Gunslinger Gaming

Robin has been a fellow Gunslinger since August 2011, but if you have spent any time in the GS chatrooms, you probably know her best as the ever polite personality named Sophiebean. Of course, you may not find her crossbow tactics all that friendly on the Call of Duty battlefields. Let’s find out a bit more about Robin/Sophiebean/TheReasonYouHaveanArrowStuckinYourHead by sitting down for an interview with her!

GS: The very first post you ever made in the GunslingerGaming forums was in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Masterlist. Is it safe to assume that was the game that got you here? Regardless, how did you happen to wander into our virtual saloon? With whom did you first get into game?

Robin: I found Gunslingers when I was looking at the Battlefield forums and happened to come across this great place. The first people I remember gaming with are Margarita Mama, Bullet Stopper, RLGORMORTIS, and Carbon Bigfoot in Black Ops.

GS: Despite the fact that you have many responses that welcome new members into the group, you like to keep your discussions close to the vest. Would you consider yourself a shy or secretive person in real life? Speaking of real life, how widely known to your friends and family that you are a first person shooter killing machine?

Robin: At first I am a very shy person in real life. As for my friends and family that know that I play first person shooters, that would only be the ones I hang out with the most so not many know.

GS: Your profile states you reside in New York. All too often, people assume that must translate to a life in New York City. What is YOUR New York life? In the city? In the country? Can you share with us a story from your personal life that, for you, best illustrates what a life in New York state means to you?

Robin: I actually live in the country. The closest city to me is Rochester about an hour away. Though, someday I would like to visit New York City. As for what life is like in New York, I don’t really have any stories to illustrate what life up here is to me, but, to me, it seems fast paced at times, and I like it at that pace. Though, the winters up here are too long for my liking, and the summers are too short.

GS: Your PSN is a crossbow reference. How exactly did that come about? Since we are on the subject of names, your forum name is Robin, yet you may be best known for you chat handle, Sophiebean. Which of the two do you identify most with and why?

Robin: I was given the nick name Crossbow Queen in Black Ops. I like the crossbow and some how managed to get kills with it, so the name was created and stuck. I liked the name so much that I decided to make it my PSN. The name I identify with most is Sophiebean since Sophie and Bean are the names of my two dogs, who every once in a while can be heard in the background when I have my headset on. So, that name just means more to me.

GS: Right now, there is a thread in the forums discussing favorite GS moments. As someone who enjoys a presence in chat, what would be one of your favorite moments in chat, funny or otherwise?

Robin: There are so many moments that I have enjoyed in chat, but my favorite has to be one night when we where talking about interesting flavors like Soy sauce Kit Kat and Smokey Bacon Lay’s chips. And so many other flavors there are.

GS: We need to know what makes Robin tick! Gaming aside, what are some of your other passions in life?

Robin: Some of my passions are to read and to spend time outside when its nice out, preferably 80 degrees and up. I also like to look at the stars on a clear night.

GS: True, you are a killing machine in FPS games (and, no, she is not paying me to type that), but you also seem to love a good role playing game. If someone absolutely green to the genre asked you what were some titles that are mandatory to play so he/she got a true impression of the potential of the genre, what titles would you name and why?

Robin: Even though I like role playing games, I can’t remember other ones that I’ve played, but I would definitely recommend Skyrim since you can do almost anything in the game that you can think of. I think it’s a good game to jump into even if your new to Role Playing Games.

GS: Okay. A leprechaun appears in front of you, gives you a million dollars for traveling expenses, and limits you to only to the speed of light. What place would you most wish to visit? No, you are not required to take the leprechaun along. Lawn gnomes, perhaps.

Robin: I would have to say Ireland. Even though I could go any where at the speed of light, I would still choose there mainly because I’ve always wanted to go there.

GS: It is time to come clean. Everyone has a guilty pleasure when it comes to favorite television series or movies. What series/movie that you just can’t help but like?

Robin: My guilty pleasure for TV/Movies is MASH. I know its an old show, but I’ve always loved watching the series.

GS: What is your favorite drink?

Robin: My favorite drink is Snapple raspberry tea.

Robin, thank you for taking the time to answer some of our questions, and, to everyone out there reading this interview, thank you for taking the time to learn more about your fellow Gunslinger!

April’s edition of the Member Spotlight features House.Lannister, a Playstation 3 player who sports a Game of Thrones reference as his username, has been a Gunslinger for just over a year, now. If you ask him, he will swear he is a shy, unassuming person in his “real life.” You got on mic with him and play some rounds of online combat, you start to doubt his claim. That is why he is a great Gunslinger to get to know better, and I invite all of you read the following interview.

GS: As of March 30th, 2012, you have been a Gunslinger member officially for a year. How did you happen to come across the rest of us, and with which GSer(s) did you first get into game?

House.Lannister: Amazing that it’s already been a year… Wow, what a great year it’s been! Anyway, I had just gotten my PS3 about a month before finding the Gunslingers and the only game I had was Killzone 3. I tend to enjoy the objective type of games over the straight deathmatch stuff and since I was so new to the PS3, I didn’t have any buddies to squad up with. I went out to the Killzone site and was shocked and appalled at the incredible nastiness and disrespect that existed there. To this day I always feel like I need a shower after visiting that cesspool. I almost threw in the towel and resigned myself to the fact that I’d have to go it alone; but as a last ditch effort, I started sifting through the clan threads. That’s when I came across Murph’s gunslinger thread. I swear it’s only a slight exaggerating to say it was like the heavens opened and a chorus of angels sang – I signed up immediately. The first Gunslinger I gamed with was Scars… (normally I’d throw in a jab here because it IS Scars after all and who doesn’t like to poke fun of HIM!), but to be perfectly honest he’s the main reason I knew I was hooked from the get go and would make Gunslingers my online family – he really made me feel welcome and got me involved immediately. Within a couple of days I was running with Bison, Steak_N_Fries, Sosyc, CheesyMonkey, BigBangBear and quite a few others.

GS: Your original Introduction post remarked that you signed up for KillZone 3. What many people may not know is that the Nintendo Wii and your kids have a big role in you getting back into gaming. Can you tell us about that? Did it affect your decision in buying the Playstation Move? Additionally, let’s put some context the questions. What was the first game you ever owned and what was the last game you played prior to giving up gaming until picking it up again?

