Interview: the Lovely Raychul Moore

Around Christmas time she always gets down. (All images are used with permission.)

Hey guys. Got a fresh interview for you, right off the presses. The subject this time is Raychul Moore, a prominent gaming journalist and videographer with a long list of credits to her name. She also has a YouTube channel with an impressive 12,000 subscribers and is quite thorough about her opinions. She graciously took the time to answer a few questions via email, and I hope a followup interview will happen soon.

1. How did you decide on a career in games journalism, and is there any advice you can give prospective writers on getting a foot in the door?

 

I wouldn't really say I chose it, it definitely chose me. GamePro really took me under their wings and taught me everything I needed to know to work in this industry. They believed me and gave me a chance. I owe it all to them. 

As far as advice, I always tell people to just do it. Whether it's writing or getting into the video side, just do it and you will get noticed. There are great sites and opportunities for people wanting to get started in editorial and there is YouTube for people who want to get involved with the video side. You produce the content and the doors will begin to open for you.

2. What about cosplay do you find so attractive and who are your favourite characters to recreate?

 

I adore cosplay because it's taking the thing I like about games to the next level. In games, I get to be that space marine, or the princess or the ultimate fighter... but now with cosplay I get to dress like them as well!

My favorite costumes I have done so far are definitely Cammy from Street Fighter, Kratos from God of War and my female Thor.

3. You list your all-time favourite game as Uncharted 2. List three specific things (or more if you want) about what makes the game so dear to your heart.

 

Uncharted 2 is, in my opinion, the example of the perfect game. It has the engaging storyline, in-depth character development, attention to detail in their environments and some of the best voice-acting I've heard in a video game. What's not to love?! 

 

4. When Asylum called you "the perfect woman", were you flattered or angry that you weren't dawned with the title sooner? 

 

Hahaha, definitely flattered. I don't think I am "the perfect woman". I don't like JRPGs or Call of Duty, many would say those are fatal flaws. :)

5. Do you think gender equality within the club of gaming journalists has improved over the last five, ten years?

 
I do, but I also think that anyone preaching about "gender equality" is their own worst enemy. Don't want people to treat you differently? Well then stop yelling about all the reasons why they do treat you differently. Just my two cents.

6. (This is because I'm curious). With the recent kerfuffle over Mass Effect 3, do you fans were justified in their anger? And, furthermore, do you think BioWare is right go against their creative integrity and ultimately change the ending through downloadable content?

 

The game industry is the worse when it comes to temper-tantrums. We didn't like Jar Jar but we still love Star Wars. I had a great time in my journey through the Mass Effect series, but just because the ending wasn't everything I had hoped and dreamed, doesn't mean it ruins experience for me. 

I do agree that the ending could have had a bit more detail and closure to the over all story, but still, I walk away having had a great time and am thankful for it.

7. What is your most anticipated game of 2012? (One that hasn't come out yet.)

 

The two games that I am definitely most excited about are Bioshock Infinite and Borderlands 2. Yes yes yes!!

 

8. Do you think as a professional woman working in the gaming industry that your opinions are received differently from the largely male audience? 

 

If my opinions are viewed differently, it's only because the viewers have to get over the fact that I have boobs first. After that novelty wears off, I think they probably view my opinion the same as any one else. :)

 

 

9. Do you have a lot of female fans, and how do you feel you relate to them?

 

I believe I do. I definitely relate to them and my male fans the same, because at the end of the day, we are so much alike. We love games, action figures, achievements and shooting virtual bad guys in the head.

 

10. Having over 12,000 YouTube subscribers (congratulations, by the way) what are some questions you're often asked?

 

Thank you! My most common questions I get are "what are your favorite games" and "are they real". 

 

To which the answers are:

 

1. Uncharted 2, Bioshock, Silent Hill 2, Fatal Frame, Eternal Darkness, Dragon Age: Origins and Borderlands.

 

2. Yes.

 

11. I don't know if you caught this Forbes article, but it caused quite a stir online, prompting this response from Leigh Alexander. What is your take on the "fake geek girl" situation?

 

It's ridiculous to judge people and stereotypes. I am a geek and I don't think I need to be *hush hush* about it to a "true geek". We are all different and we all show that are proud of who we are in different ways.

I do agree we have an epidemic of fake geeks and gamers out there. But anyone who really cares, can see through the act in a heartbeat. People like to ridicule me for showing cleavage in my pictures or videos, and say I am only posing to be a gamer for attention. This boggles my mind, why do people think I can't be a gamer AND have boobs? Just because I have cleavage doesn't make me any less of a gamer or geek then the next person. Again, we are all different, we game differently, we express our love for games differently. We should embrace this, not tear it down.

12. What are your expectations for Nintendo's upcoming console, the Wii U? Will it replicate the success of the Wii?

 

I am not sure if it will meet the success of the Wii, but I applaud Nintendo for doing and trying something different. Instead of getting in the race with Microsoft and Sony on who has the better graphics or who has the better shooters; Nintendo has decided to go their own way and so far it's been working for them.

13. Being a prominent YouTuber, who are some of your favourite commentators?

 

I honestly don't watch a lot of other YouTube channels, only because I know I will start over-analyzing myself. Confidence, it's one of the areas that I am not too skilled at. But, I will say, I am a huge fan of Mega64 and BlackNerdComedy.

14. In your gaming career so far, which game was your favourite to review and which did you hate the most?

Oh, I know the one I hated reviewing the most was Disneyland Kinect Adventures. Wow, what a terrible game. But my favorite was probably Uncharted 2 because I love that game so much I could talk about it for hours.

15. And lastly, would you do my readers and I the honour of tweeting this interview to your mass audience, and maybe, please with a cherry on top, mention this interview in one of your videos? I love watching and I'm positive my readers love watching your videos also. If they haven't heard of you, well they definitely have now.

 

Of course! I would love to! Yes, tell your readers to check out my Twitter: @theRaychul. I occasionally give away free games and game codes to my followers. :)

Thank you!!

 

Glad to see Raychul take the time to answer these questions. I wanted to ask her the story behind the unique spelling of her name, but I omitted that because it didn't relate to gaming. Maybe in a followup interview I'll get more personal. Anyway, enjoy the read and check out her YouTube which is full of wonder and intrigue. Jeff out.

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