Dan Amrich
Encyclopedia
Dan Amrich is an American
writer, author, actor, musician, and social media
expert. He graduated from Ithaca College
with a major in Audio Production and minor in Writing and became a professional journalist and critic with numerous video game and music
magazines and websites. He currently works for Activision
as Social Media Manager, and resides in Los Angeles, California.
’ Country Guitar Magazine, Guitar World
, and SLAM Magazine
. He also worked as an editor for Flux Magazine
, ran the video games section of America Online’s Critics’ Choice, and was the Editor in Chief of GameSport Magazine. He also wrote freelance articles for Wired
, Time Out New York, and NBA Inside Stuff
, among others.
In 1996, Andy Eddy
offered him the position of Executive Editor on Digital Diner, an internet lifestyle magazine startup from Metropolis Publications. Only two issues were released before the magazine folded.
In 1997, Amrich began working at GamePro
under the editorial aliases Dan Elektro and Bad Hare. He eventually became the features editor, wrote the responses in the reader letters column, and was the main editorial moderator at GamePro.com's user forums. He also created the GamePro Enigma metapuzzle for the March 2003 issue, and the GamePro Enigma II for the March 2004 issue. Before ending his tenure with the magazine, he authored the book PlayStation 2
For Dummies.
From 2003 to 2009, Amrich worked at numerous Future plc publications. As Senior Editor, he helped launch the US version of GamesRadar
in 2005.
Amrich worked as Senior Editor at Official Xbox Magazine
from 2006 to 2009, where he wrote features, reviews, the letter column, and various other articles for the magazine and its website, OXM Online. He was also the moderator of the OXM discussion forum on Xbox.com. Perhaps most notable during his tenure here is his controversy with game developer Jeff Minter
, a game developer who vocally opposed Amrich’s 2/10 score for Space Giraffe
.
Amrich left Official Xbox Magazine
to take on the Editor-in-Chief role for the duration of World of Warcraft
: The Official Magazine’s first quarterly issue. He announced in December 2009 that he would leave journalism to pursue an alternative career path in the video games industry. Before joining Activision you could hear from Dan weekly on the Official Xbox Magazine podcast alongside Ryan McCaffrey, there is still a dedicated segment of this podcast named "Stick it to the Dan".
as Social Media Manager. He publishes interviews with video game developers, discusses Activision
with its community, and hosts weekly the One of Swords Podcast. He has just posted his 50th podcast. He usually alternates between two cohosts Katrin Auch and Hugh Sterbakov. For episode 13 his co-host was ATVI_Bernard, music heard in the One of Swords Podcast podcast is taken from Yameen. He usually has one interview an episode from someone working on a current Activision game.
character in the arcade basketball game, NBA Hangtime
, released in 1996. Dan interviewed the game's programmers, Mark Turmell and Sal Divita
in 1995 and was invited by the pair to appear as a secret character in the game. Amrich describes the series of events leading to his inclusion into the game, as well as the rationale behind the bizarre bunny rabbit ears he is wearing, on his own website.
Dan's secret character can be unlocked in the arcade, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 versions by using the code "AMRICH" and PIN "2020".
, Fast Times, before leaving to pursue personal musical interests.
The result of his departure is the parody band Palette-Swap Ninja, a musical duo featuring Jude Kelley alongside Amrich. Their music comprises modified and humorous covers of popular artists, including Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Bowling For Soup
, Paul McCartney
and more. In addition to vocals, Amrich plays guitar, bass, and on one song, kazoo.
, and a "puzzle nerd". Dan maintains one of the only sites devoted to Kit Williams
and his elaborate, illustrated puzzle book, Masquerade
.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
writer, author, actor, musician, and social media
Social media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
expert. He graduated from Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
with a major in Audio Production and minor in Writing and became a professional journalist and critic with numerous video game and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
magazines and websites. He currently works for Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
as Social Media Manager, and resides in Los Angeles, California.
Journalism
During the mid-1990s, Amrich wrote for Harris PublicationsHarris Publications
Harris Publications Inc. is an American consumer-magazine publisher in New York City, New York, that publishes over 75 titles, including Juicy, XXL, King, Dog News, 0-60, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, Small Business Opportunities, Men's Workout, Exercise & Health, Celebrity Hairstyles, and...
’ Country Guitar Magazine, Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
, and SLAM Magazine
SLAM Magazine
SLAM Magazine is an American basketball magazine in circulation since 1994, published by Source Interlink. SLAM publishes nine issues a year to its circulation of over 500,000 readers worldwide.-History:...
. He also worked as an editor for Flux Magazine
Flux Magazine (US)
Flux Magazine was a short-lived magazine in the mid-1990s which focused on music , comic books and video games. The magazine was bi-monthly and lasted for seven issues. It was presented as an edgier alternative to magazines such as EGM and GamePro...
, ran the video games section of America Online’s Critics’ Choice, and was the Editor in Chief of GameSport Magazine. He also wrote freelance articles for Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
, Time Out New York, and NBA Inside Stuff
NBA Inside Stuff
NBA Inside Stuff is a television program that now airs on NBA TV and previously aired on NBC for many years, then on ABC, featuring behind the scenes activities of NBA players. The program also includes features on fitness and fundamentals of basketball...
, among others.
