Casual Spotlight

Blog Menu

Casual Spotlight 11 - Kelly 'MrsViolence' Kelley

Posted by Filthy Casual on April 05, 2016

All time favorite video game: This is a little hard for me to answer now since a few new games have come into my life, and I've fallen in LOVE! Bloodborne is a recent addition to the TOP Games of all time, but besides that, Gears of War, Halo, Assassins Creed, Zelda Series, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six 3, and League of Legends!

What are you passionate about?: A few things, Video Games bringing people together, eSports development, and Cosplay!

If money was no object, and you had unlimited resources and freedom, what would you be doing?: Traveling the world, meeting people through some passion of mine, whatever it may be. Probably video games still. I had a few other passions in life before stage 5 chronic migraines took over, and that was marine biology and music. So, something with the Ocean for sure, like tracking the migration pattern of killer whales or great white sharks.

Do you create anything? If so what?: I create a ton of stuff, mainly highlights of crazy gameplay, or youtube video blogs on my traveling!
Twitch.tv/MrsViolence
Youtube.com/xMrsViolencex

What accomplishment or achievements have you had recently that you're proud of:? Well, some might find this a bit silly, but I recently got into Bloodborne, a dungeon crawling RPG game, something I've never really gotten into. I took it head on and fell so in love with it that I made a challenge for myself to beat it on its highest difficulty, including the DLC which is the hardest part of the game! Well, I DID IT!! Felt so good, my hands were shaking, and one boss alone took me over 60 hours because he was so insanely hard, and I made myself weaker. My stats weren't at the suggested level of power, so I was a scrawny little girl compared to giant bosses from hell!

Who inspires you?: Way too many people! Different parts of the industry provide a lot of different influences on me and my actions! Off the top of my head though: SeltzerPlease, Rivingtonthe3rd, MANvsGAME, MonteCristo, Jessica Nigri, Lindsay Elyse, Leaping Lizard, Darshelle Stevens, Lyz Brickley and djWHEAT, that is legit just naming a few! But they all do/say things that really just get to my soul.

What is Filthy Casual to you? Why do you wear our stuff?: Filthy Casual is now a household NAME among all gamers! It's like, EVERYONE Loves you guys and they have every reason too!! We're all a bunch of filthy casuals when it comes down to it. You guys hang in the eSports world, the cosplay universe and overall EVERYWHERE that is Geek/Gaming culture, and it's just a beautiful thing seeing everyone rocking your different gear! I think I've pointed at well over 30+ people to compliment their FC swag!! Faces just light up when they hear it, and it just makes me happy seeing you guys grow! So thank you for all the new friends and sick shirts!! Can't wait to see where the company lands itself.. like on MTV or something!

Any words you'd like to say to anyone who happens to read this?: I LOVE YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME AND THE WACKYNESS THAT COMES WITH ME!! :P

Casual Spotlight 10 - Jordan "Henchman Props"

Posted by Filthy Casual on March 15, 2016

All time favorite video game: The Warcraft franchise

What are you passionate about?: So many things! Video games, art in every form, creating, storytelling, learning… the list is endless.

If money was no object, and you had unlimited resources and freedom, what would you be doing?: The same thing I am - Running my own creative business, making props & getting to work with awesome people and companies! I’m lucky to be able to do what I love and have continued growth & success.

Do you create anything? If so what?: Video game props, replicas and costumes! henchmenprops.com, fb.com/henchmenprops

What accomplishment or achievements have you had recently that you're proud of?: Getting to work with a bunch of 2016’s most anticipated video games/companies – so thrilled! Damn NDAs…

Who inspires you?: Every creator/artist I see – there’s something you can learn from everyone. In my field specifically – Harrison Krix & Bill Doran were creators who inspired me to chase this dream.

What is Filthy Casual to you? Before getting to know the FC Family, the name ‘Filthy Casual’ resonated with me because it was a self-directed pun - no one should ever take themselves so seriously that they can’t make fun of themselves every once in a while.

Why do you wear our stuff? The above reason, plus the camaraderie and family there is surrounding the brand. When you see someone wearing a FC shirt you instantly know something about them and have a connection with them, it’s a great constant and uniter in the convention & video game communities.

Any words you'd like to say to anyone who happens to read this? Never be content with mediocrity, everyone has the potential to do something great and have an impact on the world – find your jam and never stop working hard to achieve your dreams.

Casual Spotlight 9 - Blaine 'Pyro' Biehle

Posted by Filthy Casual on March 08, 2016

All time favorite video game: Chrono Trigger on the SNES. This game set the bar for RPGs and will always be a game that defines the genre. The stories, characters, art, and music all mean a great deal to me. No matter how many times I've played through I always want to come back and laugh, get mad, and cry at the story over again. Anyone reading this who has not experienced Chrono Trigger, fix that asap.