House.Lannister: First games were for Atari 2600 – Breakout, Combat (since it came with the console), Defender, Yars Revenge, and Pitfall come to mind as favorites among the shoe boxes full of cartridges. Pretty much kept up with most new consoles from then until the early nineties when I went to college. Even though I took my SNES with me to school I ended up playing more games on my computer at that time… Maybe it just felt more like studying!! For the next 10 years or so I’d get an occasional game on the computer (Sid Meier’s Civ and Alpha Centauri were a couple that consumed me for a month or 2 at a time) but for the most part games took a back seat to Real Life. Then a few years back my Mom gave my kids a Wii for Christmas and the seal was broken. At first, it was just some Wii Tennis here or some Band Hero there… with the kids of course. Then IT HAPPENED. A friend handed me this disk and said I should give it a try… COD4: Reflex. This was my first ever experience with Online Multiplayer (and first FPS since Doom) and Holy S^*t was I hooked. I convinced a co-worker (and now fellow Gunslinger Iskaral_Pust) to pick it up as well and we’d always try and play together. Only major complaint we had was we couldn’t talk to each other while we played (well, the noob tubes and quick scopers too, but that’s another long winded post all by itself!). That’s when the wife surprised me with the PS3 as a belated birthday present. It was bundled with KZ3, but I immediately ran up to Gamestop and bought COD4, figuring “hey, I know the guns and maps, I just have to get used to the new controller and I’ll be in business!” Um… Nope. That’s when I realized that aiming with analog thumb stick is a skill I just do not possess. So COD went back to the store and the PS Move came home.

GS: You have been playing KillZone 3 for over a year now. Do you find yourself as the type of gamer who enjoys one title at a time or do you juggle other titles as well? What unreleased game that is coming out in 2012 do you find of interest, and in what ways may your experiences in KillZone 3 serve as a meter stick to your expectations?

House.Lannister: Historically I’d say I tend to have one primary game at a time. I’m a bit of a “completionist” (some would call it OCD) so I tend to keep at a given game until I’m done with it. Online multiplayer has changed that a little for me though since it’s never really DONE. So now, I’d say I have one game for online gaming and a couple of other single player/offline games to mix in when I’m in the mood for just getting lost in a game by myself. As far as future titles are concerned, I’m really looking forward to Dust 514 and Counterstrike: Global Offensive. I wouldn’t say that I use Killzone 3 as a meter stick per se, but fun gameplay, varied game modes and good graphics (all while being Move supported) is a combo that’s been pretty hard to find so far.

GS: You have remarked that you are an engineer in your GS forum profile. What sort of engineer are you? How long have you been in this profession, and what do you find most appealing about the profession?

House.Lannister: I’ve been a Mechanical Engineer in the Jet Engine Business for the last 15 years; initially in the design and improvement side of the business but now in the troubleshooting and repair side of the house. Basically I’m the onsite technical support for the Air Force whenever they have engine problems – If the engine isn’t operating like it should, they look to me to help figure out what’s wrong and get it fixed and back in the air as quickly as possible. It’s taken many years of job shopping within the company to find my niche, but I can honestly say now that I Love My Job. At the risk of sounding kind of cheesy, to me the most appealing part of my job is the pride that comes with helping keep the F-22 flying – that and getting to walk out of my office throughout the day and watch Raptors take of and land (yeah, if it hasn’t been fully established by now, I’m a geek).

GS: Being a parent, which gender has caused you more grey hairs? Your sons or daughters?

House.Lannister: Tough question… It is true I didn’t have a single grey hair before kids, but each one causes grey hairs in their own special way. I struggle with the mind blowing emotional swings with the girl (and she hasn’t even hit puberty yet!?!) and the strong willed defiant nature of the boy. But I’m not sure how much of that is gender based or simply the particular personality of the kids.

GS: We now know House.Lannister, the professional and the gamer. What are some other loves in life you wield that we may not yet know? Living in Virginia, does any of your other interests have a more local application?

House.Lannister: We’ve only lived in Virginia for a few years and really haven’t found a local niche hobby yet – does shuttling kids around town count?? Before VA (and kids), we lived in Connecticut for 7ish years so we really embraced Skiing and Snowboarding. Before CT, we lived in South Florida where my in-laws introduced me to SCUBA diving. By far diving is still one of my favorite hobbies; we just don’t get to do it as much as we’d like to anymore. Last but not least, motorcycles have been a life long passion – I’ve been riding them in some fashion since I was about 5 years old.

GS: What was the last vacation or trip you and your family took? If asked, what would your family say it is like traveling with the House.Lannister? Please refrain from using phrases such as “God-like” or other red-flag terms of untruth.

House.Lannister: Nearly all of our family vacations involve driving to visit family. Since that’s the way it’s been since the kids were infants they actually handle the 6-16 hour drives like champions. Where the complaints tend to come from is the seat next to me… She’d be the first to tell you that my right foot is entirely too heavy and I’m not the most tolerant of drivers that aren’t paying attention or think they are the only car on the road.

GS: What was the first album you remember buying, and, to date one’s self, on which media format was it on?

House.Lannister: I love music in general but I never really spent much of my disposable income on it. My parents had a pretty large record collection that I’d sift through when the radio inevitably got too monotonous, so I never felt the need to have to go out and buy more music. However, the first album I remember buying for myself was Metallica’s Ride the Lightning on cassette tape. The main reason that one sticks out is I had just gotten this new fanged device called a Walkman (how’s THAT for dating myself) and was amazed that I could actually bring my own music with me while I was cutting the grass.

GS: You have been a responder to the “What Are You Currently Reading?” thread and have noted in your GS forum profile that reading is among your interests. What sort of genres do you most often read? If left on a desert island (yes, I did just add a desert island question), what are some reads you just couldn’t live without?

House.Lannister: I try to mix it up a pretty good bit. Fiction tends more toward the sci-fi and fantasy genres with some spy, mystery, and horror mixed in for spice. I also try to have a non-fiction in progress (usually political or science based, but occasionally I’ll pick up a historical account or biography as well) to try and put some perspective on the 20 second sound bites that are thrown at us on a daily basis and passed off as “News”. As an aside, for anyone still in the “reading with kids” stage of life, I highly recommend The Strange Case of Oragami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back… They are just full of win. As far as the desert island question goes, I’m going cheat a little: I’d choose my Kindle with a solar charger, that way I can load it up with Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, and Tolkien. Almost sounds like an awesome vacation… Don’t suppose I’d have access to the 3G network would I??

GS: Prepare yourself. The following question is going to be a tough one. What is your drink of choice?

House.Lannister: Sweet Iced Tea! But, I assume that’s not what you’re really asking; if I’m aiming for something a little stronger I’ll usually go with a Jack and Diet Coke.

Thank you, House.Lannister, for being a member of the Gunslingers and taking the time to answer our interview. To our readers, thank you for your attention and game on!

If you have signed up to Gunslinger Gaming in the last eight months, you very well may have come in contact with Leiflvr. He joined the fun back on Friday, August 19th, 2011 and has been among the first people to greet new members in the Introductions section of the GS Forums ever since. Who is the man behind these friendly greetings? It’s time to find out because Leiflvr is the subject of this month’s interview!

GS: How did you find the Gunslingers, and was it for any particular game in mind? Do you remember who was the first GSer with whom you got into game?

Leiflvr: I found GS like most other members here. I just got sick of listening to kids who really shouldn’t be playing this game (COD) making the game a chore rather than a game. I read the landing page and thought oh well that’s great and left. Came back a few days later and signed up. It seems I’ve been here forever but really it’s only been 8 months.

