Member Interviews: SonicMTD

[Dreggit]

Welcome all back to the Member Interviews! A little late, but we are still on schedule for July's upcoming interviews Please join me in welcoming our first interviewee of June, @SonicMTD.

SonicMTD

Standard Questions

How did you come up with your PSN name?

So this has been my user name for a very long time. I used it originally for the Ctrl+Alt+Del forums. I want to say 2004 but I might be slightly off. It's a combination of my favorite game character with the initials of my name.

 

What games convinced you get your PlayStation 3, Playstation Vita, PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5?

I had a PS2 before and that just carried over. Funny story, me getting a PS2 was just a decision by my father. He rewarded me with one for getting an A in Geography class in grade 8. He's fiercely anti video games so I think the DVD functionality was what he used to justify it to himself.

 

What are your top 5 game series and why?

This one is tough since series can have bad entries or start out great and eventually suck. Can I put Silent Hill on here while telling Konami to go screw themselves? Can I say WWF/WWE while excluding all of the 2K titles? So if I have to go with consistency I would say (In no order)...

• SSX/Burnout/Def Jam (Honorable mention NBA Street) - (Remember when EA gave a damn? Yeah me neither... Mind blowing over the top arcade presentation with killer soundtracks. (chefs kiss) Shame they tried to be edgy with PS3 entries. Even though they didn't have a PS3 release I'm also going to include the NBA Street Series. Just fun arcade games that EA just gave up on.
• Sly Cooper - I had shied away from the first installment because I had originally thought it was for little kids... BOY WAS I WRONG! The Sly Cooper Trilogy is a well Crafted series who's story was just as riveting as the game play. I'm not the biggest fan on the hacking mini game but all in all it's solid.
• Yakuza - I remember picking up the original game from my local Blockbuster and just being blown away at this gritty crime drama set in the fictional city of Kamurocho. Part brawler, part RPG, and a metric ton of insane fun (With the exemption of Yakuza 3, which I personally feel almost destroyed the franchise. FIGHT ME!) the Yakuza franchise is fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough. Funny little thing is the original PS2 entry is the only title that has English voice actors (with Mark Hamill and Michael Madsen as part of the cast).
• WWE/WWF (BEFORE 2K got a hold of it) - Knock! Knock! Who's there?! It's THQ! Your secret crush showing up at your door and saying how they always had feelings for you! That they are willing to make some of the best and most influential video games of all time just to be with you. Mankind's beard, TAKE! ME! NOW! While THQ is no more, their legacy is remembered in the hearts of those who spent their days calling their friends mother a whore for beating them in a TLC match... good times.
• Guitar Hero/Rockband - These rhythm based games are what I used as inspiration for starting my musical career. While I can barely play guitar, the pitch detection from Rockband is where an awkward kid with self esteem issues,  learned he could sing. Over 10 years later and multiple music performances under my belt, these games left a more positive impact on my life than my biological parents.

 

What are your top 5 games and why?

I genuinely hate these lists cause I always end up forgetting something and shouting obscenities when I realize I missed one. This will be a bit tough but I'll do my best.