In 1996, Andy Eddy
Andy Eddy
Andy Eddy is an American video game journalist and critic. He currently resides in Redwood City, California.- Biography :Eddy was the executive editor of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment in the late 80s and early 90s, followed by tenure as a senior editor at GamePro magazine...
offered him the position of Executive Editor on Digital Diner, an internet lifestyle magazine startup from Metropolis Publications. Only two issues were released before the magazine folded.
In 1997, Amrich began working at GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
under the editorial aliases Dan Elektro and Bad Hare. He eventually became the features editor, wrote the responses in the reader letters column, and was the main editorial moderator at GamePro.com's user forums. He also created the GamePro Enigma metapuzzle for the March 2003 issue, and the GamePro Enigma II for the March 2004 issue. Before ending his tenure with the magazine, he authored the book PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
For Dummies.
From 2003 to 2009, Amrich worked at numerous Future plc publications. As Senior Editor, he helped launch the US version of GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
in 2005.
Amrich worked as Senior Editor at Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
from 2006 to 2009, where he wrote features, reviews, the letter column, and various other articles for the magazine and its website, OXM Online. He was also the moderator of the OXM discussion forum on Xbox.com. Perhaps most notable during his tenure here is his controversy with game developer Jeff Minter
Jeff Minter
Jeff 'Yak' Minter is a British computer/video game designer and programmer. He is the founder of software house Llamasoft and his recent works include Neon , a non-game music visualization program that has been built into the Xbox 360 console, and the video games Space Giraffe , and Space Invaders...
, a game developer who vocally opposed Amrich’s 2/10 score for Space Giraffe
Space Giraffe
Space Giraffe is an action arcade video game by Jeff Minter and Ivan Zorzin of Llamasoft. Space Giraffe visually resembles the arcade classic Tempest, an arcade game by Atari Inc. released in October, 1981, though Minter claims that it is not a clone of this game. The game was released on August...
.
Amrich left Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
to take on the Editor-in-Chief role for the duration of World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
: The Official Magazine’s first quarterly issue. He announced in December 2009 that he would leave journalism to pursue an alternative career path in the video games industry. Before joining Activision you could hear from Dan weekly on the Official Xbox Magazine podcast alongside Ryan McCaffrey, there is still a dedicated segment of this podcast named "Stick it to the Dan".
Social Media
In 2010, Amrich accepted a position to join ActivisionActivision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
as Social Media Manager. He publishes interviews with video game developers, discusses Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
with its community, and hosts weekly the One of Swords Podcast. He has just posted his 50th podcast. He usually alternates between two cohosts Katrin Auch and Hugh Sterbakov. For episode 13 his co-host was ATVI_Bernard, music heard in the One of Swords Podcast podcast is taken from Yameen. He usually has one interview an episode from someone working on a current Activision game.
Trivia
Amrich is included as an Easter eggEaster egg (media)
Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
character in the arcade basketball game, NBA Hangtime
NBA Hangtime
NBA Hangtime is a basketball video game developed by Midway and released in arcades in 1996. Home versions followed for Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Windows. A version for Game.com was cancelled....
, released in 1996. Dan interviewed the game's programmers, Mark Turmell and Sal Divita
Sal Divita
Sal Divita is a voice actor, martial artist, and video game designer.He is most well known for his portrayal of various characters in the Mortal Kombat series. He portrayed Nightwolf, Cyrax, Sektor, and the cyborg version of Smoke in Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and Mortal Kombat...
in 1995 and was invited by the pair to appear as a secret character in the game. Amrich describes the series of events leading to his inclusion into the game, as well as the rationale behind the bizarre bunny rabbit ears he is wearing, on his own website.
Dan's secret character can be unlocked in the arcade, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 versions by using the code "AMRICH" and PIN "2020".
Music
Amrich is a vocalist with two years spent in private opera singing training and several years of experience in musical theater. He performed for five years with the San Francisco Bay Area 80s cover bandCover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
, Fast Times, before leaving to pursue personal musical interests.
The result of his departure is the parody band Palette-Swap Ninja, a musical duo featuring Jude Kelley alongside Amrich. Their music comprises modified and humorous covers of popular artists, including Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Bowling For Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and more. In addition to vocals, Amrich plays guitar, bass, and on one song, kazoo.
Personal life
Amrich is a self-confessed "fanatic" of the 80s film franchise, GhostbustersGhostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
, and a "puzzle nerd". Dan maintains one of the only sites devoted to Kit Williams
Kit Williams
Christopher 'Kit' Williams is an English artist, illustrator and author best known for his book Masquerade, a pictorial storybook which contains clues to the location of a golden jewelled hare created by Williams and then buried "somewhere in Britain."Williams wrote another puzzle book with a bee...
and his elaborate, illustrated puzzle book, Masquerade
Masquerade (book)
Masquerade is a children’s book, written and illustrated by Kit Williams, which sparked a treasure hunt by concealing clues to the location of a jewelled golden hare, created and hidden somewhere in Britain by Williams...
.
Acting
Amrich’s work as an actor includes commercials and voice-over performance. He has appeared in numerous commercials, and his voice work appears in The Sims: Bustin' Out. Amrich is also a life member of the International Jugglers' Association.External links
- Dan Amrich Rap sheet at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...