Interview: Stuttering Craig of ScrewAttack.com

ScrewAttack is quickly becoming THE gaming website to bookmark if you're a gamer. It was propelled into the limelight on the strength of one of the site's key personalities. I'm speaking of The Angry Video Game Nerd, a guy who dissects awful video games in a hysterical, profane fashion. The Nerd's side-splitting takes on such games as Top Gun (NES) and Castlevania 2 (NES) began to noodge their way onto YouTube and MySpace. Fans of The Nerd soon discovered that he was part of a site packed with entertaining video game content.

Stuttering Craig is a co-founder of ScrewAttack. He steers this geektastic vessel and hosts his own amusing segments (I recommend watching every installment of Video Game Vault). I should thank Craig for granting me the opportunity to interrogate him about every gamer's favorite website. Additional thanks go out to fellow Associated Content contributor A.J. Hakari for helping me stockpile questions. Read on...

Dom Coccaro: Any particular reason for a Metroid reference serving as the site's namesake?

Stuttering Craig: Not really. It's just a cool power up that happens to sound dirty.

DC: How does where you are now with ScrewAttack compare with what you first envisioned?

SC: I'd say we're right on track from where I envisioned. You'll see some pretty big changes to ScrewAttack coming up in the next six months. Even with the big changes, we'll keep to the core of what ScrewAttack is all about - fun and video games.

DC: How much does feedback from the g1's have an effect on the programming you put out?

SC: We always listen to our g1 feedback. We know that without our g1's, ScrewAttack wouldn't be what it is today. If something sucks, we want to know so we can scrap the idea or make it better. The community has a voice, and we hear it.

DC: Any chance of seeing programming like 'Pwned!' or the Closet series making a comeback?

SC: You will probably see Pwned! return. Closetz I don't know about. We are hoping that g1's will start making videos of their collections and sending them in.

DC: How does an average day of production play out as CEO/Grand Poobah/Ruler of ScrewAttack?

SC: For me, it's always about looking for new opportunities for ScrewAttack and trying to find ways to get us more "out there." I want ScrewAttack to be known as an exciting place where there is always something new going on. Right now, the Iron-Man of Gaming tournament is on the tops of the list, as we think it's gonna be really big in the gaming scene the next couple of years. If we do something, we want to do it right and AWESOME so people will remember it and want to experience it again.

DC: How has fan reaction to the GameJew been in comparison to the Angry Video Game Nerd?

SC: GameJew is a cool dude. He's so passionate about games, which makes him great. The Nerd is...well...he's The Nerd. He's the best there is and does it in such a unique, entertaining way, it's just amazing. His stuff is timeless. The contrast of personalities is exactly what we have wanted on ScrewAttack and both guys do a great job. GameJew has recently moved on, but either way, he's a cool guy and there will always be a place for him at ScrewAttack.

DC: How did the AVGN land his job?

SC: All you have to do is watch one of his videos to understand.

DC: Are there plans to expand the AVGN's madness? At one point, I heard rumors of a DVD release.

SC: Absolutely and absolutely.

DC: The AVGN and other ScrewAttack personalities are notorious, in part, because of their glorious use of profanity. Have you ever had to tone anything down or ask the guys to ease off the swear words? Has there ever been a joke that you felt was too nasty?

SC: I've always seen it as cussing is The Nerd's thing. He's got it down to an art. Tom, me, and the rest of ScrewAttack don't cuss as much because we want to get our point across another way. As far as censoring something that we do? Nah. ScrewAttack is all about fun. Sometimes, it's fun to take a dump on Bugs Bunny's face or punch someone in the nuts.

DC: Have you ever beaten Ikari Warriors?

SC: Seven times. One time, I made it through without getting touched.

DC: Do you think that online emulators hurt the video game industry?

SC: Emulators, to me, are the devil. The Internet is a great place to get your work seen, but it's also a great place to get your work stolen. That's what emulators are. If people really want to play a game, go out and BUY IT! Most places have a return policy.

DC: Name 5 games that you deem as criminally underrated (any console).

SC: Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Ikaruga, Super C, Little Nemo: The Dream Master, the entire Sega Dreamcast.

DC: What does the future hold for ScrewAttack? Will we be seeing any exciting additions to the site?

SC: Absolutely. Like I said earlier, you'll see some great changes of/for ScrewAttack coming up in the next six months. Right now, we're ScrewAttack v1.1. Think of the changes as ScrewAttack v4.7. Big changes!

DC: How does it feel knowing that you basically sparked a trend? Now, any gamer with a webcam thinks that he is clever and charismatic enough to post a video game on YouTube.

SC: (laughs) Well, I never really thought of it that way. It's pretty cool that people can now produce videos or have an outlet like YouTube. I'd like to think that when people think videos about video games and fun, they immediately think ScrewAttack. That being said, there's a bunch of talent out there that has yet to be tapped. Hopefully, you'll see some of it on ScrewAttack in the future.

DC: Do you stutter?

SC: If I didn't, how do you think I would get the name Stuttering Craig?