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MEET OUR STAFF |
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Rick Wallace - Site Owner
/ Editor In Chief / Site Founder |
| Manheim, PA |
| Favorite Games: RACING,
PLATFORMERS, SPORTS and FPS |
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| I founded XXLGaming in the
spring of 2005 in order for myself and a few
online friends to have a fun place to compete
playing Forza 2. The medium allowed me to learn
ASP and mySQL from the ground up. As of October
2009 I was awarded the Microsoft MVP award for my
contributions to the Xbox Community. Over the
years I have written several reviews, attended
game preview/review events and met many people in the
industry including celebrities. My goal for XXLGaming is to provide a great source of Xbox
related information from news to reviews. I want
members and non members to find XXL a valuable
source for their gaming information needs. |
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Randy Wallace - Review Editor /
News |
| Mountville, PA |
| Favorite Games: FPS, RPG,
RACING |
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I currently work for R.R. Donnelley & Sons in Lancaster, Pa as a Press Assistant. Throughout the years, I have owned and/or played on gaming systems ranging from the Odyssey (yes, some of you might remember those) to the Atari 2600 and Colecovision up to my currently owned Xbox 360. I wouldn’t mind having a PS3 for the exclusive titles, but don’t see that as justification to spend that money.
My brother is the proud owner of XXLGaming and I joined the site back in April, 2008 to see what it was that he created. Over that time, I watched the site grow and prosper into what it has become now, and I am always waiting to see where it goes in the future. My current duties with the site are writing reviews, posting news articles, and keeping the game databases as current as possible. These duties combined with my job provide little time for leisure gaming, but I squeeze in some gaming time when I can.
My current genres of choice are first person shooters, RPG’s, and racing games. Although I may not be the best, especially when it comes to the shooter games, I always enjoy going on to help others boost their kill/death ration. I can be reached on Xbox Live through my gamertag, by PM here on XXLGaming, or by email at randy@xxlgaming.com |
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Chuck McGee - Review
Editor / Site Founder |
| Urbana, Maryland |
| Favorite Games: Racing,
Sports, RPGs, Strategy and Adventure Games |
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| I have been hanging around
with Rick since roughly the start of Xbox Live
when he and I were involved at a former league
gaming site together. I came to XXL soon after he
put up the face of the building in 2005 under the
name FastandForza. I am considered one of the
older gamers in the community and have been
involved in games since my first Magnavox Odyssey
2 game system. I have been involved with the site
for everything from the website graphics,
including the current XXL logo, to league
commissioner, to forum admin, and now to staff
editor. |
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Ira Yamchuk - Review Editor /
News |
| Lancaster, PA |
| Favorite Games: FPS, RPG,
RACING |
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| I have worked in the video
game industry for 11 years , ranging from store
sales to opening and operating stores. I can
definitely say I have had my hand in the many
jars of the video game industry. I met Rick and
Randy at the store a little more than a year ago
and we have been friends ever since. I really
appreciate the opportunity to work at
XXLGAMING.COM as you dont get a chance like this
everyday or even a life time. I'm very thankful
to Rick for the job. I play a ton of games, all
different types , but if I where stranded on an
island and could only play one game it would be
a Halo title. The only things that keep me
grounded and keep me from getting totally taken
away by games is my wife Jennifer and my two
children Jacob and Zoe. I'm just glad that they
accept and understand how important videos games
are to me. |
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Joe Govan - NCAA
Football League / General Site Adminstrator / Site
Founder |
| Ladson, South Carolina |
| Favorite Games: ??? |
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My name is Joe Govan and I
have been with XXL for approximately four years. I
am known mostly by my online friends as "Biggy." I
enjoy playing all types of games, but I mostly
enjoy the sports. My gamertag is made up of the
phrase BigTyme because when something happens,
they usually follow it by saying big time. Such
as, "Man, you got me big time on that run. "The
number 21 is from Kevin Garnetts number when he
was in Minnesota with the Timberwolves.
Of all of the systems that I own, I probably enjoy
the Xbox the most due to its online function. Xbox
Live has introduced to me to a whole new group of
gamers that for the most part have become friends.
I have over 90 friends on my friends list and I
keep in contact with over half of them in one way
or the other. A good bit of those friends have
came from XXL.
I am married with no children. My wife joins me in
the gaming scene by playing her DSi, DS Lite, or
we play the Wii together. Every now and then we
jam on Rock Band together. I am an ASQ Certified
Quality Tech and I just passed my examination for
an Eddy Current Testing Level II Tech. Quality is
the job market I am in but I also supervise
approximately 12 guards for a private firm on the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in
Charleston, SC.
