Name: John A Pompa

Favorite Classic Game: Super Mario Bros. (NES)

Quote: Out of all the games I own, and have played.  Super Mario Bros. is that one game that just never gets old. It was the first game that I ever owned (not played) when I got an NES for Christmas.  Everything about that game is just perfect, the game play, sound effects, music, tricks & secrets. The game is such a timeless classic that Nintendo has re-released it so many times now, and parts of the game and images and music still turn up in modern Super Mario games.

Bio: I love all games.  Both old and new, but the classic/retro ones, are the ones that appeal to me more.  I’m a collector of game systems and computers. It seems the older I get, the farther I drift back in these gaming machines.  The older stuff, and this is just my own personal opinion, has a much greater re-play value.  I mean  Batman ArkhamCity on the Xbox 360 or PS3 is great, looks amazing and is super fun.   But once it’s beaten, I will most likely never go back to it.  Yars’ Revenge on the Atari 2600 is a different story with me, that game could never get old.

I remember when my brother and I were younger, we would go to the arcade in our local Mall on the weekends.  Mom and Dad would give us a few dollars to get quarters with, and it was greatest feeling in the world, seemed like the possibilities were endless.  Who would have guessed, those same games in the arcade, would still be as relevant in my life almost 25-30 years later.  Now I’m older and have found new ways to keep these classics alive in my heart.  Places like Twin Galaxies and Retrocade allow me to compete with scores, talk about all these great games, and find others who share the same passions in life.  And with the streaming of the Internet, all these gaming generations can come together as one.  This is a great time for all video game players.

Name: Sandeep Parikh

Known as: Zaboo, the Warlock

Series: The Guild

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Favorite Classic Video Game: Galaga and The Legend of Zelda

Quote: I played Galaga with my older brothers, they would steer and I would shoot. Happy memories there. And then Zelda is what truly transformed me into a gamer. I made a whole show about it! www.legendofneil.com it’s about a guy who get sucked into Zelda and has to fight his way out.

Bio: Sandeep Parikh acts in fun stuff like The Guild only when he doesn’t have to audition. (thanks Felicia!) He’s primarily a writer/director. His latest creation is the Comedy Central produced webseries, The Legend of Neil which is about a guy who gets sucked into Zelda. Sandeep also founded and runs EffinFunny, a stand up and sketch comedy community. He’s currently in talks with everybody about producing everything. He’s repped at William Morris. They’re busy so don’t call. Unless its about Sandeep, then do call.

The great thing about the culture of gaming is the variety of people you meet from all over the world with their own stories and history. Then you find out they love some of the same games you do and there is an instant connection. In our Gamer Profile series we explore the love of classic gaming that people have from a CEO of a major company, to a baseball player to a Playboy Playmate of the month.

Pamela Horton is 24, hails from Wichita Kansas and is Playboy’s newest Playmate of the Month. She is also featured on the cover of the magazine’s October 2012. Now what could possibly be hotter than a Playboy Playmate, one who is a true gamer as well.

Ms. October is multitalented, from a League of Legends player to an avid comic book fan and artist:

“I’ve delved into everything—acrylics, pastels, sculpting and even glassblowing,” said Miss October in a previous interview.  “I’ve also always loved video games and comic books, so when I paint in oil, I start with something realistic, but it inevitably scoots off into cartoon territory.  I’m definitely prone to the fantastic!”

Now she is on the cover of Playboy and we had a chance to chat with her about her love of gaming, her artistic side and being a Playmate of the Month.

Tell us about your gaming past, what games you started out playing?

I’ve been playing since I was about 5 years old. The first game I ever played was Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES.

What would you say your favorite classic game is?

My favorite classic game would have to be a tossup between Chrono Trigger and Earthbound for the SNES. I’ve always been a Nintendo girl even though I own all systems.

When did you first get into MMO’s?

A boyfriend in high school made me make a character on his FFXI account. I made a little Tarutaru Red Mage. I was hooked from there!

Tell us about how you got into League of Legends and about the characters you play and your playstyle?

I heard about it from my group of friends who had read articles on it back in 2009. The very first character I ever played was Janna. I was really good with her (or so I thought.) The second character I played was Teemo. It was love at first mushroom kill. He’s so cute! With Teemo I play AP hybrid, starting with boots and pots, building into a malady and a wits end.

I always built Magic Resist because I was usually mid with Teemo. I was hard on banks top too. I also play an AP support Soraka so my heals and skills do more than your typical support. It tricks the enemy team to blowin their ults and CDs thinking they are going to get a kill. Then they see their target full health and start focusing me.

