Ladies and gents, here is the very first interview on zaamit.com with a very special gamer, Microsoft MVP, unique member of the Xbox Community and long time fan of Xbox.
Please welcome DeaconBlade 360!
Z: Can you introduce yourself? Who’s the man behind the Gamertag?
D: I'm Deacon. I'm the host of a podcast show called Unscripted 360. I'm just a gamer with as real a life as everyone else. Bills, rent , car payment.. The whole nine.
Z: How old are you? How long have you been a gamer for?
D: I'm 32 and I've been gaming for about 30 of those years seriously. I like to think that I was flicking my baby rattler in a manner that I was trying to win by shaking it so much to annoy my parents. I succeeded on many an occasion as I'm told.
Z: How did you choose your Xbox Live Gamertag?
D: Well I was once called Racivius Dawn but I got sick of people hitting on me on Xbox Live so I decided to pick my favorite movie and change it. Blade starring Wesley Snipes is one of my favorite movies so I took the main characters and merged them. Deacon Frost and Blade = DeaconBlade. The 360 on the end is for added flavor.
Z: Oh cool, I have enjoyed that movie too. Both, actually. How long have you been involved in the Xbox Community?
D: I've been involved since a few months before the original Xbox launched. I've been keeping up with things and sharing what I know since way back then.
Z: What’s your real life job?
D: I work in a brokerage firm here in the downtown area of Dallas. I'm not a broker so I don't make the big bucks. But it pays the bills so I can't complain.
Z: How many consoles do you own? Which one do you play the most?
D: I own a Dreamcast, Xbox and Xbox 360. So that's 3. I play the Xbox 360 the most of course.
Z: Wise choice. First console you’ve owned?
D: Nintendo 64
Z: Best console of all times?
D: It's hard to say really. I'd have to say I got a lot of enjoyment out of my Dreamcast but as things progress naturally the Xbox 360 shatters all others before it.
Z: Best game of all times?
D: Halo: Combat Evolved but I have to give an old school nod to Shinobi. (not many will remember that)
Z: I don’t indeed. Guess I’ll have to check it out! Worst game of all times?
D: That's a tough one as I've played many bad games. I can't pick one.
Z: Worst job you’ve ever done?
D: I was in Kuwait and I had to clean the port-a-potties.
Z: You were awarded the 2007 Xbox MVP Reward. Why/how do you think it happened?
D: I would think that it had something to do with my involvement in the Xbox Community for all these years. I try to be one of the people within the community that people can respect and believe what I say when I comment on something.
Someone took notice of it and recommended me for the award and I was selected. It's one of the high points of everything I've done for sure.
Z: You were also awarded the Community Member of the year Award by GTR for 2007! Did you expect it by any chance?
D: No. Not at all. In fact, before the award was announced and Godfree told me about it, I asked him a few times to be serious and not do me any favors. He assured me it was legit. I was surprised that I was even known so the entire thing was quite a shock. It's definitely another one of the high points of being involved in the community. There's nothing like knowing that the community respects and appreciates the things you do.
Z: What do you do as an Xbox MVP that we may know of?
D: Well to be honest the program doesn't require you to do anything outside of what you've always done. You're expected to just continue doing what got you into the program and that's what I continue to do.
Z: And you do it amazingly well. How much time do you spend on the official Xbox.com forums? Do you regularly visit other Xbox related Communities, too?
D: I spend quite a bit of time there. I have a pretty great job that allows you to take breaks from the job at times and get “social†so I keep up with things there. I do visit other communities as well. I'm not as active in others though because it truly is a time killer spending so much time on Xbox.com and naturally on my own site.
Z: How many hours do you play per day?
D: Geez. It's hard to even say because I don't play everyday. I think it would estimate out to about 2 hours a day though.
Z: Can you describe your gaming setup?
D: I have a 52 " HDTV with an RCA surround sound system. I game in my living room right on the couch.
Z: 52! I am jealous! How does the life of Deacon go outside the office?
D: Well I spend all day with my 3 year old daughter. I cook, clean and relax around the house or with family. And ofcourse I get my game on as well when I'm not in the office.
Z: What would you like to be doing in 10 years?
D: I'd like to be on TV somewhere representing the gaming community or with a radio show doing the same thing or working for Microsoft doing the same thing.
Z: Can you tell us something about Unscripted 360? What can we find there?
D: Unscripted 360 has a lot of community news and general gaming news. You can find pretty much everything there from contests, screenshots, videos and other good gaming fun.
Z: Why did you start your podcasts? Did you expect all the success?
D: I started it because of the community really. I frequent it so much so that I felt like the soap opera that it was deserved to be talked about. So I came up with the podcast. I had no idea it would be what it has managed to be. I was really quite shocked and still am. I'm really honored that people download and listen to the show.
Z: Would you still be podcasting if you were doing it for just a bunch of people?
D: Of course. I always consider it as doing it for just a few friends as opposed to how many people actually listen to it. I do the podcast as if a few friends are right in the basement with me. It really wouldn't matter if one person listened as long as they listened.
Z: Why did you start doing showcases to regular Community members?
D: Everyone wants a little shine ya know. There are a lot of members in the community and they all deserver some sort of recognition for simply being a part of it.
Z: Yeah, I know something about that actually 
So, what do you like the most about the Xbox 360?
D: I like the dashboard the most. I've always said that. The one thing above all else that sold me on it was the dashboard.
Z: Same question, but talking about Xbox Live?
D: I like the community aspect of it the most. It allows you to socialize with people around the world.
Z: And what about the Xbox Community in general?
D: I'd have to say the passion of it. The Xbox Community has a bunch of passionate people in it from the members of the Xbox Team to the gamers like you and me.
Z: Any other passions in your real life?
D: Well if I had to choose one I'd say web design. I've been doing that for a while and I still do it my spare time when I'm not gaming, kicking it with my daughter or recording the show.
Z: Nice, must keep that in mind for my future projects. Thanks very much for your time Deac! Game on!
D: Thanks for the support and interview my friend!
