Exclusive Interview with YouTuber GadgetGirlKylie

Here at VitaPlayer, we love Vita. But we also love fellow content creators. That’s why we got in touch with GadgetGirlKylie, YouTube’s favorite Vita gamer, for an exclusive interview. From the future of handhelds to why she loves JRPGs, this interview is one of a kind. Enjoy!

You’re known, among other things, for your Vita content. Considering that Vita is a platform that a lot of content creators out there don’t really pay much attention to, what drew you to it? Have you always been a portable gamer?

I was a big fan of the PSP system, so it seemed a natural progression to move onto Sony’s next portable system. Growing up, I shared a bedroom with my sister, so I tended to gravitate towards handhelds, so I didn’t have to fight for control of the TV! As to what drew me to the Vita, well, I’m a big fan of JRPGS, and I was interested in the touch control features that were a change from the PSP.

Do you think portable gaming experiences have something to offer to people who already own a home console? Even if they only really game at home? (NOTE: I’m referring to, say, still playing Vita at home instead of doing it on the go).

Oh definitely, I own home consoles as well as handhelds, but the two aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, I probably spend more time playing handhelds, than I do on home consoles. I don’t “game on the go” so my Vita playing is done at home. I find it equally as immersive playing on a small screen with headphones, as I do, playing on a TV.

You’ve built quite an audience on YouTube, having amassed over 50,000 subscribers at the time of this interview. What challenges have you personally encountered as a content creator in the gaming community?

I’d say the biggest challenge has been finding a good work/life balance. I started my channel as a hobby, to share my love of gaming. I never expected to be doing this full time, when I started YouTube three years ago. But it has been hugely enjoyable, I love speaking to viewers, and do try to play with them when I can!

Looking at your videos, you definitely seem to have an affinity for RPGs, and JRPGs specifically. What draws you to this genre? How do you think this genre in particular is represented in the current generation of consoles (both portable and home consoles)?

Like I said earlier, I’m a huge JRPGs fan. I couldn’t say specifically what draws me to them, but I suspect it is down to my love of anime. I find the deep stories in them compelling. It’s great to see the Vita has so many. But equally, I feel that the home consoles have plenty of them too, but you can never have too much of a good thing!

Going back to portables for a bit, what do you think the future of dedicated portable gaming devices looks like? Will we get a Vita 2.0? Another Nintendo device after New 3DS?

Let me just check my crystal ball! Who can say what the future will bring? I know this is a hot topic amongst Vita users given the recent infamous, “legacy consoles” comment. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I have certainly had my money’s worth. I have such a large backlog of games, some that have never even been opened! Some people seem to think that I’m “in the loop” as it were, I’m just a Vita gamer like everyone else!

How do you choose which games to play for your channel? Does your audience have a say in what gets put up there? And if so, have you ever played a game you were not that interested in, because of the demand from your audience?

I only ever play games that I want to play. I won’t play a game I don’t feel enthusiastic about, as I feel it would come across in my commentary. I use the statistics to see what viewers are watching and interacting with, and will spend more time on the titles that I can see are doing well. That is how my audience can influence what I’m doing. But as I’ve said from Day 1, I’m not a gaming jukebox, and I couldn’t possibly hope to cater to every single person who watches.

How do you interact with your audience? And how much do you do it? How important do you think it is for content creators to interact with their audiences?

I interact on the comments on YouTube, on Twitter and on Google Plus. It may surprise people to learn that I actually spend more time, answering questions and comments than I do recording videos! As for how important, well let me answer a question with a question. Would I be answering comments and questions on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, if I felt it wasn’t important? Even on my “days off”, I spend hours doing this. It is something I consider incredibly important, and I feel that my subscribers know how much I value them, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them!

What would you say to Vita developers, if you knew a vast majority of them were reading this article? What about Sony themselves?

Firstly, I’d like to say a big, “Thank You!”. I am always open to Game Devs who would like me to cover their game. Followers of my Twitter will already know, I have been backing games that interest me on Kickstarter like Regalia – Of Men And Monarchs and Bloodstained:Ritual of the Night. As for Sony, I’d say this, if you are unsure on a game, look to crowdfunding to gauge interest, loyal Vita fans are happy to put their money where their mouth is!

You are a fan of importing games from Asia. Which 5 Vita games would you recommend someone to import, if they have zero knowledge of Asian languages?

I try to avoid games that aren’t heavily story driven like Monster Hunter type games. I don’t speak any Japanese, and those that are heavy on narrative I would struggle with. I always want to bring new and unique content and I’m quite impatient, so I don’t like having to wait and see if there is going to be a Western release. I can’t really recommend 5 games, as the majority of the ones I have imported are slated for Western release, like the Sword Art games.

Thank you very much for your time, Kylie. Is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers of Vita Player?

Thanks for asking for the interview, and of course, thank you Vita Player readers, and as always, take it easy guys!

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Visit GadgetGirlKylie on YouTube and on Twitter, and let her know we sent you!

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About Marcos Codas 384 Articles
Lover of portable gaming and horror cinema. Indie filmmaker and game developer. Multimedia producer. Born in Paraguay, raised in Canada. Huge fan of "The Blair Witch Project", and "Sonic 3D Blast". Deputy head at Vita Player and its parent organization, Infinite Frontiers. Like what I do? Donate a coffee: https://www.paypal.me/marcoscodas

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