With IBM currently leading the video game industry in processor development, it makes sense that they also have professional gamers in their ranks. IBMer Carlos “Johnny” Lopez II talks with Game Tomorrow about his move to professional gaming and his career with IBM.

GT: Johnny so we understand you’ve recently become a professional gamer. Tell us about yourself, what you do for IBM and your new gaming career.

Carlos: Hi, well I’m a Customer Service Representative for IBM’s National Services Support Organization. I’ve been here for about 18 months I work for the SIRT Team, currently reconciling invoices.

I was able to go pro gamer earlier this week with my team Professional Skills (www.proskills.us). We have won the Electronic Arts 250k tournament for Battlefield: Modern Combat in the Playstation 2 Division.

GT: Playstation 2 Division? Explain how the contest works.

Carlos: Electronic Arts has sponsored a $250,000 tournament for their new game, Battlefield: Modern Combat. The game is a pc port to the consoles. The tournament is the first of its kind. They have allowed players to form teams and play online with Gamespy/IGN administrating the tournament. There are two divisions, the XBOX and the PS2. The top teams for both consoles play against each other for the 250k.

GT: What kind of game is Battlefield? How did your team come together and where do you stand in the tournament now?

Carlos: Battlefield is a F.P.S. (First Person Shooter) game. It’s also, what I like to refer to as a squad based military game. Our team came together mostly by way of playing with and against each other online previously. I’ve been playing online for over a year now and picked up a game called Timesplitters Future Perfect around March 2005. At the time there were two dominating clans one of which was Professional Skills. I was the leader of a team called P.W.A. (Power Wealth and Authority) and my team was in decline. After my team disbanded, Pro Skills picked me up for future competition. One thing has lead to another and we’re in the Battlefield finals. It’s been a roller coaster ride let me tell you…

GT: How did you get started gaming in the first place? If you win the grand prize what are your plans?

Carlos: That’s a good question. I actually remember very clearly my first gaming experience. Watch out this is some serious gaming nerd stuff we’re about to get into… I was five years old. The first Atari home system was available and it was around Christmas time. My mother and I were out shopping and we passed a store that had an advertisement in the window. Like any kid, I asked my mom for the system. She responded, “We’ll see, I had plans on buying you something else for Christmas?” I remember thinking to myself that she was definitely buying me the Atari and I was going to whip up on the neighborhood kids as soon as possible. Most kids in my neighborhood already had an Atari and I played with them but couldn’t’t get in the practice time to be good. Sure enough I get an Atari for Christmas, I’ve been a die hard gamer ever since.

If I win the grand prize, I’ll more than likely take a large portion and invest. I’ve recently started my first automobile restoration project so I’m sure some funds will go in that direction. We have a clan member that had a terrible car accident and lost a friend. We’re all planning to pitch in together and send some of our winnings; he was unable to play alongside us. Oh wait! I can’t forget I have to repay my Mom for getting me started. I’ll buy her something nice and shiny.

GT: What’s next for you and your team? What will you do after the win?

Carlos: Well, most people think that competitive gaming is all fun. It’s mostly fun but certainly not all fun. When you reach the top, if you will, the only direction you can go is down or lateral. With that being said, the team is really about to get focused, practice and win this last match.

I expect a couple of our players to become free agents. The core group including myself will most likely move on the to the next F.P.S. competition.

In the long term, I hope to get more involved with the business side of gaming. Consulting on game design and coaching a sponsored team professionally is where I would like to be ultimately.

GT: Carlos, good luck with the final leg of the tournament and keep us informed on the results. It was a pleasure.

Carlos: Thank you, I feel very proud to have been a part of IBM’s GameTomorrow community. I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Tags: IBM, Electronic Arts, Battlefield 2, GameTomorrow