Aaron Rivers resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his heterosexual life mate, James DeRosa. He is right handed. Together the run a website called The Sophist, and have a podcast called Sophist Radio. As this is a videogame website or, more specifically, a website in search of new and fresh talent, I feel that it is important to describe how I got to where I am today.
I spent most of my high school years in a small, ultra-conservative town, named Lititz Pennsylvania. While I have always fostered a love for writing, most of my high school career was spent rebelling against any authoritative figure I found. I even once got in-school suspension once for “inspiring a riot.” That piece of mail was hung on my mom’s fridge proudly for almost a year. Also, it’s important to mention is that I have always have a deep-seated love for videogames. I, thankfully, was one of those children to always have the newest and coolest videogame system come Christmas, allowing me to grow up with videogames. So, long story short, promptly after graduation high school I moved from my sleepy hamlet to the nearest metropolitan area, Philadelphia.
After a few years of college, with with aspirations of academia and the intention to become a Philosophy professor, I hit a financial wall. I was forced into the workforce with an as yet unfinished diploma in an inapplicable field. I’ve worked many jobs with a constant level of unenthusiasm. Until one day it hit me. What have I loved throughout my entire life? Videogames.
So, here I am. I have been writing about videogames for little over a year now, still unpaid. This has not hampered my desire to make this my career however. Truthfully, I want nothing more.
Anyway, you’re not here to read some sappy love letter to my desired profession.
What about the man behind the articles?
First off, I am not a hipster. Ok, sure, I ride an old road bike. And granted, I have made several modifications to it. And also, yes, I look down on people when they ride around on their store bought bikes. Whatever, that doesn’t mean anything.
Sure, I lose my shit every time I see a girl with a tattooed sleeve and some librarian glasses and who obviously cuts her own hair, but who doesn’t?
What I really am is straight gansta! I’ll pee on girls…whatever! Yeah, that grill piece is tin foil. What MOTHERFUCKER! What do you got to say about that?!? Nothing, bitch!
Anyway, sorry. I guess I should talk about some of my interests before concluding this. While this list is by no mean exhaustive, I like:
Zombies (yeah, I know, how fucking typical)
Metal (because the Gods made it and said it was good – and yes, I do burn churches)
SRPGs (real time or turn based, all your base are belong to me)
Neil Stephenson ( because Colonel Sanders is truly an honorable and inscrutable man)
Advanced Wars (because I’ll play it even when being beaten by Magic Emperor Gahleon)
I’ve been drinking a bit too much, which seems like a good reason to end this article.
~Aaron Rivers, The Sophist