VGGEN Staff

Founder: Jared Black

Bio: Jared has over eleven years experience in video games journalism, performing every function imaginable in the process including writing, coding, handling PR, and editing.
Favorite Games: Final Fantasy III (SNES), Ultima Online, The Elder Scrolls series
Favorite Genres: RPGs, MMO, Stealth Action, Squad-based FPS, Racing
Least Favorite Genre: Fighting
Current System of Choice: PS3
Xbox Live Gamertag: Tritoch

Microsoft Staff: Brittany Vincent

Bio: Brittany Vincent, though you may be more familiar with her pen name, Molotov Cupcake, is a gamer of 18+ years. She routinely eviscerates virtual opponents, tempts fate by approaching wayward Zoloms, hides her valuables from Gimme Cats, and understands that the guitar is in her mind.

Right now, she's playing Final Fantasy XIII, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Deadly Premonition.

Favorite Games: Final Fantasy (franchise), Halo (franchise), Parappa the Rapper, Rez, BioShock, Rise of the Triad, Silent Hill (franchise), Parasite Eve, Lunar: Silver Star Story, pretty much ANY RPG.
Favorite Genres: RPG, FPS, Fighting, Music/Rhythm, Action/Adventure...anything really.
Least Favorite Genre: Sports
System of Choice: All of them!

Microsoft Staff: Siou Choy

Bio: Siou Choy now has a decade's worth of experience in video games journalism as staff writer for both VGF.com and VGGEN.com, having scrawled reviews, previews and special features covering every system from the dawn of the new millenium to present. An avid fan of genre, art and outsider film from around the world and music of all kinds (with the glaring exceptions of country and hip hop), her NYC upbringing skews her leanings towards punk, goth, 70's culture and 80's metal. Favorite Games: Resident Evil (GC), Baldur's Gate (XB), Eternal Darkness (GC), Fatal Frames (PS2/XB), Harvest Moon: Back to Nature (PS1)Favorite Genres: Survival Horror, Action/Adventure, RPGs, Puzzle
Least Favorite Genres: Military, Strategy, Sports
System of Choice: Wii

Microsoft/PC Staff: Nick Arvites

Bio: Nick is a life-long gamer, and has either owned or extensively played almost every system since the NES launch up until until the present day, including PC gaming. Outside of video games, Nick extensively follows sports--favorite being baseball--and politics as well as the general technology beat. While he is often a busy student, Nick tries to find time for writing, photography, and cooking. He currently resides in Denver, CO.
Favorite Current Games: Borderlands, Rock Band 2, Galactic Civilizations II, Team Fortress II
Favorite Genre: First-person shooters, action/adventure, RPGs, Sports games, Strategy (both real-time and turn-based)
Least Favorite Genre: Party games, shovelware, MMORPG
System of choice: Xbox 360, PC

Nintendo Staff: Andrew Joy

Bio: Even though it is by far his favorite series, you won't find The Legend of Zelda anywhere in Andrew's lists below, simply because he thinks it is in a class all its own - but what else would you expect from a Nintendo fanboy? And, owning almost every Nintendo system, from the NES to Wii (including the redesigns), Andrew certainly fits that bill. Of course, being an absolute "sandbox" nut, something you'll see echoed in his reviews time and time again, his love of Grand Theft Auto drove him to get an Xbox, PSP, Xbox 360 and PS3...hey, no one's perfect.
Favorite Game: Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Favorite Genres: Sandbox and Action/Adventure
Least Favorite Genres: Sports
System of Choice: Wii

Nintendo Staff: Josh Miller-Watt

Bio: Having been blessed with monumental unpopularity as a youth, gaming has been Josh’s only constant companion throughout the years. Some of his earliest memories are of playing Tin Star and Street Fighter on the SNES, and Super Mario 2 for the NES. Born and raised on Nintendo consoles, he only discovered other brands when he was roughly sixteen. Since then, he has pursued his gaming habit across all brands and consoles, but holds a special place in his heart for Nintendo consoles - in particular the portables. He has been accused of having an overly-florid writing style on several occasions.

Favorite Games: Jump! Ultimate Stars, Kirby Superstar Ultra, Capcom Vs. SNK 2 EO, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Animal Crossing, MLB Power Pros 2008, Mario Kart Wii, Team Fortress 2, Mirror’s Edge, Psychonauts, Custom Robo, Tales of Destiny 2, WET, Kingdom Hearts.

Favorite Genres: In order of highest to lowest: Fighters, Action RPGs, Shooters, RPGs, Strategy, Life/Farming sims.

Least Favorite Genre: Flight Sims.

System of Choice: Nintendo DS.

Sony Staff: Grant McCallum

Bio: Grant was introduced to video games at a young age and has been playing them since he can remember. After inheriting his uncle's Sega Megadrive one happy Christmas morning, Grant embarked on a long-lasting journey into the world of video games which is still going on today. He is the first staff member from outside the USA, and these are his first steps into the world of video game journalism. Aside from gaming, Grant enjoys music (both playing and listening), as well as reading comic books. He is also a fan of a little anime and the Star Wars films.
Favorite Games: Metal Gear Series, Final Fantasy VI, Golden Sun, TESIV: Oblivion, Sonic the Hedgehog
Favorite Genres: Roleplaying, Stealth Action, Platformer
Least Favorite Genre: Puzzle
System of Choice: Playstation or Sega Megadrive

The following staff members are no longer with us, undoubtedly soaking on a sunlit beach far away enjoying the good life. We've enjoyed working with each and every one of them, and hope their servants treat them well.

PC Staff Writer: Lexa Mariella

Lexa was only with us for a brief time, as she assisted Nick with his uber-popular Weekly World of Warcraft series. Aside from being the rare female gamer, Lexa managed to balance life and MMO addiction in a way that would make most gamers jealous.

Sony Staff Writer: J. Micheal Neal

John was also a VGGEN original, and well-known for his long and in-depth reviews. He awarded our first-ever perfect 10 to Lumines, before falling off the face of the earth for some reason.