Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Newsletter/20200705/Interview

Featured editor: TheJoebro64

Interviewed by GamerPro64

This issue we interview TheJoebro64, who, as he puts it, "the best, most productive editor that has ever graced Wikipedia." His resume includes four Featured Articles, 30+ Good Articles, and is one of our many resident editors that improve the many Sonic the Hedgehog games. Today we will be asking him questions that will include asking about his favorite Sonic titles, among others.

1. What drew you to Wikipedia, and what prompted you to begin editing?

   I first discovered Wikipedia when I was a kid, and it fascinated me how much information was present on just a single website. I loved just reading and feeling like I knew everything about a certain subject, so I naturally grew to really appreciate the website. It took me a little while before I discovered that practically everything on the site was written by individual users, which blew my little mind. Over the years, I began to harbor a desire to contribute to the site myself.

   I made my first edits as an IP between 2013 and 2014, if I recall correctly. I was still young, so I was not a competent editor and looking back probably made some pretty stupid edits. I shudder to think that, had I made an account back then, I might've received a CIR block! Fortunately, I'd matured by 2016, when I noticed some wording I didn't like too much at the Batman Returns article. As I had believed that using an open IP made me vulnerable to hackers, I just decided to create an account to make the edit. I didn't think I'd be much of an active presence on the site and would just make quick, little edits here and there. But, as I made my way around, I got more and more experience and gradually started building articles on my own. I can't believe it's already been four years since I started, because it really doesn't feel like it's been all that long.

2. What's the significance of your username? How did you select it?

   My username's a portmanteau of my full name (my first name is obviously "Joseph", and my last name begins with "Bro"), and I added the "64" at the end as a nod to the Nintendo 64 and games like Super Mario 64. I added the "The" at the beginning because I felt like it'd have a bit more "oomph" than just "Joebro64", if you know what I mean. It's a nickname that was given to me as a friend during our youth that I've just grown attached to. I sometimes use it when making accounts on websites if it's not already taken.

3. How did you become involved with the VG project?

   After I started editing, I gradually came to learn how Wikipedia is structured and maintained. I think I learned about WPVG in late 2016 or early 2017, after a user reverted one of my edits and in their reversion directed me to what is now MOS:VG (at the time, it was still at Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Article guidelines). I followed some users to WT:VG, where I discovered that WPVG is a sort of centralized hub for all articles video game-related. As that pretty much was right where my heart was when it came to editing, I decided that I'd be an active presence.

4. How much of a gamer are you and what type of games do you gravitate toward?

   Good question! I'm a gamer, but not necessarily a serious one. When I play video games, I usually play for around 2–3 hours in a single sitting before deciding that I've had my share and stopping. Sometimes I play a bit more that day, other times I don't. I try not to play too much because, of course, I need to be active and socialize with others; video game addiction is a real thing, after all. I usually play on the Switch, but I've also got an Xbox One and a 3DS, and from time to time I bust out my old Wii or DS Lite for some nostalgia.

   As for what games I gravitate towards? I like games that are accessible and easy to pick up, but have this flair or tic that really immerses me in the game world and makes me keep coming back. As such, I mostly enjoy platformers, since those are the games I most commonly find those characteristics in. Super Mario, Sonic, and Donkey Kong are probably the best examples of this. Their gameplay is fluid and they're accessible, but have this thrilling learning curve that challenges you to keep coming back, improve your skills, and then use those skills to abuse the game mechanics as much as possible and pull off some ludicrous stunts.

   Of course, I'm not restricted to just these games. I enjoy laid-back games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing as well. I'm a relative newcomer to action-adventure games because those aren't as accessible, but once I get into them, I'm all in. The Batman: Arkham games are some of my all-time favorites. I've also recently been playing Breath of the Wild, which I really love because you can choose how you want to play and just toy around with the game mechanics however you want.

5. This was asked by other users such as Sergecross73 but is a question worth asking. Some of your most prolific editing in the realm of mainstream titles has been in relation to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Why Sonic?

   Well, Sonic was a huge part of my early gaming memories and I have a big soft spot for it. I was first introduced to it through the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Some of my fondest childhood memories are playing that game in multiplayer with my siblings; it really was a magical experience. I was already somewhat familiar with Mario because of New Super Mario Bros., and it was through Mario & Sonic that I became acquainted with the Sonic series and its characters. Sometime after getting it, I managed to get a copy of Sonic Rush Adventure and poured so much time into it. Rush Adventure was really what solidified my love for Sonic because it changed my perception of what a platformer could be. I'd played New Super Mario Bros. and a bit of Kirby, so I knew the gist of the genre, but Rush Adventure had extreme action, speed, and story—stuff those games, while great in their own right, didn't offer.

   So that's how I got interested in Sonic, and when I noticed that a lot of the Sonic articles on Wikipedia were of, to put it mildly, undesirable quality, I decided to put some time into fixing them up myself. And that's not even getting into how fascinating the development and history of the franchise is. It's such a sprawling, massive universe with games, TV shows, comics, and movies of all quality. Some are absolutely fantastic, others are just "eh", and some are so aggressively bad it's hilarious. I actually sort of gravitate towards franchises that are like that, like Star Wars and DC Comics.

