Hey everyone!
It's time for another Fandom Star Highlight and we're honoring JoeTDaFan aka Joe! As enthusiasts and contributors to the gaming and entertainment realm, Fandom Stars play a pivotal role in the community. They offer fellow fans an immersive experience and a deeper understanding of their favorite franchises. Read on to learn more about JoeTDaFan!
After spending 7 years on the platform, this Fandom Star serves as an admin and bureaucrat to quite a few wikis including: Hitman Wiki (Bureaucrat), NBA 2K Wiki (Administrator), and Wizards of Waverly Place Wiki (Administrator). Joe continues to work with community members to create content that is accessible, reliable, and useful and shares a lot of great advice for other editors who are interested in joining Stars and making the most out of their editing journey.
Fandom Stars[]
1. How long have you been on the Fandom platform? I joined the Fandom Platform in April 2017. Can’t believe it’s been 7 years since.
2. What inspired you to become a Fandom Star and contribute to wikis on Fandom? I have always made it one of my goals in life to help others, I strongly believe contributing to wikis is a great example of that. My first wiki I had contributed to was “The Walking Dead” wiki. I loved the original show and enjoyed playing the TellTale video game series. Whenever, it wasn’t possible to play them, I had always looked for summaries and recaps of what happened to a certain character. It wasn’t always filled in yet, so I took it upon myself to put my writing and creativity to the test to accurately summarize certain events within a chapter.
Afterwards, I had adopted the “Prison Architect Wiki” which was my first time being a leader of an established community. A project that was in need of cleanup, and organization did pay off as it was the biggest source at the time for all things about the video game “Prison Architect”.
After making stops at a couple of television show wikis related to Disney Channel, I adopted the “Hitman Wiki” in 2019, where I continue to serve as the Head Bureaucrat to this day. Being able to interact with fellow Hitman players and wiki editors makes the experience much more fun.
I was interested in joining the community council when it was around, but I had missed out on that opportunity due to real life factors. When Fandom Stars was announced, it was an opportunity to join fellow editors and administrators who shared the same passion for editing and being a leader. Everyone has a different style and mindset, yet the mission and goals remain the same; doing it for the community.
3. How has being a Fandom Star enhanced your experience as a contributor on various wikis? Being a Fandom Star has allowed me the opportunity to learn from other types of editors and leaders within the program and around the platform. Whenever you’re able to learn something new, adapt and implement it into your skill set. Using the knowledge I’ve gained has translated into how I can improve my editing and become a stronger and efficient leader. You’re never done learning and there’s always more to discover.
4. What has been your favorite wiki to edit? My two favorites during my tenure on Fandom would be the Hitman Wiki and the Sydney to the Max Wiki. The STTM Wiki was one of my biggest projects at the time as I was working alongside a great group of editors with only less than a week before the show premiered. Throughout the show’s 3 season tenure (2019-2021), our team had some shake ups, with 2 of our significant administrators “retiring” from editing. We were able to promote some of our most active and consistent editors to roles that would help them grow as editors, leaders.
The Hitman Wiki has been the most rewarding experience due to the fact I had been a player and fan of the Hitman Franchise since 2013. 6 years later I would adopt the wiki and create innovative ways to expand our content, navigation, and communication amongst our wiki.
5. What are some of the most rewarding moments you've had while editing and engaging with the community on Fandom wikis? The most rewarding moment for me is when people can connect and share their knowledge, thoughts, and presence among others. Collaboration is a two way street, lead by example and provide the directions. You may not always share the same vision as everyone, but you're working towards the same goal.
Being a part of a wiki that provides an accurate and helpful wiki community is rewarding itself. You’re not only sharing your own knowledge about the topic, but you’re sharing that information with other readers and editors who may desire the answer to the same question many have.
6. How do you balance your time between creating content for wikis and interacting with fans and fellow contributors? Depending on the wiki, it goes hand in hand, fans of a particular franchise sometimes are involved with creating and/or updating the wiki’s content, I look at it as if you were switching between two hats; a fan and an editor.
As a fan you’re consuming and gaining the information from a Television Show, Video Game, Anime, Movie, or other type of media. As an editor, you’re submitting and sharing that information with the community that shares the same interest as you.
7. What advice do you have for aspiring Fandom Stars who want to make a positive impact on the wikis they are passionate about?
Before I answer the editing aspect, it’s important to always prioritize and focus on your health, physically and mentally. If you’re not in the right mood or state of mind, your motivation and production won’t be as positive or efficient as you want it to be.
Regardless if you’re an editor, moderator, or an administrator, find your role within the community you’re a part of. Every edit counts and as long as each one is made in good faith, you’re already making an impact.
Before publishing your work, read it from two perspectives; from an author's and a reader’s. Ask yourself the following:
- Is The Information Accurate and Helpful?
- Does It Make Sense?
- Would I Find This Useful?
- Am I Ready To Publish My Work?
There’s all types of leaders, be the one you want to be. Although you’re the leader of a community, the title next to your username should never change the way you act, lead, or edit. You’re given extra privileges to be responsible for protecting and maintaining the community. The wiki will reflect on how you lead, make decisions that benefit the community in a positive way.
