Azrael, GameOPS Featured Gamer of the Month

It's been a while since we had someone featured at the GameOPS' Featured Gamer section. Well I think now is the right time to revive this section and I believe the best person to be featured is the guy behind ToyCon Philippines ---Azrael!

1. Could you tell us something about yourself? How old are you? Where are you located and what are you currently engaged in?

- I'm Azrael Coladilla, people call me Az for short. I'm 32 years old and I live in Bacoor, Cavite. I'm into blogging, photography, writing and playing video games at home and in arcades.

2. When was the first time you actually played a video game? What's the name of the game and game system? What or who made you play?

- It was an ATARI console, and I can't rememeber the game, but I played Superman, Arkanoid, Star Wars and other weird ATARI games. my cousin in Marikina have it, but I just played a little game during those time, and since I'm very young, I got less interest playing video games. But then I encountered arcade machines in my elementary days playing Star Destroyer, Galaga, Pacman, Phoenix and Arkanoid. Then Gameboys, then NES, then the rest is history... hello PC DOS games, SNES, SEGA, PS1.


3. Do you own a video game console? If yes, what system? Was it your very fist console? What video game platform do you prefer? (PC, Consoles or Handheld)

- I own a NES, SNES, Wii and Xbox. First console is the NES, my parents gift to me and my sister after I graduate Elementary. I prefer owning a console game, much more built for gaming and for home use. I just don't like handheld, because they are very addictive, but glad that they put some new features on it and not built for gaming only. (like in PSP with media features)

4. What is your favorite video game? Why?

- Hm.. that's a lot of games. But I can't decide if Castlevania, Ghouls n Ghosts, Megaman, Golden Axe, God of war.... I'm a retro gamer, and love to see the old games being resurrected, I just can't decide yet which is my favorite. But maybe I'll mention all old and classic games are my favorites ( well except God of War I mentioned above)

5. How about a particular video game character, who's your favorite? Why?

- I'm big fan of the video game Castlevania and I'm amazed on Simon Beltmont's character. I grew up playing the 1st game til SNES came out that drives me and my friends crazy. I got xerox copy and enlarge photos of the SNES game, and keep it in my room. Being a vampire hunter and hero in town is cool, and with that whip and warrior attitude is kinda macho for me and wanted to be like Simon.

6. Do you play online games? What are your current and alltime favorites? Are you part of a clan or guild? If yes, can you give us some info about your guild?

- I'm not into online gaming, but i tried some of the games and didn't last for a month or week playing it because of my busy schedules.


7. If you were to convince a friend or co-worker to play video games, how would you do it? Would you do crazy stuff just to convince him or her?

- I'll just introducce the lighter games, like in Nintendo Wii, it is much very user friendly and it is built for fresh gamers. It will be fun for them and after introducing them playing Wii sports, then introduce them play Call of Duty.

8. Did playing a video game made any difference in your life?

- Yes, I just don't believe on some news and study that video games really make kids sick. But for me, playing video games enhances a youngling's ability to do decision on their own, focus, imaginative, creative, explorer, accept failures and do it again, fighter and innovative. Well I just mentioned all these positive stuff that reflects me.

9. Do you have any personal video game related story that you can share with us?

- I have a funny experience with my friend Marvin Cayas, my partner in gaming during the old times. We used to collect and write in a notebook all the cheatcodes,passwords,techniques of all video games. This was the time before Nintendo magazine and EGM magazine came out. We update it almost everyday, try out video games in a local video game rental shop in Caloocan, video gaming is very hot and active in there, and we have 10 video gaming shops in all Caloocan City. We tour in every shops, play games and show off some of our skills (well thanks to those cheat codes ahhaha,but we sometimes share it and some games have no cheats). Then we travel to North mall near Gotesco Grand Central and buy Nintendo Power magazine and EGM magazine, there is a time that we bought this Street Fighter 2 feature in EGM and because my money is so short, I bought the magazine and we ended up walking on our way home, I think thats around 30 kms from home.

After Street Fighter 2 came out, we play it everyday and we wow ourself and press any buttons just to find out how to do Hadouken, and we shouted "YEY!!!" and raise our hands everytime we do a succesful Hadouken, and then found out..theres DIY Hadouken in the game manual.. arghhh.

10. Have you ever bought (or played) a pirated copy of a video game?

- No, I never played a pirated game before. I don't own one and never buy pirated games. I'm tempted to buy Wii pirated games. but I just stay away from stores selling it.


11. Any last message you wish to impart to our readers?
Play games!!!! have fun!!
and never punch your seat mate if you lose in a game match hahaha.

12. Any greetings and link-love to your friends?
Visit my blog site Azrael's Merryland at www.azraelcoladilla.com or
azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com , I feature pop culture stuff of comics, toys, movies, music, events, lifestyle, entertainment of local and foreifn topics and also VIDEO GAMES.


We have develop a video game inline with the title of my blog Azrael's Merryland and we call it Azrael's adventure in Merryland


If we have the time and energy, we will re-release it for the coming years.
this game debut at the 2004 U GOT GAME event Interschool Game Developing Competition organized by the IGDA