In 1987, my late Grandfather, Terry Walker, surprised me and my siblings with the gift my parents weren’t comfortable giving… A Nintendo Entertainment System. Not comfortable giving it to us because they feared that we would become hermits, I assume. This purchase opened the door to a hobby of mine that has lasted longer than any other, by years. Since then, I have owned almost every video game console created, and I have played almost every category of game. I have played countless hours, cleared many levels, conquered many bosses, and I have never become a recluse. I also believe without video games, I may have considerably more stress. For me, I can escape the “real world” for a few hours, and become a part of an epic story. Furthermore, video games are morphing into something greater than I believe anyone, especially fearful parents, ever thought would be possible. Games are not only entertaining, both visually and strategically; they are now transforming into classes such as educational, fitness-oriented, and socially-enhancing. Games, once feared to create social isolates, can be healthy. Personally, I have both created and fostered friendships over great distances because of video games. Currently, I am a HUGE fan of epic MMORPGs. I have played almost all of them out do date, but have malingered on World of Warcraft, LOTRO, and Final Fantasy XI. My tastes are RPGs, Action/Adventure, and any hybrid therein. I am currently working my exit strategy in the industry I reside, and I am looking at building a life-long career in the industry that captivates my full and undivided attention, Gaming. My values, skill sets, and education have me geared for a producer or marketing role. If you have any advice for me, please feel free to contact me via jmstariha@yahoo.com. I hope you are all having a great day! Joe Stariha