Ultimate Warrior 3V3 Tekken Team Battle was an epic gaming event from PROVEN eSports Group and Grand Kai Gaming. One of its commentators was Julian Freeman aka Mr. J 7B!
Following the Tekken 7 action Mr. J 7B took up the challenge of answering our FT10 Questionnaire. We hope you enjoy THIS INTERVIEW!
How did you come up with your gamertag/gamer name? Share the origin story with us.
Mister J was given to me by a group of kids I volunteered to teach a dance fitness class to several years ago when I moved to Columbus. I used to be licensed to teach Zumba and offered to teach a class or 3 at a YMCA in my community for kids during the summer months.
I lugged all my audio equipment into the gym to prepare for the class. While doing so I was greeted by 55 kids ranging in from ages 8 to 16.
I introduced myself, “Hi my name is Julian, you can call me J, Jules, or Julian, but not Mr. Freeman. That’s my father’s title and he is still very much alive.”
Before I could say anything else, one of them shouted, “We are gonna call you Mister J!”
The kids went ballistic at this declaration and that energy carried over into the class which was a big hit. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to come back for more classes, but the nickname stuck.
What was your first experience with gaming and how did it impact you?
My first experience with gaming came when I was 5 years old, almost 30 years ago! My parents gave me a choice – Sega or Nintendo. I had no clue that my choice would change my life. I went with Nintendo and never looked back. Since then, I’ve passionately played and enjoyed nearly every console system.
Name what you consider to be the 5 greatest games of all-time. Which of these 5 is your all-time favorite?
This is a tough one, there are so many great games to choose from. I tend to fall into the crowd of games that had the biggest impact in my life.
#1: Phantasy Star Online
#2: Dance Dance Revolution
#3: Metal Gear Solid 1-2
#4: Final Fantasy 10
#5: Mass Effect 2
All solid picks but at the end of the day, Phantasy Star Online just holds a place in my heart that no game can overtake. It got me through some tough times, and I met some incredible people in real life through it. No price, highend graphics, or story could outweigh that kind of significance in my book.
Which console release were you so excited about that it made you lose sleep thinking about it?
I remember being extremely excited for the Playstation 2, the fact that the original system launched at a retail price of $300 will always be steeped into my memory. I worked very hard to get the money to buy the console along with a copy of Armored Core 2, the graphics changed my perspective on what the future of console gaming would be.
Why do you think retro gaming has become such a popular subculture?
Retro gaming reflects a lot of facets in life where people want to remember simpler times; simpler times where life hasn’t complicated things yet. Whether its sitting in front of a 32-inch TV playing Goldeneye again, booting up Vampire Saviors on an old CRT monitor, connecting Xbox’s together with a switch to enjoy Halo 2, or thousands of other games and systems, all of them hold significance and meaning to people. Especially during the difficult times we face today.
What Video Game has inspired you the most?
I’ve had a lot of games inspire me, but Tekken 7 was the first game that inspired me to do something outside of my comfort zone. It was the first game that really inspired me to learn, challenge myself, and put myself out there into the competitive gaming scene. This led me to meeting people from all walks of life and created opportunities for growth within the community.
I’ve fostered friendships that will last a lifetime and it led me to becoming a commentator which I love doing and hope to continue receiving opportunities to do so in the future.
Being a gamer sometimes comes with a negative perception. How do you think that perception can be changed?
Growing up in the 90s, the perception of gamers was a lazy, fat, unkept sort of individual that had no drive nor future goals. This was a tough image to shake; the idea that one could succeed financially as a gamer/streamer/content creator wasn’t even a whiff of a dream yet.
That perception has changed drastically over the past 10 years with the amount of popularity, support, and money coming into the community. There are still many social issues that the community has to face as a whole, especially when it comes to women and people of color in the community. Acceptance, accountability, and unity will be key to seeing things change and improve to make gaming a place that is acceptable for people of all walks of life.
How has gaming built your confidence in other areas of our life?
Fighting games have built my confidence up to take chances in life and put myself out there. Life doesn’t happen when you’re comfortable, you have to get out there and live it. I’ve met some incredible people on my path in gaming and it’s only just started as far as my fighting game career is concerned.
Is competitive gaming missing anything that you feel would drastically improve it?
Accessibility and communication would be my biggest focuses. Ensuring that a tournament or an event gets proper exposure. Communicating within communities to spread information is the best way to get people to come out and play.
What do you see as the future of gaming?
As the world of gaming continues to be pushed technologically, Augmented Reality is the first steppingstone for the future regarding immersive gaming experiences. Gradually, I see gaming shifting toward something that is equitable to a full body experience instead of merely using controllers. |THIS.
[By Grand Kai and Mr. Joe Walker]
The FT10 Questionnaire Q&A Interview Series is sponsored by PROVEN ESPORTS GROUP – innovating esports through competitive, casual, and educational gaming. For more visit ProvenEsportsGroup.com.