• Silent Hill Downpour (Honorable Mention: The Suffering/The Suffering: Ties That Bind) - A Silent Hill game not made by team Silent? Say it ain't so! It is kid. I didn't pick up The Silent Hill franchise until 2009, when my then partner blew a gasket when she realized I hadn't played it. When I did try my hand at Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 I loved the world and the story but both of those games had a massive problem; If you decided to play anything else you would have no idea what you needed to do when you got back to it. Enter Silent Hill Downpour which is essentially Silent Hill 2 but with a bit more polish. It still has the clunky combat of the Team Silent games but its decision to have side quests that you just wander into is one of the things that makes the city itself come alive. I also would like to give a tip of the cap to the Suffering franchise. Basically imagine the amount of work put into world building/monster creation only this time make it a shooter. I still get haunted by Silent Hill Downpour as well as The Suffering/The Suffering Ties That Bind. That speaks volumes.
• Red Dead Revolver - I kinda find this funny because the very first reviews I ever made were on The Suffering and then eventually Red Dead Revolver but I honestly mean it when I say Rockstar Games has never gripped me as much as Red Dead Revolver did. It's arcade style combat, spaghetti western presentation, high noon mechanic and fantastic story is something that I praise Rock Star San Diego for making. When I want to spend multiple playthroughs just to make sure  the sheriffs journal is complete, you've done something right.
• The Darkness - The one 2K game I'll actually give praise for... YAY! Look I am a sucker for intense game play with an even more intense story. The Darkness shines (pun not intended) through it's creative gameplay features where literal darkness can be used as a weapon. Often times the player would shoot out lights in order to regain health which compiled with a wide variety of super powers makes an incredibly fun and addictive game. The world of the story is also fantastic, as the New York subway becomes a safe haven for the player. I have spent countless hours running into NPCs helping them with side quests and just enjoying to be around them. The art style is perfect to the point I actually dislike The Darkness 2 for ditching it. Without spoiling anything; If you have a PS3 or Xbox 360, please give this game a try. When the only bad thing I have to say is that the main character looks like a mass shooter, trust me you need to play this game.
• Disco Elysium - This one just barely made the list. It was an incredibly tough call since I was debating all the honorable mentions (which I post at the bottom or in between entries). Before I begin... This game is a PC game. While it is available on console it's not the same. It will be slightly more clunky on the PS4 or Xbox but if you want to give it a whirl, go ahead. Disco Elysium is a game which immediately hooked on when I saw the gameplay trailers. In it you play a detective who has gotten so blackout drunk that they forget EVERYTHING about themselves. As a player you have to help them solve a murder taken place outside the Whirling Rags hotel. Where as an RPG will make you put points into your Strength or Charisma, Disco Elysium allows you to put points into your mind. Things like your perception, logic, empathy etc. all play into skill checks that are calculated by your stats and heavy dose of RNG. Disco Elysium is a game where you can screw up but the story keeps going on. You can take your detective and make them an empathetic hero trying to turn their life around or become an absolute dumpster fire of a person. I can't really do this game justice, but I strongly recommend you give it a try. I will also say that this game is going to be tough for those who are battling addiction, or those going through a breakup. Some of the subject matter is tough but it actually kinda helped me get over some emotional baggage.
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War - Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War is currently my favorite video game of all time and has been for over 15 years. Released in 2004 developers Project Aces, this Namco title is what made me see video games as an art form. I could ramble endlessly about this game so how about I post the video Review I made for it and you can watch that:

Spoiler

 

• Other Honorable Mentions - 007: Everything or Nothing, The Evil Within 2, Operation Winback, Tony Hawk's Underground, Spec Ops: The Line, Saint's Row IV, Onimusha 3: Demon Seige, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Soul Calibur 2, Resident Evil 4, Burnout 3: Takedown, Mass Effect 2, NBA Street: Vol 2, SSX 3, Def Jam: Fight For NY, Valkyria Chronicles.

 

Which unreleased game(s) are you looking forward to the most and why?

Unreleased? I have none. I'm not playing the hype game if I see something that is out and looks interesting I'll pick it up and probably review it. The last game I got pumped up for was the sequel to Vampire The Masquerade. That game is probably cancelled. Yes I'm disappointed.

 

Do you have any other hobbies outside of gaming?

Yep! I enjoy making reviews for my YouTube Channel. I also livestream (Wednesdays and Saturdays 20:00 EST) on my Twitch Channel. On occasion I do voice acting and audition for some projects. Recently, I've been getting back into skateboarding in order to stay in shape. Oh! and I also sing in a band!

 

Top 5 TV shows, Movies, and/or anime, why, and would you recommend them to people?

• Basketballs - Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of South Park) are in a comedy movie directed by David Zucker (The Naked Gun, Airplane!, Top Secret!). All of the comedic timing in this is fantastic. Years later it still holds up and often times I laugh till I cry.
• The Shawshank Redemption - Adapted from Stephen King, this film written and directed by Frank Darabont is incredible from start to finish. Tim Robbin and Morgan Freeman are absolutely amazing in this and I cannot praise it enough.
• Eureka Seven: Psalm of Planets -

Spoiler

 

• Kiki's Delivery Service - This movie makes me cry every time I watch it. The audio quality sounds kinda odd in certain places but damn what a film. This makes my inner child jump for joy. Maybe I should review it?
• Beck: Mongolian Chopsquad -

Spoiler

 

Honorable Mentions:

• (TV shows) Leverage, Firefly
• (Movies) Field Of Dreams, Shoot Em Up, Almost Famous, John Wick 2, The Adventures of Ford Farelane, Your Name
• (Anime) Black Lagoon, Shimonetta, Tsukuyomi Moonphase, Midori no Hibi.

