During the past eight months we have been on a quest to build an all-new editorial team at GameRevolution in anticipation of a long-awaited relaunch. Now that the new and improved GameRevolution website has arrived, we want to take a moment to introduce you to our new staff composition.
Jonathan Leack
Executive Editor
Twitter: @JonnyBeoulve
Specialties: Business, Guides, Hardware, MMOs, Tactical Shooters
Favorite Games: Counter-Strike, Final Fantasy Tactics, World of Warcraft
Examples of Work:
- Valve Interview Roundtable
- World of Warcraft Anniversary: My Epic 10 Year Journey Summarized in 50 Screenshots
Although Jonathan Leack began covering the gaming industry in 2009, his earliest roots date back to 2004 when he wrote his first of many reviews to come. Equipped with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and several information technology certifications, he provides a unique perspective that is technological and business conscious. Having acquired the role of Executive Editor in 2016, his mission is to make GameRevolution a gaming site that thoughtfully considers the consumer perspective, and has a knowledgeable presence of PC gaming, console, hardware, and eSports coverage.
James Kozanitis
Features Editor
Twitter: @JamKozy
Specialties: eSports, Guides, Grand Strategy Games, Horror, Investigative Pieces
Favorite Games: Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Dota 2
Examples of Work:
- Interview: WA State Gambling Commission Doesn’t Know What They Want Valve to Do
- Who Found It First? The Search for Wildlands’ Yeti Concludes with a Battle for Bragging Rights
James Kozanitis set his sights on writing about video games several years ago, freelancing for sites like CraveOnline before joining GameRevolution as Features Editor in 2016. He holds a B.A. in Journalism , which has probably served him well as one of the highest-ranked people in the world on Batman: Arkham’s leader boards. He’s never afraid to scare himself silly with the latest survival horror title, enjoying anything from Outlast to Silent Hill. You can also hear him talk about the movies as co-host of a podcast.
Brittany Vincent
Editor
Twitter: @MolotovCupcake
Specialties: Adventure, FPS, RPGs
Favorite Games: Day of the Tentacle, System Shock 2, Um Jammer Lammy
Examples of Work:
- The Elusive Creator of the Most Terrifying Video Games
- The Lynchian Puzzle of ‘Virginia’: What is Gaming Without Control?
Brittany has been covering video games, anime, and tech for over a decade for publications like G4, Maxim, Engadget, and Playboy. Fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games, she’s a hardcore gamer who survives on surrealism and ultraviolence. When she’s not writing, watching anime or gaming, she’s searching for the perfect successor to visual novel Saya no Uta.
Cody Perez
Guides Editor
Twitter: @Soulcap7
Specialties: Mobile Game Guides, RPGs, Shooters
Favorite Games: Final Fantasy XIV, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Examples of Work:
Cody Perez has a strong taste for RPGs and creative writing. He’s always trying to find a balance between enjoying anime and games, with an equal passion for both. When not contributing to GameRevolution, he can be found running dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV or topping the scoreboard in SMITE.
Jamal Rashid
PC Editor
Twitter: @Word
Specialties: Hardware, Modding, Open-World Games
Favorite Games: Castlevania, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Unreal Tournament
Examples of Work:
Jamal Rashid began playing video during the mid-90s starting with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. His interest in gaming deepened upon receiving his first PC and discovering FPS classics such as Unreal and Quake. These days he’s more interested in open-world sandboxes and RPGs, although his love for FPS occasionally makes a brief comeback. Outside of playing games, he enjoys dedicating his time to creating world class mods for popular PC titles, and is most known for his Enhanced Wasteland Fallout 4 and Natural Vision Grand Theft Auto V mods which have accumulated more than 500,000 downloads.
