July's Contributor of the MonthAugust 10, 2012 by

At IGN, there's plenty of great content being constantly produced by our wiki community, but it's not always easy to figure out who all these unsung heroes are. Contributor of the Month is just one way to spotlight people who've demonstrated extraordinary dedication to a wiki (or multiple ones), and who is just a stellar community member overall. While anyone (including you!) can create and populate wikis with information, not everyone does. It takes an individual with both an eye for quality and a fiery passion for the subject matter. Every month many users gain our attention as well as the attention of the community, but only one gets voted in by the community to become that month's Contributor of the Month. This month, I am pleased to introduce Jensen Ackles-- I mean, all_hope_is_gone as July's Contributor of the Month!

July's Contributor of the Month is: all_hope_is_gone

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I'm a Canadian gamer, with a knack for completing games by getting all the achievements. It's a bit of an O.C.D. Other than that I enjoy playing guitar, hanging with my friends and watching Television. I do my best to keep active on IGN, seeing how I've been signed up since 2008 and only recently being very active. Never knew such a great community existed. Comics are another thing I fancy. Deadpool FTW!

You mentioned you recently became very active. Any specific impetus for this surge in activity?

I think a big part of it was the change in the IGN interface and layout over the years. I suppose I could say I like how it's like a hybrid of Facebook and Twitter. Lately I've been quite fond of writing blogs that interest me, and I hope interest the rest of the community. I took a while to get use to doing, but it's something I enjoy doing, usually on a weekly basis. I'm a busy guy.

all_hope_is_gone is an interesting username. What was the inspiration? 

The main idea behind my username comes from the metal band "Slipknot." If you're familiar with the group you might know their fourth studio album and title track "All Hope Is Gone." But also with the earlier Resident Evil 6 teases "No Hope Left" I don't mind a name association with the video game. :D

I’m familiar with Slipknot! I haven’t listened to them since the second album years ago though. Are they still a 9-man band and has the lead singer’s voice died yet?

Well sadly last year their bassist past away. I think they would always consider themselves a nine member band though spiritually. Corey Taylor is still rocking hard as ever. Him and fellow guitarist Jim Root also have a band called "Stone Sour." More of an alternative rock sound, but just as great. I recommend you all to check out Slipknot' new stuff. Even you Steph, last you heard was the album "Iowa" and that was insanely hardcore. They have toned down sadistic screaming and harsh lyrics. "Volume 3. The Sublimal Verses" is in my opinion their best album!

Stephanie used to have posters of these guys. She frightened her mom with them.

If you could start your own band, what would you call it?

I've played guitar for about five years. I don't have as much time for it as I use to, but I still make time to play.  As for coming up with my own band name. I think it would have to be something that pays homage to video games. Maybe something along the lines of "Netherrealm" or "Shoryuken." I believe a lot of bands do this already, but I think I would follow suit.

What other music are you into? Do you prefer to listen to music live or digitally?

Personally I listen to it all. From Slipknot, to The Doors, all the way to groups like The Prodigy. Not big on rap or Country, but that doesn't mean their can't be any good tunes. Lately I've been listening to Poets of the Fall and Steam Powered Giraffe (a not so well known band.) And for the latter question, Ummm.... if the music is gonna be loud and heavy, I'd prefer it live cause it gets the adrenaline rushing. But anything I listen to that's calm and collective I'll take just listening to in my room over some speakers so I can relax. My feet tend to get sore at live events.

One of the first things I noticed about you was your avatar, which was of Jensen Ackles. Am I right to assume Supernatural is one of your favorite shows? What other TV shows do you enjoy watching?

Major fan of Supernatural. It is safe to say it is my favourite show. It's the only thing I really bother to tune into the CW for. It's confusing that it'll be aired on Wednesdays this season, take some getting used to. Other then that, I enjoy True Blood, Dexter, The Walking Dead, Futurama, and the occasional anime. Durarara! was the last great one I've seen. Also I cried like a baby when Chuck was over. I miss it so much... :'(

If you could reboot a show from your childhood, what would it be? And how would you make it relevant to our current generation?

Hmmm... I think the one I remember watching the most when I was young would probably be Scooby-Doo. I know they have come out with recent television shows about them, but nothing that's really true to the old series. The soundtrack is one of the things that stick out in my mind the most. The problem with trying to make it click with our generation is it will almost always turn into a show no one wants to watch because sometimes the developers try just a little too hard. I think if they stuck to the old capture the bad guy while hunting for clues format with updated animation it could probably survive. Otherwise it just should not be done.