 

Top 5 favorite music bands/group/artists/composers/ost?

Oh my what have you done... you asked a musician to talk about their favorite musical artists. Ok this list is going to be a little different since (Hip Hop Hooray Ho! Hey! Ho!) I am a musician with a wide variety of musical tastes that bridge different genres. To do a generic top 5 would be a massive disservice to all the other bands who will be omitted. Rather than doing that, I will write 5 bands/artists who directly impacted how I perform/write music. Let's go!

• Treble Charger - Canada's little known secret, Treble Charger are underrated for all they've done in Canadian Music. While their musical output is lacking in quantity, dear lord the quality! It's been decades since their multi platinum album Wide Awake Bored and almost every song on it is a banger. This album was so instrumental in me taking an interest in music, that to not include it would be idiocy. I have a similar vocal style to Bill Priddle naturally and I blame that fantastic album.
• GoldFinger/Reel Big Fish - Summer of ska 2012 live at The Sound Academy (R.I.P). I had casually enjoyed the styling of punk music with more of a late 80's Dead Kennedy's approach to the genre. I was going to go out there with a middle finger in the air and singing songs about how modern society is f**ked up. Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger taught me the importance of having legitimate fun one minute while raging against society the next. It was because of this show that I started embracing my inner dork and spending time in between songs telling jokes and riling up the crowd. Making myself the focus of attention and allowing my bandmates much needed time to alter their sound for the next song. There have been times where I definitely crashed and burned with a bad joke but you dust yourself off and keep going.
• Green Day - Oh hey Billie Joe Armstrong and his mad lad brigade. Look despite what people may think of them now American Idiot was mind blowing. The fact it spawned a Broadway play that went over like gangbusters proves they were onto something. The last truly great Green Day album being 21st Century Breakdown it is a masterclass of mixing deep introspective lyrics of alternative rock and combining it with intense punk rock energy. Green Day is an intense formative part of my teenage years.
• Moist/Our Lady Peace - Oh hey more 90's bands? These two are a little different because not only did I listen to these bands growing up in Burlington Ontario, but I also got to meet some of their members during crucial points of my music career. When I was starting out I used to frequent a bar in Burlington called The Red Rooster (R.I.P.). Every Monday night they had live band karaoke with band members from prominent 90's bands. I had finished doing a cover of Resurrection by Moist and discovered Moist bassist Jeff Peace was actually there on stage with me. During an intermission I asked about his career and gushed about their song Underground. Jeff smiled and told me about what it was like to write it and opened up about him now being a new father. He's a great person. Glad to have met him. In 2012 my first band (Searching For Kim) was wanting to go into the recording studio to make an EP. We weren't going to last long and I wanted to have something to remember it by. We found this one studio called "The Pocket" which was in Leslieville (a district in Toronto). My contact, Mike had been late for 30 mins and I was getting pissed off. I was about to leave when a red motorcycle parks in front and the driver pulls off his motorcycle helmet to reveal a blond hair man in his late 40's. We shake hands and he leads me upstairs to the waiting room where I'm staring at a platinum award for Our Lady Peace's Clumsy album. Mike turned out to be former lead guitarist of OLP Mike Turner. He brought me in and we talked shop about what we're recording. I was coming off of an injury to my throat and Mike wanted me to play him a song to get an understanding of what we were trying to do. He hands me an acoustic guitar that once belonged to Sir Paul McCartney (YES THAT PAUL MCCARTNEY) and asked me to play my song Paper Cranes. He was impressed and agreed to record our EP. It was a month of wonder as he took me under his wing and taught me a lot about the music industry. Best 3.5K I've ever spent.
• Oasis - I remember being in a future shop (R.I.P) in downtown Vancouver during 2003-2004. I went there to play PS2 demos and kill time when "Champagne Supernova" is played over the speaker system and it just blew my goddamn mind. I went out and bought all the albums and just baptized myself in Britpop. I was dressing like them, I even started talking with a Manchester Accent. It got pretty bad for a while but the thing that sets Oasis up here is the fact their music is what made me want to actually write my own music. I managed to catch Oasis on their final tour and just walked out thinking... "I can do this... I want to pursue music. I want to wow people the same way Oasis wowed me." 10 years later and I'm quite happy with what I've currently accomplished, but I know I've got a lot more potential in me.

