Earlier in the week, we brought you the story about up and coming pro gamer Thirstee321 (Jake) being in the running for WCG’s Ultimate Gamer competition. We’re pretty stoked when we get to talk to gamers doing big things and trying to break the mold. So imagine our surprise when we check our email a day or two later and find contact info for another potential WCG gamer contestant Dana (aka JforJade). Dana is the most deadly type of gamer. She’s cute, girly, young, and can kick your ass. She’s been in 40 + local and national tournaments but we really dig her because she has a motorcycle and thinks tattoos are hot… Want more info on Dana? Here you go.

REMEMBER…. The voting is Monday the 17 through Sunday the 23rd. You can vote (once per hour per device) at www.wcgultimategamer.com.

Don't let the looks fool you... Dana's more than likely able to kick your butt in MW2

1. Let’s start with the basics… When did you first get into video games?
I have always been surrounded by gaming, since I grew up with 5 older brothers it was a common “must have” in my house hold. I know alot of gamers say, “I have been gaming since I could hold a controller in my hand”, which I think is a little ridiculous. I consider when I truly started gaming was over 9 years ago, since the PC versions of Command & Conquer and Wolfenstien, but I truly got involved in to competitive gaming and it became a part of my life style was about 7 years ago. I was 12 years old at the time and it was the release of Xbox Live for the original Xbox console. So, shortly after Xbox Live and all of its attributes consumed my life.

2. At what point did you discover, you could kick every body’s butt and decide to compete?
I first realized I was actually good at video games when I started playing Rainbow Six and Rainbow Six: Black Arrow and my competitive edge sky rocketed. Since then I went on the play Counter Strike, Star Wars, Dead or Alive, and then ultimately I became an avid Halo gamer. My first ever tournament was for Halo 2 in 2005 and since then I have been addicted.

3. You are the youngest out of the 3 competitors.. do you think your age is an advantage or a crutch?
I consider my age to be somewhat of an advantage. It has been proven that younger generation gamers have developed better awareness through the rise of competitive gaming. I personally don’t consider my age to effect me at all, I’m young with a free spirit and free opinion.

4. You signed your email Team Foxy… I take it that’s the female gaming organization correct? How did you become involved with them, and why is it important that you do?
Team Foxy was started in May 2008 by 4 female gamers who competed at tournaments together, shortly after one of their teammates left the team and they needed a substitute for their next competition, which so happened to be me. Once I got involved with Team Foxy many other girl gamers became interested in our cause and start making teams of their own to represent our name, so ultimately we formed an organization. We are strictly a competitive female organization, that is comprised of some of the best female gamers from multiple games and platforms. We pride ourselves in being the best at what we do in what ever game we compete in. I also carry this cause on my shoulders because I am main leader of Team Foxy Gaming and I help manage the organizations divisions, recruiting, video blogs, and more.

5. We here at BusyGamer are all for equality… so what do you say… your team of foxy gamers versus our team of drunken non foxy idiots in a mega tournament consisting of Pong, Uno, and potato sack racing?
Its on!!!!!! I will rally the Foxy troops for the ultimate Pong, Uno and Potato sack CHALLENGE! Go!

6. Do you ever make your friends in a fighting game just so you can beat them up? Or is that just a BusyGamer thing?
Hahahaha, in all honesty if I was pissed off enough I would definitely force them to play me, because it would be better than me actually beating them up!

7. How often do you train? Is there a method? Some tournaments and competitions throw you for a loop, do you think your prepared to handle a game you haven’t prepared for?
When I am not working my daily routine consist of working out, cleaning, and any thing else I need to get done till around 5:00pm, then from 5:00pm till about 3:00 or 4:00am I focus on gaming. I do have a method for when I practice or train for whatever game I choose to focus on for the night. When I get online I warm up by doing customs, Free for All, or facing off against the computer (CPU). After that I get my team on, look for scrims, or find a challenger, then play a few games. Once my matches or scrims are over I talk about improvements with the team or review game play. I have NEVER been face with a competition I was not prepare for and if it was the case, I never fail at any game that is put in front of me.

She had us at "Dr. Pepper"...

8.Do you think other players misjudge you because of your gender?
Allllll the time. There have been several times in multiple games when male gamers are talking shit and on a good day I usually laugh and agree with them, just because it usually pisses them off more. But shortly after playing them, I usually receive an apology message for the trash talk and then I request to add me as a friend. Which sadly….is Declined!

9. What’s your favorite game to play?
My favorite would be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 just because the games setup and functions are amazing and the online tournament play is amazing. Halo 3 on the other hand is the game I play most regularly, mainly because that is where the money is and because I know my skills are most useful on that game. Other top games would be: Super Street Fighter 4, Dead or Alive, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, BlazBlue, Need for Speed: Carbon.

10. How did you trying out for this come about?
I have many friends in high and low places…. hahaha! Actually, I ended up meeting Prod1gy through an organization called: Empire Arcadia and in Call of Duty 4, my boyfriend and I came across a previous cast member from Season 1, Dante who is now a very good friend of us both. After the debut of the show, I contacted Dante and asked if he thought I would be good for the show he reassured me and pushed me to take part in the Season 2 auditions in Atlanta.

I would also like to give a shout out to: Triggers Down, Charisma+2, Team Foxy Gaming, Empire Arcadia, Busy Gamer, Blast Magainze, Gamestop, Gunnar Optiks, GameBattles, Halo3forums, WCG, Dynaflex Gyro’s, Influential Gaming, My fans, My Family, Friends, and the MLG community for supporting and voting for me for WCG Ultimate Gamer Seas

Follow Thirstee321 on his Twitter @Thirstee321!

