GoNintendo 'End of day' thoughts - An interview with a true gamer: Playboy.com's 2008 'Cyber Girl of the Year', Jo Garcia

The birds are chirping…that means it’s about time for me to turn in. Picked up a bunch of games at GameStop last night, but haven’t had the chance to play any! Here’s to hoping for a calm weekend that can be filled with Lego Indiana Jones! I’ll catch you guys in a few hours…have a great Thursday (insert time here)!

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You know how I guys often take a few minutes to thank you for all that you do related to GoNintendo? The visits, the comments…emails…and all that good stuff? Well, here’s one more reason I have to thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would have never gotten to interview Playboy.com’s 2008 ‘Cyber Girl of the Year’, Jo Garcia. I managed to get involved with Playboy, all through GoNintendo. What a strange and wonderful world it is.

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about Jo Garcia on the site. An interview popped up not too long ago that discussed Jo’s appreciation for video games. The interview was great, but I wondered if it was the real deal. Was Jo Garcia really a gamer at heart? Little did I know that I would have the opportunity to ask her myself.

Having conducted this interview, I can say that, without a doubt, Jo Garcia knows her gaming. I think you’ll pick up on her gaming roots within the first few questions of the interview. This girl knows her gaming, and she definitely knows RPGs a lot better than I do! If anyone was worthy of the ‘Cyber Girl of the Year’ award, Jo is it.

Huge thanks to Jared at Playboy for this opportunity, and Jo for taking the time out of her day to participate. Now…on with the interview!

RMC: How long have you been playing games for?

JG: I’ve been playing games since I was young. I remember playing Atari, ColecoVision and Nintendo with my dad as a kid. I’ve always enjoyed playing video games because it was a good way to bond with my dad.

RMC: What made you get into gaming?

JG: I would have to say my dad. I don’t think I would have ever gotten turned on to it if we didn’t have it at home. My parents were pretty strict about me going over to other people’s houses, so playing games at home with my dad was the start of my beautiful friendship with gaming!

RMC: I hear you are a big fan of the Nintendo DS. What are some of your favorite games?

JG: Lunar: Dragon Song, Final Fantasy III, Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol, Big Brain Academy, Age of Empires: The Age of Kings, Brain Age

RMC: What is it about the DS that you love?

JG: I love that you have two screens to play on — one being a touch-active screen and the other being the actual gameplay screen. It’s nice that you have control of the game without always having to push buttons, like in “Brain Age.” I love playing Sudoku in “Brain Age.” Playing Sudoku under normal conditions using a controller, you have to move the arrow over and cycle through the numbers to get to the number you want. With the DS, you treat it like a Palm Treo and just write the number you want right on the screen. No button pushing necessary!

RMC: From what I’ve read, you love RPGs! What DS RPGs have you played?

JG: I have played several DS RPGs. I tinker with “Lunar: Dragon Song” when I’m not messing around with “Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII” on my PSP. I bought “Final Fantasy III” for my DS, but won’t touch it until I’m done with Lunar.

RMC: Have you gotten a chance to play the Wii yet?

JG: I waited a couple of hours in line to buy a Wii when it first came out. I have it at home and love it! I haven’t gotten around to buying many games for it yet, as there are too many systems right now and not enough time to enjoy them all! However, I did buy “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” when I bought the Wii. It was so bad for my health though! I seriously couldn’t stop playing it! There is still one thing about that game that has me wonder, though: what does spanking bulls and cows in order to return them to their pens have to do with classic Zelda? That game should have an NC-17 rating…just kidding.

RMC: What would you say to people that claim that gaming is just for guys/nerds?

JG: I have nothing to say to people that claim that gaming is just for guys/nerds, because they are not true gamers and don’t know any better! A real gamer knows that the hunger can strike at any time. It’s like a calling from the guy upstairs; it knows no gender, it must be answered, and Wii must play!