 

Your favorite platinum and why?

I hate trophies. Platinums make me feel hollow and I almost never play those games ever again. I think Playstation Trophies/Xbox Achievement are some of the worst decisions ever made. I even made a video about this:

Spoiler

 

 

Your least favorite platinum and why?

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - I enjoyed the game when I first played it. I hated it with every fiber of my being when I got the platinum. It killed any enjoyment I had for the series to the point I never saw how it ended. I have yet to pick up another COD game. I'm out, I'm sorry the platinum just made me never want to play it again.

 

Have you ever been tempted to switch over to the Xbox/Nintendo/PC gaming ecosystems?

Yeah but I'm poor. If I had the ability to record Xbox/Nintendo etc. I would be adding those reviews to my YouTube show. Playing console wars when you're a reviewer is essentially shooting yourself in the foot.

 

If you could have one game from any gaming generation be remade or re-released, which one would it be and why?

That's tough... I wouldn't mind getting Ace Combat 5 remade so that a new generation can experience how amazing a game it is.

 

How far are you willing to go for a platinum?

I'm done with Platinums. They make me hate video games. I play games to enjoy myself. Why do I want to force myself to play a game? Yeah I'm done with platinums. Screw that noise.

 

If you could give Sony direct feedback of business decisions in the last year, and the latest console generation, what would you tell them?

They are woefully behind on this generation thanks to a bunch of pants on head business decisions that are going to affect their bottom line in the long term. They need to stop censoring games and instead embrace the content created by developers regardless of adult themes. If a child buys something risque the onus is on the parents for not understanding the rating system in place.

Also loot boxes are gambling. As such, a game that contains them will need a more mature/adult rating so that we don't make a future generation of problem gamblers. For every company that creates a game that doesn't contain loot boxes at launch but then puts them in later (Points at Crash Team Racing) they need to be hit with a massive fine. I'm not talking about a slap on the wrist, I'm talking millions of dollars. We need to make it so that game studios know they need to think twice before they pull something like this. If game companies complain about it, just tell them it's a surprise mechanic meant to make them feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for enacting world governments to crack down on the industry. (You're lucky this part is just confined to Sony cause holy smokes do I have a bone to pick with some companies...)

I also think Sony's stance on cross platform play is awful in this modern day of gaming. I understand the PlayStation was originally made because Nintendo screwed Sony over back in the day, but you need to adapt to modern audiences. Let bygones be bygones and allow people to play multiplayer with different consoles. Trophies need to be scrapped and I would also recommend some better quality control involved with games they offer on the online marketplace.

Finally something a bit more lighthearted, Jim Ryan needs to be replaced. He is an awful mouthpiece for Sony and I think you need people that understand both the product and the audience to be in charge. He is not helping Sony pull themselves out of this slump. Just like his stance on old video games; he's a visually unappealing, obsolete version. I don't know why people would care about him since there are so many newer, appealing, models that are better suited to represent Sony. (RHETORICAL ZING!)

 

What is your favorite thing about PSNP?

Quite honestly? I like the ability to create content and share it here. The people who make up the community are not afraid to disagree with me and I love being able to sit down and debate/defend my stance on an issue. I honestly mean it when I say that PSNP is responsible for me landing my 1st concert and is also the reason why I make my YouTube videos with such a focus on quality. You make me want to do better with each and every attempt. I love all of you, even if I've never met you IRL.

 

What is your least favorite thing about PSNP?

Outside of promoting myself and using the status update feature I don't really use the rest of the forum anymore. I think that's more of a change in me rather than the forums. I no longer crave the validation of my peers. I have goals and dreams that I'm focused on and I'm not going to let anything slow me down.

 

Is there anyone in the PSNP Community you would like to give a shout out too and if so why?
Probably @DaisyVilla102. (I suspect he's also my Twitch follower ExtraNoWay) he's incredibly supportive and I do enjoy the notification that he replied to an update I made.

Also @The Arizona Ranger (MossyOakRcn42), @ihadalifeb4this and my followers. I got this hustle grind focus but I see you guys liking and replying back. I'm a bit self absorbed but I notice and I thank you.

 

PSNP Community Questions

What is your dream job? 

If we're being technical I don't want a job, I want a career. To answer your question though I'm actually kinda already doing it. The only difference is I want it to be able to pay my bills so I can do it full time. Some of the careers I'm trying to do: Journalist/Musician/Voice Actor. Frankly I just love being able to entertain and educate other people. If it becomes successful I will be eternally grateful but in the mean time it is a dream worth pursuing.