As for GSer’s who I gamed with first… I believe it was bullet_stopper, Carbon Bigfoot, tick221, rigormortis and Margarita. When I first joined I didn’t have a headset so the only way I could communicate in lobby was through the clan tag in Black Ops. There are a lot of things you can write with only 4 letters.

GS: Many of our members may have first come in contact with you via the Introductions section of the Gunslingers Forum. There, you are always lending a kind message for new members. What personally drives you to be so proactive in greeting folks? Do you believe your friendliness here reflects how you engage people offline as well?

Leiflvr: I never really thought about it but I think Slammer47 was a huge influence on me initially. He was (is) a great cheerleader for GS and it instilled a feeling of paying it forward. The first impression is always the most important so I don’t want people, who may be a bit unsure, to miss out on how great the GS community is. As for how I relate to people offline….I’m a bit shy actually so I’m probably outgoing more-so online than in RL where I’m a bit more reserved until I get to know people.

GS: When you were first approached with the interview, you seemed surprised because you feel you don’t have a lot of gaming history. That begs the question, what was the game that got you playing video games in the first place?

Leiflvr: My wife (girlfriend at the time) went away for a week or so to some work conference so I decided to rent a PS2 and grabbed GTAIII. I was blown away. Before that the last game I’d played was Super Mario on NES. In terms of online it was only when Black Ops came out that another GSer (panicpuppy) convinced me to pick up a copy. MW2 was really my first FPS and I did play that online too but Black Ops was the first one that consumed my time.

GS: We know Leiflvr, the friendly forum poster. We know Leiflvr, the gamer. But not much else. What other interests or hobbies do you have, and, as people tend to ask at every get-together, ‘Whadda you do for livin’?”

Leiflvr: Being Canadian I’m an avid hockey fan which I have to be as it’s a mandatory part of our citizenship requirements. Other than that I’m just really into my kids and family. As for what I do for a living I’m a test analyst for a brokerage company testing online trading systems….zzzzzZZZZ….HUH? Sorry dozed off there for a sec.

GS: Not to make you paranoid, but what part of Canada do you reside in? What is a local treasure you could tell us about that has remained overlooked from the more commercial travel guides?

Leiflvr: I’m live in an eastern suburb of Toronto, we even have a Nuclear plant so I guess I’m in the Springfield of Ontario…anyway in terms of local treasures there are a lot. I think our China Town is the 2nd biggest in North America behind San Fran. We have an awesome distillery district that has a lot of art shops, cafes, and pubs. We also have a lot of parks and trails in the city and all over the province.

GS: You are what many of our members can relate to being. A parent. Can you relate a funny or surreal moment in your parenthood experience that best illustrates what the Leiflvr household is like?

Leiflvr: Actually the first one comes to mind is the other day I was having a tickle wrestle with the kids and my son turned the tables on me and had me pinned down tickling my neck. I eventually had to say “mercy” and he stands up and says “ A 40 yr old man with a tickle spot…..who knew?” Coming from a 7 yr old THAT is funny. I think laughter is a big thing in our house and my kids both have a great sense of humour. I think it makes for better adjusted kids the more they laugh.

GS: As a kid, what was the most trouble you got yourself into? Confess!

Leiflvr: I’m an angel and I have the sealed court documents to prove it!

GS: What is your all time favorite movie? Now, what is the movie that actually gets put into the player the most often?

Leiflvr: Man I was a big movie watcher as a kid and there are so many. Raider’s of the Lost Ark is the one I paid to see the most as a kid. As an adult my favourite is Usual Suspects which I will watch anytime it’s on. As for what gets put in the player most often it depends which kid is choosing so either Dora for my daughter or Bakugans for my son…..Does anyone else think Dora’s parents should be charged with neglect? They let her walk around a rain forest by herself and she’s always asking ME for help!! WTH is up with that?

GS: We all know a famous quote. What is one that most often comes to your mind as you work your way through life? Why does that particular quote mean something to you?

Leiflvr: Jeez who are you Larry King?…..quote…hmm. Twain was always good for a quote so the one I always liked from him was “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” I think this quote just reminds me to think before I speak which has saved my butt more times than I can say.

GS: And the most thought provoking question of all, what is your favorite drink?

Leiflvr: Actually I’m not that big of a drinker anymore but I like Heineken for my beer and any drink that has vodka in it for my booze.

Thank you, Leiflvr, for taking the time to sit down and answering our questions and, more importantly, for doing your part in placing such a friendly first impression on new members. Thank you all for reading the interview!

2011 proved to be another amazing year for the Gunslingers. We had over a thousand new members walk through our virtual doors last year, each with their own preferences and inputs of what makes a great game. Those opinions certainly got reflected in the voting booth for the 2011 Gunslinger Games Awards.

Below are the results of the voting that took place in various categories during the entire month of January, 2012. Many of the categories were also present in the previous two annual Awards, but there is a big difference worth noting. The console specific awards this year featured only games exclusive to each console rather than allowing multi-platform titles as voting options. This change is based on feedback given after the 2010 edition.

Thank you all for voting and taking part in the Gunslinger experience!

Here are the results for the 2011 Gunslinger Games Awards!

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Best Nintendo Wii Game of 2011: LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD
Runner Up: Conduit 2
Last Year’s Winner: GoldenEye 007
Notes: 2011 didn’t feature many new titles for the Wii; Skyward Sword’s win is no surprise. Even with more competition, Skyward surely would have won. Many reviewers, amateur and professional alike, hailed this newest chapter of Link’s story as the best to date. Considering Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was deemed revolutionary during its time, that is saying a lot.

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Best Playstation 3 Game of 2011: KILLZONE 3
Runner Up: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Last Year’s Winner: Call of Duty: Black Ops
Notes: KillZone 3 has proved to be a juggernaut. While its comrades of 2011 first quarter releases (think Homefront) have come and gone, not only has KillZone 3 remained as a featured clan front for the Gunslingers, but it knocked out Sony’s flagship franchise, Uncharted 3, by a good margin when it came to GS member voting. To this day, GS still features weekly events, an active Frosty Pints, and regularly scheduled members-only events for KillZone 3 thanks to the hard work of Scars311 and proactive members such as Dunkaroo69.

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Best Xbox360 Game of 2011: GEARS OF WAR 3
Runner Up: Forza 4 and Kinect Sports: Season Two (tie)
Last Year’s Winner: Call of Duty: Black Ops
Notes: It only makes sense that a Microsoft Studios title would win the Xbox360 category, right? Besides, it didn’t have a whole lot of competition in its general genre due to the company’s focus on launching the Kinect. Gears of War 3 still has its own section and recruiting front at the Gunslingers, and it retains the milestone of being the first exclusive Xbox360 title to have a Gunslingers clan. 2012 promises to have Mass Effect 3, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, and Halo 4 all Kinect compatible. Next year’s edition of the awards may prove to be quite a show down!