Last week, we brought you a little bit of info about Jake … in pro gaming circles, the force of nature known as Thirstee321. We told you guys to stick around until Monday for his big announcement, and the time has come.

Thirstee321 is in the running to be picked as the final contestant in WCG’s Ultimate Gamer (Season 2) But it will take everyone’s help to do so. The contest is done through online voting, and you can vote once PER HOUR to cast your vote.

The voting is Monday the 17 through Sunday the 23rd. You can vote (once per hour per device) at http://www.wcgultimategamer.com

If you want to know more about Jake.. feel free to watch his audition video on the site, or his announcement teaser video we posted here… Orrrrr, you can check out this interview I did with him right now… (Cause that’s how we roll)

So lets talk about video games. What’s the first game you remember playing and thinking… “man I’m better than everybody”.
Wow this is a tough one! There are alot of games that came to mind when thinking about this question! Playing Mario Kart 64 with my dad and brothers while gambling on each race for money was intense, but after thinking for a while I would probably have to say Halo: Combat Evolved. The Christmas of the year that Xbox came out I asked for aPS2 and my friend John asked for an Xbox. I had no idea how much fun Halo was going to be or I never would have asked for a PS2. After playing with him I decided to use the rest of my Christmas money to go buy an xbox. From that point out it was non stop system link parties every day after school. I think at that very point is where I attained my competitiveness in gaming!

You mention the term “multi- genre” gaming. Tell us why it’s important to have that skill versus having a specialty.
Well for me, being a multi- genre gamer is important because I hate to lose! Haha! I come from a very competitive family where absolutely everything we do turns into a game to see who will win. From gambling in Mario Kart, to screaming at each other around Christmas time about a game of Balderdash (board game), it is always a competition! I like getting to a point in each game to where I can beat about 90% of the people I come up against, and then move on to my next challenge. I feel limiting myself to one specific game is hindering my capabilities in ALL games.

Being into multiple genres (I knew a girl like that in college) what would you consider to be an achilles heel?
Haha, I’m not sure how I should take that, but its funny none the less!!! I get asked this quite often, and honestly I hate answering it for the simple fact that I don’t like to admit that I have a weakness lol. If there is one genre I don’t really care for, I would have to say fighting. Fighting games require spending a great amount of time learning each character and what they can actually do. However, I’m always up for a challenge, so if someone asks I like to be somewhat prepared. My approach in fighting games is to get relatively good with one character and then move on, leaving me with the inability to anticipate moves that I had no clue were even in the game.

How often do you train? Is there a set training schedule? Do you say I’m gonna work on this console today or only side scrolling old school games today?
I don’t like to think of gaming as training. I feel that when gaming for fun turns into training, it becomes work. This kind of goes hand and hand with why I don’t like to specialize in one specific game. However, I do play ALOTTTT of games! My schedule for gaming is kind of based around my schooling and my personal life. I’m currently a full time student enrolled at Kent State University and have a girlfriend who enjoys spending time with me. I don’t like to have to give up anything in my life for gaming, but I will NEVER give up gaming for my personal life! This results in a lot of restless nights gaming until 6 am after all the homework is done and my girlfriend is asleep, haha! I would have to say I play about 50-60 hours a week and play just about whatever I am in the mood for. I just love being a gamer!

Besides gaming, are there any other things you like to do with your spare time?
Haha, if get the chance at some spare time I absolutely love to watch movies! A good comedy always brightens my day! I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend, going for a late night drive with the windows down listening to some music, playing ultimate frisbee, working out, or hanging out with my dogs!

Has gaming ever interfered with your personal life?
Gaming has never really been a problem with my personal life, which I am greatly thankful for! My girlfriend is really understanding about how much I love gaming and I’m excited to say a lot of the time she’s right there next to me kicking ass just as well! She’s quite the Call of Duty Modern Warefare 2 player! Just this morning she went 26 kills and 2 deaths while being 1 kill away from her nuke!

Do you like other games to besides video games?
I happen to enjoy most games that I come across! One game that I particularly like is Corn Hole. Within the last couple years it has gotten really big here in Ohio. I’m not sure if it is as popular everywhere else, but if you don’t know what it is, I suggest that you check it out because it is a lot of fun!

You should know I’m undefeated in air hockey. Repeat UNDEFEATED. I once won the company (Busygamer) in Seattle after a drunken game, only to lose it in Dallas TX after another drunken game of Ms. Pacman. I’ll repeat that I am undefeated. Soooo. feel like trying your luck?
Hahaha! I am going to respect your confidence and not talk trash until we duke it out. Like I said though, I’m always up for a challenge, so I accept! I will warn you though, I am a gamer with extreme hand/eye coordination and I’m no slouch in air hockey myself, so be prepared lol.

Tell me about countdown 321.
Countdown321 is the gaming organization I am with, comprised of some of the best gamers I know! There are two specific gamers with us that are pretty well known. WCG Ultimate Gamer’s 1st place winner Mark Smith (mmmApplesauce321) and 3rd place winner Jamal Nickens (Zophar321). Jamal has also won other major competitions such asScrew Attack’s Iron Man of Gaming tournament and the hit television show Life to the Power of X. We are all extremely devoted in what we do and have a passion for gaming like no other! Our website is devoted to bringing competitive gaming to the local gamer. However, we also do charity events, gaming reviews, and have an ever expanding forum that we hope continues to grow as well as it has been. Head on over to http://www.countdown321.net and check out all the cool stuff we have going on and sign up for our forums while your at it.

If we threw our own gaming competition where you had to drink every hour and compete. Would you participate?
Oh my gosh, that would certainly spice things up a notch, hahaha! I think a competition like that sounds hilarious and extremely fun! If you actually did have a competition like that I would feel completely left out if I wasn’t there! Count me in!