Meet the Team!

Jim Novak

I’m so proud to be a founding member of the Handheld Gaming Community! I’ve been playing handhelds since 5th grade, when the original Gameboy entered into my life. Since then, I’ve owned just about every handheld system there is at some point. When I’m not playing games, I’m directing middle school bands, spending time with my wife and two children, composing and arranging music, and performing as a freelance musician.

Favorite Handhelds: Steam Deck OLED and Nintendo Switch OLED. Favorite Genre: RPG, particularly those from Square Enix and Level 5.

Joel Thoman

My interest in handheld gaming started when I was in high school.   I was obsessed with getting a Game Gear.   I was so excited to have a relatively high quality gaming experience (for the time) with me wherever I went!   As I became an adult, handheld gaming always maintained an important part in my life.   I was thrilled to take my handheld gaming to the next level when I got a Playstation Vita, and later a Nintendo Switch.   My go-to genres are arcade racers, and RPGs.   While I don’t really like games like Minecraft, the Dragon Quest Builders series compelled me so much.   I spent over 200 hours between the two entries.

Ezz Khattab

I came here to play games and eat pizza, and I’m all out of pizza. I like all game genres but early 90’s shooters like DOOM hold a special place in my heart. Oh, and Vita means life.

Andre Xast

Been playing games since Atari. And don’t have any plan to stop anytime soon. Been in the HGC since the early days and proud.

Alex da Silva

My first handheld console was the Gameboy Colour in purple. I ended up breaking it unfortunately but I never broke my love for gaming. I fell in love with the DS Lite when I was a bit older and then the PSP changed everything for me. Since then, I haven’t looked back and I still enjoy playing it every now and then. When I’m not gaming, I like to play football (or soccer for you Americans) and hanging out with my wife and friends.

Favourite handhelds are: PSP & 3DS. Favourite game: Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters.

Steed Ayala Munguia

My love for handhelds started when I was 6 years old playing gameboy anywhere and any chance I could get. I like various genres like RPG, FPS, adventure, hack n’ slash, visual novels, and metroidvanias. There are a few sagas that will forever be special to me; such as Pokemon, Final Fantasy and Shin Megami Tensei. On my free time I like to exercise and watch a wide variety of anime as well.

My favorite consoles: Playstation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck

Randy Everding

I’ve always loved video games, going back to my first Gameboy Advance SP. I fell in love with the ease of use and great games, and haven’t looked back since. From childhood to adolescence to adulthood— I almost always have a way to play games on my person. Whether it be the Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, Steam Deck, or ROG Ally— I’m always looking for great games that I can experience wherever I have a bit of time.

My favorite genres are RPGs, action-adventure, and platformers, with Atlus and Square-Enix making some of my favorite titles.

Laura Barnett

I got to “share” my first gaming device – a Gameboy Color – with my brother in the late 90’s. I fell in love with gaming by playing the first few hours of Pokemon Red over and over again (remember when there was only 1 save file?) I love being able to game with my husband – and will continue our hobby with our kiddo once he figures out that the controller is for holding and not for eating. When I’m not gaming, you can find me in the gym or reading.

Favorite console: Nintendo Switch

Favorite genres: RPG’s, Strategy, and Platformers

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