Generic NPC #3

Generic NPC #3 (aka Tony) originally came into contact with James by sending him an email regarding an Xbox article on theOtaku.com’s fledgling gaming network; the two became friends and Tony registered at OtakuBoards under the name Gr3ymalkin.  Tony was not very active under his original screen name and stopped using it altogether after making a scant twenty-four posts.  At the time, members were not permitted to change their user names at OtakuBoards, so Tony eventually returned with a fresh start under the name “Semjaza Azazel.”  Under his new name, Tony would become one of the most standout members on the site.

As Semjaza Azazel, Tony quickly rose in popularity.  Whether he was posting about video games, music, or current issues, Tony’s posts were always imbued with dry-humor, logic, reason, sincerity and sometimes sarcasm.  His reviews and opinions related to video games and music, in particular, were often extremely detailed and thoughtful.  Tony also stood out as one of the most talented graphic designers on OtakuBoards because instead of relying on a bevy of snazzy effects, he used painstaking hand-drawn illustrations.

As Semjaza, GNPC#3’s contributions to Otakuboards were noticed not only by members, but by the staff as well.  Tony was annointed as a moderator for the now-dead ‘Mario’ forum, along with the Nintendo forum, before finally becoming a SuperMod for the ‘Otaku Gamer’ section.  Tony became somewhat of a trend-setter; he exposed other members to music artists they might not have otherwise given a chance, such as Marilyn Manson.  Also, he made popular the phrase “Oh well,” and the term “Yellow Fatty Bean,” which he used to refer to bananas.  Although Tony was not an avid roleplayer, he showed his versatility when he joined “Kill Adam” and successfully created his own unique character and wrote quality roleplays.

Tony served on the staff up through OtakuBoards Version 7 as the category moderator for Otaku Gamer, later renamed, “Hardwired.” In 2004 he resigned, saying it felt too much like a job.  One incident occurred, in particular that made his decision easier.  A spammer posted a variety of disgusting images across the site, all of which Tony was foced to see as he deleted them individually. Tony remained on the site as a normal member but he began to visit the forums less frequently before having himself banned and unbanned.

Every so often he will reappear, now known as Generic NPC #3. As GNPC#3 he posts mainly in Play It, but most of his attention remains on work and his own projects such as Orange Lazarus and Group Sounds (which is where ALL the cool kids go – all of them, every last one).

Categories: Former Staff, Members, Notable Bans, Oldies