What other games do you play?

I play World of Warcraft, (still) play Final Fantasy XI, I just got Pokemon Black 2, Theathrythm, Final Fantasy, Mark of the Ninja… I play a lot of stuff at one time haha

Now being a gamer girl is hard enough, but in your case do you find it even harder to be a gamer girl? What is the reaction if/when people find out?

It’s usually 50/50. When they are negative, they are super negative. When its positive, I make new friends who appreciate my talents as a gamer!

What coming books are you into?

My friend just had me start reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I love it so far. But whenever a new Dean Koontz book comes out I get it immediately!

Tell us about your art and the items you offer on your site?

I do art commissions and work on a lot of “cartoon” art. My personal comic style has a likeness to Jhonen Vasquez (the creator of Invader Zim). I can do realistic work but I always end up doing something cartoony!

You also consider yourself a gym rat, can you tell us about your workout routine?

I’m not a gym rat. That was another one of those tailored statements. I go to the gym maybe the week before a photoshoot. Other than that I don’t really go. Hahaha

What led you to Playboy?

Playboy actually came to me! One of their submitting photographers wanted to send me in for Cyber Girl but his editor wanted me to test for Playmate and here I am!

What is it like to be on the cover of Playboy and be the playmate of the month?

It is the biggest honor I have ever had. Each playmate is hand-picked by Hugh Hefner, and to have that sincere pleasure I will be forever grateful.

Name: Vincent Caso

Known as: Bladezz

Series: The Guild

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Favorite Classic Game: Super Mario Bros. (NES)

Quote: It’s one of the games I grew up with, and I was fortunate enough to be able to play it on the system that it was released for.

One of the questions I was often asked during my time at Alienware was, are you guys really gamers and do you play games at work. I can tell you originally pretty much everyone at Alienware were gamers, just check out our interview with co-founder Alex Aguila and our gamer profile for Nelson Gonzalez., you can also check out our interview with Arthur Lewis. When I started back in 2001 most of us were avid gamers and would often have Lan parties at HQ or meet up to play games.

In our editorial where we asked, do you have to be a gamer to be in the industry? My opinion was that you do not need everyone in the company to be a gamer, but it does matter to have key people who at least understand the culture. When we talked with Origin PC not long after their launch it was clear the management understood games and gaming culture. It is also clear they are all gamers check out the gamer profile for CEO, Kevin Wasielewski and COO, Hector Penton. If you need more proof perhaps we can show a picture of their arcade games cabinets and Mr. Penton’s wall of PC game boxes.

In the meantime, here are some gamer profiles from Origin PC team members and if you want to game with Origin PC you can find them on Raptr and on Steam.

Name: Erika Mckinster

Gaming background: Final Fantasy series, Goldeneye, DOOM, Quake, Halo, Mass effect Trilogy, World of Warcraft, Diablo trilogy; too many to name!

Favorite classic game: Final Fantasy 7

Favorite modern game: Mass Effect

What are you playing now? Torchlight 2 & Borderlands 2

Name: Fabian Santiesteban

Gaming background: As a child I was an avid gamer from the Atari 2600 while working my way up to the Sega Genesis to the PC’s of today.

Favorite classic game: Quake – Quake may be the most influential game of all time. Not the best game, not the most innovative, but the most influential. Nothing beats a god old fashion First Person Shooter.

Favorite modern game: MMORPG – My gaming preference roles have changed. Today I am a big fan of EVE Online – Age of Conan and The Secret World.

What are you playing now? I am currently playing Diablo 3 and looking to level up my toon to 60 so I can start my paragon levels. I am looking forward to the incoming patch that will give you the opportunity to group up to 8 players which will make it much more interesting.

Name: Daniel Ovalle

Gaming background: I’ve built my own computers since I was 18 and was immersed into hardcore gaming while working at Alienware.

Favorite classic game: Quake

Favorite modern game: Too many to name.

What are you playing now? World of Warcraft, Mass Effect, SWTOR, Civ5, Guild Wars 2, Diablo3

Name: Jorge Percival

Gaming background: First ever encounter with gaming was an Atari 2600 that my parents had, though I was very young they tell me I wouldn’t let go of it. After that I can happily say I owned most consoles to date mostly for exclusive tittles. The fall of 1993 was when I really began paying attention to PC games when my uncle purchased DOOM for his PC, I was completely hooked on that game. Consoles introduced me to gaming the PC has kept me here.

