Well, the past few days have been crazy for me whenever I sat down at the pc. A ton of aims, a couple of pm's, and some fr's when I signed on live. If this is common for people when they make a montage, then I apologize, but Im really new to this.

So I decided to just make a thread for the messages that I recieved concerning my montage. Some of them a ton of people asked, others only a few people asked - I dont want to leave anyone out. Yes it is a somewhat long read, but for those of you who know me know that Im quite specific. So if there is anything that you dont care about you can just skip.

By far the biggest one was:

Q: Is that really you on the last song? Where can I get that mp3?

A: Yes it's me. Here you go: http://files.filefront.com/Gamer_Gro.../fileinfo.html


Q: How old are you?

A: Just turned 25


Q: Are you really a teacher? Did you really take your xbox in the classroom?

A: Yes I was. I worked in public school, as well as a private school for about 2 years. But right now Im trying to get my medical billing business more established - we're small but growing. So Ive taken a year off from teaching. I still tutor some of my former students on the side. Yes I did take it to school, and that really did happen - the kids just laughed and did their work - they liked me alot. Later on in the day I let some come back and split-screened with them. I also used to freestyle with them sometimes.


Q: I hate rap, but I liked your song - are you a real rapper? Are you gonna make an album? or, Why did you make a song for your montage?

A: Lol. No, Im not a professional rapper - that was actually the first time I stepped foot in a recording booth even though my friend has owned it for years. When H1 was out and I used to lan with all of my old friends, we used to freestyle sometimes - it was for fun. Now none of them play Halo anymore and most of them are married. When I decided to make a montage, I wanted a song that specifically reflected the fun I used to experience with all of my friends, and the fun that most of us miss from the game. At the time there was not a song that specifically reflected that - so I said screw it - Im gonna make my own. Music is a major part of a production, and Im a little tired of the two rock song format that most montages stick to - I think that most of us have lost the fun of this game because we refuse to be innovative and very few dare to be different. For me the song, among other things was my way to be different.

As far as making an album....um idk. The music industry is one of the most cut-throat, back-stabbing industries in the world. And quite frankly, Im too much of an easy-going, nice guy to survive in it. I went to high school with a TON of rappers, and out of all them, only one made it big and got a little attention, but these days his rhymes are sub-par. Its also a big screw-fest. Like most of you I download music from another source. I cant lie, sure its piracy and it really is wrong, but IMO the industry itself partially causes this problem. They put out albums with one or two good songs and ten other songs that are plain crap. Then they put a $20 price tag on it and shove it down our throats. Rap is notorious for this which is why many people hate hip hop today. Alot of rappers make garbage albums in one-two weeks, and talk about the same crap over and over again. Im not a thug, and I dont kill people or move a ton of drugs. So I dont wanna hear that crap. Since gaming is emerging as a total culture, I do think I would like to make music that appeals and relates to that culture. However to be honest, since the song from Gamer Grows Ups kind of summed up the life of a gaming experience, I really dont know if I can do something that people enjoy as much. Id hate to be like a rapper who beats a story to death and doesnt know when to shutup. Also, if I did make a whole album it would incur some type of costs, so I would have to get some type of reimbursement to cover that. But I refuse to charge $20 for a ten track album. That is retarded. I know that eventually people would just swap the songs over aim anyway. Coming from a music lovers perspective - it would be ideal to only charge 0.50 to 0.99 per song. That should offset expenses without appearing like Im trying to exploit people for millions. But to sum up the rant to answer this question, I really dont know - I guess it depends on what the gaming community wants and if I could make the time for it.

Q: What are the names and artists of the songs in your montage?

A:
1) During tekninja's intro - 20th century FOX sound effect
2) U dont know remix - Jay Z feat. MOP from the Blueprint 2 album
3) Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
4) Peanuts - Charlie Brown theme (during the Goldeneye footage)
5) Ice Cream Truck Song - Andre Nicotina
6) Hoe Down - Aaron Copland (Used during splatter footage - it used to be featured alot in Beef and Chilli commercials)
7) A Gamer Grows Up - Midpoint (over Hustler musik instrumental by Lil Wayne)

As you can see I like a large variety of music


Q: You idiot - you didnt mention me in your song!!

A: I apologize, I sincerely do. When youre in the booth you just kind of go with the flow and say what comes to mind at the time and sounds like a decent rhyme. I also had to make it fit with instrumental that I was going over. There are at least a dozen people that deserved to be mentioned and didnt get the recognition. I really am sorry.


Q:That song was kind of sad - are you quitting? or Why are you leaving? or Are you quitting H2 or H3F?

A: In a manner of speaking yes. I will still try to log on and play on live, and I will still visit H3F frequently. However I do have to dedicate time to my business and a very special person who has been patient and understanding with my whole gaming hobby. Like other older people on this site, H2 is a way for me to relax, but it kind of makes it hard when people take the fun out of it. Thats when it stops becoming recreation, and starts becoming a hassle. If its a hassle why bother? From time to time the EX and mods get together and play, and I will try to make it online to play with them - but since some of them are in eastern time zone and I have a conflicting schedule, it makes it hard. So basically instead of cornering time off for H2 out of each day, I will play it if time allows and if I made arrangements beforehand. Its just so hard to do considering how much fun this game has given me over the past two years.