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Best PC Game of 2011: STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC
Runner Up: Minecraft
Last Year’s Winner: Call of Duty: Black Ops and Starcraft II (tie)
Notes: How does a person make the formula of World of Warcraft even more addicting? Why, by applying it to the Star Wars universe, of course! Players can play for any faction of the Star Wars realm as they wish and write new lore for the franchise in the process. Be forewarned: George Lucas may very well digitally add more imperial walkers in whatever you create at a later date.

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Best Nintendo 3DS Game of 2011: MARIO KART 7
Runner Up: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Last Year’s Winner (DSi): Dragon Quest IX
Notes: The Mario Kart franchise makes its triumphant return to the Gunslingers with Mario Kart 7, and the overwhelming amount of votes for the title over other 3DS choices reflect that. In fact, Mario Kart 7 is the only game in this year’s Games Awards to win two separate categories. If that milestone wasn’t enough, Mario Kart 7 is the first handheld title to earn its own Gunslingers clan front, complete with its own forum and chat section. Shell slinging on the handheld now with hang-gliders, underwater vehicles and custom community settings added some new flavor to the latest installment. Beware of the Shellslingers!

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Best Role Playing Game of 2011: ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM
Runner Up: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Last Year’s Winner: Dragon Quest IX and Mass Effect 2 (Tie)
Notes: Kiss your social life good bye. With a promised 300+ hours of original gameplay, Skyrim is Nirvana in overdrive for role playing fans. The game proved to be one of the top selling games during the Christmas season and has won the industry’s Best Game of the Year award. By the way, it is pronounced Sky-Rim.

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Best Shooter of 2011: BATTLEFIELD 3
Runner Up: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Last Year’s Winner: Call of Duty: Black Ops
Notes: Drive a tank. Fly (or crash) a helicopter. Kick up sand in a buggy. There are so many options as to what a player can do in Battlefield 3, that a person doesn’t need to contend themselves with only running and gunning. Battlefield 3 proved to be very popular with Gunslingers. In fact, it now holds the record for the amount of GS members on the game’s Masterlists. Presently, the number of GS members listed on the BF3 Masterlists hover a little over five hundred. Now, that’s an army! Granted, a drunk army, but still…

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Best Racing Game of 2011: MARIO KART 7
Runner Up: Forza 4
Last Year’s Winner: Gran Turismo 5
Notes: It was a battle between pure arcade candy and simulation racing. The Gunslingers sure have a sweet tooth! Thanks to Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS, we got to see some GSers return to active status and host nightly races with each other. May the cries, “Blue Shell Coming!” never die.

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Best Platform Game of 2011: SUPER MARIO 3D LAND
Runner Up: Sonic Generations
Last Year’s Winner: Super Mario Galaxy
Notes: Mario has been the reigning king of platform games for decades. Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS shows that he isn’t about to hand over his crown any time soon. Wielding the perfect combination of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario 64, and Nintendo 3DS graphics, Mario’s newest adventure lives up to the franchise’s own incredible standard. That’s not too shabby for an unemployed plumber.

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Best Action/Adventure Game of 2011: BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
Runner Up: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Last Year’s Winner: Red Dead Redemption
Notes: This category was a tightly fought one. Go figure that a crime fighting super hero would win. Batman: Arkham City barely nudged out both Uncharted 3 and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the title. The way that Arkham City expands on all the gameplay and the environmental arena of said gameplay has made it an instant classic. Having Mark Hammell play the Joker sure didn’t hurt.

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Best Puzzle Game of 2011: PORTAL 2
Runner Up: Catherine
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: The puzzle game category is a new addition to the Gunslinger Games Awards, and Portal 2 almost single-handedly created the need for it. The game’s wit, attention to detail and dialog, along with a rich variety of problem solving throughout the course of the story should get everyone’s attention. If the single player action ever gets boring, the game practically begs to be played with a friend in co-op mode. Besides, you can always fling the robot he/she is playing as into a wall “accidentally” to subtly remind the person that he/she still owes you money.

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Best Sports Game of 2011: FIFA 12
Runner Up: NHL 12
Last Year’s Winner: Madden NFL 2011
Notes: FIFA and NHL faced off and battled for the award down to the final moments of the polls being open, and FIFA won by a single vote. That is all-too-fitting of a win considering FIFA lost top billing in this category last year by a single vote. FIFA 12 has been marked as the best release in the franchise’s history, readdressing how it approaches the defense mechanics in the process. All the hard work paid off. In case any GSers are reading this who may be interested in getting either FIFA or NHL, there are active Gunslinger teams in both games!

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Best Fighting Game of 2011: MORTAL KOMBAT
Runner Up: Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: There weren’t enough fighting games to warrant its own category the previous year, but 2011 changed that. Mortal Kombat easily won in the GS polls over its competition thanks to the developers’ interest in bringing the franchise back to its over-the-top mature roots. No longer was gritty Mortal Kombat fighters engaging in fisticuffs with Superman. It’s spine ripping out time! Banned in Australia.

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Again, thank you all for taking the time in the beginning of 2012 to cast your votes on your favorite games. Likewise, thank you for taking the time to read about the results. 2011 was an amazing year for the Gunslingers because of you, and I look forward in seeing what this coming year of releases brings us!

Some of you may know her as Dria from the Gunslinger Forums, but many of you undoubtedly have chatted with her under the name TheCakeisaLIE. The Gunslingers have had the fortune to count her as a member for some time now, and it is high time we get to know her better! With that in mind, enjoy the following interview that will shed some light as to why her chat handle is quite apt.

GS: You joined the Gunslingers back in May, 2011. How exactly did you happen upon us, and was there a particular game that brought you here?

Dria: Not any particular game really. I joined after my boyfriend (Sosyc) told me about the site and I had recently given up my MMO at the time and was looking for something to give me the social aspect that I enjoy. After reading over the forums and the diversity of games and systems and then after spending time in the chat room I was hooked!

GS: Obviously, you like gaming, but what people may not know is that you have formal training in the culinary arts. How long have you been doing that, and when did you first realize decorating cakes is something that interested you?

Dria: I went to culinary school several years back. My family spends a lot of time watching food network, which had gotten my attention from the various cake challenges. I had been working at a toy store before that and felt I wanted to get out of retail. I always loved desserts and the artist aspect of cake decorating was super fun, challenging and something I felt I could do and enjoy.

GS: Based on the pictures, you have created some really complex cakes. Can you tell us how the process of molding objects out of sugar works?

Dria: Well for things like wedding or tiered cakes its always best for me to start out with a sketch of my idea based on either a theme or color scheme. Then I can make a list of what is needed for that cake in decorative aspects, e.i. Flowers, bows, bubbles, swags, or things of that nature. Sometimes it takes a couple days to make those before you even bake the cake. If its a fondant cake you can color the fondant yourself by kneading a gel coloring into white fondant, or you can buy pre-colored, or you can choose to airbrush (I prefer self coloring) after all that its just a matter of assembly.

