Community Member Spotlight: Caliostro

I first noticed Caliostro in the Escapist PC Gamers! user group as he would update its news section with deals on games from around the internet that he found and sought out. Since he was getting nothing in return for this selfless act, it really stood out from the crowd.

Here is a quick Q & A to learn more about this member of our community! To find out more or to become his friend, visit his Profile here:

What brought you first to The Escapist?

Almost embarrassingly obvious reason really … Yahtzee. I friend linked me to the Guitar Hero review, and an hour later I had watched the whole Zero Punctuation library several times over. Didn’t take me too long to start browsing the forums, the articles, and I remember the very first article that knocked me over and made me realize “this isn’t just another games forum”. Robert B. Marks’ “The Anatomy of Violence”. To this day it’s still one of my favorite reads ever. Ever since then I started hanging around more, reading more articles, and … The rest, as they say, is history.

I like to say I came for Yahtzee, but stayed for everything else.

What is your favorite thing about The Escapist?

Hard to say anymore … Even after 2 years ZP remains my “weekly tradition.” Every Wednesday, every week, at exactly 17:00 GMT, I grab a snack and watch the latest episode. That said, ever since I got here, as I mentioned, I discovered a whole lot more things I like: The LoadingReadyRun crew, MovieBob, Jon Etheridge, Andy Chalk, Shamus Young, Marion Cox, the staff (I get along with pretty much every staff member I’ve met so far), the forums … Saying exactly what’s my favorite thing about The Escapist is a bit like asking what’s my favorite drop of water in the ocean.

Gun to my head, I’d, begrudgingly, say “the people”. First because it’s such a f*cking cliché my eyes bled a little when I wrote it, and second because I’d be a hypocrite to say “I love everyone at The Escapist!”. That’s a lie, and if anyone says it they’re liars. There’s just too many different contrasting personalities to like everyone. That said, even the ones I don’t particularly like, are the reason The Escapist is … The Escapist. It’s a balanced ecosystem: Excise the staff and members and it’s just a website. A really good website mind you, but not enough to cross the boundary into the cultural landmark I currently hold it as.

If The Escapist suddenly disappeared, what would be the first thing you would do?

Wonder “What the hell?”, then mash F5 repeatedly.

Other than that, not a lot I could personally do (depending on the reasons). Try to maintain my contacts, morn the loss and hope it would pop back up somehow.

A zombie is attacking you and you were caught off-guard. You are startled and start running and notice a bag of marshmallows. What do you do?

Trick question. Depends on the kind of zombie.

If it is one of the “slow and stupid” zombies, I’d just slap him with the bag, staying just outside his reach, then film it with my cellphone and put it on YouTube. Because… Why not really?

If it’s one of the “running zombies”, like in L4D… Balls. Eat some of the marshmallows for energy, then “bag” the zombie to stall him, and use the marshmallows (since he would have picked up the smell from the bag) to lead him into a trap. Like a pit. Or a car crusher. Or a flamethrower. Or a plant.

What is your favorite movie and why?

Difficult question. The Transfo-… sorry I can’t finish typing that without imploding.

Anyways, it’s extremely difficult to name one, but the three names that come to my head right now are: the extremely underrated Equilibrium, due to it’s 1984-meets-the-matrix style, emphasizing the importance and value of human emotions along with some kick ass action scenes; 12 Angry Men, because not only is it an immortal example of good cinematography and characterization (i.e.: the entire movie happens in 1 room, without any significant “action scenes”, and manages to be more interesting, thrilling, and tense than movies that span out across entire countries) and because it’s just a legendary script; and The Dark Knight, partially because Heath Ledger’s Joker is one of the best characters to ever appear in the big screen, and partially because the whole movie just comes together beautiful, as a rare example of a “comic book movie” done very, very right.

What is your favorite type of music, band, and how you first discovered it/them?

Don’t have a particular preferred style. I tend to listen to Metal and OSTs more, but if I had to label my musical taste I’d call it “eclectic”. My selections range from opera and classical music to metal, rock, dance, reggae, hardcore and even some rap and pop. I try to avoid sticking to rather arbitrary “labels”. I’ll listen to something, and if I like it, I like it, regardless of the genre.

My favorite band… I have to say I have a special place in my heart for Dream Theater, partially because they are damn near technically perfect playing, but also because “Awake” was the first music album I ever bought, back when I was around 6-7. I discovered them because of my older brother, who always loved music (and is an amazing guitarist by the way) and always taught me to appreciate good music.

What do you do for a living? Do you find it interesting?

Currently I’m an unemployed college student (which sucks for a gamer), studying Psychology, which I love.

Once I’m done with it, I’m possibly planning on becoming a Psychologist (a.k.a. “shrink”). I’d love to get in the game industry, as games have been an integral part of my life akin to breathing and walking, but I’m not entirely sure how that could happen… We’ll see though. Life’s a constant surprise isn’t it?

If you could change one thing about The Escapist, what would it be?

Wouldn’t change anything, would add, one of two things: EscapistCon with gaming tournaments included and/or more developer interviews.

Apart from that I don’t think I would change anything that is already here.

Do you like bacon?

Trick question. I’m a guy, therefore the only right answer is “yes”. Possibly yelled out with a manly face.

If someone gave you a million US Dollars, tax free, and you were required to spend it instead of investing, what would you spend it on?

Obvious answer: Gaming stuff.

More detailed: Well, possibly get my own place somewhere, nothing huge, and a small car, then spend most of the rest on a killer gaming rig and game library, get some gifts around to some special people, and… I don’t know. Don’t think there would be much left. Possibly send a box full of adorable tiny baby kittens and a hidden camera to Susan just to see the reaction. Admit it, it would be priceless.

Many thanks to Caliostro for letting me shine the spotlight on him!

If you would like to nominate someone for an upcoming Community Member Spotlight, feel free to let me (That is, Kuliani) know through a PM! When nominating, please tell us why this user deserves to be in the next Community Member Spotlight and provide links if possible.