 

What music artist(s) do you aspire to be like?

Noel Gallagher, Peter Gabriel, and Henry Rollins.

• Noel for the genuinely cool and quick wit with an impressive music catalogue.
• Peter Gabriel for his incredible experimental capabilities as a songwriter.
• Henry Rollins is just a wonderful mind to be around. Always wanting to learn and being genuinely fascinated by the world.

 

If you could create your dream video game with no budget and all resources at your disposal what would it be like? What genre would it be? How would it play? What would the story be like? Etc.

This is the problem with a creative type like myself I have a lot of ideas for potential games but the one I've been thinking of is a 3rd person brawler inspired by Beatdown: Fists of Vengeance (PS2). Your character winds up in a major metropolitan city that has a problem with rampant corruption, violent gangs, etc. and your goal is to take it over by brute force. The player will make decisions that can help steer towards an objective but what gets you there are the people you recruit into your organization and whether or not they get along. I want to have multiple story branches depending on who the player recruits and the outcome of the fights. Will they save the city? Will they destroy it? That depends on you. Now the goal is to make the combat fun with a progression to improve kinda like the original Shenmue games. If you can make fun, challenging game play then you've won half the battle. Let there be environmental weapons and hazards kinda like Yakuza/Sleeping Dogs. When you smooth out the combat then the challenge is making the story not a convoluted mess. There has to come a point where your story branches out but it can't unwind into a giant mess. If you do the story right it'll be reminiscent of WWF: No Mercy. If you do it wrong, you have Shadow The hedgehog or The Way Of The Samurai franchise. Give the player a LOT of options but make sure they are planned out. Make sure it doesn't devolve into absurdity.

When it comes to game development, I want to make my first game something that is grounded and isn't too abstract. Once I've gotten the hang of what it takes to make a game, I would like to try a more out there approach. After all you gotta walk before you can run.

 

So a real demon offers to grant you supernatural powers, but they come with the usual price: bodily deformation. Do you take them? If so, super hero or super villain?

This is a tough one because I’m the frontman (essentially the face) of a band. If I become horribly deformed, then there goes over a decade of hard work and effort to establish myself. I probably wouldn’t take the offer unless it was a life or death situation. As for morality. Oftentimes the thing that separates a hero from a villain is how they plan to achieve their goals. I would like to make the world a better place. Whether or not I’d become a hero or a villain depends on how I get things done.

 

What is your fav game on each of the consoles you have played at least?

Here we go…

• Sega Genesis - Sonic The hedgehog.
• Gameboy - Mario Baseball
• Gameboy Colour - Pokemon Yellow Version
• PC (MS-DOS Era) - One Must Fall 2097
• N64: WWF - No Mercy/Operation Winback/Megaman 64/Spiderman 64
• PS2 - Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
• Gameboy Advance – Kirby: Nightmare In Dreamland
• Nintendo DS - Phoenix Wright
• PC – Hunie Pop (I do not play a lot of PC games)
• PS3 – The Darkness
• PS4 – (Not applicable since games are still being made for it).

 

Usually, how long do your gaming sessions last?

Depends on what I’m doing them for. Twitch Livestream sessions can last 3-4 hours. If it’s for YouTube they usually last until I get loopy (Which can last anywhere between 3-6 hours). If it’s a live event like a convention, it’s however long the event coordinators need me.

 

Did you enjoy Horizon Zero Dawn? Why/Why not?

Horizon Zero Dawn is an ok game but it’s not great. Its story is kind of meh, conversation scenes linger on characters a few milliseconds longer than they should, giving it an uncanny valley factor.  While hunting robot dinosaurs is fun it doesn’t really do anything that impresses me. I’ve played plenty of open world sandboxes and Horizon Zero Dawn reminds me of an unpolished version of the Infamous games. I do think Sony has the ability to improve the game in a sequel but we’ll have to wait for it when it launches. Don’t expect me to pay for the new Horizon Game. I’ll probably either borrow it from a friend or pick it up from the library.