Josh Orona
Community Manager
Twitter: @JOrona25
Specialties: Social Engagement, PC Gaming, Blizzard Games, RPGs
Favorite Games: BioShock Infinite, Final Fantasy Tactics, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Examples of Work:
Josh has been a gamer since his early childhood years when he first played early Nintendo and Sega consoles. His love for PC gaming was ignited after he upgraded an old Dell with the sole purpose of playing StarCraft and Rollercoaster Tycoon. In recent years he’s been an enthusiast of online multiplayer titles such as Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and ARK Survival Evolved. When he’s not gaming he’s likely spending his time watching anime, sports, playing guitar, or collecting Funko Pop toys. Fun fact: He has amassed a collection of retro consoles and games from every major console manufacturer.
Trent Kahn
Social Media Manager
Twitter: N/A
Specialties: Community, Humor, Social Media
Favorite Games: Quake 3, Riven, Team Fortress Classic
Examples of Work:
You might best know Trent “trentluv” Kahn for his role on our social media network where he makes sure we have great content to share on a daily basis, including hilarious GIFs. He ran an organized Team Fortress Classic group for four years, and has such a high refresh rate on his monitor it hertz. Next time you like one of our spicy Twitter posts, he’ll likely be the first person to see it.
Aron Garst
Contributing Editor
Twitter: @GarstProduction
Specialties: eSports, Industry Analysis, Interviews
Favorite Games: Animal Crossing: Wild World, Super Mario Sunshine, Team Fortress 2
Examples of Work:
- Interview: Strategy Devs Talk about Balancing Difficulty and Accessibility in Games,
- Pro Gamers On the Future Of Motion Controls in Competitive Gaming
Aron Garst is a Los Angeles based writer whose primary goal in life is to unlock the secret sequel to Super Mario Sunshine that Nintendo has been hiding for more than five years. He is most known for his investigative pieces that include interviews with developers and eSports professionals. When not gaming, he enjoys the California sun and all things involving the Arizona Cardinals.
Griffin Vacheron
Contributing Editor
Twitter: @NovaCav
Specialties: Game Music, Nintendo, Japanese Games, Reviews
Favorite Games: Fire Emblem Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
Examples of Work:
Griffin Vacheron’s relationship with games began when he acquired a Nintendo at the age of five and his parents threatened to hurl it out the window if he didn’t quit crying over deaths in Mario. Since that day he’s closely followed the company from Donkey Kong Country all the way up to the launch of Switch and The Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild. Although Nintendo is his specialty, his tastes are diverse, ranging from visual novels to NFL Blitz and PS4
blockbusters.
Heath Hindman
Japan Editor
Twitter: @TheHeathHindman
Specialties: Humor, Japanese Culture and Games
Favorite Games: Borderlands 2, Final Fantasy VII, Skies of Arcadia.
Examples of Work:
Heath is based in Japan and makes it his business to focus on Japanese game industry coverage. As a gaming news and editorials writer who joined GameRevolution in 2011, but began covering the gaming industry in 2002, you may see him previewing import games in thinly veiled attempts to brag about having them, covering the Tokyo Game Show with his bilingual skills, or musing about whatever games have invaded his thinkspace.
Matthew Utley
Contributing Editor
Twitter: @mutleycomedy
Specialties: Blizzard Games, Humor
Favorite Games: Jurassic Park, Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Examples of Work:
Born and raised during the height of video game magazine publications, Matthew Utley fell in love with the industry after sneaking into E3 at the tender age of 17. He spends his days scouring used video game shops and his nights telling jokes about the original The Legend Of Zelda to strangers for gas money. He currently resides in Southern California with his wife, dog, and a library of video games he’ll never get to play.
Michael Leri
Contributing Editor
Twitter: @OrangeFlavored
Specialties: Action Games, Event Coverage, Hack and Slash, Interviews, Third-Person Shooters
Favorite Games: Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, God of War, The Last of Us
Examples of Work:
Michael Leri is a California native currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and cinema. His pale skin gives him an excuse to stay away from that gross, bright thing in the sky and play games without much guilt. This all began on his seventh birthday when he received a copy of Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and a PlayStation.
