Welcome The Summer 2019 Game Informer Interns Ben Reeves It's not technically Summer, but give us a break – the weather is finally getting nice. And you’re not going to stop us from calling in our next crew of interns for the summer 2019 term! You'll be seeing their bylines a lot on the site over the coming months, so we want to introduce you to them. They'll be covering news, gamer culture, and more as they build up their portfolios. These three young writers come from a variety of places across the country, but they all have one thing in common: video games. Blake Woog (@woog_blake) – Every kid wants to turn their passion for video games into a career. For me, to actually be able to go and do that is absolutely incredible. In my 21 years on this Earth, I have spent 17 of them playing games more than I probably should and stealing Game Informer magazines from friends (sorry) to learn about the industry I love. Now I am at the Game Informer offices! I used to write about games for website after website, but I am in awe that I have the opportunity write for an organization that inspired me to do all of that. After my dad’s Super Nintendo broke when I was a kid, I began a desperate, never-ending quest to get my hands on as many games and consoles as I could. On consoles like the GameCube, Xbox 360, and PS Vita and games like Sonic Adventure 2, Halo: Reach, and Persona 4, I have always been open to exploring new places and conquering new worlds. Now I am studying English and Film at St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota so I can do more of what I love and learn more from it. I am incredibly excited and honored to learn from Game Informer and its amazing staff for the next few months. Emma Welch-Murphy (@emmamcmurphy) – What a privilege to have the opportunity to be an intern at Game Informer this summer. I subscribed to the magazine back when I was a kid and even hung onto the Rise of The Tomb Raider issue. It was the inspiration for my first cosplay as Lara Croft that Summer at Phoenix Comic-Con. That ice-axe prop bruised my knee pretty badly after banging against it all day. Even when I was very young, I loved video games; although I rarely managed to beat them consistently until I was in junior high. My first experience with video games was limited to Barbie games on both the Game Boy Advance and CD-ROM’s. Barbie: Magic Genie Adventure was always one of my favorites, probably because I especially loved the genie bottle that came with it. Now I am all about the fantasy single-player RPGs, such as Skyrim, the Dragon Age Series, and Kingdoms of Amalur. I recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in digital video from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona. I’m originally from Peoria, Arizona, so the trek out to Minneapolis was a bit of an adjustment, but I know it will be well worth the experience and knowledge I gain about the industry. Joseph Stanichar (@JosephStanichar) – I almost didn’t send my application to Game Informer. The day before it was due, I was busy and exhausted, and I wasn’t able to start piecing the application together until late that night. After myriad of technical issues, our dorm’s fire alarm went off, and I had to stand in the rain for 15 minutes – without shoes. By the time I got back, I was grumpy, wet and tired. The last thing I wanted to do was work for another two hours one an application I was certain I wouldn’t get. Needless to say, I’m glad I finished that application. If I had to pick five games to describe my taste, I’d pick The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Celeste, Nier: Automata, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, and Xenoblade Chronicles X. Outside of games, I’m a huge theater nerd, having acted in eight shows, including productions of Shakespeare and Agatha Christie. I’ve been writing about games since I was 15, and have wanted to make a career out of it ever since. Time will tell if that will ever happen, but I’m getting to live a part of that dream for these next three months. That, in and of itself, is unbelievably exciting. Are you considering a career in video games writing? If you’re looking to further your existing writing or journalism education through an internship at Game Informer, we’re currently accepting applications for the upcoming summer term. For more information, email me at the address below, or click here to learn more. http://bit.ly/2FHKaXY