Favorite classic game: My favorite classic game will always be Counter strike (pre source days) this was my real introduction to competitive gaming and the first game I truly took serious. I followed all the pro’s and tournaments I would fully engulf myself in the scene and what was going on during those days. Quake comes a close second.

Favorite modern game: My favorite modern game……….. would definitely have to be League of Legends, this game shows how great gameplay is still at the heart of a good game. We all love graphics but the game needs to have good mechanics and gameplay to continue to grow past its release. I am also a huge fan of RIOT as a developer they do great job of interacting with their community and are supporting the e-sports push here in the states.

What are you playing now? Right now I have lowered the amount of games that I play at a time (mostly due to League of Legends lol). League of Legends, Torchlight II, Borderlands 2. Those would be my top 3 in that order.

Name: Tony Berry AKA Miztic1

Gaming background: Started gaming on C64/Atari 800XL then moved to the NES and all other consoles where I got hooked on gaming and once I got my first PC I discovered Wolfenstein 3D then eventually Doom and Quake 1 and those sent me over the edge of the gaming abyss.

Favorite classic game: Tossup between Quake 2: Rocket Arena 2 and Ultima Online. Consoles would be Legend of Zelda on NES.

Favorite modern game: This is a tough one, I would have to say WoW

What are you playing now? WoW, Diablo 3, torchlight and league of legends.

Name: Alvaro Masis in game (Propane)

Gaming background: Have been playing games since Lode Runner and have played on multiple platforms favorite PC by far

Favorite classic game: Favorite classic game would be destruction derby for the Commodore 64

Favorite modern game: Eve Online

What are you playing now? Guild Wars 2, Eve Online, Torch Light 2

Name: Amy Okuda

Known as: Tinkerballa

Series: The Guild

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Favorite Game: Duck Hunt

Quote: We didn’t have one at home but my grandparents in San Francisco had one and when I was little I remember running into their house and that would be the first thing I’d turn on/play when I got there.

Name: Jeff Lewis

Known as: Vork

Series: The Guild

Favorite Game: Battle Tanx (Nintendo 64)

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 Quote: It’s my favorite game because, even though the graphics are quite awful, I love tanks and the multiplayer version is soooo fun with a couple friends especially when you have these weapon pick ups you can get that are randomly spread throughout the map. I wish I could get it on xbox but I still don’t see it available yet.

Name: Matt Bradford

Favorite Classic Game: TRON: Deadly Discs

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Details as to why it is your favorite: One of the first games I used to play (and got addicted to) with my Dad when we first brought home the Intellivision. Like many classics from that time, it connects me back to the 80s when gaming was still new to me, and I wasn’t spoiled by all the advancements that came after.

Bio: I’m a freelance editor/writer who contributes as daily news contributor for www.gamesradar.com and as 2012′s Puzzle Expert in the latest Guinness World Records Gamers Edition. I was also the Editorial Director for Twin Galaxies International until earlier this year. When I’m not living and breathing video games, I’m also writing for numerous radio stations and publications from my home in Barrie, Ontario; where I live with my most excellent wife, Marijana, and our soon-to-be gaming child.

Name: Royal Lance Eustache

Favorite Classic Game: Street Fighter II

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Details as to why it is your favorite: Street Fighter II was literally my escape to game when I was a child. When I got crap from my parents I would head to the arcade and start playing. I also played my cousins in SF2 as a kid. I sometimes sandbag just so the losers would stop whining.

Bio: Lance Eustache immersed himself into the video game culture by attending events such as PAX East, New York Comic Con, and MAGFest. When not at his day job, Lance writes gaming articles, tests his fighting game skills against top players, does referee work for Twin Galaxies, etc., etc. Lance is also part of local gaming communities such as StreetPass Network New York and Empire Arcadia.

Name: Ben Mullen

Favorite Classic Game: NES Tetris

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Why it is your favorite: NES Tetris has been my muse, my vice, and my obssession for quite some time.  To make a Long story short, I want to max out the score and join one of the most exclusive clubs in gaming history so doing.

What is your part in the movie: The movie itself follows the story of 6-10 of the best NES Tetris players in the world covering their training routine, love of the game, past present and future plans: I am one of those players I currently hold the lines record (well sort of, but i certainly did at the time of filming) and am in first place (amoung those who have not maxout out yet) sort of a “best of the worst of the best” haha

Bio: I’m a small town fellow from North Dakota who gre up playing very few video games, tetris was my favorite and remains so to this day.  I work as an Advisor at a Community College in Minneapolis, helping students navigate resources and decide on the best courses to take etc… I like cubed and fried SPAM… its a fact