enjoy playing it.



- Warren Spector, Yu Suzuki, Yuji Naka, David Cage, and Frédérick Raynal are good game designers.

- I like graphic novels. Neil Gaiman, Chris Ware, Art Spiegelman, Craig Thompson, and Tony Millionaire are alright in my book.

- I found Destructoid by listening to RetroforceGo! through iTunes.

- I often wonder when RetroforceGo! will start up again.

- Indian food is delicious.



- Destructoid is amazing. Best online community ever. I don't post comments very often but I usually read every post on the front page and many of the community blogs.

- I also think Jim Sterling is a good blogger and reviewer. I enjoy his British accent and wonder if it will ever go away now that he lives with us Americans. Jim without an accent is like 7up without carbonation. Sure, it's the same ingredients but will it make you feel better when you're sick? The answer is no it will not because it won't make you burp.