Real Life First Name: Jason
Forum Handle: Garu
Main Character Handle: Garutachi
Main Character Bluepill Name: Jai Kino
Server: Recursion
Organization: Machines
Where in the real life world do you live?
I live in South Carolina.
How long have you played The Matrix Online?
I have played since September 2004 when I was invited to participate in BETA and I've been a member of the forums since February 2004.
What other MMOs have you played?
The Matrix Online is my first and only MMO.
What type of work do you do?
I work with databases.
What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
I've been playing video games since I was a little kid. My first console system was an Atari 2600. I played it habitually until Nintendo was released and it just progressed from there. My favorite games have always been fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. I do however enjoy other games like Mega Man, Resident Evil and Syphon Filter.
What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other then playing The Matrix Online?
I'm largely into Anime, Manga, Sci-Fi, comics, and graphic art/drawing. I love things that challenge the imagination and the Matrix certainly fits the bill. Overall, I'm just your average nerd.
What is your highest character level in The Matrix Online?
My highest-level character is level 50.
How or why did you choose your main character's name?
My character's name is actually Japanese slang for "partner in crime". I selected it not only because my character is Japanese but also because it was used, at the time, for the graphic art/music production company that I am part of.
What Branch (Coder, Hacker, Operative) and ability tree is your main character?
My character is in the Operative branch and I am a Master Assassin.
Why did you choose the Branch and ability tree that you did?
Initially I chose that ability tree out of necessity. During Beta, shortly after the 01 construct was introduced, there was a huge PvP war between The Collective, Furious Angels, RIP, Digital Army and Vereor Nos. Tactically it was a good choice plus it wasn't a fairly common load-out at the time unlike now. When MxO went live, I decided to continue using it. I love the animations and ability to gain an upper hand over an enemy with stealth.
Is your main character in a crew, if so, what rank is the character?
I am Captain of the Turing.
Is your main character in a faction, if so which one and what is their faction rank?
I am a member of the machinist faction, Sentience. I am a Rank 1 Captain.
What was your favorite chapter?
My favorite chapter was chapter 1, The Race to find the One. We all entered that chapter wide-eyed after the end of Beta and many of us had an idea of what to expect, but none of us were truly prepared. From Neo's RSI fragments, to the General's Red-eye/N30 Agents, we were overwhelmed and in high-spirits. The day Morpheus was assassinated, emotions exploded, and tensions mounted. It was a fantastic experience and is one that many of us long to feel again.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
My favorite neighborhood is the Historic District in Downtown. I spent a lot of time in Nylund Park during Beta killing Pit vipers with Seraosha. I am mainly fond of the architecture and layout of the area - some of the building designs are very unique. There's a terrific view of Reeves Bridge and Edgewater there.
Who is your favorite NPC?
My favorite NPC is The Assassin. He had a great depth and background to him and he was the most interestingly designed character in MxO. We learned a lot about him and many of us came to empathize with his plight. Needless to say it was an honor to be killed by his Assassinator out of the blue one late night in Mara. A close second would be Neurophyte. On Method, the Machinists rescued her and choose to save her life rather than take the kill code. During her recovery she decided to stay with us and join our fight to unite the two races. She spent a lot of time with us just talking about everything. She was very casual despite the tremendous power she had thanks to the kill code.
What is the most $info you have ever spent on purchasing a single item for one of your characters?
The most I ever spent was 50 million $info for a Sakura bandana before the rate drop got its first adjustment. Back then they were very rare and only a handful of people had them.
Do you have an item you no longer use but keep around for nostalgic reasons? If so what is it and why do you keep it?
I still have Neo's Insight. It cannot be traded and no amount of coercion can get you one. It no longer activates but serves as a constant reminder of some of the best days in MxO.
What do you like best about The Matrix Online?
In addition to the continuation of the Matrix story, it really comes down to the community. There are a lot of really great people here. Some are less optimistic than others, but in the end every one of them is here for the same reason and differences can be set aside easily.
How would you describe your best experience playing The Matrix Online?
My best experience playing MxO happened at the end of Beta, without a doubt. After months and months of testing, we were treated to an epic last week of full content from Chapter 1. Morpheus began appearing to speak with the masses; the Assassin began stalking him; the Fire Virus erupted across Mega City hardlines as Agents began spawning on players forcing them to jackout; Eyes appeared in the sky as the sky turned wickedly red and no one can ever forget the meatwad finale. Organizational meetings and story characters also appeared and there was even sparks of Mass PvP across the city. It was chaos at its finest.
Do you run or work for an MxO Fan Site or Radio Station?
No, I do not.
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