 

What is your most liked/disliked movies? (at least 2 of like and dislike)

• Favorites: Kiki’s Delivery Service, Field Of Dreams, The Shawshank Redemption, Shoot ‘Em Up, John Wick 2, Almost Famous, Your Name, The Perfect Score, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Basketballs, RockNRolla, High Fidelity, Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, Airplane!, Airplane 2, Hot Fuzz, At Worlds End, Titan A.E., Big Hero 6, Kubo and The Two Strings, Kung Fu Hustle, Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Spiderman 2, The Truman Show, Reservoir Dogs, Disney’s The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Blazing Saddles, The Matrix, Kill Bill Vol. 1., Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Unleashed. (That’s all I can remember off the top of my head)
• Disliked: M Night Shyamalan’s Avatar The Last Airbender, Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters (2016), Jackass, Date Movie.

 

You are hosting a dream dinner party, and you are allowed to invite 5 musicians/artists (either dead or alive) to join you. Who do you choose, and why?

So this question is going to be interesting to answer. Comedy involves writing, performing, and a fundamental understanding of their audience. As such I’m going to include stand up comedians as artists. The same could also be said about professional wrestlers who have to utilize a wide variety of performance to help convey storylines.

• Henry Rollins - Lead singer of black flag turned writer, comedian, and just genuinely fascinating guy. It’s fascinating to hear him talking about his life stories. Where he’s traveled to and just genuinely what’s going on in his life. The self proclaimed “Lean, mean, tattooed rated G boy scout” has lived a fascinating life and his understanding of music on top of his sense of adventure, makes him a genuine delight to be around.
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – There are a lot of professional wrestlers I would like to just speak with. From Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, Mick Foley, Mark Calloway etc. There is an incredible amount of stories both in and out of the ring. Wrestlers and musicians share a similar life in that they live on the road and in front of the crowd. I don’t think I’d ask him much about his time in WCW, ECW, and WWF/WWE. I think I’d ask him about his life post wrestling and what he’s learned now that he no longer grinding away.
• Jon Stewart – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was a cultural powerhouse during it’s run. A lot of that is awarded to Jon Stewart and his fantastic team of writers. I’m reading the biography of the Daily Show and Jon had a lot of personal and business hurdles throughout his run. I would like to pick his brain and get an understanding of his life before the show and maybe just maybe learn from a man George Carlin considered a genius.
• Dave Chappelle – There are very few people who have managed to become way more intriguing after walking away from fame. Dave Chappelle is an amazing person. A man with a fierce cultural understanding, sharp wit, spiritual but not religious. A man who thrives in the limelight but also craves solitude. I have a profound respect for him but am also just incurably curious about who he is offstage. I would love to just interview him talking about what it was like to just go from a kid in D.C. during the crack epidemic to then being a part of one of the biggest shows in modern television. How he balances raising his kids while also touring the world in various sold out shows. It feels like there’s a lot to learn from him.
• Rodney Mullen – The Godfather of street skateboarding. Rodney Mullen is responsible for so many modern skateboarding staples. He created the ollie, manufactured the modern skateboard shape. This man is an analytical master. Able to breakdown tricks to bare components and to innovate with the most minute details. He walked away from professional skateboarding and now just does it for his own artistic merit. When he’s not on his board he’s a brilliant public speaker and continues to influence future generations of skaters with his incredibly kind and grounded approach to life. Rodney Mullen is a freak of nature and probably one of the nicest people you would ever meet.

 

What's your full-time job?

Right now I work in a call centre for a medical company. It doesn’t pay much ($16.09 CAD/Hour) but it allows me the ability to pursue music, YouTube, and various other creative endeavors. I honestly don’t know if I will keep doing it post pandemic but it’ll do for now.

Most of the full time jobs I’ve done are extremely low paying jobs that I’m overqualified for but in this world it’s not what you know, it’s who. Most likely if none of my creative projects take off, my life will be one of menial labour. So long as I have the ability to pursue my creative passions, I can weather the lack of funds and odd pangs of loneliness. Art hurts, baby.

 

Status Question Bonus

What is your relation to Sonic?

Sonic The Hedgehog was the first video game I ever played but that wasn’t really what made me want to pick up the mantle. I grew up with the comic books and Sonic was usually the coolest guy in the room. The leader. The kind of person who just wanted to live their life freely without hurting anyone else. Those were qualities that resonated with me. I desperately wanted to become someone who people respected and who did things their own way. That’s why I took up the mantle of Sonic.

 

What is MTD?

