Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Newsletter/20110406/Interview

WikiProject Video Games Newsletter

Volume 4, No. 1 — 1st Quarter, 2011

Changes to Featured and Good content | News items and announcements | Feature | Featured editor

Featured editor: GamerPro64

Interviewed by (David Fuchs)

In this issue, we interview GamerPro64, who's so cool he doesn't have a user page. Gamer has been editing since June 2008, and has amassed almost 5,000 edits. Read on to see how he got started, and how he helps keep the VG project running behind-the-scenes.

1. What drew you to Wikipedia, and what prompted you to begin editing?

   I actually have two stories, both from 2008, that are reasons why I was drawn into Wikipedia. First, my family was watching a movie called But I'm a Cheerleader. My mom wanted to know what is was about, so I went on Google and the WIkipedia page was the first to pop up. When I clicked on the link, I was fascinated by how informative it was. Then, I noticed a little bronze star on the top right corner. I clicked on it and it sent me to the Featured Articles page, which amazed me more about how well Wikipedia functions (mainly due to me never using the website until that moment.)

2. How did you become involved with the VG project?

   My second story was the reason why I joined this project. I was reading an issue of Gameinformer and they mentioned the game Daikatana. Never hearing of the game before and being a fan of John Romero, I checked the Wikipedia page. It wasn't really helpful, but I saw the talk page and noticed the VG project tag on it. I clicked and was impressed with how much activity and discussion there was there. I immediately became a member afterwards.

3. You're often busy updating project templates or working on article review. What drew you to these roles?

   For updating project templates, mainly the /to do, I edited the article without having a summary on why. Soon, User:Gary King sent me a message and said to make article summaries because people watchlist the page. I learned how to make edit summaries after that. Anyway, I took his advice and watchlisted it. Because of that, I noticed how it doesn't get edited that much and gets edited in large chucks (multiple stuff happening without doing ones for individual events). So I updated every time I get a chance, even before its official. For article reviews, the Good Article Sweeps was in high gear when I started out. I saw reviews for articles from the project and thought how well the concept was for statuses given to articles. I did some reviews for and outside the Sweeps and was happy about them. Months later I started doing FARs and haven't stopped reviewing articles.

4. Do you have any advice for those interested in reviewing articles about video games or articles in general?

   Always remember the criterias. Good Article, Featured Article, Featured List etc. They are important to know them.

5. What do you consider your best work?

   I would think ever The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay as it is the first article I've ever made to GA, or List of commercial failures in video gaming as I worked out how WIkipedia editing works and making it the article I worked on and improved the most (before and as it is now).

6. What do you think is the most difficult part of editing on Wikipedia?

   Having the prose up to standards. Usually, I need to ask the League of Copyeditors or User:JimmyBlackwing to copyedit articles I do before putting them on GAN or FAC. Another thing is pictures since I don't know how to upload images.

7. How much of a gamer are you and what type of games do you gravitate toward?

   I consider myself an avid gamer. Usually I play more than being editing or vise versa. The types of games that gravitate me are fighting games mainly due to Capcom fighters (i.e Street Fighter and Vs.) and Super Smash Bros. with the occasional First person shooters.

8. How did you come up with your username?

   Originally on the internet and as a kid, I was known as GameGuy. Years later, I thought it was a little stupid so I changed it just GamerPro. Ironically, I also subscribed to GamePro around that time and noticed the similarities of the two months later. For the 64 part, its in tribute to my favorite video game console, the Nintendo 64.

9. Anything else you want to say?

   I don't really know what else to say besides how great this project is and please nominate more articles for A-class. Also, if anyone needs help with an article or anything, just come ask me as I have nothing better to do.

Also read about our previous Featured editor: JimmyBlackwing