Let's Talk with McAtee MADNESS By Marc Hollinshead, 05 Apr 2015 FollowtopicsCommunity NewsCommunity interviewMarc Hollinshead Hello everyone and welcome back to another community interview! This week, my guest is McAtee MADNESS, a gamer who doesn't like having regrets (a good attitude in my book). Let's give a great big TA welcome to McAtee MADNESS! Marc: Gamertags almost always tell something about their owners. Tell us about yours. MM: Well originally my GT was Chewey McJew, a combination of my stage name and a joke between my friends. That one got me in trouble and I had to change it. When I was in my earlier 20's all the girls I had dated were less than sane so my friends would joke that I would give them the McAtee madness STD (McAtee being my last name). I just went with it because it sounds pretty rad.Marc: That's certainly one of the most...interesting stories behind a gamertag that I've heard!How long have you been gaming?MM: I started gaming around the time I was 3 or 4 on the Atari playing pong with my older brother. I didn’t really get into it till I got a Nintendo when I was 5. Then there was no turning back. I was hooked.Marc: Do others in your family game, or are you a first-generation gamer?MM: Everyone did at one point or another but I was the only one who did it that much. I am teaching my kids my love of gaming and they are enjoying it a little too much as you can see by how many hours Disney Infinity 2.0 has been played on my stats. My wife games but mostly Facebook games now and stuff like that.Marc: What do your parents/significant other/friends have to say about your gaming?MM: My wife doesn’t mind it too much but thinks I love my Xbox more than her. I always tell her that is not true because she can do things that my Xbox cannot. I am hoping that the next gen will have those features.Marc: By "things" I'm sure you mean live and breathe...*ahem*Assuming you’re not a professional gamer, what’s your day job?MM: Right now I am a supervisor in the backroom at Sears. Not the greatest but it pays the bills because it is hard out here for a pimp. Marc: As I'm British I had to do a quick search for Sears. Working in a department store doesn't sound all that bad to me!What other hobbies do you enjoy?MM: I enjoy watching movies and things like that. I live a pretty boring life due to having 3 kids so they kind of take over everything as far as having a active social life. When they are older I might do more or just devote more time to the Xbox. I used to do stand up comedy and was trying to make a career out of it but having kids makes that very very hard. They expect you to feed them, watch them and not get a job so I had to get one.Marc: Although it may be tough, I'm sure it's very rewarding having three kids! And that's awesome about the stand-up stuff. Care to give us any of your material? MM: Sure no problem, although much of my act involves self deprecating, references to drugs and other adult rated things and physical comedy (jumping around, falling and things of that nature) that would't translate too well without seeing it live . Although I must note that I do a bit using a Guitar Hero controller! Two warnings though: stand-up has a lot to do with timing and delivery so seeing it on paper and seeing me perform it on stage is very different and I haven't really performed in over 5 years so it is a little bit dated. So I recently celebrated my first anniversary with my wife. Since I look as goofy and just as surprised as you that she married me I went full on cheese mode. The traditional gift is paper so I got flowers, wrote her poetry about our love, chocolates... all kinds of stuff. She gave me divorce papers. So I'm single now. I thought I would try my luck at online dating. I tried match.com because it will find your perfect match out of thousands of ladies and it was free. So I made my profile and did the search and came back with zero. Holy crap my mom was right. I will die alone.I am still happily married. My wife not so much but she likes me sometimes! Also here is a attempt at writing comedy (also dated): McAtee MADNESS' blog post - An open letter the makers of Mortal KombatMarc: I certainly understand what you mean about the on paper/on stage problem but it seems like you've got a knack for it! That sounds like it would be awesome live. Hopefully you'll still get time every now and then to do some more. We'd all love to hear it! Tell us about your home life – parents, spouse, children, significant other, animal companions?MM: I have been married for going on 7 years and we have 3 children who are awesome when they are asleep. Story is 5, Link is 4 and Hero is 9 months. Yes, he is named after our favorite video game character from Legend of Zelda. We have a mutant dog named Rugen but our apartment wont allow dogs so he lives at my mother in laws. He has 6 toes on his back paws so we named him after the 6 fingered man in The Princess's Bride.Marc: Those are some interesting names right there! I can see you aren't someone who follows the crowd. :-POf what real life achievement are you most proud? Would you give us some details?MM: The general adult stuff like getting married and having my kids. I was pretty amazed that I am a grown up now and not dead somewhere. Marc: What’s your favorite game of all time on any console? What makes it special?MM: Hmm I would have to say that enjoyed the hell out of Fallout 3 but Final Fantasy 3 (US version, sorry purists) holds a special place in my heart. I just loved everything about both the games. The story