What are you passionate about?: Gaming culture and doing what I can to enrich other gamer's experiences at events and in my Twitch channel. I do a lot around the gaming world like for-charity LAN Parties with LANFest, staffing events like PAX as an Enforcer or exhibitor, Twitch community meetups, and local retro gaming events with No Continues Media. I love being part of an event and putting smiles on the faces of the people joining us to enjoy what we're doing. I also really love a good pun, dad joke, or innuendo.

If money was no object, and you had unlimited resources and freedom, what would you be doing?: I'd get games and books for all the kids who grew up like me: Barely able to afford a Gameboy, Pokemon cards, and a paperback book. We didn't have much growing up and the few books and games I did get my hands on were the most cherished life-enriching things of my childhood. I'd make sure other kids had those things too. And then do the big picture stuff like curing cancer, ending world hunger, ending homelessness, improving education, etc. Oh, and Filthy Casual shirts for everyone... IN THE WORLD.

Do you create anything? If so what?: Right now its just my Twitch channel part time. I did just get an extra camera set up so I can do art on the Creative section of Twitch. I used to do a lot of sketching with pen and pencil on paper and I miss that. I'll be starting with traditional art and expanding from there on Creative streams. My dream for my channel is to one day have the space and equipment to start blacksmithing and metal art on Twitch Creative.

What accomplishment or achievements have you had recently that you're proud of?: In 2015, I was able to attend almost every major gaming convention in the US. E3, TwitchCon, PAX South, PAX East, and PAX Prime. This was all possible because the developers of Gigantic, Motiga, valued my skills and experience in events management, community, and technical production. I also won a contest with Wargaming for streaming World of Warships, the prize was the TwitchCon trip. I was also at PAX South 2016 with LANFest to help run the PC room by working with sponsors and seek additional sponsors on the show floor. All of this was possible with the hard work I have put into working as an MC and staff at events like PAX since 2008, and the last two years of Twitch Streaming. I'm extremely grateful and humbled by the experience of it all, and I can't wait to make the rest 2016 even more awesome.

Who inspires you?: My dad. He's the hardest working guy I know. His sense of respect and worth ethic have largely shaped who I am today. The older I get the more like him I notice I've become, and that's pretty cool because my dad rocks.

What is Filthy Casual to you? Why do you wear our stuff?: People see Filthy Casual written across my chest and ask, 'But being a filthy casual is a bad thing right?' or 'Okay what's this Filthy Casual thing I keep seeing all about?" I get to explain to the questioners that games are for fun, so it doesn't matter how you play... Just that you're having fun. Filthy Casual is about being yourself and enjoying life. We fly in the face of negativity, elitism, and toxicity. It's about friendship and good times... so join us won't you?

Any words you'd like to say to anyone who happens to read this?: A quote that's been a big inspiration for me, from Adventure Time's Jake the Dog: "Sucking at something is the first step at being sorta good at something." There's a hell of a lot of truth in that simple sentence. Anytime I feel bad about my own progress or lack of skill at something, I think about that quote. Go out there and do you, person who's reading this. You can do the thing. You're awesome. Stay Filthy Casual.

Casual Spotlight 8 - Nati Casanova aka. TheZombiUnicorn

Posted by Filthy Casual on February 02, 2016

All time favorite video game?:

Multiplayer-cs:go singleplayer-Soma

What are you passionate about?: Voice acting

If money was no object, and you had unlimited resources and freedom, what would you be doing?: I’d still be creating - videos, gaming content, vlogs, comedy, voice acting!

Do you create anything? If so what? YouTube: youtube.com/user/TheZombiU… Twitch: twitch.tv/zombiunicorn Voice Acting: fiverr.com/users/zombiuni…

What accomplishment or achievements have you had recently that you're proud of?: I won an open voice-over competition to be the voice of the Warhammer Vermintide trailer! I’m flying to Sweden in February to record the voice work!

Who/What inspires you?: So many people inspire me, lately Justin Roiland (Co-Creator and many voices of Rick & Morty) is someone I look up to in voice acting. He has a lot of range and improvises a lot while being very convincing and just has fun with

What is Filthy Casual to you? Why do you wear our stuff?: Well, the ongoing joke is that I’m “literaltrash” as in that’s my name in many games, but I’m also just making fun of myself for how bad at games I can be sometimes. This pretty much goes hand-in-hand with Filthy Casual for me, I may try-hard sometimes but others I’m just a “filthy casual” ;P I’ve always loved the styles and designs of Filthy Casual as well, they mesh very well with my own unique style :D

Any words you'd like to say to anyone who happens to read this? It’s garbage-CAN not garbage-CAN’T!

