Man, this was amazing. I can't believe I waited this long to listen.
My story goes along with what Jeremy was saying about the 1UP folks influencing lives. I started watching the 1UP Show around the launch of the Xbox 360 in 2005 and then listened to the podcasts soon afterwards.
I had always thought it would be cool to make games, but getting this window into the culture of the 1UP offices was amazing, and convinced me that I should make games. More than that, they really influenced the way I thought about games.
When I took a introductory programming class in the summer of 2008, I knew I had to make a game. I released it on XBLIG (then Community Games) in January of 2009, right when the huge layoffs happened. It was a really bittersweet moment for me -- just as the 1UP chapter of my life ended, I became a game developer.
Somehow, though, the amazing 1UP people I felt like I knew from a distance actually took a liking to my game! Nick Suttner, Garnett, Patrick Klepeck, Matt Chandronait, Ryan O'Donnell, Tyler Barber, John Davison....what?!?!?!? To this day it still blows my mind. Hearing these guys talk about enjoying my game was such a thrill. Maybe they liked it because of their indirect influence on my design ethos
I give all the credit in the world to these folks. the publicity my game got through these people was the distinguishing factor for my game getting noticed and helping me pay my way through college and into my current career path. For this, and all of the entertainment and inspiration to get started in the first place, I can't thank them enough!