graphics (for their time) and the game play blew me away. The Bioshock series and Mass Effect series also are up there for me.Marc: Do you remember the first game you played? What’s your fondest memory of it?MM: I remember playing pong but the first game I really played and enjoyed was The Legend of Zelda. I would play that and Mario all the time. The first time I played it on my own I couldn’t figure out how to get the sword from the old man so I was stuck for 30 minutes doing nothing. Marc: If some evil spell allowed you to own only a single game for the rest of your life, what would it be? Why?MM: Hmm I would have to say Fallout 3. I could replay it multiple ways. I didn’t even know that you could have the dog as your friend till after I beat it.Marc: What part of the world do you live in? If I were to visit, what sights would I have to see?MM: Right now we live in Las Vegas, Nevada. I think there are a few things to do in this town. I used to drive a cab here so I know all about them. The strip, downtown and a ton of places to eat and drink and lose money. We could go see all the sites from Fallout: New Vegas like the bomber in the bottom of Lake Mead.Marc: Las Vegas...wow! I think if you went from there to the town I live in, you'd be very, VERY bored. Any games you regret putting on your gamertag?MM: No because I have participated in multiple bean dives putting way to many to count. That and I try to live without regrets.Marc: Living without regrets. That's a good and positive outlook to have!Tell us about your gamer pic. Why did you choose that one?MM: I love the little gnome, Chompski from Left 4 Dead and wanted to have him front and center. I always use pink as a background or the color of anything I used because I find it funny. Although I do get called many slanderous names online but it is how I feel inside.Marc: Do you have any particular gaming pet peeves?MM: So so many. My main problem is games that use BS tactics to extend gameplay for no reason. Collectables are the worst. If you are going to have them, at least make them do something for the game like add back story (Bioshock) or give me stat boosts(Crackdown although they took it to far)Marc: What upcoming game are you most looking forward to?MM: All I can think of off the top of my head is Batman: Arkham Knight. The trailers look sweet as hell. Also I am hoping Star Wars Battlefront is going to be good but time will tell on that one.Marc: What game(s) are you currently playing? How are you finding it? MM: I am going back and forth between a lot due to GTASC and the King of Completions tournaments. The one game I have been playing a bit and enjoying the hell out of is Rayman Legends. I was playing around with it until I got to the Castle Rock level. That one level elevated the whole game for me. Love me some Ram Jam.Marc: What game are you most proud of completing? Why?MM: I have a few that were real satisfying but the one that made me jump up and curse a bunch when done was Call of Duty 3 because, seriously, fuck flag boosting. Marc: What single Xbox achievement are you most proud of? Why?MM: My Game Room achievements were my highest ratio until Age of Empires: Castle Siege. My trophy case is a combination of games I completed that were fun and achievements with the word balls in it.Marc: In a slightly different vein, do you have a favorite achievement? One perhaps that you just really enjoyed attaining?MM: The Big Brass Balls achievement in BioShock 2 worth 48 pointsFinish the game without using Vita-Chambers.It was a great game... and balls, tee hee.Marc: If you found yourself dropped into a video game, which video game character would you most want to have your back?MM: Easy, the Hulk. That is my boy! Even have him tatted on my chest. Anger is a gift!Marc: In the same scenario, what character/creature would you most/least like to see headed your way?MM: Those surly crack babies from Silent Hill. Those things creep the hell out of me because lets face it, kids are scary as hell. Marc: Any characters you would like seen thrown into video game hell?MM: Depending on what game I am playing. I curse whatever is frustrating me at the time.Marc: Ever had any bad experiences online? How did you handle it?MM: Holy cow I have had more bad than good. I usually make jokes or ignore it. When me and my wife were dating and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was a thing she didn’t believe me about how bad the players in MP were so I made her listen while I played. She couldn’t believe how bad it was. I then told her if she talked I would get tons of friend requests and she would be popular which she didn’t believe either. I feel bad for female gamers sometimes.Marc: This is one of the many reasons why I stay away from multiplayer-heavy games. I can't be doing with any of that! Do you prefer single player or multi-player?MM: Single player unless I am in a session with some cool TALKATIVE people from here. Nothing is worse than a grind with awkward silence. It is worse than some dates I have been on.Marc: Do you have a favorite group of friends you like to play with? If so, how did you meet?MM: Not so much. I never seem to meet up with people after a session or two.Marc: If you could have a multiplayer session with anyone in the world, whom would you choose? Why?MM: Anyone funny who games. Although It would be pretty awesome to play with Ice T. He is a huge gamer and just has one of those voices that you could listen to. Also I imagine being a former Pimp and Hustler he would elevate the art of