Well, where do I start? My true identity behind the bbpower name is Brad Barker. I am a laid back writer from Northern Indiana where the seasonal weather favored many video game playing days. I split time living in the country with the nearest neighbor a quarter mile away, but was not too far outside of town for every day living and a neighborhood close to my friends. I am a 2009 Ball State University grad with a degree in Advanced Sales and Marketing, which I an not keen on directly applying to the daily grind. I also took many writing, German, and economic classes in efforts to fill my electives with some variety. I am still looking for that right masters/Phd to pursue, but am coming up with no definitive path.

Growing up, video games has not only been a hobby, but an escape from the stresses of life. Like many others, I yearned for a magical world impossible for us to reach, which resulted in the next best thing, video games and books. Sure, I played sports and spent a lot of my childhood outside and with friends, but playing video games was something else I looked forward to doing. It also gave me time to myself, and with five brothers, I welcomed the tranquility. I was an in-the-closet nerd in high school and liked everything that was not expected from me. I enjoyed everything from science experiments and school plays to racing motocross and spending time at the lake. To orchestra concerts, plays, partying, and acting classes in college; I liked it all.

I appreciate all video games, new and old, but my passion lies in the vintage world for playing and collecting. I focus my gaming time on the NES, N64, Playstation, Wii, and Game Boy systems. They are familiar to me and do not require online subscriptions, or anything other than what you bought from the store to play. I like it simple and do not care for downloading, or updating. Vintage games demand respect and a sharp gaming ability to conquer. I love the challenge of limited continues, rare saving opportunities, and ruthless enemies. Also, older games makes me feel connected to where video games originated.

Memorable early games I played a lot includes: Final Fantasy VII and VIII, Battletoads for NES, Super Mario Bros. one and Super Mario Bros. three, Medieval for PS1, the Mortal Kombat games for Genesis, and dating way back to Treasure Mountain and Mixed Up Mother Goose on my old PS1 computer where I had to write the code to run the program. Newer games I have spent some time on are: Gran Turismo 6 (yes with the awesome feedback wheel), Red Dead Redemption, and a variety of Wii games. I did enjoy the occasional Halo matches in the dorms and still do with my brothers over the holidays.

Outside of video games, I enjoy creative writing and reading books. I used to be a tennis pro and still play as much as my back allows. I model for the Helen Wells Agency in Indianapolis, but I am in no way fit to still do so. Another great passion of mine is automobiles, mainly air-cooled Porsches gets me going. I have been restoring cars and driving fast cars since 16 and have had more cars than girlfriends (I think I am up to 16… cars not girlfriends). I got my first project 1978 911 in high school and have over a handful since. I like documentaries on just about anything science related and love to hear stories about crazy phenomenons and history. I am a dreamer, what can I say?

Nerd Bacon allows me the creative writing escape that I have become accustom to since high school, this is why I am here. I am comfortable writing and video games are a topic where I am not a stranger and can express my feelings accurately for potential gamers looking for the next game to add to their own collection.

I currently am living in Hilton Head Island, SC, where I spend most of my time working on Porsche 911’s and writing for Nerd Bacon, or grooming my fiction manuscript to be ready to submit to publishers. I also have a wood supply micro business where I supply to a fantastic cell phone case company called Carved. What I want most out of life is to become a novelist and I am working my way toward that ultimate goal every day. I feel we get one chance to do what we truly want for ourselves. So make the best of it, handle life’s bumps with poise, and come out victorious.

I can be reached at bbpower@nerdbacon.com for anything at all, gaming or not.