You're one of the wiki gurus for Resident Evil 6. How excited are you for that game? What do you think about that awesome Leon Kennedy leather jacket replica worth over 1000 USD? 

I am very much excited for it's release on October 2nd! I've always been a fan of the series. I remember playing RE2 and me being very young, I'd always shut the N64 off while the door was opening for the loading screen. Them zombies were scary! And why did you have to mention that jacket! You know every Resident Evil fan wants one. It is one of the coolest pieces of merchandise I have ever seen for a video game. A dream for every fan. But for a steep price.

I can't read Japanese, but I think it says "Hell yeah, sexiness."

In your mind, what kinds of things would the ULTIMATE Resident Evil collector’s edition include? Get creative!

Oh lord! This is really a great question. Okay, so first off. It's gonna need to include alllllllll of the releases over the years. Even games like Survivor and Dead Aim. The games will come packaged in a box designed as an Umbrella briefcase, with both the T-virus and Anti-Virus at opposite corners of the box. It can include little trinkets we all enjoy, like stickers and patches and whatnot. It will include an aluminium steel alloy replica Jack Krauser' knife from RE4, and a HUNK gas mask.  Next for the HUGE items. A Resident Evil 4 replica of Leon' jacket, a replica S.T.A.R.S. vest designed for Chris Redfield, and an item for the ladies. Either a Jill Valentine beret or Ada Wong' red dress. And last but certainly not least! A life sized Nemesis statue to lurk in your home. That thing would seriously scare the crap out of me. They need to make this!!!

That sounds like the most expensive collector’s edition ever! What’s your policy on collector’s editions in general? Like, what does a collector’s edition have to (reasonably) have before you’re like, “YES, I MUST HAVE THAT!”

For the most part, if it's a game that I know I will want from the get-go, I will get the collectors edition just on principle. The major things that entice me to pick of the random ones though are the steelbook cases. Usually because they're more pretty then most regular crappy box art. Then there's statues. I like games that include a resin statue or a one of kind figure of the main character or some other main focus in the games universe. One last thing that usually catches my eye right away are prop replicas. I like things like masks or things that are displayed on a plaque. Some of my favourite editions that I have picked up are, Gears of War 3 Epic Edition, Mortal Kombat Kollectors Edition, and Assassins Creed II Limited Edition. All came with cool statues!

Can you discuss your thoughts on how the Resident Evil series has evolved since its inception on the first PlayStation?  Have the changes been positive or negative for you as a fan overall?

In my opinion, every game leading up to Resident Evil 5 have been a worthy entry in the Series. Resident Evil 2, and 3 are some of the greatest games to utilize "tank" controls. Resident Evil 4 though is where the series needed to be after the release of new platforms (PS2, Gamecube). It was scary, innovative, and overall a blast to play. I think they hit a wall after 4's release though. They seemed to copy and paste EVERYTHING from number 4 into 5 on Xbox 360. Sure it was pretty, but it was the exact same only with no survival or horror whatsoever. The most recent game to be released "Operation Raccoon City" was a flop critically, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Not the story per se, but the gameplay and online multiplayer was tons of fun. I think Capcom should take a cue to use that style online more, or go back to the years of Resident Evil Outbreak. So as of right now, I think most fans would say the series is on a steady decline. Resident Evil 6 sure looks like it can change that though, it really does look great.

As someone who’s worked quite a bit on the wikis now, what would you say to someone who’s thinking of starting out or being really negative about wikis?

To be honest, I used to be quite the negative nelly about wikis on IGN. I was always like "aren't there a million other sites like this, but with more info?" But then I go to guides such as The Witcher 2 and it's loaded with quest info and details for crafting items which I found very useful. Sure you could probably find it somewhere else by doing countless searches, but here on IGN it was all in one place, conveniently a click away. So for people who dislike them, disliking them might be the best way to get started xD. Just use your skills and knowledge as best as you can to keep it updated with the info gamers need, and the wiki surely succeed.

Hey, well thanks for being awesome! And also, happy early birthday! I believe it will be your birthday in a matter of days when this thing posts. ^_^ Yay!

Check out the previous Contributors of the Month:

If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or anything to say about this feature or in general, please feel free to holla.



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May's Contributor Challenge Results...FinallyJune 25, 2012 by

It's been a long time coming.