trash talking.Marc: What other consoles do you own? What are your favorites on those platforms?MM: Right now I own some 360's and the One. I also have a Wii that collects dust. of course the Zelda games are our favorite on it. Marc: Have you ever had a game you really looked forward to that you were disappointed in when it finally arrived? Tell us about it.MM: Not really because I try not to buy into the hype with most AAA releases. I rarely get anything on day one so I get to hear about all the problems before I make any purchases. Marc: Tell us about your gaming set-up.MM: I have a 55 inch Samsung LED with all the bells and whistles in our family room. We have the Xbox One and 360 and our unused Wii. Though that room gets the most use I have our older 42 in TV hooked up with a 360 in our bedroom.Marc: It makes me a bit sad that your old TV is bigger than the one I actually use in my bedroom...How do you use TA? Tracking, walkthroughs, solutions, sessions?MM: All of the above. This is the first site I check everyday and I kill much time on it throughout.Marc: Now that's the kind of TA'er I like to see! How has your gaming changed or evolved since coming to TA?MM: I have become a much bigger score whore! Thanks to the many bean dives, though, my completion percentage has gone to complete crap.Marc: What do you like and dislike most about the site?MM: Really I do love damn near everything about the site but my only problem that left a bad taste in my mouth was involving a certain high ranking site member not doing what they said they would do after a certain video came out. Not a huge deal just kind of made me butt hurt.Marc: How did you learn about TA? Have you signed up any friends to the website?MM: I started using xboxachievements.com for everything and heard someone talking about TA. I checked it out and never looked back. Everything was just so much easier. I completely stopped looking at their site when they started “reporting” on every rumor about the Xbox One. I take that back on the rare chance that they have a walkthrough that is not published here.Marc: Have you made friends here?MM: Although I have never met any of them in real life I would like to think I have. Although living in one of the meccas of tourism I would think they would love the excuse to visit me.Marc: Through this interview, I think we have become very good friends. That means I can come to Las Vegas and visit you too! If you could have a game handcrafted just for you, what would your perfect game be?MM: I would love an Avengers game that was good or at least a game that did the Hulk justice and was not a crap movie tie in. Not saying that The Incredible Hulk was bad but it was far from great.Marc: Why do you choose TA over other gaming sites?MM: Because you do all the work for me as far as stats go and everything else here is pretty top notch.Marc: Do you have a “claim to fame” in gaming? If so, what is it?MM: My beard is pretty magical!?!?Marc: Gotta agree with you on that one!*****************Lightning Round*****************Favorite 360 game?Fallout 3Favorite non-360 game?Final Fantasy 3 (US version)Least favorite game?I hated playing the Fantastic Four gameFavorite game developer?BethesdaFavorite game weapon?Have to go with the classic BFG 9000 although the Lancer from Gears of War is something 8 year old me would of designed. Most hated game enemy?So so many...Favorite game character?HULK SMASHFavorite game sidekick?Hmm, Nick from Lollipop ChainsawFavorite game ending?Tie - BioShock Infinite Blew my mindThe Walking Dead. I almost cried. (Marc: Almost? I DID cry!)Most hated game ending?The Walking Dead Season 1 because my wife saw me almost cry and made fun of me. Favorite game environment?The Bioshock worlds of Rapture and ColumbiaFavorite game music?A lot of the sandbox games like GTA and Saints Row that use real songs I enjoy because you can switch them up depending on how you are feeling at the time. Most emotional video game moment?The Walking Dead Season 1Game that shouldn’t have had a sequel?Lighting rounds are supposed to be fast answers and I don’t feel like typing the pages it would take to list this one.Non-Xbox game you’d love to have achievements in?ZELDA***********************End of Lightning Round***********************Marc: Is there anything in particular you want the TA community to know about you?MM: Ummm I like stuff?!?!?!Marc: Is there anything I haven’t asked that you want to talk about?MM: No I think we are good but if the community has any questions for me, I will answer them all in the comments!Marc: Any shout-outs you want to make before we go?MM: Shout-out to all my friends on here and my GTASC teammates. You know who you are! There you have it, folks. Thanks again to McAtee MADNESS for sharing his own story with us. Join me next time where I'll be with my next guest, DeathSeeker84.Come back to see me and, you guessed it... let's talk. I'd like to remind everyone that because of the huge waiting list for candidates, I am currently not taking any applications for the Community Interview. When some of the backlog has been worked through, I'll let you know. ~ MarcCommunity News Written by Marc HollinsheadTo summarize Marc in two words, it would be "Christian Gamer." You will usually find him getting stuck into story heavy action-adventure games, RPG's and the odd quirky title when he isn't raving about Dark Souls and Mass Effect. Outside the world of gaming, Marc attends and helps out in his church on a regular basis and has a not-so thrilling job in a supermarket.