BC of the Month, May 2007: Matt Paprocki

This month's profiled writer belongs to a very exclusive club—writers who have over 1000 articles to their credit here at BC. Matt Paprocki has been on board since November, 2003, and as of this writing has 1059 articles under his belt, the majority of them in the Gaming and Film sections.

Possessed of a video game collection that would put most anyone else's to shame, Matt contributes reviews, news, and opinion to the Gaming section on a regular basis and is a contributor to the Xbox Live Arcade feature. BC Gaming editor Ken Edwards says, "When Matt is not playing video games he is watching movies, and when he is not watching movies he is playing video games (when does he have time to write?). Matt has vast knowledge in both fields, and is a great asset to BC Magazine."

As film editor, I can only concur—Matt's regular contributions are a mainstay of the film section. Matt can be counted on for weekly DVD reviews that go the extra mile by discussing the technical aspects of the releases. He rates films not only on their story content, but on their technical quality and the appeal of the bonus material as well. Matt's detailed descriptions of the audio and video presentation of the films he reviews will satisfy the needs of anyone who wants to know whether their viewing experience will take advantage of all that their home theater set-up has to offer. Matt is also now reviewing HD DVD releases as well, keeping up with current trends in format. If a film's technical specs aren't up to snuff, you'll learn about it in one of Matt's reviews.

If you want to know how Matt's passion for all things video developed, read on:

I can remember first picking up a game controller when I was five. That’s pretty much going to be the pattern here. Born, raised, and still sitting here in Toledo, Ohio, a whole lot of my 26 years have been spent in front of the TV with some form of controller in my hand. Out of a private Catholic school (yuck) and into a public high school, I had full plans to find a career in computer graphics. I took each and every art class available. I had what could only be considered one of the best art teachers I could have asked for.

Hitting college, I realized rather quickly that computer graphics require this thing called “math.” That’s not my thing. Ever. I was lucky to graduate high school my math is so off. I briefly majored in drawing, but there’s no decent career that I would enjoy in that beyond teaching, and I’m not a kid person.

I decided there had to be another way into the game industry (or at least get close to it), and that was journalism. I majored about a year and half in Bowling Green University’s program before I completely lost interest. I didn’t quite see the logic in learning (and paying for the privilege) about ancient eastern civilizations when all I wanted to do was write. Taught myself most of what I know. It’s more fun that way.

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Article Author: Lisa McKay

Lisa McKay is Blogcritics' Executive Editor. At BC she can usually be found hanging out in the film section. She recently started food blogging at Will Kill for Food.

In her spare time, she watches movies, listens to music, reads, and caters to the whims of two spoiled cats. …

Visit Lisa McKay's author page — Lisa McKay's Blog