Before I get to it, I wanted to go over a little bit about how these things are done, how winners are selected, etc. etc. A lot of concerns were brought up to me regarding the selection of winners. I appreciate people trying to keep this as fair as possible -- and believe me, that is often a challenge in itself -- but ultimately the winners are selected at the editor's discretion...based on the following criteria:


The above was pulled from the official contest rules.

First and foremost, the number of edits puts possible candidates in the running for the top contributor. I'll look at the spread of edits over the top five or so contributors of that wiki. If there's a large gap between one contributor and another, the contributor with the higher number of edits naturally has an edge over the others. I then take the time to go over these edits and confirm that there was no funny business with fluffing up edits and/or adding filler. If they are all legitimate, quality edits, then it's all copacetic. Now the tricky part is crowning a top contributor between two (or sometimes even three) contributors whose edit counts hover in close proximity to each other. That brings me to my next criterium.


Was the content added informative or relevant? Did it add to the quality of the page? The judging of quality is far more subjective than objectively looking at numbers. This is the part where it's at my discretion to discern a quality edit from, well, a lower quality edit. There's undoubtedly a difference between taking the time to write up an entire page and making multiple edits -- whether it's to correct grammar, fix format, or add more details you previously forgot to include. Many would argue or even accuse other users of intentionally rigging their edits to reflect a high edit count for doing the latter, and these underhanded tactics are wholly transparent to me -- I will find them and those edits will be discounted. Other than that, anything helpful is fair game.

Because the whole working wiki machine is the sum of all these parts. A very well fleshed out page needs details added to it, needs a copy edit, may need more details, and may need some formatting to make the page visually appealing and readable. If someone is piggybacking on your edits and making small relevant changes to it, that doesn't mean that person's edits are null. The only thing I do not tolerate is plagiarism, which is the act of copying information from another source without proper citation. Plagiarists will simply be disqualified. Plagiarism doesn't win. Ever.

But back to the point about users making multiple minor edits that some might deem as filler. Keep in mind that the full-time editors and our trusted staff of moderators all take the time to make the most minor edits as well. And if someone takes the time to make more than 1,000 edits to proofread and make a page more accurate, coherent, and a valid reliable source for others then I'm all for it! It only means a better, quality wiki for the whole community. That's the magic of a collective force working on a common project.

That being said, I take the edit count, adjust it for the type of contributions/edits from the user, and make my decision from there. It's never easy to appease everyone, but I do my best. Since, you know, I'm only one human, I can easily miss something you might've not. If you think you can make a strong case for or against someone, I will hear you out. Or better yet if you have suggestions I'm always open to them as well.

Just remember that the ultimate prize should be the fuzzy, warm feeling inside that you helped cultivate a living, breathing wiki with your knowledge and expertise. :)

I hope that clears things up for everyone. Hit me in the comments with questions and such.

Now on to the winners...

Diablo 3


The Avengers

The Witcher 2

Now the top two contributors OVERALL during the contest were Conkerkid11 and 37Bruins!

Congratulations to everyone! Please go this page and flag it with your full name and address within 7 days to claim your prize. Remember that you must be a U.S. resident to be eligible for prizes.

Thanks all for your patience, and thank you to ALL of the contributors for making these wikis so awesome. Also do me a favor: if you edited a wiki and actually liked it, tell people about it -- what you liked about it, what you didn't, etc. etc. And let me know in the comments if you have suggestions on how to improve contest formats or anything in general!

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April's Contributor of the MonthMay 17, 2012 by

Now remember in a previous entry in which I introduced this monthly column that involves top or noteworthy contributors on the wiki front. Contributor of the Month is a special spotlight given to deserving members of the community. April's contributor has shown a penchant for editing wikis, and not only that; he consistently helps with new and emerging wikis, takes the initiative to create them, wags a stern finger at plagiarism, helps newcomers get settled with the notation, and drinks a bunch of coffee.

April's Contributor of the Month is KoffeeGuy!

A name like that just begs the question: Is coffee the secret to his superpower? Read on to find out.

Is it safe for me to assume you're a huge coffee aficionado?

KoffeeGuy: Yes, aficionado has a much nicer ring to it than snob. The first coffeehouse in my hometown opened up while I was in high school (a few years before Starbucks found our area). I walked in by myself and ordered my first espresso (straight up!) and the rest is history. I eventually landed my first job at that coffee house.

Awesome! About how many cups of coffee do you drink a day? 

