Meet the Mob: Dan "Shoe" Hsu

OK, I'll give this Meet the Mob thing a shot.

You may have seen my name around here before, mainly because I co-founded this joint with Demian Linn. And therefore, we made sure our names are at the top of the staff list

because we're full of ourselves like that. Plus, my last name is also my nickname (at least in pronunciation), which makes it easier for me to stand out over more boring names (like Demian Linn).

Take this job

I got my start in games writing in 1996 at Electronic Gaming Monthly, a magazine I used to read in college long before I knew working in this biz was even a possibility for me...a magazine I started reading because a cover line fooled me into thinking they were going to show me how to play as the bosses in Street Fighter 2 on the SNES (lying bastards -- you needed to buy the Game Genie, and I might as well been controlling a pile of genie poo). I started off as an associate editor and eventually made my way up to previews editor.

Street Fighter 2 box

In 2000, I decided to chase the dot-com dream -- this was back when there was actually money in America. I went to Gamers.com as an executive editor then finished off as the editor-in-chief of video games. That whole thing didn't last very long, though -- dream to bust in just one year.

Luckily, EGM wanted me back as editor-in-chief in 2001. I ended my career at Ziff-Davis Media as the editorial director for the 1UP Network, then left on my own accord (stupid me, I should've waited for severance!) to recharge and co-found Bitmob with Demian.

Obsessive behavior

I don't think I have any light hobbies -- if I like something, I really like it. Video games are obvious. That's my nightly activity of choice, sucking up countless years of my life. I've been through several phases: console games when I was younger, PC games during the Doom/Civilization/Masters of Orion/Warcraft 2 era, back to console games when I went to EGM.... Recently, I picked up PC games again, thanks primarily to being exposed to them through Bitmob.

I have other obsessions, too. I love snowboarding, to the point where I push myself to ride beyond my skill level. My many injuries over the years are proof of that (reminder to self: I'm not 18 years old...I'm not 18 years old...). I used to read Burton catalogs for fun, too.

Pictured: me. Not pictured: skills.

I really enjoy "unplugged" gaming as well. Not so much D&D (which I used to play a ton of when I was younger), but more German-style board games. Some of us get together on weekends to save the kingdom in Shadows Over Camelot, trade spices in Goa, or stab each other in the back in Illuminati (look them up on BoardGameGeek).

My favorite "nerd game" (as our group calls 'em). Why would you ever
jump online to play Modern Warfare when you have this waiting for you?

My worst obsession outside of video gaming, however, is University of Michigan football. Would you believe I subscribe to two different recruiting websites (michigan.rivals.com and michigan.scout.com) at $100 a year each just to read about the tiniest of details relevant to my team? (Such as: what 16-year-old kid today is thinking about signing with the Wolverines? I gotta know!)

If we can figure out how to monetize Bitmob in the same way, we'd be all set as a business. And you'd all hate us, too.

Oh, I also collect Mighty Muggs. I have every one ever made except for the new, special-edition metallic Optimus Prime that just came out at San Diego Comic Con 2009. Anyone out there want to sell it to me? For cheap? Remember...we're not charging you $100 a year at Bitmob, so someone somewhere owes me one metallic Optimus Prime Mighty Mugg, at-cost (plus shipping).

Mighty Muggs

Well, that's pretty much it for me -- all the stuff you didn't really ask for and still wouldn't ask for now that you've seen what it is.

Me: http://twitter.com/BitmobShoe

Me again: http://facebook.com/BitmobShoe

Us: http://twitter.com/Bitmob

Us again: http://facebook.com/Bitmob

You: Awesome

Tags: meet the mob

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Toby Davis

August 18, 2009

So you have the Ghost Rider Mighty Mugg? Hmm i may have to look into getting me it at least.

Report | Reply

Dan "Shoe" Hsu

@Toby: Yup! I should actually take a picture of my wall of Muggs, but my photography skills are lacking.

I should have bought me one when you mentioned it back on SoreThumbs. So take the picture skills are not needed for a still picture.

Lance Darnell

This is great Shoe!!! Especially the snowboarding pic! If Demian does not follow suit and do a Meet the Mob post then someone should do it for him! (i.e. ME!) So where do I send the $100?

Ha...we're not advertising it, but Bitmob won't turn away donations! The link at the top of Sore Thumbs is still active: [url]sorethumbs.tumblr.com[/url].

David Matos

@Shoe- You were one of my faves back in the 1up days. I'm glad you and Demian made this site, It's quite an interesting concept and so far turning out quite well. Keep up the good work!

Brett Bates

Hey Shoe, when's your birthday? I was thinking about getting you [url=http://store.cstv.com/marketplace/store_contents.cfm?cart_id=07164810858367841141117732720090208&store;_id=292&dept;_id=-1&product;_id=101135]this[/url] -- unless you'd like [url=http://store.cstv.com/marketplace/store_contents.cfm?product_id=78414&cart;_id=041937144858367841141119852920091808&store;_id=292&dept;_id=5213]this one[/url] instead.

Joshua McCluskey

Mighty Muggs, really? :o

Jonathan Hunt

Thanks for letting us meet you, Shoe! Your snowboarding pic reminds me of my first time trying. It was a pain in the ass in the literal sense. Anyways, I'm loving the site. Don't know how you guys are making ends meet, but best of luck monetizing your endeavors.

@Brett that is just wrong. Then again I would of said Applacation State vs Michigan game if you were goating of course :)

Yeah I miss spelled the hell out of that name. Appalation

Brian Shirk

Now I know why you have sore thumbs after all those years of Street Fighter. It's funny that a former EGM boss was tricked into purchasing the magazine. And man, Game Genie was a pile. I'm ashamed that I used to use that garbage. It's too bad you didn't post a picture of that Michigan Vs. Oregon upset that happened a few years ago, though. Ducks fans will never forget that day.

James DeRosa

[quote]My favorite "nerd game" (as our group calls 'em). Why would you ever jump online to play Modern Warfare when you have this waiting for you?[/quote] The reasons are so multitudinous such as to defy listing.

Thanks David! F-U Brett! Yes, Joshua! We're not (making ends meet), Jonathan! It's [i]Appalachian[/i] State, Toby! And thanks a lot for the painful reminder! You too, Brian!

Also, those mugs are awesome. :D

*Muggs

Eric King

@Shoe- Great post! You'll probably never make it across the country to try out some of the slopes here in Maine but if you ever do I bet you'd have a hell of a fun time.:) PS- Forgive me if I've just missed him on here and just haven't noticed, but where the hell has Crispin been lately?:(

I'm thinking that Seanbaby kidnapped Crispin...or maybe they're just going bar hopping, again.

Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this mystery soon! The Mob must know what has become of the elusive one that is Crispin.:o

Maybe Crispin is making a sequel to his RPG Maker hit: Crispin's Quest.

Michael Pangelina

August 19, 2009

I think Crispin is busy with his real job. Oh, Shoe, thanks for the new desktop.

Eric Bleecker

Shoe called me awesome! And in the past, we chatted about the Wolverines on 1UP. Good times.

Brandon Guerrie

August 18, 2011

EGM and Expert Gamer (EGM2/GameNOW) were the mags that inspired me to write. Did you guys work together since it was known as EGM's "sister" mag? I know "XG" editors and EGM editors did some contributions, by I believe it was all in the same office, at least in the Chicago days.

August 21, 2011

Yup, we were all in the offices together. When I was there, it was mostly Expert Gamer, but I do remember the EGM2 days as well. Ah...the good ol' days when even one mag a month wasn't enough! :)