MTD is an abbreviation of my full name: Matthew Tyler Di Leo (I’ve said it enough times on my YouTube videos I don’t think anonymity matters anymore). I started using the abbreviation in high school where I’d draw graffiti style tags on desks/notebooks/chalkboards.

 

How are you (seemingly) a Brit living in Canada?

I am 100% Canadian born and raised. My mom’s side of the family is British (I believe they’re from Birmingham) but I didn’t adopt the union jack because of that. I had an incredible fascination of British Rock from the 80’s/90’s/2000’s. I would speak/sing in a faux British accent, play original music reminiscent of those influences and sadly acted like I was about to launch the Canadian response to the “Cool Britannia” movement of the mid to late 90’s. Looking back on it, I was kind of cringe but I was trying to reinvent myself from the shy awkward high-schooler who was bullied and forgotten about into a cool outspoken musician. For years I have been wanting to drop the British inspired logo and get something that would reflect who I am now but for the life of me I have no idea what that would look like. Hopefully one day I can get something to reflect the new me… or at the very least people like what I got and I can keep running with it.

 

What got you into YouTube?

It’s been so long that I don’t 100% completely remember. Considering the fact that my first videos were acoustic covers I would like to assume it would be to get over my stage fright, build an online presence and somehow use it to launch a music career. “Justin Bieber used it to launch his career and his music is terrible! Imagine what would happen if someone who actually can write deep introspective lyrics used this platform...” – Probably an arrogant younger me.

 

Have you released an album yet?

Technically yes. There is a 4 track EP from my first band (Searching For Kim) floating around from 2012. (https://searchingforkim.bandcamp.com)

With my 2nd band (City In Wires) the band essentially fell apart before we hit the studio. We never released anything outside of live performances.

My 3rd band (WCS) has 2 songs available on various platforms (Spotify/SoundCloud/etc.) plus a debut music video:

Spoiler

 

 

Our 3rd Single; Melancholy is now available on all major platforms:

Spoiler

 

 

What was your first game?

Sonic The Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis.

 

What is your worst game experience?

The original endings of Mass Effect 3. I bought the game on launch and beat it before hearing news about potential protests from dissatisfied customers. In my opinion the protests were completely justified. It was absolutely atrocious that EA rushed this game. Not only that, but having Javik being a DLC character was corporate greed actively hindering the product. To just call Mass Effect 3 a bad game is missing the point in retrospect. It was my first exposure to the executive branch of game development actively sabotaging the hard work and effort made by developers. It is effectively the precursor to events like CDPR’s horrible Cyberpunk 2077, Bethesda’s Fallout76, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 etc. etc. etc.

 

Why do you not have a trophy cabinet on PSNP?

I'm going to be completely honest with you, I had no idea about the trophy cabinet feature until this point. Dreggit actually had to explain it to me. If I was made aware of it earlier I might have made one but for the time being I really don't care about trophies anymore. I think Playstation would be better if they got rid of them (As I explained in my answer to the question).

 

What game genre(s) that you avoid the most? Why?

• JRPG's - I absolutely hate grinding for EXP. It's kinda boring when I livestream it. I find a lot of JRPGS use grinding as a means of padding out the run time. If you have to grind, I usually see it as the studio doesn't have an organic way to level you up for the next section.
• Fighting Games - I enjoy fighting games casually but in order to get good at them you have to dedicate yourself to them. Considering the fact I've got YouTube content/a band. I think I'm don't want to add competitive fighting game player to it.
• Games that don't have a story - I'm a story focused person. Always have been always will be. I got really bored with Overwatch and Fallguys. If they don't have a story I'm most likely not going to be playing for very long.

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Secret Twist of the Month

Chosen in two parts by @eigen-space and @Burgins

Quote

Write about a time in where you had to move your body
(format: written | theme: move your body)

 

Stealing the Show

By @SonicMTD

 

Alright, so when it comes to music performances I usually have an absurd amount of adrenaline. I get nervous onstage and would spend a vast amount of my early years jumping into the air and running around. Now that I'm wiser, I save the energy I have so that I don't look out of place with the rest of the band. When I don't have a band with me and I'm singing to a backing track, I look around the stage and find ways to be entertaining. A great example was when I gatecrashed a karaoke contest at Magfest and just was trying to find ways to keep eyes on me:

Spoiler

 

 

Back when I played rhythm guitar on top of vocals, I liked to lift one leg and whirlwind spin during parts where i didn't have to sing. It took a lot of energy and concentration but it was my signature move. I had a lot of fun playing guitar but my best work comes from just focusing on my vocals.