KoffeeGuy: Typically no less than two, but I try to not go much beyond that either - I've definitely cut back.


Quite simply, you're a wiki rockstar! A lot of people don't get why people edit wikis, but people like us do. Can you describe the feeling you get from pouring your work into a community wiki? What drew you to wikis?

KoffeeGuy: It was initially greed that drew me to the wikis - I saw the Skyrim contributor challenge and a win seemed doable, so I dove in. What's kept me dedicated to the wikis is the good feeling that comes from creating and collaborating. I love to be able to provide information that someone else is going to find helpful down the road, and make sure that it's in as clear and easy to use / easy to understand format as possible. It's also nice to say I'm finally doing something with that English degree I'm still paying off.

Totally agree with you there. I bet the guy who volunteered his time to Wikipedia and made 1 million edits to their wikis could relate – did you hear about that? How much time would you say you spend playing games or other internet-y things versus editing wikis? And how do you find the time to balance it all?

KoffeeGuy: Not sure I'd want to see a total number of edits I've made to IGN wikis. Wiki editing is kind of a go to when I've got a few minutes here and there -  I'll clean up other people's recent edits or add new info that's come out in trailers or articles.  When I work on wikis from games I'm playing or TV shows I'm watching, that's definitely more of a time commitment that takes away from casual game time or other things, but I really enjoy it. I've definitely had to make sure i still take time to just play games for fun, but even then I find myself thinking about what I might add to a wiki.

You've edited a vast number of wikis over the past couple of months -- so much, in fact, that the IGN Wikis team noticed your dedication and made you a Wiki Moderator. Which wiki would you say was the most fun to work on? What about your proudest?

KoffeeGuy: I'm probably proudest of the Once Upon a Time wiki, as it's probably my best, most complete work. I wasn't even that big a fan of the show when I started cleaning up another user's edits, but I got to thinking about how complex the structure and fairy tale lore of the show is and what kinds of things a wiki could do with it. So it's been a lot of fun digging deeper into the show and piecing it together for the wiki. I've also really enjoyed working on the Rayman Origins and Joe Danger Special Edition Wikis - that's me playing in all the videos on those wikis, and I hope to eventually finish them.

Do you generally drink or eat while you game?

KoffeeGuy: If I say yes are you going to use the Homer in his underwear picture? (I'm not saying that's not accurate). [Ed's note: He is referring to the picture I used to depict LeCambrioleur in an earlier post.] I of course drink coffee when I'm gaming. I don't eat much when I'm gaming because it's hard to eat and have a controller or 3DS in your hand...and snack foods tend to get gross stuff on the controllers. I do tend do a lot of wiki editing while I eat breakfast though.

What game are you looking forward to most this year?

KoffeeGuy: Probably Assassin's Creed III - I'm excited to see what they do with the Colonial time period. I'm also really anxious to see what gets announced at E3 for 3DS and Wii U.

E3 is certainly an exciting time to be a gamer. What specifically are you hoping to hear from Nintendo’s press conference? Do you plan on adopting the Wii U on day one?

KoffeeGuy: I've come to Nintendo pretty late in life, so I don't really have the strong attachments to franchises that a lot of people do, so I'm always excited when a new entry comes out with good reviews and I get to experience a franchise for the first time. Frankly I'd probably be just as thrilled if they announced a new Picross or Elite Beat Agents as I'd be with a new Zelda (yes, I realize how lame that makes me sound). As far as being a day one Wii U adopter, it'll depend on pricing and launch line-up.

Which 2012 game has so far captured your heart?

I'm all about puzzle games, so Fez is definitely right up my alley.

A cute and awesome 2D/3D platformer!

Dude, Fez is pretty special! It’s not easy to find truly awesome modern puzzle games, or maybe I’m just not looking in the right places. Portal 2, Braid, and Catherine come to mind for really great puzzle games. Any other recommendations?

KoffeeGuy: Braid is probably my all time favorite XBLA game. As far as other recent puzzle releases, Pushmo is the one that comes to mind - it's a pretty amazing game for only $5 or $6.

Be honest: did you feel the impulse to edit any of my questions?

KoffeeGuy: The student has not overtaken the master.

Outside of video games and wiki editing, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

KoffeeGuy: Music - listening, collecting vinyl, going to concerts, playing guitar and mandolin. I also enjoy reading, and there's never been a better time to be a TV junkie, which I am.

