Married to the Games is a weekly podcast discussing video games, marriage, jobs and more. Join Tim Rauter, Ed Placencia and Chris McCrackin as they discuss all the latest gaming news, offer marriage tips and discuss the balance between family commitments and their love for the games.

Tim Rauter

Favorite Console: I’m a newbie to gaming! Growing up I was never really serious about video games. I’d play at arcades (yes, they had arcades back then) and would play games at my friends’ houses. That was pretty much the extent of my gaming experience. In 2011, my sweet wife bought me a PS3 as an anniversary present. She has since regretted that decision. Now, my whole world has been flipped upside down and I’m obsessed with video games. So to answer the question, Playstation 4!!! I love all consoles though and I also own an Xbox One and WiiU.

Favorite Game: I have to say currently it’s The Witcher 3. I put about 2 months into that game and loved every minute of it. That game is so huge and there’s always an adventure around every corner. I love open world adventure games and being able to make whatever decisions I want. I also have a special place in my heart for Uncharted 2. That was the first game I ever played on the PS3 and it completely opened my eyes to fun you can have with gaming.

Favorite Retro Game: As I said before, growing up I was never obsessed with video games like I am now. When I was younger though, my cousins had a Nintendo and I used to play Super Mario Bros all the time. It was so much fun to play and I think it’s just a CLASSIC. If we’re really going back-in-the-day I would have to say that I was pretty good at Defender on Atari too. I remember getting the high score at my friends house and having a big smile on my face.

Marriage: I’ve been married to my college sweetheart Lauren for 17 years now. Holy crap time flies! She’s my best friend and soul mate and I would not be the man I am today without her. We have a four year old girl named Piper. She is amazing and she’s starting to watch daddy play video games and like it. Mommy…not so much!

Hobbies: I own a website design firm called Milk Money Promotions. I have the joy of considering that both my job AND my hobby. I love web design and programming. When I’m not working I like going to the movies, eating, and sitting on the couch watching TV with my girls.

Favorite Console:

I’m not really much of a console fanboy. As long as it plays games, I’m pretty much good to go. My favorite is usually whatever it is I’m currently playing on, so right now it’s the Xbox One. Before that it was the 360 and before that it was the PS2. I grew up on the Atari 2600 and the NES shortly thereafter, but I wouldn’t consider either a favorite, despite the mileage we got out of them.

Favorite Game:
Like “Favorite Movie,” “TV Show,” or “Comedy Album,” there’s no definitive response for me on this and it could vary depending on my current mood. I do know that the answer lies somewhere between Space Ace, You Don’t Know Jack, Mario Kart, and Tales from the Borderlands.

Favorite Retro Game:
Space Ace, hands down, with the original Pitfall coming in a close second. We didn’t own Pitfall, but our neighbor did, and I’m still jealous of him for that to this day.

Marriage:
Yep, I’m the lucky guy who ended up marrying the cute barista at the coffee shop. Sarah and I got married in 2007 and if you get a chance to spend the rest of your life with your best friend, I highly recommend it. Followers of the MTTG YouTube page may have seen/heard the two of us stumbling through LEGO games together. No kids, but we do have a cat that we like to talk smack about.

Hobbies:
When I’m not gaming, I’m usually watching TV, movies, or doodling. I’m also a big fan of board games and a lifelong devotee of stand-up comedy.

Favorite Console:

If I was forced to pick a favorite, it’d probably be PS1. That was the first console I bought largely with my own money and it gave me an even greater appreciation for it. I also happened to have many great experiences on it as well. More on that in a sec …

Favorite Game:
This is an easy one. Metal Gear Freaking Solid on the PS1! When I first played that game, it blew my mind. From the opening cut scene, to the controller swapping to beat Psycho Mantis, to the epic showdowns with Sniper Wolf, that game is legendary to me.

Favorite Retro Game:
I’d have to say my favorite classic game would either be Tetris or Radar Mission, both on the Nintendo Game Boy. I played them both for many, many hours with particular love to Radar Mission Game B. That game was intense!

Marriage:
Stacy, a.k.a Mrs. Breadfan and I have been married for 5.5 years now and it’s been awesome! She is beautiful, sweet and super supportive of my gaming hobby. Together we like to travel, eat great food and play with our fur kid Ellie. Yes, Ellie is named after The Last of Us. 😉

Hobbies:
Honestly the majority of my free time is spent gaming, I mean Married to the Games and all…but outside of that I enjoy photography, running, travel and board game nights with the Wife and friends.

Favorite Console: I think you can find something amazing in almost every console that’s been out. But I believe that an AMAZING system that majorly got overlooked and was WAY before it’s time was the Sega Dreamcast. I believe that it is an incredible system. Unfortunately with the PS2 right around the corner, followed closely by the XBox, it didn’t have the fan base (only selling 10 million units) to sustain the new wave of technology that came out. Not to mention that the games were easily pirated….

Favorite Game: Final Fantasy VII hands down. Not to say that JRPGs are my favorite genre, but I love that game. I thought the story telling was awesome and the graphics were great. If you weren’t interested in that game after watching the opening sequence then I’d dare to say something might have been a little off with you. Ha ha.

Favorite Retro Game: Retro is a hard categorize now-a-days. Some of these young punks don’t know anything about going to arcades and losing all of your allowance in a wooden box. If I have to go what I think would be true retro I’d have to say Ms. Pac-Man. It has stood the test of time and still makes money in whatever restaurant, theatre, bar, skating rink, bowling alley or cruise ship that you put them into.

Marriage: I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Jenni for five years now. It’s been awesome and she let’s me get my gaming in! She never tells me to stop, but the look on her face when I walk downstairs definitely tells me if I have played too long or not.

Hobbies: Outside of gaming I work on music a lot and I love it. I’m grateful to be able to do something I love as a job and a side hobby.