1) What systems have you owned?

PS, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo, GameCube, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, PSP, Gameboy (color screen)…

Okay, got it.  You can stop there. 

Your favorite portable?

Probably PSP, because it has more action-oriented games.  Gameboy has younger games.  And PSP has better graphics.

How about Wii games?  Same as Gameboy?  For a younger generation?

Wii has younger games as well, but I’ve always liked “Zelda,” (Nintendo) and “Madden,” (EA) and “Call of Duty” (Treyarch / EXAKT Entertainment)…and the motion sensor controller makes everything more fun.

2) Between Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii, what’s your favorite system?

Well, I’ve only played 2 games on PS3.  And I’ve been playing Wii a lot lately.  So I’d have to say either Wii or Xbox 360, but I don’t have that many games for Wii right now, so I guess Xbox 360.

What system has the best graphics?

PS3 has better graphics than Xbox 360, but not by far.  It goes PS3, Xbox 360, then Wii, in terms of graphics. 

But what system is the most fun?

Most fun would probably be Wii, because you get really into it, moving around the controller.

3) How many hours per day do you play video games?

Well…it used to be 3 hours, including the PC and stuff, but now it’s only when I’m with my Dad, or downstairs doing my work, because then my Mom’s not paying attention.

4) What do you play on your computer?

The only actual game that’s not from a website is “World of Warcraft.”

I probably play computer games a little less than my other systems, though.

How long have you been playing “World of Warcraft?”

For, like, a year.

Are you bored of it, or not at all?

Not at all.

If you picked 100 random kids at your school, how many of them do think play “World of Warcraft?”

One hundred kids?  Let’s see… 

Probably somewhere between 15 and 20.

5) Do you have any games you play on your cell phone?

Yeah, I think I have one game.  It’s a snowboarding game.  I like it and use it when I’m on the bus coming home, if I don’t have my PSP.

6) On your PSP do you watch movies, or just play video games?

Mainly games, because I could never figure out how to put movies onto it.  It takes up way too much memory, and when I got my PSP, the memory cards were really expensive, so I didn’t think it was worth it.

7) In 2007, how many new games would you like to buy?

Let me think…

Umm…

Maybe, like, 3 or 4.  It depends.  So far I know there’re only 3 games I would want: “God of War 2,” “Super Smash Bros.” for Wii, and, “Halo 3,” but I don’t know if that’s coming out this year.  I haven’t seen any pictures for it, but it’s probably going to be pretty good.

8) How do you like the huge hit game “Call of Duty 3” for Xbox 360?

I think it can be a little too realistic sometimes.  I don’t know.  The graphics, it seems, they pushed to the extent of Xbox 360, and it’s moving around a lot, so it kinda gives me a headache.  It’s a little too realistic.  I don’t get sick, like throwing up sick, but I get a headache.

“Call of Duty 2” is a little more simple, so it’s a lot easier, and I think it’s a lot more fun.

What did you like more, “Call of Duty 2” or “Halo 2?”

Probably “Halo 2,” because it had a lot more of a storyline to it.  They’re pretty alike, but in “Call of Duty 2” you’re not playing to a story, you’re just going through levels.

9) What sports games do you have?

I have Madden ’07 for Wii and Xbox 360.  And I have Madden ’06 for Xbox.  I think ’06 is better, though. 

How is it on Wii?

It can be fun, but if you’re playing it for a while it’s sometimes hard to play through a whole game because the controller can get kind of annoying, fun as it is. 

On Xbox 360 they kinda ruined it because, first of all, Superstars Mode is awful, and you only control your individual player, so if you’re the quarterback, once you pass it, that’s it, you don’t do anything.  And if you’re the receiver, they mostly call run plays, so you never get the ball. 

Superstars Mode on ’06 was way better because you played as everyone, and the play-picking is normal.

10) So between all of the systems you have, in the course of a week, do you think you play every system at least once?

Well, when I’m with my Dad, he’s really into “Tiger Woods ’07,” so I play that with him on Xbox 360.  And on weekends I play Wii with my sister.  And then if no one is around I play PS3.  And then I play PSP or PC if I don’t have anything else to do.

PSP I don’t really play when I’m at home, and then if I go out I’ll bring it with me.

11) Do you think video games are a good thing for kids to play, 50/50 good/bad, or all bad?

I think it’s 75% good, 25% bad.  Because a lot of times it gets your brain working and it’s a lot fun.  But for some people, like I know with “World of Warcraft,” some people get obsessed and just get so into it, and they don’t do anything else.  So it can be bad if it’s non-stop with nothing else.  But other than that, I don’t think there’s anything bad to it.  I don’t think it fries your brain or anything.

12) When you have a lot of homework to do, do you think having all those video games is distracting, or do you think it helps you?

I don’t know.  Sometimes it can be a distraction.  I haven’t really had a problem with that. 

But it annoys me sometimes because that’s happening to me right now.  I can put it away, it’s not a big deal to me, but sometimes it annoys me because I’m like, “I really want to play right now!” but I know I can’t, so I don’t.

BONUS QUESTION: Do you see yourself playing video games for the rest of your life?

Probably.  Unless all of a sudden the world goes backwards and technology doesn’t exist.

Scott Goldberg