Q: Can you make a song for my montage?

A: Probably not. I think most people liked it because it was a change of pace - something different. It would probably get very irritating to hear me in 10-20 montages by a bunch of different people. I would suggest doing something that you feels fits you and what you are trying to accomplish. Just try and be original, and dont hold yourself back for fear of what others say. Even if you cant rap or sing or play guitar, maybe a simple voice over or something. But be innovative and be yourself.


Q: I sent you a fr - why didnt you accept?

A: Once again I apologize, but my fl was almost full anyway. When I logged on Sunday night it had been filled with requests. I have been informed since then that this sometimes happens when a montage is released. If I declined or didnt accept it wasnt to be a d*ck. I would like to play with many cool people who like to have fun. But this is not possible. Maybe if we had a clan just for custom BTB than that would help me to include everyone that wants to just play stuff for fun.

and now the good ones... (random aim critics)

Q: Why did you shout out XiT - you dont play with them! or I hate people who ride pro nuts!!

A: Thank you. You are certainly right. I dont know them, I have never met them in my life, and I am just a psychotic fan who stalks them. As a matter of fact I stalk them so much that I discovered their father and little brothers' name and shouted them out to. I would do anything to get attention from a pro video gamer. You are very insightful.


Q: You are an old guy playing a game - Get a life!! or You are a pathetic 40 year old with no life! or Go outside! or You need a g/f (or any other variations)

A: Thank you. Its interesting that people still use the whole "Get a life" statement as an insult. Obviously I do have a life, and I spend it how I see fit. Its interesting that you being noone in my circle of family or friends took time out of your day to inform me that I dont have a life. That is actually evidence of discontent with your own life. Furthermore, people do different things as recreation in their lives. Some go out to clubs, chase women, and do alot of other stuff. Thats their decision - IMO that stuff got old a long time ago, and I hate it now. Unlike others who might be insecure with being a "gamer" Im happy to say that I enjoy video games as one of my forms of recreation. I also dont need to lay out my entire life in an aim message just to prove to you that I have other activities going on, so stop messaging me for a response or possibly from other accounts. You do your thing and dont bother me, and I'll do the same. Your insults arent going to change my life in the least so why bother?

Last, some acknowledgments that I didnt put in the montage, but these people definitly need to be recognizedfor their assistance with it:

DayC: Helped with the Midpoint ripple intro without prior notice, very nice guy

Koolaid & Frosty: Made the sigs/watermarks that I used to insert in the comedy moments

Tekninja: We have never even spoken, but you made an intro for the contest that went great with my overall theme. Thanks alot.

Zodiak(Eurytos/Elliot) - For those of you who liked the song, it wouldn't have happened without this guy. When I made the song I honestly hated it, but I sent it to him over aim. He listened to it, and insisted that I put it in the montage. He only sent it to one other person (Ewoknight) who hates rap, and he expressed confidence in it as well. Without these guys I had considered scrapping the whole project. For some reason I couldnt stand to hear my own voice and hated the song. But they supported it, and that kind of motivated me to continue with it. Pympstur did as well.


Once again, thanks for all the support and appreciation that everyone showed towards my production.

EDIT: How could I forget about Stick - that music vid was a compliment to my song and probably got just as many downloads as the montage itself! For people who often criticize Stick, this is proof that he does do good for the community.

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I just got to say Midpoint i have a lot of respect for you in the way you speak and your general overview of life

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*Hip Thrust*

Yeah, you have my respect as well, and I hope you do well with your life business, and I agree with you, I go to school and I work, but video games are and most likely will always be one of my main recreations.

I have one...

I don't want to sound rude, but, what ethnicity are you?

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Half black, half white

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Mmmm....now I want chocolate, dark and white.

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You are a perfect example on how this game should be played. It looks like you were always having fun, not worrying about winning or losing.

I still say your montage was one of the best to date, not skill wise, but enjoyment.

I hope your medical business turns out well for you

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I love you Midpoint, in a non-homosexual sort of way. Not because of your montage, but because of why you made it and your reasoning behind everything.

Most notably (sp?) your stance on being an older gamer. You said it about as well as Ive seen anyone do it. I myself am 23 years old (as of about 2 weeks ago) and have plenty of other stuff going on in my life. Halo is just part of it, as well as video editing. Yet people find out how old I am and/or see that Ive made 8 montages and feel some need to use the ole' why dont you grow up and get a life and get out of your parents basement. Its just a dumb argument. Maybe that could be a valid one a number of years ago, but in this day and age, gamers can range from anywhere between 4 and 85 years old.

So THANK YOU Midpoint, for helping me remember what gaming is all about.

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I love you Midpoint, in a homosexual sort of way.

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Ok midpoint first off awesome montage second of all you also have my respect for your views as an older gamer i'm only 19 but i'll be 20 soon so i understand the older gamer thing kinda so thanks for the tage and hope everything works out for ya