Today's XBOXBAR industry interview is with Randy "N0M4D" Fitzgerald. Randy is a member of the Major League Gaming (MLG for short) professional video game league. Randy's the captain of the team "First Strike", and also the founder of the EOG (Equal Opportunity Gaming). He's currently attending the Art Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. Majoring in Game Design. He's also attended Brown Institute in Mendota Heights, MN. And he majored in Game Design and Development. Randy is maybe most well known for his gaming skills on the Xbox 360 while only using his lips and chin. He's recently made more news with his connection to Infinity Ward and their upcoming release of COD4. His connection with IW is from his desire and calling attention to the developers of the game to make a control scheme geared towards people with the need for an alternate control setting like he uses. In fact IW has designed a control setting for those in need like Randy.
First before starting with the questions I would like to thank Randy for taking timeout of his schedule to answer these questions for us.
1. Xboxbar: My first question is one I'm sure you may get often. What is it like being a part of the MLG, and how did you get started in the league?
N0M4D: Major League Gaming is great. My view on MLG is kind of a unique standpoint. Because of my physical disability, I have never been able to compete in a sport. Well, with MLG I finally can. I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "Every man needs to have competition in order to feel complete." That statement is very true for me. When I was younger, my friends would be like, "let's go play basketball!" And of course I couldn't join them. So MLG for me, is like taking that ball, giving them that devilish grin, and saying, "It's my ballgame now." To answer your question about how I started. I was part of the H2O/PMS Clan and they helped sponsor my team to compete because they acknowledged we were good enough to compete at a professional level. Unfortunately, we are no longer affiliated with PMS/H2O due to political reasons.
2. Xboxbar: When did you realize you had the skill to get yourself into he next level of gaming, and what game was it that you started with in the MLG?
N0M4D: Again, I realized it after many people were like, "Damn N0M4D! You should go pro!" The game we started in was Rainbow Six Vegas. We kicked a lot of ass in Charlotte, NC earlier this summer!
3. Xboxbar: With your current education (And on-going schooling) in game making. What is your ultimate goal in the gaming industry?
N0M4D: Wow that's a tough one. I guess I have several goals. One is to continue being a recognizable figure within the industry. Two, help developers think outside the box when it comes to accessible options. And three, make the best First Person Shooter of all time.
4. Xboxbar: If you could work for any company in the gaming industry right now what company would it be, and why?
N0M4D: At this moment in time? Infinity Ward. Because during the public beta of Call of Duty 4, they showed their fans that they really do care about them. I'd love to work for a compassionate company like them.
5. Xboxbar: With the current acquisition of Bioware and Pandemic studios by EA. In your opinion do you see this as an ever-growing problem for the industry? Does this kind of move by this or any other company take away from the overall creativity of these development houses?
N0M4D: EA is already a tremendous powerhouse within the industry and constantly gaining momentum. That being said, I think buying out those two studios was not necessary. Do I think their future titles will be uninspired and watered down after joing under the EA corporate umbrella? Most definately. I believe in the future,a large part of the industry will be independant games and developers free from publisher powerhouses such as EA.
6. Xboxbar: What's the level of gaming in the MLG like, and is it harder than most gamers might think to be competitive at that level?
N0M4D: The competition at MLG is extremely stiff. Farthest my team has ever made it was like 5th round. I believe there are 8 rounds altogether. We make it far though. Only advice I can give is if you attend a pro tournament, be prepared 6 months in advance. And buy professional headphones with microphones. The crowd can be distracting.
7. Xboxbar: I've looked a little at the EOG site, and I have to say that it's nice to see someone out there that's not just in it for the dollars. You are trying to give back to society. With the EOG. How did that get started, and how is that going right now?
N0M4D: EOG is going great! 412 members and growing! EOG was founded by my good friend Matt Kasharian and I. The reason we started it was because some clans claim they are fighting for equality. When the truth is they are actually fighting for elitism. EOG stands for real equality in gamers. We think of EOG as more of a belief system than a clan. We want to break the stereotype that gamers are no good couch potatoes. Anyone who joins EOG, all we ask is to do something in your community that helps out. And if you ever join a pro league, to give a small amount of your winnings to the make a wish foundation.
8. Xboxbar: With your time spent on the COD4 beta you came to the conclusion that for gamers like yourself there needed to be a better control scheme developed to allow for a easier and better way to play. How did you go about getting IW to make that change for not just you, but many gamers and fans of the COD franchise?
N0M4D: Alot of people in the beta knew who I was already. I told them I was going to write a letter asking for the control change. I posted that letter on the charlieoscardelta.com forums and that post quickly turned into a petition with 23,566 hits and 450 replies. Plus, Robert Bowling, the community manager at Infinity Ward, knew me from E3 2006. Microsoft had a promotional thing going on about doing live blogs from the E3 show floor. Robert and I were among several who were chosen to bring E3 to the consumers living room. My articles were chosen the best of E3 2006!
9. Xboxbar: Honestly I've checked out the pictures on your Myspace, and I have to say it sure looks like the life of a Pro Gamer is pretty nice. Is it everything it seems or is there some deep, dark, terrible things you elite players have to deal with?
N0M4D: We definately are not Elites. I will never think I am better than another human being. But pro gaming definately has its moments! It can be expensive though. If you're not winning and you don't have sponsors, you won't last long financially. The only bad thing that I've personally had to deal with is stalkers. Normally I'd love to have girls stalking me. But oh my god! This one girl, half my age, was telling me she loved me, and wanted to marry me and would send me provacative pictures. Not that I mind all that, but you could tell she was obsessive. Freaked me out. Another thing I have to deal with is discrimination. Some players down play my skill level because I beat them. I hear, "He's not that good, I went easy on him." At an $8,000 tournament? Yeah right. That aside though, Pro gaming is great. You make about 50 friends and 4 enemies per event haha.
10. I noticed you have a link on the EOG site for "The Make a Wish Foundation". Do you work with them helping grant wishes? Also if you do what kind of things have you done with them?
N0M4D: When I was 16, I had severe scoliosis. I had an extensive surgery to correct it that left me in a 4 month coma. I was in the hospital almost an entire year for rehabilitation. I was a Make-a-Wish recipient. They gave me a Sega Saturn with 12 games, a new tv, a stereo, imported speakers, and an entertainment center. So now, 12 years later, I want to give a child the same happiness I was given. Some of us EOG guys volunteer at Mayo clinics Childrens Hospital. We play video games with the kids who are dying of cancer or aids. We rent them movies, throw them pizza parties. Anything we can do to make their hospital stay more pleasant.
11. Xboxbar: Finally I will make this as easy as I can. I've seen all of these hot chicks on your Myspace profile, and I have to ask. Do the hot chicks really dig gamers, or is it all just your smooth and suave style? J
N0M4D: It's both haha. All the girls on my top friends are part of EOG. Also, they are on the MLG Pro Circuit. I'm hoping some of them love me though! ;)
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For myself, the staff, and all the members at Xboxbar.com I'd like to again say thanks to Randy "N0M4D' Fitzgerald for doing this interview, and also for being a breath of fresh air in the gaming world.
Sir Snootch
For more information on the MLG, EOG, and Randy feel free to check out the links below.
N0M4D's Myspace page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewpro
file&friendid=88179226&MyToken=4821a02d-ba77-4f61-9b4a-d8c08a976
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The EOG. http://www.equalgamers.com/
MLG http://www.mlgpro.com/
Make a Wish Foundation http://www.wish.org/