Casual Spotlight 7 - Greg Miller aka. GameOverGreggy

Posted by Filthy Casual on January 26, 2016

All-time favorite videogame?

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. I know, it’s a weird pick. For years, Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation had the title, but when Peace Walker came out and I couldn’t stop playing, things changed. It was just the perfect PSP game, and I loved building out my army, having people over to play co-op, and just living that game. It’s been awesome to see people fall in love with the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain systems that Peace Walker created

If you could have any videogame character on Kinda Funny as a guest, who would it be and why?

Nathan Drake. Our audience is so PlayStation focused that it just makes sense. I want to know why he keeps messing things up with Elena and how he keeps cracking jokes after killing thousands of pirates.

What are you passionate about?

Well, video games are too obvious. So is DC Comics. But more recently, I’ve really fallen in love with cooking. A few years ago, I got sick of not having good wings on demand, so I started making them myself. Slowly, that led to me tweaking the recipe and kind of bending it to my will. That led to me wanting to do more. Now, I’m cooking the majority of nights and doing weird dishes I never would’ve thought to do years ago. It’s relaxing. It’s a break, which is rare when you live where you work. Plus, I have this dope kitchen island that Kristine got me for Christmas, and it’s been a game changer.

If money was no object, and you had unlimited resources and freedom, what would you be doing?

This. When that crazy Powerball was building, Kevin and I talked about what would happen if one of us won. My response was that we’d go make YouTube videos across the country of me surprising friends and family members with millions of dollars. Then, we’d be right back to work on Monday doing Colin & Greg Live on Twitch and making whatever YouTube show we need to after that. This is my life because I chose for it to be. All the money in the world wouldn’t change that -- although I’d immediately buy us a better space.

Do you create? If so , what?

Internet videos and podcasts. Mostly about video games. I worked at a website called IGN.com for years, and then in 2015, I broke off with four best friends to found KindaFunny.com and make the content we truly believe in. This year, we’ve launched Kinda Funny: The Animated Series and continue to have more podcasts than I could possibly name. We basically get to record us having fun together and share it with our thousands of best friends online. It’s a blessed life.

What accomplishment or achievements have you had recently that you're proud of?

Whew, man. I think the fact that KindaFunny.com hit it’s one-year anniversary is accomplishment eenough, but on a personal level, I won Trending Gamer of the Year at the Game Awards in December, and that’s nuts. When I found out I was up against PewDiePie, I was like “Well, it’s cool to be nominated.” But my audience stepped up and voted like mad. In the fourth grade, I told my parents I wanted to write about video games, and at no point did I imagine that would lead to be being on a stage accepting a trophy. And the response since “the speech.” Man, it’s insane. The number of developers who have written to me or stopped me at events -- I’m glad I got to speak for gamers and tell devs that they matter to us and we can’t thank them enough.

What are some of the biggest obstacles you've had to overcome in your growth the past few years, and how'd you do it?

Well, I came down with cancer a little more than three years ago, and that sucked. I don’t recommend it. But, much like the Game Awards, my fan base got me through it. Every day there were well wishes and letters. Those were the darkest times for me, and those little nudges to the light were worth more than people will ever know.

What have you been doing for fun lately?

I just got LEGO Marvel’s Avengers, which I’m actually in as my first VO role, and I’ve been trekking along on my way to Platinuming it. I’m something like 18 hours in right now. There’s just something so satisfying about knocking out Trophies one by one.

Who or what inspires you?

The Kinda Funny team -- Nick, Tim, Kevin, and Colin. There are days where things just don’t go right; I’m having one right now as I write this, but I can lean on them. I’m not alone in this. We’re all together. So to watch Tim work business deals, Colin host, Kevin build the set, and Nick be the adult, it’s inspiring to see how five people are running an Internet business that seems to be doing so well.

What is Filthy Casual to you? Why do you wear our stuff?

Even before we all became friends, it was you two that I saw wearing the shirts in pictures and videos. When I wear my shirt, I’m supporting you the same way you support all of your friends. When I see the shirt on someone else, I see you guys succeeding. It’s love, man.

Lastly, what would you like to say to anyone reading this?

You’re on the Internet. Good. Be the Internet you want to see. Comments suck, people are mean, and it can be a depressing place. The sad truth is that we let that happen. Edmund Burke said “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” That applies here. When you’re done reading this, Tweet someone who created something that you dig. You might think that they’ll never see it, but I assure you they will and it will matter to them. The good people think no one will ever see it, don’t comment, and the vocal minority appears to be even bigger. Be good to each other.