Victor Lucas was born on February 11, 1968 and is best known for being the man to bring the video game industry to TV screens around the world. I first learned of Victor in 1997 when “The Electric Playground” debuted, and alongside Tommy Tallarico, the two would bring many hours of entertainment to us through reviews, previews, interviews, and fun sketches.
E3 2001: Victor Lucas, Julie Stoffer, and Paul Gale
It was at my second E3 way back in 2001 when I met Victor, Tommy, and Julie Stoffer for the first time and for a kid (I was only 17) getting to meet in person the people he looked up to on TV…well let’s just say that it motivated me greatly to continue to push myself forward in the industry that I love so much.
E3 2002: Victor Lucas, Tommy Tallarico, and Paul Gale
The reaction that Victor had when I first met him was a humbled one too. I never know what to expect when I meet someone famous for the first time, because after all, there are plenty of stories you hear from others of celebs and the like being stuck up in person, etc. That definitely was not the case with Mr. Lucas, as he was and still is one of the nicest people that I’ve come across…and that’s not limited to just folks in a big industry either.
E3 2003: Victor Lucas, Tommy Tallarico, and Paul Gale
One of the things that I’ll always be thankful to Victor for, was including me in a couple of episodes of The Electric Playground and his second show, Judgement Day. At a few E3’s in fact, Lucas would ask me for my thoughts on the the event and conduct an interview.
E3 2004: Victor Lucas, Tommy Tallarico, and Paul Gale
That’s probably Victor’s best quality: really being an every day guy to fans, even though he clearly is one of the most respected people in the media part of the video game industry.
E3 2006: Victor Lucas and Paul Gale
It’s a bit inspiring to see the evolution of this man and his business, Greedy Productions Ltd., which he founded in 1995. On a personal level, Victor has told me many times that really making your mark in the video game industry can be a challenge but if you love it, stick to it.
E for All 2007: Victor Lucas and Paul Gale
Motivating words for certain, as I also have my own personal goals for what I’m trying to achieve. How do I get past the occasional harsh critique on me from fans? How do I prove that my site’s content is fact legitimate and comes from trusted sources? Those are the things that Victor has helped me with whenever we talk.
E3 2009: Victor Lucas and Paul Gale
Mr. Lucas once told me, “…that if you’re only in the video game industry to make money and you’re not happy with what you’re doing…it’s not for you. Some of us guys spent a long time to get to where we are now and be comfortable, but what drove us is that we love this business. Keep pushing your projects forward, Paul, they’re good and eventually will be picked up.”
E3 2010: Victor Lucas and Paul Gale
He’s absolutely right too. I’ve been writing online and for magazines for over a decade with works published all over. I’ve been made into a character in Street Fighter IV, been interviewed for my opinions on the development of motion controls and their impact on the industry, and have experienced much more awesomeness in between. My point? I do it for the same reason Victor does it; I love the video game industry and am honored to have guys like him be my peers. A real big thanks to Victor for being my friend, helping me out with my projects behind the scenes, and for continuing to motivate me and bring the rest of the world quality news and entertainment. If you want to know more of who Victor Lucas is, visit his site at ElecPlay.com and you’ll even see him in Mortal Kombat: Legacy! I wish you the best in the future and here’s to our picture series continuing for years to come.