The Xbox LIVE Community Team talks Games...and stuff

Gamer Spotlight: Zoom Demon

Meet Zoom Demon, the co-organizer of the Halo 3 Fight Like a Girl Tournament which provides money for breast and cervical cancer research. Sign up and put your love for gaming to a good cause!

KP: What’s the story behind your Gamertag?
Zoom Demon: It’s from a 23-minute long Smashing Pumpkins song that was split into many sections. I chose two sections and put them together to create Zoom Demon. I’m a huge Pumpkins fan.

Zoom Demon.

KP: Where do you live?
Zoom Demon: Fresno, California.

KP: What do you do for work/school?
Zoom Demon: I am a billing technician/oversight for a mental health clinic. Basically, I deal with money and keep an eye on people.

KP: There’s a mad money joke in there somewhere. What’s the worst or weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Zoom Demon: Worst job has to be a courtesy clerk for a local grocery store. Fetching carts while fully dressed in black slacks, dress shoes, dress shirt, and a bright red apron in 100+ degree weather was a nightmare.

KP: How long have you been on Xbox LIVE?
Zoom Demon: Since Halo 2 was released, November 2004.

KP: Do you have an archenemy on Xbox LIVE, and if so, who?
Zoom Demon: Yes, I do. Her name is RaHikaru.

KP: Sounds menacing. What’s your Xbox setup like? Big screen TV?
Zoom Demon: I wish! I have a 27-inch tube TV with default speakers. I’m accepting any HDTV donations.

KP: Sorry, gave all of mine to the Salvation Army. What’s the best feature of Xbox LIVE?
Zoom Demon: Other than the obvious multiplayer, I would say parties. It’s nice to be able to chat with friends even though we might be playing separate games.

KP: What is your favorite multiplayer Xbox game?
Zoom Demon: Halo 3! So many options, so many good times.

1, 2, 3, 4 …

KP: What is your favorite single-player Xbox game?
Zoom Demon: Rock Band. Even though it’s multiplayer-focused, I love to play drums, even when no one else is around to play.

KP: What do you think is the best game of all time?
Zoom Demon: Halo: Combat Evolved. I may be a little biased.

KP: Biased towards TRUTH. What do you think is the best film of all time?
Zoom Demon: That is an impossible question to answer. I’ll just tell you the best film I’ve seen this year: UP.

KP: I saw it in 3-D, no big deal. What do you think is the best album of all time?
Zoom Demon: Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins.

KP: Rock Band or Guitar Hero?
Zoom Demon: I love them both equally. I do favor Rock Band if I am playing drums, and Guitar Hero if I am playing the guitar.

KP: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever heard on Xbox LIVE?
Zoom Demon: Hearing “Wooooowwwww ….” from the hardcore Halo players. It is pretty amusing.

KP: What is your greatest Xbox LIVE moment?
Zoom Demon: I am the co-organizer of the Fight Like A Girl Halo charity tournament. Every October for the past 4 years, gamers have come together to help raise money for breast and cervical cancer research. My greatest moment is organizing and running FLAG year after year.

KP: Funny you should mention that; we just so happen to have a page about FLAG. What’s your favorite TV show?
Zoom Demon: The Amazing Race. I really want to be a racer!

KP: Must be at least this amazing to apply. Who is your inner rock star?
Zoom Demon: Melissa Auf der Maur. She is cool, laid back, and multi-talented.

KP: What’s your karaoke song?
Zoom Demon: “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon.

KP: Favorite cartoon character?
Zoom Demon: Bugs Bunny.

KP: What superpower would you like to have?
Zoom Demon: I would like the ability to fly so I go anywhere, anytime, for free.

KP: If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be?
Zoom Demon: The President.

KP: What celebrity would be the worst roommate?
Zoom Demon: Britney Spears.

KP: How many people are on your Friends List?
Zoom Demon: Always at 100.

KP: Ms. Popular. Who’s your favorite superhero?
Zoom Demon: Spider-Man.

KP: 90s cartoon show Spider-Man was the best. If they made a movie about your life, who should play you?
Zoom Demon: Jennifer Connelly.

Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in action.

KP: Hot celeb you’d like to be stranded on a desert island with?
Zoom Demon: Johnny Depp.

KP: If you could be any video game character, who would it be?
Zoom Demon: Master Chief!

KP: Hopefully you skip the painful genetic alterations. What’s the worst food you’ve ever eaten?
Zoom Demon: Sushi. How do you people eat that stuff?

KP: Chopsticks. What’s the first video game you ever played?
Zoom Demon: I’m not entirely sure. I think PAC-MAN or Galaga in an arcade.

KP: What’s the last book you read?
Zoom Demon: Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Picked it up at a used book store, not bad.

KP: If you could go on tour with any band, which would it be?
Zoom Demon: Smashing Pumpkins. I practically do already.

KP: That’s pretty cool. What do you predict will be the “next big thing” in gaming?
Zoom Demon: Mind reading. It might be a few decades off, but I know it’s coming!

KP: We know you know it’s coming … the prototypes told us. What do you think is the best thing about Xbox 360?
Zoom Demon: Achievements. I’m not going to lie, I enjoy hearing the achievement unlocked sound. I’m always checking to see which achievements I need to get. A game doesn’t feel complete if there are still achievements to obtain.

KP: What is the Xbox 360 achievement that was hardest to get?
Zoom Demon: Completing all of the Veteran achievements for Call of Duty 2. There were many angry moments.

KP: We don’t speak of that title in my household. Too many broken controllers. What would you like to be doing in ten years?
Zoom Demon: Hopefully owning my own business/non-profit. My back-up plan is to work in the entertainment industry where I get to travel around the world on business.

Interview by KP