GS: What was the most elaborate or hardest piece you have made, and how long did it take?

Dria: Most elaborate piece would be the three and a half foot sugar sculpture I did with dolphins,

An eleborate cake created completely by Dria

bubbles, kelp and shells. It took around three days. Sugar can be temperamental depending on humidity and how heavy handed you are. It requires a very delicate touch and good eye for assembly keeping in mind balance issues for when the piece is moved. I have a bad habit of wiggling my piece after attaching a few things to make sure things aren’t going to fall off. On the flip side, that piece didn’t fall apart until three and a half years later.

GS: According to your GS profile, reading is listed as one of your other interests. What genre do you most often read? Do you have any favorite authors?

Dria: Fantasy and Science Fiction are my go-to genre’s. Though I enjoy historical fiction, biographies, and I did go through a kick for a year or so that I read a lot of westerns. My favorite author at the moment…. a three way tie. Lois Mcmaster Bujold, Mercedes Lackey, and Terry Pratchett.

GS: In addition to being a culinary artist, you also dabble in drawing. Has that been a life-long interest, or is that something you have recently picked up?

Dria: Life long interest! Always thought when I was a kid that I wanted to be an illustrator for novels. Did competitions when I was in high school and ended up with a sculpture piece in Athens for a few months because of it. Don’t draw or paint so much now. I’m horribly out of practice.

GS: Being from Georgia, what are some favorite places that you could recommend to the tourists among us?

Dria: Technically I’m not really from Georgia. I grew up in Germany on a military base.Though I think that it gives me a better look at Georgia by not being from here. From what I have discovered of Georgia, Jekyll Island was a lot of fun to visit, River Walk in Savannah is beautiful plus the city of Savannah itself is interesting to walk through. The apple houses of north Georgia was very neat to visit with lots of fresh apple cider. North Georgia also has the Appalachian mountains that are scenic and with trout streams! Atlanta has an amazing symphony plus the High Museum of Art. Not to mention all the amazing restaurants with a very diverse culture.

GS: Your significant other, Sosyc, and you both enjoy gaming. How is it like being a gaming couple? Who gets dibs on the television?

Dria: We share a lot of the same interests so it works out very nicely. We enjoy the same shows and games for the most part. I like watching him play games as well as playing myself. I love being a gaming couple! He does tease me about my facebook app games, which they are silly but I still enjoy. I used to play Neopets too (though I don’t admit to it very often) There are alot of co-op games that we have such Borderlands, Dirt3, Portal 2, and Dungeon Defenders. And we have a lot of characters we play seperately on Skyrim, Fallout, 3d Dot Game Hero and Brink.

GS: Do you have any pets? If so, can you tell us something about them?

Dria: I have one pet, a ten pound white peke-a-poo named Murphy. He’s eleven years old now but still plays like a puppy. He’s a strange little dog who has a lot of cat like tendencies.

GS: And, most importantly, what is your favorite drink?

Dria: Vanilla Coke most assuredly!

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, and thank everyone for reading it. Most importantly, thank you for being a Gunslinger, Dria!

We are kicking off the New Year by bringing back the popular Gunslinger feature, Monthly Member Spotlight! Every month, we will continue to select a Gunslinger member and have and share a virtual cup of coffee with him/her to find out more about them. Our group is getting bigger by the day (quite literally), so this feature will help get to know each other better.

The January 2012 Member Spotlight features none other than MikeyFromSantee! Here is how our interview went:

GS:  Mikey, you have been a member of GS since August 2008. In fact, you signed up with us back before GunslingerGaming.com was a registered domain and we all met up on a freewebs version of the site. How the heck did you ever happen to join the Gunslingers?

MikeyFromSantee:  As a fan of the Mario Kart series since the original back on the SNES, I really looked forward to playing Mario Kart Wii with my friends, both past and present. But the reality was that very few of my friends had a Wii or MKW, and the ones that did didn’t share the excitement of playing it often like I wanted to. So I searched for a group that was as close to what I was used to in the arcade… people with similar interests 18+ years old that enjoy Mario Kart Wii. And, despite my competitive nature, I needed something that wasn’t going to commit me to a constant gaming schedule, because hello, I’m a busy adult nowadays! So I searched around on MarioKartWii.com and found the Gunslingers clan.

GS:  You are known for your impressive gaming skills in the Mario Kart franchise. What appeals most to you of the franchise?

MikeyFromSantee:  The fact that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy playing Mario Kart together. Even people who aren’t skilled at all still have a legitimate chance of winning any given race, and yet if you are skilled, overall you will still win more races and be recognized as such. Somehow that just seems magical to me that a game can be fun for everyone like that.

GS:  Racing is not your only impressive gaming skill. Based on your response to the “Your Crowning Achievement as a Gamer!” thread, you are the first American to ever score a perfect AAA on a Paranoia on in the Dance Dance Revolution arcade. Could you tell us more about your accomplishments in the game and how exactly it came about that you got so darn good?

MikeyFromSantee:  I learned how to play DDR at a local nickel arcade. At first, I was really shy, but when I noticed that my marching band skills from high school automatically made me better at it than everyone else at the arcade and I was losing weight fast on it, I started playing it religiously. When DDR Max 2 came out, which was technically supposed to be only in Japan, several arcades in San Diego got it immediately, one of which was the nickel arcade. And when I found out there was an official Internet Ranking… well I like dominating the local arcades’ scoreboards, that one’s just on a grander scale, right? Long story short, I ended up getting 3rd place overall total ranking and 2nd place overall average ranking on double mode. On a site that is completely in Japanese, comprised of Japan’s best players. From there, I just got better and better.

GS:  Mario Kart and Dance Dance Revolution is an unlikely combination. Are there any other games that would surprise us that you are or have been absorbed in?

MikeyFromSantee:  Well, I was into laser tag for a long time as we have 3 good ones in San Diego County. I became really good at it, too. My member name was “MegaMan.EXE”, after the NetNavi character in the Megaman Battle Network series on GBA and DS. But what might be more surprising is despite that, I’m NOT into FPS games at all. It’s not really that they aren’t fun games and all, but for me they aren’t fun because I get motion sick very easily and very quickly playing them, and because of that I can’t even play long enough to get used to the controls, let alone actually play competently… or play at all.

GS:  What was the very first game you ever owned?

MikeyFromSantee:  The very first game I owned? Well, when I got my first system, it was the Atari 2600, and with it I got Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Missile Command, Combat and Wizards of Wor. Loved every one of them.

GS:  So, we know MikeyFromSantee the gamer, but not much else. What other interests do you have a passion for in life?

MikeyFromSantee:  I love technology and playing music. And nowadays I never have the money for the former or the time for the latter. I currently work 2 jobs and am going to school to earn my Cisco certification and hope to score a job in the area of Networking so I can afford said technology and have time for rockin’ out on the alto sax on the side.