Suppose you’re given the chance to pitch an idea for a TV show with no budget constraints. Go!

KoffeeGuy: It would be the story of a lovely lady, who was living with three very lovely girls, and she meets a man named Brady, who was living with three boys of his own....in space!

If you never discovered video games, how different would your life be you think?

KoffeeGuy: I'd be writing my New York Time bestselling novel.

Intentional vagueness? Now you HAVE to tell me more about this best selling novel, or is this one of those instances in which you’d have to kill me if you told me? No matter – it’s for the greater good!

KoffeeGuy: If I told you then killed you I would probably be cutting my potential audience by about 50%. I should probably clarify, the New York Times doesn't know about this novel yet, as it may only exist in my head.

Interesting stuff, KoffeeGuy. Thanks for all the fish! Go poke him on IGN if you have any wiki questions or want to pick his brain about the difference between a cafe au lait and a cafe latte.

Also, check out the ongoing Contributor Challenge for May. If you're playing Diablo 3, Tera, The Witcher 2, or just know a lot about The Avengers, it would behoove you to participate!


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April CotM Nominees and Win More Free Sh*t*April 26, 2012 by

* Not affiliated in any way with IGN's Free Sh*t show. This is SO much cooler.

A quick look at my calendar indicates that May is rolling through in just a couple of days -- holy crap! Just a couple weeks ago, I introduced a new blog series called Contributor of the Month. In the month of March, fellow IGN community member, LeCambrioleur, earned March's Contributor of the Month. Now I'm on the hunt for April's Contributor of the Month. I have a handful of ideas, but I want to also give a chance for you, esteemed members of the community, to drop names of deserving community members that have produced quality wiki content and are all-around helpful and friendly. Note that this is a different nomination and completely separate from the Community Spotlight.

And also...

The next Contributor Challenge is up! This go-round includes the following four wikis:

  1. Diablo 3 wiki
  2. Tera wiki
  3. The Avengers (movie) wiki
  4. The Witcher 2 wiki

If you missed out on our previous Contributor Challenge, fret not: Astro Gaming is generously offering up their A40 Wireless audio system and Scout backpack prizes again. Some wikis will also have their own unique prize packs too, so check 'em out, make wiki magic happen, and win cool stuff.

Just so we're clear on the legal rules: U.S. residents only. I wish I could change this, but these things are out of my control. Le sigh.

Now if you'll excuse me I'll be off to New York for the first time! Follow me on Twitter @superLEE7 to catch me on my zany weekend adventure through the Big Apple.

Word up!



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Introducing Contributor of the Month...April 16, 2012 by

Welcome to the inaugural entry for a new community-centric blog series that I will be cranking out hopefully every month to highlight some of the most excellent, raddest user-driven wikis around and also to recognize the masterminds behind such quality wikis. Obviously, there's plenty of great content being produced by our wiki community, but it's not always easy to figure out who they all are. Hopefully, this blog post will be one step toward getting these folks the public recognition they deserve.

Since my recent announcement of the new create-a-wiki feature, I've seen an influx of new wikis on a variety of topics -- mostly for games but also for TV shows and even comic books. Some are even for games that I never would've thought to create a wiki for, such as Quantum Conundrum (super stoked about that game!) or Space Pirates And Zombies (Yeah, it's a real game...). So thanks to all for taking that crucial first step towards bringing wiki magic to fruition.

Contributor of the Month recognizes the person who's demonstrated extraordinary dedication to a wiki (or multiple ones) and is a stellar community member overall.  While anyone can create and populate wikis with information, not everyone does. It takes an individual with both an eye for quality and a fiery passion for the subject matter. This month's contributor started the Supernatural wiki and, within a week, turned it into something so awesome that the editors here at IGN took notice and promoted it accordingly on the front page.

I'm pleased to introduce to you our first Contributor of the Month: LeCambrioleur.

LeCambrioleur wrote and wrote and wrote until the Supernatural wiki evolved into quite an impressive resource for the series' fans. It even inspired me to check out the show, a move I am glad I made because I'm still watching and enjoying it (Dean Winchester is so dreamy...).

Now let's peel back the online moniker and learn a little bit about LeCambrioleur.

Congrats on being March 2012’s Contributor of the Month, and thanks for taking the time to answer these questions! Of all the things to make a wiki about, why did you choose to do Supernatural the TV series?

