Community Spotlight: ireconi

Pilots!

This week's spotlight is on ireconi, a popular figure in our forums, and an all around swell guy. You may know him from his work helping new pilots learn the ropes, or maybe you've spotted one of his fishing videos out in the wild. Here's your chance to learn a little bit more about the man behind the keyboard behind the pilot behind the prop.

How long have you been a gamer?

Since 1985 when the original Nintendo came out. In the past, games were infamous for horrible controls, and companies who produced games that were unplayable. It's actually unbelievable that those companies were able to release the games in the state they were in. Games in the past were unforgiving and challenging.

What are some of your hobbies?

Above all other recreational activities, I enjoy fishing the most. I've been doing it for 27 years now so I'm good at knowing what signs to look for when looking for a specific fish and where they are going to be. I'm also good at pool but ever since I got wrapped up into online gaming, I rarely go out when I have free time.

Where are you from?

Louisiana, born and raised. I love it here for three reasons and hate it for three. It’s beautiful, never gets droughts, and there is all the free seafood you can handle. I hate the hurricanes. Which people don't realize, it’s not when the storm is actually hitting you it’s all the wildlife, creatures, and days without electricity it draws up. Not to mention you never know when it’s going to flood. What's two and three you ask? Simple, the heat and humidity. Man, it gets super hot here and with the amount of humidity no amount of wind helps.

Do you have any military or aviation experience?

No, but I love and respect every man and woman who has ever served and risked his or her life wearing any uniform throughout history. It takes major courage to put your life on the line for something you believe in.

What are some recent accomplishments you've had ingame?

A little funny story can go along with this. The 4.1 patch had just come out and I was trying to fix the camera with Kird's mod. I was so focused on doing that I had just jumped into playing the game after I was done with it. So I'm playing thinking that the patch had decreased the guns power and I was firing peas when I'm usually shooting down 3-4 planes a match.

Well turns out I had been flying all of my planes stock since the patch. Well, I recently remedied that. It did do one thing good though. I find my flying improved from staying behind targets for so long before. Not having the guns upgraded and all.

What are your favorite planes?

I am addicted to the prop planes. I'll jump in the higher tiers when there are people flying them but I absolutely love tier 6 matches.

What are your favorite aspects of the game?

I like how you can damage a plane's performance rather than just reduce the health. That is another thing I like about Wargaming -- they pay attention to the little details like that which makes the game more fun and personal.

What about WoWP appeals to you?

I mean, have you played it? Dude, the visuals alone merit this one my top games of all-time list. Clouds and the sun provide you camouflage. You work with other people and stay coordinated in a flight and you are flying with capable people who you trust then you can't lose.

There are other flying games out there that are great but this has a Wargaming feel to it and I like that.

Do you have any advice for new players?

Learn who the really good players are. Look for them in matches by who is shooting down a lot of planes. Or, if you want to use ground target planes watch those guys. Whatever role you decide to do, learn who is good at that role. Fighter for fighters and so on.

The best way to learn is to watch these players after you get shot down by switching to their camera view. As long as they are on your team of course. Also, learn the maps. Best way to do this is to look for little landmarks. You should constantly be glancing at your map and radar. The last thing you want is an enemy on your tail that you don't know about or to find yourself in range of their base anti air. You have to keep your eyes constantly moving around.

If you are a fighter, stay away from the ground targets all together. You should be worried about finding and shooting down aircraft. If you want action follow your bombers. If you run into two enemy planes, engage the one in the rear. If you are with one of your GT planes and you see four or five enemies get out of there, regroup with the rest of your team. You aren't going to be able to help anyone if you’re dead. Instead, you know where the enemy is and so does your team.

What’s your favorite map and why?

It’s definitely The Bay map. I kind of lose myself in combat when I'm after someone but in between engagements I enjoy the beauty. I actually went to San Francisco and up to the highest peak on the east side where the concrete gun emplacement is.

As a bonus, here's an ireconi fishing story:

I've been fishing since I was four so that gives me around 27 years of experience with fishing. If you think about it that way I'm kind of an expert as far as Louisiana goes.

My dad got a boat when I was about 16 and we took it out one day. My dad takes a nap on the bow of the boat and well, I'm casting off the side. I don't know if I put the tip of the pole too far back or if the line was out too much. I went to cast and I feel it hook something. Well my dad was passed out and didn't feel it or react right away. So I pulled a bit thinking I was just caught on something and a few quick tugs would surely release me.

From the tugging came a slurred 4th dimensional scream from another world. I had ironically hooked him in the lip. So, the boat ride back he had this half swollen upper lip and nobody on the boat could keep a straight face because he looked like Donald Duck right down to the slanted angry eyebrows. We caught a lot of fish though.

We think ireconi is just simply awesome. He is one of a few pilots who have graciously offered to help new pilots learn a few things. Read the whole thread here. Also, he has a great fishing pics here.

We're continually impressed with your dedication and helpfulness, ireconi, which is why we are very pleased to introduce you as a Community Ace!