SwampYankee

A year and one day ago SwampYankee registered in the forums and GWJ is still in the process of recovering. Whether you've taken a trip (to the ground, nose first) in Swamp Air or lived under his vicious rule as commissioner of the GWJ football league you have to admit that Swampy is a pillar of the community. He's also a detective which, let's be perfectly honest here, is awesome.

He would be even cooler if he was a private detective but Mex would probably read that wrong and before you know it there would be grabby chaos.

Who the devil are you?

IÂ'm a late 30Â's gamer who started with things like Magnavision, Intellivision, and the C-64. I started playing role playing and complex board games in high school. Thankfully, I do not have that gene that makes you feel stupid for continuing to do those things into middle age.

What are you supposed to be doing during the day when youÂ're reading GWJ?

IÂ'm the detective division commander for a smallish (52 sworn officers) municipal police department. ItÂ's all just case management, really. And I personally investigate all regicides that occur within the town limits – thatÂ's my bag, baby. Just over 17 years on the job, and am looking forward to starting a second career in 3 more years - Too bad that as a result of being in law enforcement since the age of 19 I am now vocationally {ableist slur}. But I hold out hope.

When youÂ're not working or gaming, what do you do with your time?

When IÂ'm not working or gaming, huh? Err, well, not counting boring stuff like yard work and home repairs, IÂ'm just trying to be a good dad and husband. When the weather allows we canoe and swim, and I play golf (very badly). I like to read, history, military history, Clancy/Bond type stuff comic books, and fantasy, and to watch the occasional movie, but the truth is that between working overtime, the aforementioned and much hated Â"maintenanceÂ" around the house, and doing things with the family, I really have time for only one hobby, and that is gaming.

How about family? Do you have any kids?

I married and have two kids, a 12 year old daughter and a 14 year old son. They both are in 4-H and raise animals with the help of my wife. My daughter rides horses and my son shoots archery (but I canÂ't get him to do that move where he stabs one target in the eye with an arrow and then shoots another target with the very same arrow. Yet. Both like to game, too. My daughterÂ's a full blown Zelda nut, she and my wife like allot of the Nintendo classics. Gaming has provided me with a special connection to my son that many fathers donÂ't have. We roleplay together, jump servers together, and always have a way to bridge the gap between father and son thanks to our shared love of games. You may have met him, or perhaps you'll recall a projectile sent into your skull by himÂ"….He likes to assume different noms de guerre and get on a server IÂ'm playing on, unbeknownst to me. He'll then tell me later how he enjoyed hearing me curse his dark deeds. Do the names Â"Lazy UN SoldierÂ" and Â"Joe LampshadeÂ" bring back any bad memories?

What was your favorite game over the last year or so? Why?

Can I name a genre? Thanks. IÂ'd say playing First Person Shooters with the GWJ crew has been the best gaming experience for me over the last few months. IÂ've had so much fun joking around on TeamSpeak and playing with and against the GWJ crew in Battlefield Vietnam, Joint Operations, and Raven Shield, that gaming has become even more of an obsession. I have such vivid memories - being pinned down and calling for help, then watching as Dramatic Marlin swoops in over the rice paddy in Â"HastingsÂ" to blow up a tank menacing me, spamming gas grenades in Raven Shield, trying to talk people into giving "Swampy Airways" one more try at getting it right, and so many others - Things that to me are almost real experiences. Single player IÂ'd have to say that Medieval Total War had me hooked big time. The strategic portion of the game was so deep, and the battles were bloody icing on the cake of my tyranny.

Which game are you looking forward to most?

IÂ'd have to say that Rome Total War has me salivating, as it will be even deeper than MTW. And the fact that it looks gorgeous makes it even more desirable. IÂ'd be lying if I said I wasnÂ't looking forward to WoW, but then who isnÂ't? Playing with my son, my wife, and the GWJ guys will be a real treat. ItÂ'll be my first MMOG, and I canÂ't think of a better one to start with. And all the future mkilitary shooters that I will play with the GWJ gang.

What is your fondest gaming memory?

Before the term Â"LAN PartyÂ" became vogue, GWJers RichyRambo and ShotgunPhil, along with me and a few other guys started getting together about once every 3 or 4 months for a long weekend of gaming. We started calling these Â"DoomFestÂ", as at first they were to play Doom 2. At the time we would hot seat the 4 computers, playing deathmatch and making up team games. Then it was on to co-op Quake, Rainbow Six, Warcraft II, Diablo, Starcraft, Duke Nukem – WeÂ'd eat pizza, drink Snapple, and play until our eyes hurt too much to continue. Then weÂ'd get up the next morning and play again! We continue it to this day, and now my son comes and shares it with us too. Those have been some of the best times of my life. Good friends, good games, and junk food. Booya!

Finally, why do you play games at all? Why havenÂ't you outgrown them?

I guess like many people, theyÂ're a diversion for me. LifeÂ's worries get shelved for a while, and I can concentrate on something other than work and worries. I actually feel sorry for folks that sit in front of a TV and watch crap every night. I feel like gaming helps me keep some semblance of mental acuity. That and itÂ's the only way I can fly helicopters. Hell, I guess it just comes down to this: It keeps me feeling young, and gives me things to look forward to and to laugh about. That it brings me closer to my son is an added blessing.

Thanks for taking the time to answer our hard hitting questions! Any last words?

Sir, I am not aware of any such mission, nor if I was would I be at liberty to discuss it.