LeCambrioleur: Supernatural has a large universe in which people can often be left asking a few questions. It encompasses Urban Legends from all over the world, Angels and Demons and recurring human characters into its ongoing story, and because of that it could be useful to have a source that you can use to clarify a few slightly dubious bits and pieces.

That’s very true. Which of the urban legends in season one intrigued you the most? Or were there any episodes in particular that you couldn't watch for whatever reason?

LC: The first two seasons are very urban legend-centric. The range of supernatural beings is impressive, but the one episode that really stands out is, Scarecrow. I won't spoil any of the actual episode, but needless to say, it revolves around a creepy looking Scarecrow being inhabited by something sinister. From my perspective, it marked a turning point in the entire show, as it was this point that gave the series an actual structure. In terms of episodes that I couldn't watch, I'm not someone who finds anything particularly frightening, except for clowns. I loathe them, I can't stand them, and there just so happens to be an episode in Season 2 and most recently in Season 7 involving several of them. I found myself having to really grind through any scenes where they make an appearance!

Aside from Supernatural, what other kinds of TV shows do you enjoy? Are you generally into the supernatural, spooky stuff?

LC: Actually, I'd say that I have a particularly eclectic taste when it comes to TV. Supernatural is one of my favourite shows, but I enjoy a range. The Wire, The Sopranos, Carnivale, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Twin Peaks are some amazing shows that an American audience should be familiar with, but equally there are some great British programs. The IT Crowd, Garth Merenghi's Darkplace, Doctor Who, Spooks and Blackadder are just some examples, but it's exciting to delve into another country's back-catalogue. It's something I highly recommend.

Tell a little bit about yourself. What other things do you like to do in your free time?

LC: Well, I'm at University in Britain, studying modern languages. My passion though really lies within the medium of TV and Film. I suppose that's a nice transition to the second part of the question, because I'm an avid film watcher. I write reviews and analyses on a lot of older film, such as the films of Kurosawa and Bergman, but equally I'm not stuck too far in the past, and I do very much enjoy the modern cinema experience. I do like to mix this up though with a nice beer or two with friends at the pub!

Ha! You said pub, not bar. As a student of modern languages, are you ever confounded by some of the slang or language used in America?

LC: I seem to always fall back into British English! Honestly, I find the language used in America to be very reasonable in terms of slang. I think television helps a lot actually, because the vast majority of shows I watch are on HBO. I've grown up listening to the language of the streets of Baltimore in The Wire and Leon (J.B Smoove) in Curb Your Enthusiasm, so I have a vague grasp of some elements of slang! Presumably Americans would find it harder to understand a Brit by this logic, because British television, outside of perhaps Doctor Who, is quite niche. However, that's speculative and perhaps I might be wrong.

If time and money weren't an issue, what would you be doing then?

LC: Strangely enough, this is something I've thought about before and as such it's quite a simple response, because I'd apply to a film school straight away. Unfortunately, the prices are incredibly high and the competition extremely talented, but it's one of those distant dreams of mine. Outside of that, I'd love to take a trip to the US and visit the IGN offices and meet up with the many friends I've made on MyIGN. I've been there for almost 2 years now, and it's an amazing place to meet like-minded and witty individuals, some of whom I speak to almost daily on Skype.

Hey, sometimes those dreams aren't as distant as you think! How did your love of film and TV come about?

LC: I'd most likely cite staying up late and watching those slightly dubious channels on the TV as the reason for my love of film. I remember watching The Wicker Man, aged 14, at about 3AM in the morning and being completely transfixed for the duration. As for a significant moment, in film that came as a result of seeing a French film called La Haine (Hate), which really proved that cinema and film was a great proving ground for addressing those social and political issues. I believe that film caused the French Government to readdress certain working-class problems. That moment in TV came a bit later, however. The Wire, for me, is the greatest TV drama ever made and it was just fascinating, because in many ways it showed that an ongoing TV show has more potential than a film to look into certain issues, because it has a greater window of opportunity, time-wise.

Figured a pant-less Homer Simpson accurately depicts LeCambrioleur watching some sort of media...amirite?

Your movie collection must be quite impressive. With digital media becoming more and more prevalent, how do you feel about purchasing digitally versus buying the physical product?

