TriXie Interviews MwCGamers.com
The other day I got an email (see sidebar) from MindTr4p, one of the founders of MwCGamers.com. I checked out the site and was very impressed. This is a group of gamers who are all married with kids. They've got a nice news page, a calendar of events, and very active forums. I especially dig the cool map that shows where everyone lives. I talked to MindTr4p, superduty65, and Loc76 for a bit to get the scoop about this community site. Here's what went down.
TriXie: Where are you all from?
superduty65: Braselton, Georgia.
MindTr4p: Trinity, Florida.
loc76: Bealeton, Virginia.
TriXie: How long have you been married and how many kids do you have?
superduty65: Married ten years. My daughter is 14 months old.
MindTr4p: Married six years. I have two boys: Chase is five and Hunter is three.
loc76: Six years in May. Two kids, girl is nine and the boy is four.
TriXie: Are your kids gamers?
superduty65: She is in training. She likes to hold her controller and sit in my lap when I play.
MindTr4p
MindTr4p: Chase is into video games and likes to play Lego® Star Wars® and Star Wars Battlefront™ II. We also like to play the adventure games together where we get the accompanied strategy guide. Chase likes to navigate with the maps and learn about the level bosses, and of course he lets me tackle the tough areas.
TriXie: What does MWC offer that other community sites don't?
loc76: Understanding. MWC understands that gaming should be fun and should be hassle-free. It also understands that you have a lot on your plate and that sometimes gaming has to take a backseat to the responsibilities of life and that's okay.
MindTr4p: I don't really think that it's the offerings that define a community; it's more of the members and the personality that is presented by the community that make it worthwhile.
TriXie: Do you have any restrictions for MWC membership?
superduty65: We try and stick to the Spouse, Parent, Gamer idea we started with. Everyone understands if you drop out of a game in the middle because your kid is crying or the better half was asking for help with the little ones. We never pressure anyone to play certain games at certain times. If you want to join in you're always welcome. If a room is full then someone usually starts up a second or even third room if needed.
TriXie: What's your take on kids, violence, and video games?
MindTr4p: Bringing out the tough questions, huh? For me, it all comes down to the level of participation in your kids' lives. As a parent, I know which games my kids are playing and which movies they are watching. It's not a control factor, it's an awareness factor. I'm not going to buy my kid Grand Theft Auto, he's going to play games that are for his age level. I grew up on video games and I turned out half all right :)
superduty65: I think it's the parent's responsibility to monitor what their kids are playing and decide what is and what isn't appropriate for them to play. If a kid wants to play Halo® 2 then I don't see a problem with it as long as they know it's just a game. I think society today looks for other things to blame for how kids act instead of looking where the problems really start. I don't agree with games that glorify crime and make it seem OK not to respect the police.
TriXie: What Xbox® game is the best for playing with kids?
loc76: Lego Star Wars. When is that sequel coming out?
superduty65: Lego Star Wars.
MindTr4p: Now this is only because Chase is ten years away from his driver's license, but he really enjoys Burnout Revenge™ and we will sit there and take turns and even play the split screen.
TriXie: Is there anything else you think Xbox could do to help kids and families game safely?
superduty65: I think Xbox does a great job with the online gaming. I think parents need to monitor their kids a little more closely to make sure they are treating other people with respect.
MindTr4p: It would be cool if there were family-oriented games that focused on family competitions such as Family Feud and so forth, where the entire family can interact together in tournaments against other families.
loc76: Maybe an e-mail newsletter directed towards parents. When you sign up for an Xbox Live® account, throw in the parent's e-mail as well. Similar to what schools do with grades, something for the parents so they know what is going on.
TriXie: Do the kids participate in your forums?
superduty65: Not in the actual forums, but we have started a kids night on Sunday afternoons for the members kids to game online with each other without being exposed to some of the harsh language that occurs in the general population.
TriXie: Have any of MWC members met in real life?
superduty65
superduty65: We have had several members meet in real life. There were a few of the guys that met and hung out while waiting to pick up their Xbox 360™ consoles the night they were released. We have a couple that met on the site that is currently dating as well.
MindTr4p: MwC spans over 45 U.S. States and seven countries and more and more members are meeting up with one another. I just found out that one of our new members is in the same zip code as me.
loc76: A few have gotten together on business trips and also for the Xbox 360 launch.
TriXie: Any big MWC get-togethers planned for the future?
loc76: Our first annual convention is being held in Tennessee. Around late June, after school gets out for the kids.
MindTr4p: Are you asking this because you want to be invited? :)
TriXie: Well yeah! That's Elvis country! Okay, first video game played, best game of all time, and current fave … Go!
superduty65: Pong, DOOM, Perfect Dark Zero™.
MindTr4p: Pitfall, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Far Cry: Instincts™.
loc76: Pole Position II, Contra, Perfect Dark Zero.
loc76
TriXie: Nicely done! I love what you guys are doing with your site and community. Anything else you want to add?
superduty65: I would like to thank all the people that make the MWC site what it is. There are several others that contribute a lot of time helping with the site itself and hosting our various games and tournaments. I know we forget to say thanks sometimes and I don't want any of them to ever feel they are not appreciated. Thanks guys and gals for all you do.
loc76: Thanks to everyone at Xbox Live for giving me this community and thanks to everyone in the community who has in turn given me a great Xbox Live experience!
MindTr4p: I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for the chance for our small community to be in the spotlight and although only three members were interviewed, all of the members deserve the spotlight because the community would not exist if the members did not come back every day and play every night together. The excitement about you taking the time to come to our site and register and even post a topic has stirred so much excitement and for that I am thankful. You are always welcomed back.
TriXie: Thanks! I'll see you in Tennessee—we're going to Graceland, right? Right? Hello? Anyway, if you've got a ball and chain and a rug rat or two, definitely go check out MwCGamers.com. Check it out even if you're unencumbered; it's so cool it'll make you want to settle down and have babies just so you can be part of it.
