Hey, what’s up everyone! I’m going to tell you the fascinating story of a kid with absolutely no childhood! Are you ready? No? If you stay and read, I’ll give you a dollar. Still not satisfied huh? Well, I got you to read my whole introductory paragraph so, you probably should just finish the whole thing (HA! I WIN).
Alright, so maybe I did have a childhood and maybe I hail from a family of over 30 gamers. I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY but I’ve moved around the city a bit over the years. I think my first game was either Duck Hunt or Super Mario, but I can’t remember that far to be honest. I was born in the year of 1990 and although I had played several games, I didn’t want a career in gaming until I was 9. I decided that I wanted to be the first major African-American female game designer. My parents then laughed at me and said that it was a “boy thing”.
I’ve had every major gaming console since the Sega Genesis, and I started memorizing every issue of EGM magazine that I could get my hands on. My incredible knowledge of games made me popular with the boys in school, but unfortunately for me, it also got me problems from the female population. Now dubbed a “nerd”, I took pride in my new name and every insult just made me buy more magazines.
I started seeing games as more than just toys when I played Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Although Kojima himself will never say it’s an art form, he sure was good at making me believe otherwise. Snake Eater was the game that inspired me to keep writing and reading books. Soon after, I moved to Street Fighter. Seeing the different art in each version made me interested in the UDON comic books. It was around this time that I decided to be a concept artist.
I looked at even more materials as I entered the High School of Art & Design, found in New York’s borough of Manhattan. I found NewType Magazines, visited Japanese bookstores and started exploring the world of vinyl toys. It got to a point where even sneakers gave me inspiration for my art. Just about everyone continued to doubt me, until I started teaching the freshmen how to make their own mangas. After high school, I explored modding, writing game bibles, worked at Gamestop and now I’m here!
Oh, just so you know, the same people that didn’t support me are the ones asking me for favors and you know what? I laugh, smile, and say “Okay, what do you need help with?” Success is not a destination, but a state of happiness. I live by this quote and as long as I can make a difference and share what I’ve learned, I’m successful. What better place to do that than here at ROG?
I’m the same. So many people unjustly believe games “discourage” creativity and insight when in reality the complete opposite is true!
I remember Mega man, Castlevania, and Mario Bros. encouraged me to write up and draw sketches for my first game idea/story. “Wonder kids” would be laughable today but reflecting back I would have done it again in all its’ glorious cheese!
To me games are the most unselfish form of art because it gives glory to “the team” as opposed to one person. Sure names such as “Kojima” “Shinji Mikami” “Cliffy G” and “Igarashi” pop out but where would they be without their hard working amigos backing them up?