LC: Technology is ever-changing, and continually modernizing. It's not necessarily the nicest thing to think about, but we must be open to adaptation and film is no different. I think that there will always be a place for physical media, mainly because people love to own an actual object, but in every aspect of film the digital market is the future. In cinemas they are gradually changing from film reels to digital media. We have Netflix, Hulu, LOVEfilm for all our streaming requirements and then we have pirating and torrenting. I'm against illegal downloads, but in terms of convenience it is all too simple to click a link and save $10-15. Accessibility and convenience are the key factors here though and the reason why digital sales increase and physical sales decrease. It's a shame, but it's the way of life!

What's one movie you think people must watch at least once in their life time? What about your top 5 favorite films of all time?

LC: This may seem like an obvious choice, but I think Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa. It has had a a defining influence on almost every genre of film since its creation and if you watch it now, it doesn't seem to have aged a bit. As for my personal top 5, they are a bit artsy for some, but probably Rashomon, Eraserhead, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stalker and Dogtooth. Like any list or ranking system though, it changes constantly.

At the time of this writing, you've over 900 edits on the Supernatural wiki! What made you continue to add to and expand on the wiki?

LC: I'd say that it's incredibly easy to write and contribute to a project that you yourself really enjoy talking about. It's also nice to be able to see your own creation come to life and look like something credible. The main reason, however, for contributing so much is purely because the things I'm writing about are so intriguing and, whether it be talking about a main character or a sub-character, each element of the lore is just inherently interesting.

Indeed, and it's also nice to know you might be exposing the show to new viewers (ya got me, after all!). Obviously, Supernatural is a long-standing TV series that currently spans over seven seasons. What was your approach to filling out the wiki? Episode summaries first based on memory? Or did you just keep writing until you thought there was nothing left to talk about?

LC: I took an optimistic view of what I was planning to do, so I started by systematically creating categories for each element of the show. In Supernatural, characters are the most important factor, so I started by listing every recurring character and then following through and writing a sizable chunk about each. For episode summaries, I would skim watch, like you would a book. Having seen all these episodes thrice over, it was just a matter of finding out director and writer details and anything I may have forgotten about the episode.

If people were thinking about getting into editing wikis, what advice would you give before they get started?

LC: I think it is vital to become accustomed to the Wiki Markup Section. Prior to starting the Supernatural Wiki, I'd had no experience in using it, and it does help save a lot of time when used properly. Outside of that, find out who the editors in charge of looking after the Wiki are and ask them about a problem rather than to simply ignore it. 9 times out of 10 you'll encounter that problem again, so it's worthwhile speaking to someone. Also, it doesn't harm anyone to look at examples of Wikis in the same medium. If you're doing a Wiki on a game, check the format and layout of another similar title. The same applies to the television sections. Finally, have fun writing about something you're passionate about.

Having fun is what we're aiming for! Great advice...any other random thoughts or musings you'd like to share?

LC: I think that the Wiki system depends on cooperation between IGN users. What I mean by that is when adding new content always check to see if it's already been entered. If it hasn't and you're unsure then communicate with the other people working on that particular Wiki. Ask them on their MyIGN Profile page, or use the new commenting system that the IGN editors have implemented. It's a great system, but it works much better if there's a cooperative effort rather than a solo one. This may seem strange considering I've almost created an entire Wiki on my own, but more people equals more knowledge of a given subject.

A quick word on Supernatural:

Recently, Sera Gamble was replaced as the showrunner by Jeremy Carver. Supernatural goes through phases and is a show that uses a vast array of talented writers, producers and directors to creates the show. When Eric Kripke left, people expected the show to go downhill and in terms of consistency and ratings it did for a while; however, Robert Singer and Sera Gamble did a brilliant job keeping the boat afloat after its expected run. Jeremy Carver is an individual who has contributed in different areas already and his promotion, as such, is certainly an exciting prospect. If Season 8 is to be the last of this fantastic show, then there is a lot of potential to leave on a high note. Maybe not as high as some people would have like, aka at the end of Season 5, but there's certainly some juice left in the tank!


Thanks again, LeCambrioleur, for the insight! Be sure to check out the Supernatural TV wiki after checking out the show, if you haven't already.

Want to be known for your wicked editing skills, or know someone who deserves a little more recognition than he or she is currently getting? Drop nominations on my wall and I can go size 'em up. ;) And with that, I present to you this magnificent distraction:

People love bacon and cats. So there's nothing better than a picture of a cat with bacon taped to its body.


Obviously, if you have any feedback on this format or any other suggestions in general, do not hesitate to tell me.

And since we're on the subject of favorite TV shows, what are some of yours? Share in the comments below and be sure to drop by LeCambrioleur's wall and say hi!


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