I pride myself on the sim style of gaming that I
play. If you are ever up to a sim challenge, feel
free to get with me. I run the NCAA league on the
site when there is enough participation. |
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Kevin Smith - Madden Online
Franchise / General Site Administrator / Site
Founder |
| Wylie, Texas |
| Favorite
Games: Pitfall (2600); Bionic Commando, Techmo
Super Bowl, and Zelda (NES); Blast Corps (N64);
Doom, FPS Football, Duke Nukem 3D, Command and
Conquer Red Alert, and Tie Fighter (PC) |
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I joined XXL shortly after
the launch of the 360 in 2006. I was determined to
obtain a 360 on launch day. I got up at 2 am to
get in a line and freeze with 15 other people
while we waited for Circuit City to open. It was
absolutely worth it!
I was the Madden Commissioner for 10 seasons, and
participated in the Madden Leagues for 14 total
seasons. I created and put in place much of the
framework that is utilized in the Madden Leagues
today. The Madden Leagues are now under the
tutelage of The Dude 419, and are truly world
class. If you are looking for a competitive, sim
style football league, I would encourage you to
contact The Dude 419.
I remember playing pong as a child, but first fell
in love with my Atari 2600. Gaming systems
progressed to a NES, Super Nintendo, N64, GameCube,
Dreamcast, Xbox and finally the Xbox 360.
I now serve as a General Site Administrator and
assist with the XXL Madden On-Line Franchise. Feel
free to send me a PM for any questions or
suggestions. I will be glad to assist. |
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Ryan Shoemaker - Tiger
Woods League |
| Ohio |
| Favorite Games: Forza 2 &
3, Tiger Woods Golf, and Mass Effect |
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I am the owner of Galaxy CDS, an Independent Record Store in southwestern Ohio. I’ve been a gamer since the original Atari 2600, which clearly gives away my age bracket. I currently game primarily on the Xbox 360, though I do own a PS3. Sony would probably not be pleased to know that I mostly have used my PS3 to play just Uncharted and Uncharted 2, as I much prefer the 360.
My gaming focus has narrowed over the years, and now consists mostly of racing titles, RPG’s, and Tiger Woods Golf. I’ll sometimes buy games like Call of Duty, and spend most of my time getting killed, so if you’d like to boost your kill ratio watch for me online.
I originally joined XXL to participate in the Tiger Woods Tour Pro mode golf leagues as it was difficult to find matches online. Somehow I was promoted from just being a player, and I am now the admin for the golf league. It’s my goal to post news every day on the league home page on the day following any league action, and to post a recap each week. Hopefully the regular updates keep the leagues fresh and interesting for our players.
My work at XXL has also involved writing some news articles and game reviews, an area I’d like to do more of as time and need permits. The store I own also provides Xbox 360 game sales fulfillment for XXL members. I can be reached via Xbox Live via my gamertag, by PM here at XXL, or by email at galaxycds@gmail.com. |
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Mitch Karacson- Madden Green
League Commish |
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Hicksville, OH |
| Favorite
Games: Left 4 Dead, Modern Warfare (Current Gen),
Socom series from the PS2 not the crappy PS3
version, Ratchet and Clank series, Legend of Zelda
series |
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I have been at XXL gaming
since shortly after getting my 360 about 6 months
after the launch of the 360. I was looking for a
NCAA league and found this site, have been playing
NCAA, Madden, and Forza leagues here ever since.
I currently run the Madden league, I took over for
Playmkr when he stepped down from the commish
position. So it is his baby but he took me under
his wing and showed me how to run a successful
Madden league. I also help PM run an online
franchise that involves members of XXL.
I play all kinds of video games doesn't really
matter what genre it is or what system it is on if
it looks fun I will at least try it. |
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Bruce Stumbo - General Site
Administrator / Site Founder |
| Phoenix, Arizona |
| Favorite Games: ??? |
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Bruce is our site admin at large. He found XXLGaming while looking for a Forza
racing league and came across FastandForza.com in 2005. After participating in the
league for several months he took over as the League Admin and ran the Forza
League for several seasons. Bruce is currently in and out of the USA due to
work so he is away from his Xbox360 much more than he'd like but he remains as
active as he can be!
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John Harless - General Site
Administrator / Site Founder |
| Tampa, Florida |
| Favorite
Games: RPG's and Adventure Games |
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I'm proud to say that I
have been with XXL from the start. I met Rick out
on the lake fishing in Pro Fishing Challenge on
the original Xbox while participating at another
gaming site.
I Have been gaming since I could hold a
controller. My parents bought a Nintendo for
themselves and soon found me playing it at all
hours of the night. I couldn't get enough. Now
instead of sitting on the couch playing alone, I
have XXL members to play with via Xbox Live. I
can't say I'm the best gamer, but I always enjoy
playing and I try to help out whenever possible
where ever possible. |
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