A Gamer With A Pen

My experience at the Electronic Arts Studio Showcase '10:

So if it's one thing about being the press, it's that you learn a great deal about the stuff you're assigned to cover. I thought I knew quite a bit, but the gaming industry is huge. When video game announcements are released they are a big deal, just like when we first heard about Kinect and how incompetent Microsoft is with spelling or when a video game will feature four player co-op. For non-gamers, a "big deal" is equivalent to when you hear the possibility of a Verizon iPhone coming out next year or Lindsay Lohan going to jail or getting a tattoo on your butt--Now that's a big deal!

I play video games for fun: I laugh, yell, relax and all is good in my world. Little did I know how much power there is behind that gaming disc I insert into my 360 each time. A lot of people have put forth so much energy and effort to develop a game they hope gamers will appreciate and love.

I met some of these developers at Electronic Arts (EA), which is a giant gaming company--so giant that they even have their own water bottle!!--whose history goes way back: they have marketed, distributed, developed and published a variety of games, such as Mass Effect, Rock Band, Dead Space, Burnout and my favorite, the SSX series. Of course, they are better recognized for their sports games like FIFA, NHL, and Madden. Who can forget this catchy phrase, "EA Sports. It's in the game!"

So with this knowledge and the thought of being able to meet the talented and creative brains behind these video games, gave me the feeling of being a wee bit overwhelmed. I arrived to the EA campus (it really is a campus) around noon to register and eat--like I was gonna eat anything, being the nervous person that I was. Once I saw the food though, I was in love: salmon, chicken, shrimp, soup, salad, breads, cookies!! which they had my favorite... snickerdoodles!! I couldn't help but not eat.

After I stuffed my face and met up with the Game Revolution (GR) crew, we were directed to EA's auditorium for game announcements and presentations. You can watch the one hour presentation >> here <<. Next up was the show floor, where I was assigned to cover Dead Space Ignition, Dead Space 2, and Medal of Honor all by myself. When I first heard this, I gave Blake (GR's assistant editor) a blank stare thinking, by myself? You're really going to let me go on my own? What happens if I 'eff up on something?!

But he didn't think so. I realized I couldn't possibly mess up on anything because it's video games! This is my territory! But wait, this was Electronic Arts. This was a building full of developers that most gamers I know would give anything for a chance to meet. And here I was!--Sitting, talking, and gaming with EA developers.

At first, I asked Blake if I could follow him and cameraman Bill around just to see how they work it and then go off on my own. Unfortunately, they had their own work to do and couldn't babysit me the whole time, so the other assistant editor, Nick gave me the tour and some insight on what to do, which I was grateful for. When I saw the chairs and flat screens set up for Medal of Honor, I instantly turned giddy. Anything that is a shooter is my turf!! Yet, I was still shy to go over and sit by myself, which I knew that pretty soon I had to just somehow grow a pair and get over it.

Eventually it was Blake, who gave me a couple of nudges which then quickly turned into pushing that forced me to go right over and grab an empty seat to play Medal of Honor.



Within the first minute of playing the multiplayer online, I died several times. I felt a ton of eyes were on me, but I didn't bother to look as that would have made me more nervous. The nerves died down once I got more involved with the game: unlocking weapons, throwing grenades, flanking, and shanking were all too familiar with me from previous shooters. By that time, I wasn't at Electronic Arts or in a room filled with people, who were possibly watching my every move; instead, I was in my own realm of shooter heaven. I was there close to an hour, exploring each class, weapon, score chain rewards and overall feel of the maps until I felt comfortable enough to write a preview on it.

Next, I had to preview Dead Space 2 and Dead Space Ignition where there was a testosterone filled pack crowding the area, so I wasn't too amped up to go on over, but luckily, Blake and Bill came over to push me along (again). During the Dead Space 2 demo, Blake asked me if it was the protagonist's first time showing his face. Even though I did not play the first game, I told him yes it was.

After the demo, Blake wondered if I wanted to interview the producer. My eyes grew big in surprise. Being a newbie within the GR crew, I felt I would never be asked to interview a developer or anyone else who worked in the industry. I declined and told Blake I never played the original and I have no idea what to ask the producer! Of course, that was just my nerves talking. Blake sensed my uneasiness and told me no worries and that there will be a next time.

I'm thankful I passed the offer because I was able to watch Blake do the interview. He joked with the producer and even got him to use some swear words. I thought, wow, I couldn't pull off an interview like that. One thing though that made me feel good was that Blake asked the producer, "...so Isaac shows his face for the first time, what's up with that?" I was like holy crap! Blake just asked me that while I played the demo. He trusted me enough to ask the producer on camera about something that pertained to a game I never played.

It made me feel good as if I accomplished something or to that effect. I have friends that ask me about information on gaming quite often, yet I have been doubted by strangers. Blake hardly knows me, but he didn't doubt me when it came to a video game, which was comforting. I may not have played Dead Space, but I do know about it from watching and reading interviews and articles. Even if I don't get a chance to play every single video game out there, I try my best to keep up with current news simply because of my passion for them.

If you want to check out more of what was on the show floor, watch the clip below featured from Giant Bomb.



So I survived my first press event. I may have had my hand held majority of the time, but now I know what to prepare for next time. There were quite a few games there that I didn't even get to play because I was too worried about what I had to cover. The games there included ones like Crysis 2, Madden 11, Rock Band 3, and an upcoming arcade game called Shank, where I even came home with a souvenir created by Shank's lead artist, Jeff Agala:


The event ended with dinner, which EA was nice enough to give us some really good food throughout the day! I even joked with a friend, who asked how the event went and what games were there... I said, "man, forget the games! It was all about the food!!" Overall though, it was a great experience: small enough, so I wouldn't be completely overwhelmed, yet big enough to get an understanding of what I'm in for.