GS:  The origin of the username, “MikeyFromSantee” is pretty straight forward. Have you lived any place other than Santee, California? Ideally, where would you like to travel later in life?

MikeyFromSantee:  I’ve lived in my old house in Santee since I was 6 years old, but about 6 months ago I moved to an apartment in neighboring El Cajon. “MikeyFromElCajon” doesn’t really have that same ring to it though, so I’ll keep “MikeyFromSantee”, thanks.

I haven’t traveled much my entire life. One of my life goals is to visit all 50 states. They say that there’s so much to do in San Diego and that’s true, but there’s so much more everywhere else, too!

GS:  What was the last film you watched in a theater?

MikeyFromSantee:  Umm… The Muppets.   The new one. The one that has a cameo from Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. It’s good, go see it.

GS:  Not to get too deep (but we will), what is important in life?

MikeyFromSantee:  Pursuing your goals and dreams. I meet so many people that so want this and only dream of having that but don’t take that first step and act. Your goals and dreams may seem unreachable but you won’t really know unless you give it your best! And you know what they say… It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Or something like that. Just do it.

GS:  What is your favorite drink?

MikeyFromSantee:  I don’t drink alcohol. I’d have to say Coke Zero. I blame it on Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. O_O’

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us, and, readers, thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about your fellow Gunslingers.  See you all in February!

Some of you have gamed along side with MargaritaMama on the PC. Others of you may have run and gunned with her on the Playstation 3. But did any of you know that she is also a classically trained violinist? Well, as May’s edition of the GS Member Spotlight, we all have a chance to get to know more about MargaritaMama in the following interview!

GS: You joined back on February 2nd of this year. How did you come across Gunslinger Gaming?

MargaritaMama: After getting tired of listening to the comments of children on Black ops I set out on a search to find a clan or group to game with. I originally searched for an all girls clan but the ones I found were too strict about K/D and # of hours played each week. I stumbled upon Gunslingers when I switched my search to adult clan. The recruiting thread on the COD forum had me sold with the mention of a Frosty pints night

GS: You play games on both the PC and on the console. For you, which came first, and which do you prefer?

MargaritaMama: I grew up with console and PC games, I can remember our old Atari and then the “lisa” computer. I think the first PC game I played was the first Might and Magic way back when. I used to play mostly single player/ strategy games on the PC and just recently started playing the FPS games on PS3 mostly offline with my husband. Black Ops was the first game I played multiplayer online with. While I really do prefer the PS3 console to the computer (probably because I get a bigger TV and comfier place to sit with the PS3) when the PSN was down I dove into L4D2 and BFBC2 on the PC and now I think I’m hooked on those as well.

GS: Your user profile states you are a classical violinist. How long have you been playing and what can you tell us about the talent that the rest of us may not know?

MargaritaMama: I started suzuki violin lessons at 3yrs old, then added the viola around 8yrs, (and then went on to get a viola performance degree) so it’s been a part of me and my life for as long as I can remember. It’s kinda funny when I compare the feeling I get when I play in a string quartet and when I game with a group of GSers. It’s actually a similar high, creating/accomplishing something temporary with a group of people. Each of us works together and has our part to play to win the game or make the music. I always leave rehearsal or a gaming session on a happy high

GS: Speaking of you musical talent, you are part of “String for Things.” What is it exactly and how are you involved?

MargaritaMama: This is my local string quartet’s website. We just gig around the area doing mostly weddings and then we try to give a charity concert with some real meaty music about once a year.

GS: You have created a topic in the Music section of the GS Forums asking what are everyone’s 10 ten most played tracks on their MP3 players. What sort of MP3 player do you personally have and what tracks do you find inspire you the most in your own creativity?

MargaritaMama: I have an IPOD touch (for running) but I generally just listen to MP3′s through my home computer (it’s hooked up to the nice speakers for our living room). Being a generally happy go lucky person I tend to gravitate toward happy peppy music, that I can dance with my girls to or clean the house to. I’m always on the lookout for new music so I made the thread to see if I could find some good stuff from you all.

GS: On the surface, it would seem that video gaming world and the classical musical world may not cross paths often. Do you find that so socially speaking? What games do you appreciate that exhibit some truly amazing soundtracks?

MargaritaMama: In college I had a little group of 4 musicians who would get together and game a bit. The more I ask people about music and gaming the more people I find are into them both! I generally game with the sound down low so I can keep and ear on my kids in the other room and not have the sounds picked up through the mic. When I watched my husband play Dead Space, it wasn’t really a soundtrack, but the game sounds would freak me out and make me jump!

GS: What got you into gaming? How long have you been gaming?

MargaritaMama: I always gamed a little here and there but ever since joining GS it’s become a real obsession for me.. Ooops.

GS: Have you lived in Florida your whole life? What places/sights do you recommend travelers to visit that may be often overlooked by tour guides of the state?

MargaritaMama: Yup, I was born and raised here, and just moved about the state, never outside of it. Florida has great beaches but the springs are what’s really beautiful around my area. My favorite springs in the area is Ichnetucknee Springs, crystal clear water, wildlife shade and tubing!

GS: Do you find that being a gaming mother make you the coolest mother on the block?

MargaritaMama: I’m either the coolest or the strangest, lol. I know gaming has made me the coolest aunt to my nephews though.

GS: Perhaps this is a bit too on the nose, but, MargaritaMama, what is your favorite drink?

MargaritaMama: Water! Of course it’s a margarita , silly!

Thank you for taking the time to answer the interview, and thank you for being a Gunslinger!

It is only fitting that our dear friend, Fist_of_Metal, is April’s GS Member Spotlight. We all got the opportunity to celebrate another birthday with him, seeing as he has been a member since August 18th, 2009. In fact, Fist_of_Metal first represented himself on a Gunslinger Master List with the Nintendo Wii’s Conduit, and, in April 2011, its sequel, Conduit 2, became the newest addition to the roster of featured games at Gunslinger Gaming. Spanning between those two games, Fist_of_Metal has been slinging the guns in various games, on various consoles with the rest of us. GS took a moment to sit down and get to know our friend with the following interview:

GS: You joined the Gunslingers back in August 2009. How did you first hear of the clan, and what games are you playing now days?

Fist_of_Metal: I registered in a forum at http://www.nintendowiipals.com, looking for gaming buddies on The Conduit. It all seemed a little…kiddish for me. I remember seeing the post about Gunslingergaming and thinking that is kind of a lame name. Then I read on to find out it was an adult only clan. So I checked it out and it was exactly what I wanted and more than expected. Well, I’m going to pick up my copy of Conduit 2, so that’s what I’m playing these days.

GS: While it is a given that you like gaming, you are also an anime fan. What are some of your all time favorite anime series/movies, and what was the series that first got you interested in anime?

Fist_of_Metal: My all time favorite series has to be Yu-Yu Hakusho, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was also very good. The first anime I watched was Dragon Ball Z, the original series, English subbed.

