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Top Ten Celebrity Gamers


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There are many celebrities that have voiced their interest in videogames over the years, and more so in recent times. There are many genuine fans amongst the public figures in support, though some may seem to be jumping on a popular bandwagon and others are obviously taking a paycheck. Electronic Theatre isn’t here to judge those using their image purely to promote videogaming as a market, but instead this week is presenting ten of the biggest celebrity videogame fans.

 

From the likes of John Cena to Rihanna, Jack Black to Ricky Gervais, the spectrum of famous artists that confess to be fans of videogames is surely representative of the wide variety of audiences that dabble with the hobby these days. While some haven’t necessary followed the industry and other have only recently found their footing on current-generation systems, all of the below celebrities have professed their love of the hobby at one time or another.

 

 

 

1. Robin Williams

 

 

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Considered one of the biggest stars in the world during the peak of his career in the late eighties and early nineties, it’s fairly common knowledge that Robin Williams is a fans of videogames. Not only did he perform at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2006, and assist Will Wright to demonstrate the creature editor software featured in Spore during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) later that same year, in which he demonstrated his knowledge of the videogames industry by drawing comparisons to Populous and Black & White, but also, he has a daughter named Zelda. Is there really any greater homage to videogames than naming your child after a character?

 

 

 

2. Vin Diesel

 

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Famously a fan of videogames, Vin Diesel has such respect for the industry that he has actually founded his own development studio. Tigon Studios were responsible for both of the well received videogames based in the Riddick universe, and the not-so-well received Wheelman, all featuring Diesel’s likeness. The studio has a number of new projects rumoured to be in the works, though it has been some time since anything was heard about any of them. Hopefully, we’ll see something as groundbreaking as the original The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay on the current-generation consoles, if just to prove that the first time wasn’t merely a fluke.

 

 

 

3. Snoop Dogg

 

 

 

Although well known to be a fan of videogames, Snoop Dogg hasn’t had too much like with his digital appearances. After being heavily involved in the eventually cancelled Fear & Respect with Midway Games, his only released project has been the mobile phone title, Snoop Dogg’s Boxing. Though he rarely discusses specifically which games he plays, Snoop Dogg has been noted as fan of the Halo series, and other First-Person Shooter (FPS) games.

 

 

 

 

4. Ice-T

 

 

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A celebrity in many respects, Ice-T frequently makes his lobby of the hobby known via his personal Twitter account. An Xbox 360 gamer through-and-through, the musician turned actor has leant his vocal talents to a number of videogames, not least the upcoming Gears of War 3. Most recently Ice-T has been discussing his love for Crysis 2, not that Electronic Theatre blames him.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Samuel L. Jackson

 

 

 

While he readily admits to have lost touch with the hobby, Samuel L. Jackson has long been a fan of the industry. Having become a friend of gamers everywhere after lending his vocal talents to Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas back in 2004, Jackson has regularly been questioned about his take on the hobby. His favourite game to this day? Space Invaders. Well, he does say he finds it difficult to keep up…

 

 

 

 

6. Cameron Diaz

 

 

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Perhaps one of the most surprising stars on the list, Cameron Diaz has been reported to be discussing her healthy interest in videogames for many years. While the line-up is predictable – from the 8-bit classics to the likes of World of Warcraft – the fact that the star still finds the time to journey to the virtual worlds is a testament to the argument that videogame players can have lives away from their videogame hardware.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Nicole Kidman

 

 

 

Much like Dame Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman was a closet gamer until the point she was approached by Nintendo to help advertise their products. "I love the concept that Nintendo is reaching out to new audiences with their self improvement products like Brain Training. Most importantly, I've quickly found that training my brain is a great way to keep my mind feeling young," stated Kidman prior to the airing of the television commercials back in 2007.

 

 

 

 

8. Megan Fox

 

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Many a young boy’s dream at present, Megan Fox only heightens her appeal by expressing her love for virtual worlds on a regular basis. Having reportedly started with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version of Disney’s Aladdin, Fox has since been a fan of a number of classic videogame series, including Mortal Kombat and Viva Piñata. Funnily enough, she only ever seems to mention the Transformers videogames when questioned about them directly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Dame Helen Mirren

 

 

 

Dame Helen Mirren is one of Britain’s most widely respected actors. Born in 1945, her career has spanned more than four decades. More than this however, she is that newest of gamers, those who don’t fell as though their playing games at all. Having recently starred as the face of Wii Fit Plus in the UK, Dame Helen Mirren didn’t discuss her love for Super Mario franchise or even the Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training games, she simply discusses how Wii Fit Plus has helped her to maintain her level of fitness.

 

 

 

 

10. Dara O’Briain

 

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Perhaps the gamer’s most loved videogames playing celebrity; Dara O’Briain is a comedian who achieved cult status in the online videogaming community through a stand-up performance discussing a number of the most famous and popular videogame franchises. More than that however, he even went further as to discuss many of the unintuitive mechanics and videogame conventions that have become familiar to any gamer worth their salt

 

 

http://www.electronictheatre.co.uk/index.php/articles/weekly-features/108-sunday-special/7678-electronic-theatre-sunday-special-top-ten-celebrity-gamers

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8. Megan Fox

Many a young boy’s dream at present, Megan Fox only heightens her appeal by expressing her love for virtual worlds on a regular basis. Having reportedly started with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version of Disney’s Aladdin, Fox has since been a fan of a number of classic videogame series, including Mortal Kombat and Viva Piñata. Funnily enough, she only ever seems to mention the Transformers videogames when questioned about them directly.

my list of "reasons to fall for her" seems to be increasing everyday :blush:

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