_______________________________________________________________

 

Let us give thanks to all that participated in asking questions to our interviewee

 

Spoiler

@Beyondthegrave07 @Rally-Vincent--- @Lonemankane @KenjiCBZ @roosta_141 @yuber1234 @zulqarmessi @enaysoft @zizimonster @kidson2004 @LukeTheGooner

Please join me soon for the reveal of the July interviewee's

[kidson2004]

Awesome Interview!!

[SonicMTD]

It was an honour to be interviewed. THANK YOU PSNP! (I may make a video based on this interview)

[DaisyVilla102]

Great read!  Interesting, funny, and informative--always cool to see another's perspective on games, movies, music, and just life in general.

Also, thanks for the shoutout, @SonicMTD!  That was a complete surprise!  And yes, your suspicion is correct--I lead a double life and do also go by the moniker ExtraNoWay. 

[SonicMTD]

1 hour ago, DaisyVilla102 said:

Great read!  Interesting, funny, and informative--always cool to see another's perspective on games, movies, music, and just life in general.

Also, thanks for the shoutout, @SonicMTD!  That was a complete surprise!  And yes, your suspicion is correct--I lead a double life and do also go by the moniker ExtraNoWay. 

You could have said something but you had to be mysterious! (shakes fist)

[Beyondthegrave07]

Nice read! @SonicMTD

 

I can definitely confirm the "It's not what you know, it's who." you mentioned about your job. I remember my aunt telling me that she could have gotten me a job at a place I wanted to work at badly and told her, "I interviewed with them on 4 separate occasions and showed tons of interest in them... If they didn't want me then, they don't want me know." She told me that's not how the world works and said that my statement is not correct, but I didn't take her up on that offer because I personally wouldn't feel welcomed and would always have that in the back of my mind. I think that's an important lesson to learn that you mentioned there!

 

Also very interesting take on trophies. Not a bad one, but very different than what you typically read here, haha.

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!

[SonicMTD]

35 minutes ago, Beyondthegrave07 said:

Nice read! @SonicMTD

 

I can definitely confirm the "It's not what you know, it's who." you mentioned about your job. I remember my aunt telling me that she could have gotten me a job at a place I wanted to work at badly and told her, "I interviewed with them on 4 separate occasions and showed tons of interest in them... If they didn't want me then, they don't want me know." She told me that's not how the world works and said that my statement is not correct, but I didn't take her up on that offer because I personally wouldn't feel welcomed and would always have that in the back of my mind. I think that's an important lesson to learn that you mentioned there!

 

Also very interesting take on trophies. Not a bad one, but very different than what you typically read here, haha.

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!

I think there’s something fundamentally wrong with our society when jobs aren’t going to the most talented and instead go to nepotism.

 

It’s one of the reasons why I always felt like I wasn’t welcome in my industry and had to go in alone.

 

Glad you enjoyed my responses and I absolutely love doing these interviews. :3

[Alos88]

Describing Downpour as an improved version of SH2 is a very bold take lol

[visighost]

Fun read! Thanks for taking the time to ask/answer questions!

[Beyondthegrave07]

1 hour ago, SonicMTD said:

I think there’s something fundamentally wrong with our society when jobs aren’t going to the most talented and instead go to nepotism.

 

It’s one of the reasons why I always felt like I wasn’t welcome in my industry and had to go in alone.

 

Glad you enjoyed my responses and I absolutely love doing these interviews. :3

I agree, and I was naive 5 or 6 years ago thinking that my high GPA and IQ would carry me to whatever job I wanted. After going through that whole process, I truly became to hate the politics in getting a job. It's hard to see myself moving jobs now unless I just become miserable with it or someone reaches out to me with an amazing opportunity because I just don't want to go through that circus again. Lol.

Edited July 7, 2021 by Beyondthegrave07
Grammar

[SonicMTD]

20 hours ago, Alos88 said:

Describing Downpour as an improved version of SH2 is a very bold take lol

I’m not afraid of a little outrage. I welcome it. You gotta be thick skinned to review video games. Cause some people out there are toxic with a capital T

[Alos88]

2 hours ago, SonicMTD said:

I’m not afraid of a little outrage. I welcome it. You gotta be thick skinned to review video games. Cause some people out there are toxic with a capital T

I'd take a Downpour over the current drought, lol