GS: You have been interested in Mario Kart Wii, MAG, and Call of Duty among others, which demonstrates a keen interest in multiple gaming genres. With that in mind, what was the very first game you ever owned, and in what ways do you think any childhood gaming has influenced your tastes today?

Fist_of_Metal: Well, the first game I owned was Mario Kart 64. I remember using that big steering wheel to play Mario Kart, it was awesome. I didn’t own but played my big brothers Genesis/Nintendo/SNES. I played most of the games he didn’t like Shining Force 2 and Secret of Evermore, two Role Playing Games that got me hooked on the genre.

GS: Being a zombie fan, what zombie horror films do you find as the best examples of that sub-genre of cinema?

Fist_of_Metal: Land of the Dead

GS: As stated above, we know you are a fan of gaming, zombie horror, and anime. What is another interest or hobby do you have that would surprise us?

Fist_of_Metal: I recently took a liking to jogging, after I quit smoking cigarettes I decided to keep at it by working my lungs more. It helps, I don’t crave anymore. Also, in High School I discovered I was a decent drawer, particularly portraits. I learned to do portraits using nothing but inkpens, turned out to be really fun.

GS: If you could bring one video game franchise back from the dead, which one would it be and why?

Fist_of_Metal: My serious answer would have to be Battletoads. Final Fantasy could use a resurrection. Every since Final Fantasy hit PS2 it just changed for the worse.

GS: Did you grow up in Ohio? If so, what’s a favorite memory of yours from your time in Ohio could you relate to the rest of us?

Fist_of_Metal: I did grow up in Ohio. My favorite memories are of times spent at Lake Erie, it made it seem like Ohio doesn’t suck so much.

GS: You just had a birthday this April. How did you spend it?

Fist_of_Metal: Well, I worked on my birthday, had a good Steak dinner. I could have taken work off for my birthday but I felt the day off would be better used for Conduit 2. I was right.

GS: What is the story behind the member name, “Fist_of_Metal”?

Fist_of_Metal: No story to be honest. Just a whim, I was eager to join and came up with something quick. That’s OK though, because since my time at GS, Fist_of_Metal has some history now.

GS: What is your favorite drink?

Fist_of_Metal: Jack and Coke or Chocolate Milk

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, and thank you for being a Gunslinger!

March 2011 marks Bolink654′s one year anniversary as a Gunslinger member. Bolink654 is a bit of a husband and wife—Jeff and Giggles—duo membership, and we had the fortune to sit down and ask “the better half” her thoughts on gaming, couples who game together, and other questions to get to know someone we have had a great time gaming with this last year.

GS: You signed up back in March 2nd, 2010. What made you join the Gunslingers back then, and what is keeping you busy around here now days?

Bolink654: Well, my husband and I bought the game [Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition] a few months before we joined and we just loved playing the game, but realized there were a lot of clans we were going against. That’s when we decided to look into it and see if we would be interested in it, and that’s when we found GS. Ever since we joined the clan, we always have a group of (adult) members to play with and enjoy the game with. And I would also like to point out that the reason I have a win/lose ratio of 3.02 is because of my fellow GS. If it wasn’t for them I would never have even got over 1. What keeps me busy is the tourneys, forums, and of course the game [Call of Duty: Black Ops].

GS: In the forums, you go by the name “bolink654.” In chat, it’s “TheHeims.” Many people, however, have grown fond of referring to you as “Giggles.” How did that start?

Bolink654: The “bolink654″ is just something Jeff has always put on the internet as the user name. Well, with the “TheHeims,” it’s because my husband and I both play, but as a lot of you know, Jeff won’t talk on Skype, so I was the one on there. And when we first started using Skype, I was so shy I didn’t want to talk to them, so every time something was said or done funny, I would always giggle. So, every since then I was called “Giggles.”

GS: You and your husband game together quite often. How does gaming online as a couple affect the experience?

Bolink654: Well, honestly, when we play together, we look out for each other more in the game than we would for someone else. But then again, if we are on opposite teams, we try to kill each other more. The game is great, but when we play together it actually makes the game a little better.

GS: Recently, you purchased a second Nintendo Wii system. What were your motivations for doing so, and do you recommend it for other Nintendo Wii playing couples?

Bolink654: We did it because we both love playing the game, but hated taking turns, and we figured if we got a second Wii, not only could we play at the same time, but, if no one was on, we would still have each other to game with. And for the couples, I very much recommend it. Like I said before, it makes the experience of the game better.

GS: Being a female player in a franchise, such as Call of Duty, with an obvious male fan-base must bring about some amusing moments. Can you relate one?

Bolink654: Well, the other day, we were going against another clan, which were all males. We whooped them pretty good, score limiting the game. And like most other games that happen like that, they start having something to say, so I will respond to them, and when they realize I’m a girl, they either start calling me a hacker or just won’t say anything at all.

GS: We all know you like to game, but what other passions do you have? Hobbies? Favorite movies?

Bolink654: When I’m not playing Call of Duty, I am usually playing in Photoshop. I love to work with pictures. I’ve always been the type to love art and graphics. But during the summer and fall, you will more than likely find me in the woods or out on the lake.

GS: What was the very first video game you remember playing? Have you always been into video games?

Bolink654: Yes, ever since I was old enough I have been playing all kinds of video games. The very first one I remember is Mario on the NES.

GS: If there could be one place in the world you could go to vacation, where would it be and why?

Bolink654: Even though I have been there more than one time, I would still go to Eureka Springs, AR. Its just so beautiful there, more than words can describe, and so much to do. The people that live there are some of the nicest people I have ever met. And the town itself has so much history, it would take you forever to learn it. My favorite part of the whole place is the Crescent Hotel that looks over the whole town. In that place alone, the history is amazing.

GS: You are a big fan of the zombie mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops. What is the horror film that, hands down, scares the crap out of you?

Bolink654: Hands down scariest movie ever is……The Strangers!!! I will NOT ever watch that movie again. I was on my seat the whole time during the movie, and jumping at every little sound! I know it’s not zombies-attacking-people kind of movie, but you try watching it on a stormy night, with all the light out, and by yourself!

GS: What is your favorite drink?

Bolink654: My favorite drink is a frozen strawberry daiquiri. Regular drink would be a Cherry Dr. Pepper.

Thank you for taking the time to answer a few of our questions, and we all look forward to seeing you and your husband on the virtual battlefields!

2010 marked not only a great year for gamers with all sorts of tastes in genres and gameplay, but it was also an amazing year for Gunslinger Gaming. Never before had so many fellow adult gamers have had the opportunity to vote in video game orientated polls exclusively for us older gamers. How did we cast our votes? Which games proved to be our favorites?

Here are the results for 2010 GS Game Awards!