Comments

I'm a late 30's gamer who started with things like Magnavision, Intellivision, and the C-64. I started playing role playing and complex board games in high school. Thankfully, I do not have that gene that makes you feel stupid for continuing to do those things into middle age.

Amen brother!

Good to finally see the Swamp-man.

Hello Swampy! Nice piece. Whenever I read these, it alway's makes me feel better about my gaming addiction. He's right on about great experiences can be had with TS and a group of cool folks.

As down to earth on "paper" as he is on TeamSpeak. I hope we're always on the same team, cuz now it's gonna' be harder to bring myself to shoot ya. I'm also wiping my fingerprints from the keyboard here and claiming Pyro posted this under Sway's...I mean my account.

HANDY SMURF IS HOT! <-- see what I'm talking about? No way that was me.

Nice piece!! Hi, sir!!

I have a question though. What is "4-H"?

Gorilla.800.lbs wrote:

Nice piece!! Hi, sir!!

I have a question though. What is "4-H"?

http://www.4-h.org/info/

Wow, a cop who doesn't sound like a complete ass AND has a self depricating sense of humor!

On a more serious note, I can only hope to sound so healthy when my son starts whipping my ass in games.

Great profile.

And yes, Lazy UN Soldier brings back some bad memories. Kid's a chip off the old block, only a better pilot!

I keed.

Funny, I thought you'd be taller.
And who's that guy with you, the one in the green hat with a VanDyke?

Man, if you had only known him in high school...

"pillar of the community" *chuckle*

Don't worry Swampy your deep, dark, man-loving secrets are safe with me!

richyrambo wrote:

Man, if you had only known him in high school...

As a member of the class of '91, what was it like to graduate when mondale was running for pres?

Awesome profile, Swampy! What kind of helo is that?

Great stuff! The man, the myth, the legend....unveiled. A tale so harrowing and tittilating that even Oprah wants to have him on her show!

not that I watch Oprah.

Don't worry Swampy your deep, dark, man-loving secrets are safe with me!

There are so many ways to take this, all of them are wrong.

Regular LAN parties are a blast, it takes me back to High School. Them were the days. Nothing better than a regular group of gamers getting together for some LAN action and some junk food. Our first LAN party was XvT over a serial cable. Except that one time we hijacked the library's computers and played Doom all night.

Our first LAN party was XvT over a serial cable.

Side note: I wish more space sims would incorporate some of XvT's innovations. It was so easy to be someone's wingman in that game.

Great profile Swampy! Though when I first looked at the pic, I couldn't help but think, "Who's the old guy?"

There are so many ways to take this, all of them are wrong.

Then you're reading it right!

Great write-up... Amazing how most of us (except for Reaper and well Mex) sound so similar... I suppose thats what brings us all here and why we have such a greta time playing together on "game nights"... Maybe a few years from now we will have a 'Stan Fest" in the Great White North - maybe Stanapalooza is better :).

Wow, a detective! I better make sure not to let anything about those bodies in my basement slip out... oh, crap. Nothing to see here. Move Along.

Amazing how most of us (except for Reaper and well Mex) Smile sound so similar...

If by similiar you mean Old As Hell, then yeah.

Here's to hoping you don't fly that chopper you're in like you do in BF:V

Great profile.
Regicide, eh? I can't get the image of Chief Wiggam or the phrase "suicide kings" out of my head now.

Great profile. Swampy continues to be one of the good guys to game with, so much so that I actually feel some level of remorse over killing him in-game. Well, only remorse when we're on the same team, but its the thought that counts.

If by similiar you mean Old As Hell, then yeah.

Reaper is 23 and Mex is around the same I think.

Notice I didn't mention Swampy's age

Another great profile, thanks Swamp, and as always it's nice to put a face to the voice in TS.

Being able to share your hobby with your son, that's awesome. I told my wife I want a boy so we can do just that. I can't stand shopping, so girls are out.

Great replies Swampy. You're definately a team player and fun guy to game with all around. I'll ride Swampy Air into the heat of battle any day.

Joe Lampshade... ah! that wascally wabbit from BF:V that would avenge you right everytime I get a swampy kill.

Lazy UN Soldier, that little GRRRRRRRRRR! I mean nice kid.

Funny that your a cop, I just applied at the city to be a cop. I'm probably to old and not gung-ho enough. Thought I would check into it anyway. Hell if they let you be a cop.

Yeah Swampy! Bout time he got one of these.

The helo is an Huey, Air National Guard, I believe. Took that one the same day I had my picture taken with the entire Canadian Air Force, at Westover AFB this past June.

There usually isn't a minimum age, Slick. As long as you can pass the tests, which include a physical agility and a medical exam, you'd be all set. The "why'd you wanna do that", on the other hand... But if you have any quetions test wise, PM me.

And actually, I have a Chief Wiggam action Figure on my desk.

And now you guys know why I play a medic. The stachels fit a box of a dozen donuts perfectly.

Thanks for the nice comments, too.

I had my picture taken with the entire Canadian Air Force

Wow, you got both of them to show up?

I know, I slay me.

Well, it was only one guy, but he had the keys to the fighter jet and the CAF mini-van.

Eezy_Bordone wrote:

Wow, a cop who doesn't sound like a complete ass AND has a self depricating sense of humor!

Don't know many cops do you? My best friend is a cop and he as funny as they come. Just don't drive arround in a Integra doing 70 on his street... that would be "Bad". Anyway all the cops I know are cool guys ... off the job.

And Nice interview Swampy!