Ever since I posted the Gamer Profile announcement a couple of weeks back, my inbox has been flooded with tons of requests. Thanks a lot for the warm response. I think I have around 40 to 50 or so applications. Seems you guys can expect to have a gamer profiled at least once or twice a week starting today.

Anwyays, our very first Gamer to be profiled is Rowmel aka Auriken to those who know him in the gaming world. Rowmel is a Fil-Am based in L.A.,’sup dude. Rowmel is a total gamer, having played almost all of the AAA titles in MMORPGs. He’s also an avid FPS player and notes Counterstrike and Call of Duty 4 as his favorites. He’s currently playing Richard Garriot’s Tabula Rasa. He’s also a true-blooded Cebuano.

Check out rowmel’s complete profile and interview after the break.

Real Life Full Name:  Rommel Abella Bandoy.
Nickname: Auriken to the digital and row`mel to the masses.
Age: 20.
Sex: Male.
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Website or Friendster/SNS (OPTIONAL):
http://profiles.friendster.com/rommelx2 -Friendster
http://www.myspace.com/auriken -MySpace
http://buangistorya.blogspot.com -Blog
MMORPG Currently Playing: Tabula Rasa.
Forum Handle: Auriken
Main Character Name: Cassiopeia: Auriken  / Orion: Sugbuano.
Server: Cassiopeia or Orion.
Player Association (Guild or Clan): Loner.

How long have you played your current MMORPG?  Since December ’07.
What other MMOs have you played? R.O.S.E. Online, Ragnarok, Guild Wars, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, 9Dragons, 2Moons, Last Chaos, Dofus, Sword of the New World: Granado Espada, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.
What type of work do you do? I’m a Computer Science/Engineering student. I also fix computers on the side.
How long is your typical gaming session when playing your current MMORPG?  Does not remembering when you start or slowly but surely walk to your bed half asleep mean anything?
What does a typical day consist of for you? Sleeping ‘til Noonish (when on vacation) or waking up early at the crack of dawn for school. After school, pick up my mother from work and/or baby-sit my little niece for a while until one of my cousins get home, after, whatever homework I need to finish or study, and then the fun starts happening. On weekends, if I have nothing to do, it’s game all day.
What was the race and profession of your very first character? If you’re talking about the first MMO I played… it would have to be a Male Hawker in R.O.S.E. Online. But if you’re talking about Tabula Rasa, it’s a Male Specialist.
What is your highest character level in your current MMORPG? Lv29
What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most? Obviously, it has to be the old school consoles starting with Nintendo. But the “gaming” aspect had to be Starcraft. The type of games I like varies. It has to do with popularity, stigmas attached to it, gameplay, community, graphics, and originality. FPS’s and MMO’s pique my interests the most, cause I like interaction with other people. Soloing… is boring, haha.
What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other then playing your current MMORPG or video games? I used to attend a Prayer Youth Group, but ever since I got a job and also started babysitting my little niece, I couldn’t attend anymore. And after my mom’s mild stroke at the start of ’07, there were a lot of things that I used to do that I can’t do anymore. I have more responsibilities to my family and school. I do occasionally play basketball and football (American), and I also like to stay on top of things about the NBA and NFL, but not as much as before.
What do you like the most about the profession you have chosen for your main character? Well, if I ever level again, it’s Turrets. You can just lay them down and have them do all the work for you.
How did you choose your main character’s name? Just finding new ways to say I’m Cebuano. So I used Sugbuano.
What do you like best about Current MMORPG? The Communities.
What do you get out of playing games? Escape from the pressures of life. To be able to immerse yourself into a new world (not as a role-player, but as an observer with a little avatar running around).
Tell us of a significant “gaming or MMORPG blooper” (funniest moment) that you were directly involved in? The funniest moment ever was playing Team Arenas in Guild Wars when my friends and I decided to go in as four monks (healers) just healing each other so the others will quit and just as we advanced after getting our third win… ANOTHER four monk team was against us!! That was THE MOST INTENSE 30 minutes ever, hahahahaha.
What’s the most unforgettable thing that happened to you as a gamer? After working so hard as a Senior member of my second official clan, I got kicked out. I was the leader of the West Coast side of my clan’s Counter-Strike 1.6 team, I was doing so good until I got complaints that I was being mean to the team members. And instead of them confronting me, they went to the higher ups and they decided to let me go. I was so devastated because I poured all my energy into that clan, and then to just get kicked out like that was horrible. I sulked for days, haha.
Do you run or work for a gaming Forum or Fan Site? Unfortunately, no, I have no time.
Your message to your fellow gamers? LFC/G (Looking for Clan/Guild). Haha.

SHORTS

1.    Joystick or Gamepad? Gamepad, although I’m skilled on both.
2.    Cheating before finish or finish first before cheating? Finish and never cheat.
3.    F2P or Subscription? F2P preferably.
4.    Sony, Microsoft (Xbox) or Nintendo? Sony.
5.    What is your definition of a noob? People who get owned on an hourly basis.
6.    Favorite gaming “term” or lingo? PWNED or GG. I grew up on 1337 speak as well.
7.    If video games did not exist, what would be the replacement? (no answer)
8.    Complete the sentence. Girl Gamers are… so scary.
9.    Complete the sentence. Game Masters should… be on 24/7 and eat, live, breathe their games
10.    Mercedes Benz or BMW? Honda Integra.
11.    Beer or Liquor? Liquor.
12.    Favorite Movie: Close tie: Office Space and Ong Bak
13.    Favorite Book: Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game”
14.    Favorite Game (of all time): Starcraft.
15.    Favorite TV Show: The Stargate Series.
16.    Favorite Music Artist: Forever the Sickest Kids.
Thanks rowmel! More power and pwn them crazy noobs!

For those who want to be featured here, it’s not late yet. Apply Now!

Hasta La Vista,

GM T