Best Nintendo Wii Game of 2010: GOLDENEYE 007
Runner Up: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Last Year’s Winner: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex
Notes: One can never underestimate the power of nostalgia for Nintendo Wii owners. This Nintendo exclusive title tapped into the fond memories of the gamers who thoroughly cut their teeth on the first person shooter genre with the Nintendo 64 original of GoldenEye. As probably the best movie adaption video game title to ever be released, the remake published by Activision did not disappoint. As a group for parent and adult gamers, it is no surprise that the Gunslingers voted nostalgic title as their favorite Nintendo Wii title of 2010.

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Best Playstation 3 Game of 2010: CALL OF DUTY:

BLACK OPS
Runner Up: Heavy Rain
Last Year’s Winner: Uncharted 2
Notes: The best selling video game of all time, Black Ops, proved to also be one of the most popular titles featured at Gunslinger Gaming. Not only that, this mega blockbuster of a title also helped usher in the fastest growth in membership at GS in its history. At the time of the 2010 Awards results being finalized, the Playstation 3 division of our Black Ops community had over 230 Gunslingers registered on our contact Master List for the game.

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Best Xbox360 Game of 2010: CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS
Runner Up: Mass Effect 2
Last Year’s Winner: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Notes: It only seems right that our Xbox360 community voted Black Ops as the best game of 2010. The game was certainly built from the ground up with Microsoft in mind. Thanks to this historic video game title, the Gunslingers has been enjoying the largest number of Xbox memberships ever. With a Xbox360 Black Ops Master List containing over 200 registered GS members, Xbox360 Gunslingers are here to stay.

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Best PC Game of 2010: CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS & STARCRAFT II
Runner Up: N/A in a tie.

Last Year’s Winner: Plants vs. Zombies & Sims 3
Notes: The Gunslinger PC community stands divided once again in regards to their favorite PC game. Like last year, this year ended in a tie. Black Ops entertained the running and gunning souls while Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty engrossed the science fiction fans in intergalactic war strategy. Now, if Call of Duty would only get on top of making that space shooter, our PC community will be unified in fandom.

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Best Nintendo DS Game of 2010: DRAGON QUEST IX: SENTINELS OF THE STARRY SKIES
Runner Up: Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver
Last Year’s Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Notes: The Dragon Quest franchise, while amazingly popular in Japan, has always struggled in sales when it came to sales in the Western hemisphere. That has all changed with the Dragon Quest IX, and Gunslinger members reflected that boost in popularity. With virtually unlimited replay value and customization, Dragon Quest IX launched the franchise in new territory yet stayed firmly rooted in the formula of previous titles it builds itself upon.

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Best Sony PSP Game of 2010: KINGDOM HEARTS:

BIRTH BY SLEEP
Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Last Year’s Winner: Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier
Notes: If the PSP and the DS winners say anything about the Gunslingers taste, it is that we love our role playing games by Square Enix when it comes to handheld devices. The Kingdom Hearts franchise, which bizarrely yet successfully combines the worlds of Disney and Final Fantasty, has earned itself a rather large cult following. Now, if only Square Enix would put out that Playstation 3 Kingdom Hearts title…

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Best Role Playing Game of 2010: DRAGON QUEST IX & MASS EFFECT 2
Runner UP: N/A in a tie
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: One would think that there would never be a scenario in which the Nintendo DS and the Xbox360 crowd would butt heads, there is when it comes to the Gunslingers taste in role playing games. Dragon Quest IX appealed to Nintendo DS owners with a taste for Japanese themed role playing games, while Xbox360 owners couldn’t get enough of the somewhat new genre of futuristic action role playing games. Somehow I get the feeling that there will never be a Dragon Effect cross-over.

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Best Shooter of 2010: CALL OF DUTY: BLACK

OPS
Runner Up: GoldenEye 007
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: If there is one category that the Gunslingers are united on, it is the Shooter category. Black Ops easily won this for best shooter thanks to the collective voice of our Xbox360, PC, Nintendo Wii, and Playstation 3 members.

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Best Driving Game of 2010: GRAN TURISMO 5
Runner Up: ModNation Racers and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: What is arguably the best realistic simulation racing franchise ever came back with a vengeance with Gran Turismo 5. On and offline multiplayer racing. A pantheon of real, bad-ass race cars. Attention to physics. What else could you ask for? Well, don’t ask the GS combat racing crowd that question.

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Best Platform Game of 2010: SUPER MARIO GALAXY

2
Runner Up: Donkey Kong Country Returns
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: Nintendo has always been strong when it comes to publishing platform titles, and 2010 was no exception. Both the winner and the runner up were Nintendo Wii exclusive titles that perfectly captured the nostalgic child in all of us. Since Super Mario Galaxy 2 earned a perfect 10 rating from both IGN.com and Gamespot.com (the only game of this video game console generation to do so), it is no surprise that the Gunslingers give it the collective nod.

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Best Action/Adventure Game of 2010: RED DEAD REDEMPTION
Runner Up: Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: Game developer, Rock Star, single highhandedly brought the Old West back into the forefront of the video game experience. The game offers hundreds of hours of offline gameplay even before a person logs online for some shooting action. It also seemed all too right to start featuring Red Dead Redemption on the Gunslingers 3rd anniversary.

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Best Music/Dance Game of 2010: GUITAR HERO:

WARRIORS OF ROCK
Runner Up: DJ Hero 2
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: Big plastic buttons instead guitar strings or not, the Guitar Hero popularized a gamer’s love for interacting with rock music. Perhaps Warriors of Rock winning the category is a fitting tribute to a franchise that has been discontinued by Activision as of February of 2011.

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Best Sports Game of 2010: MADDEN NFL 2011
Runner Up: FIFA Soccer 2011
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: It should be noted that this category was caught in a tie between Madden and Fifa until the very end. By a single vote, Madden NFL 2011 won the category. I blame the vuvuzela.

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Favorite Game Featured at GS: CALL OF DUTY:

BLACK OPS
Runner Up: GoldenEye 007
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: Taking into account of all the games featured at the Gunslingers since its inception, Black Ops took home the title. Perhaps that was predictable. It did usher in the most members for a single title in GS history, and it is the most recent addition to the community. What actually is the surprising story in all this is what game did not get a single vote. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It was the only featured game. Even Jak X which had its online server pulled back in 2008 got a vote. Activision, not Infinity Ward, may have got the last laugh as it stands at the Gunslingers. Even the runner up in this category is an Activision title.

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Best GS Arcade Game of 2010: DONKEY KONG JR
Runner Up: Battleball, Connect Four, Resident Evil, & Word Jam
Last Year’s Winner: N/A
Notes: The Gunslinger Arcade, unlike so many other gaming forums out there, is customizable with the ability to hand pick flash games from an infinite library. Donkey Kong JR, an accurate adaption of the 1980s Game ‘N’ Watch Nintendo handheld title, proved to be king. Balki currently holds the high score, and this administrator is willing to pay someone under the table to knock him off his throne.

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That concludes this year’s Gunslinger Games Awards. Thank you all for voting and for reading the results. May 2011 prove to be another fantastic year!