6. Whats your favorite game to play and why is it Sonic 06?

   Haha, contrary to popular belief Sonic '06 is not my favorite game to play... but it is a game I enjoy my time with. Don't get me wrong, the game is an absolute disaster. The levels are barely functional, the story makes The Room look like The Dark Knight, the visuals are just... bleh; just every problem you can think of is present. But it's such a weirdly fascinating mess of a game, especially if you know the story behind it. You can tell that Sonic Team put so much sweat, passion, and blood into the game and really did try its best to release something that at least seemed like a complete product in the very short timeframe they were given (my understanding is that the retail release represents only about 40–60% of what the team wanted to include). Its soundtrack is also legitimately awesome, and Blur Studio did an impeccable job on the CGI cutscenes. Plus, the glitches do make it different every time; your first playthrough isn't going to be the same as the next one. Sonic '06, for me, is for video games like The Room is for films: it's terrible, but so bizarrely intriguing it's hard not to smile while playing it. That's what made me want to write the Sonic '06 article, and writing it really gave me a better appreciation of it.

   If we're talking about my REAL favorite game to play, well, it's a three way tie: Super Mario 64, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. I like them all for different reasons, but they're all endlessly replayable wonders in my opinion. Mario 64 was the first game I ever 100%'d, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is designed so well that it still feels fresh almost 25 years later, and Diddy's Kong Quest for me represents the absolute pinnacle of the 2D platform genre in terms of scope and challenge. They've all also got appealing visuals, unforgettable soundtracks, memorable characters, and tons of iconic setpieces.

7. Which article(s) are you most proud of writing or do you believe exemplifies your best work?

   The two articles I am most proud of are Sonic the Hedgehog and "The Death of Superman". They're both articles I poured tons of time into, and I largely worked on them on my own. It was really gratifying when I finally was able to complete them and get them polished up (though the latter needs a bit more work if I'm going to bring it to FA status). As for the one that exemplifies my writing, I personally think Super Mario All-Stars is my best-written article. It's definitely not the most robust, but I thought it was a fun little project of good 'ol '90's nostalgia.

8. What is the most difficult part of editing Wikipedia?

   Hmm. There are two things that are difficult for me when it comes to Wikipedia. First, it's keeping calm during debates. I know this is a problem almost everyone has, but it's definitely a struggle when you're butting heads over whether to include something in an article, how to handle wording, etc. It's especially painful to keep my cool when an editor I'm disagreeing with is acting in a very uncivil manner and I can't really find a good way to deal with it. For example, I actually avoided commenting at WTVG for a little while because there was a single editor who I found toxic because they often insulted me. I really didn't know how to deal with this editor and when I got in debates with them and they started hurling insults, I'm not very proud of how I dealt with it. Sometimes I responded with my own personal attacks, other times I sort of shriveled up, not knowing how to deal with them. Fortunately, the problem eventually went away on its own, but I still have regrets for how I dealt with it.

   My real life-happenings can definitely impact how I act during discussions as well. When I'm getting frustrated, there's something I try to do: I just stop and relax, which causes me to think, "what the hell are you doing?" That really brings me to my senses, and I calm down a bit. So I do have a way to resolve this.

   The second thing is more of just a "me" problem: focus. I often get distracted when I'm working on a project and then hop to another one, leaving the earlier project in the dust. If you take a look at my draft list, there are some I haven't touched in a year or two. It's not an easy problem for me to fix. My interests always change from time to time. Plus, sometimes I decide to take a break on a draft because there's a section, like Reception, I'm not too keen on writing. But I am starting to try my hardest to muscle through, and I think I can improve my focus.

9. What are your plans for the future? Are there any projects which you are thinking about starting?

   Well, my main project in the coming future is going to be getting Sonic the Hedgehog to FA status in time for the 30th anniversary on June 23, 2021. It just made it through a long GAN, and I'm going to give it a bit more polish before I nominate it. I've still got a year, so I'm not going to rush it. Right now, I'm currently working with the recently-returned Jaguar to rejuvenate the Donkey Kong Country article for an FA push, as the current GA has deteriorated over the past few years. I'm taking a minor break for the moment, because I need to get a bit of energy before I go through the interviews with David Wise (the problem with the interviews I'm using is that he often speaks in such technical language it's almost as if he's an alien or something). We've made really good progress so far, so I'm hoping you're excited to see how the result comes out.

   After Sonic the Hedgehog, I may take a bit of a break from Sonic articles to delve into other interests. I just recently got into the Donkey Kong franchise and want to rewrite some of its articles, like Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and Tropical Freeze. I also want to take on some Super Mario and Super Smash Bros. articles. I've also got plans for other subjects, including comics ("The Death of Superman" and Batman: The Killing Joke) and film (Happy Gilmore and The Empire Strikes Back). However, that's not to say I'm done with Sonic. I still have plans to rewrite Sonic articles and continue to provide coverage of the franchise.

   I'll probably stick around as an active editor until late 2021, when I'm off to university. Then, I'll return for editing sessions every now and then, but I probably won't be as active as I used to be. Don't fret, though; I really don't want to leave, and I hope to continue editing for quite some time.

10. Anything else you want to say?

    Thank you for having me! I hope I've provided some answers that at least someone finds interesting.

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