Never hesitate to ask for help, whether it’s from within your own community or around the platform. Getting a second opinion or advice is never a bad idea and typically whenever people ask for advice, deep down they already know the answer, but sometimes need validation and possible reassurance if their intentions or ideas make sense.
Movies and TV[]
1. What movie or TV show has the best soundtrack in your opinion, and why? “Bohemian Rhapsody”, as a big Queen Fan, the film captures the most memorable moments in Queen’s and Freddie Mercury’s history. There’s a song for everything, everyone, and every mood. Iconic hits include: Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Gaga, Don’t Stop Me Now, We’re The Champions, Under Pressure, and more.
2. How do you think the rise of streaming services has impacted the entertainment industry? Streaming Services are a great way to watch and access shows that aren’t available on Cable, however it doesn’t guarantee it’s worth it. Streaming Services constantly rotate their lineup of shows and movies, when one door closes, another one opens.
The price of streaming services continues to go up and there’s many competitors for each service, yet is there a clear choice when choosing one?
4. Who is your favorite actor? Willem Dafoe, a very talented and creative actor who surprisingly did his own stunts while playing Green Goblin in the 2002 installment of Spiderman. Whenever Dafoe’s name is mentioned, it’s always positive and nothing but great things are said about him. Being one of the least controversial guys in the business, that’s something that’s praised more than ever in today’s industry.
5. How do you think social media has influenced the way we consume entertainment and pop culture? Social Media has been a powerful and dangerous tool, especially around Pop Culture. The way artists, influencers, and actors are able to share announcements and interactions are very useful for business and marketing purposes. When it comes to Fandoms or “Stans”, they’re usually very supportive and positive groups of people.
Negativity is on the rise on social media platforms and unfortunately people who are identified as “trolls” or just bad influences can be found among fanbases, which may give them a bad reputation because of a small percentage of “fans” who are toxic. The questions everyone should ask themselves are; Are you considered a fan if you’re toxic? Would the artist/influencer/actor condemn or support this?
When Social Media is used for good, it’s a very fluent way to communicate and engage with a certain community. You can meet lots of great people, but it takes two to tango, interactions are collaborations, so always keep in that in mind, especially those you don’t know on a personal level.
6. What is your favorite movie, and what makes it stand out to you? “The Terminal” (2004), one of Tom Hanks’s underrated movies. Based on a true story of a man living at an airport terminal due to the fact he didn’t have the proper documentation to enter the country nor go home.
What stood out to me was the Main Character “Victor Navorski” having to overcome many obstacles that the airport throws at him to prevent him from being comfortable.
Throughout the movie, he holds onto a tin can (which is later revealed to hold signatures of famous jazz musicians his deceased father collected).
Victor builds relationships with employees of the airport and receives help from them. At the end of the film, the entire airport stands behind Victor and he is allowed to enter the United States. He takes a taxi to a hotel and gets a signature from the last jazz musician that his father needed. He then goes back to his home country after fulfilling his promise to his late dad.
7. How do you discover new music that is featured in movies, TV shows, or video games? Usually when you’re listening to music in any type of media, it’s something that can strike you in different emotional states.
8. What is your favorite movie genre? Animation would be one of my favorite genres.
9. How do you feel about the trend of remakes and reboots in the entertainment industry?
I believe if they’re developed correctly, they’re generally not bad ideas, however a lot of factors go into developing, filming, and releasing those types of products. Hollywood amongst other studios should follow the famous saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, it’s unfortunate when some of the latest installments in franchises seem “forced” or “washed down”.
Books[]
1. If you could write a story, what would it be about and what would you want the takeaway to be? I would write a story written in the third person, it would surround the main character with events that are similar to a roller coaster, high points and low points and smooth and bumpy. To make a long story short, the main character would embark on a journey to discover themselves and unlock positive sides of themselves that they’ve never felt they had before.
One takeaway would be to turn negative experiences into learning experiences, mistakes and accidents are meant to be made, but recovering from them is very vital. That’s also a part of a journey, it’s never going to be a smooth or easy ride.
Gaming[]
1. What was the first video game you ever played, and what memories do you have associated with it? The earliest “video game” outside of mobile gaming I can remember playing was “Ghostbusters: The Video Game”. I always loved the Ghostbusters franchise, especially the 2 movies at the time and playing the video game felt like a third installment. Earliest memories include spending countless hours trying to defeat the Sedgewick Hotel and Public Library levels.
2. What gaming platform (console, PC, mobile, etc.) do you prefer, and why? I’ve been able to play video games on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Mobile. Out of all of them, I’ve found each platform to be fun in their own ways. I can’t determine a clear favorite, but I would choose PC for its modding capabilities and Console for being a less expensive option.
3. Who is your all-time favorite video game character, and what makes them special to you? Lee Everett from Season 1 of Telltale’s The Walking Dead series. Arguably the best protagonist in the franchise. A convict who is being transported to prison right before the apocalypse breaks out. The police car crashes in the woods and he makes his way into a house where he finds Clementine, a young child. Lee and Clementine embark on a journey to find a safe space and to find Clementine’s parents.
Being a role model to Clementine is something that not only is shown in Season 1, but all 4 seasons of the series. Towards the end of the game, Lee eventually gets bit by a walker and leaves the player to decide his fate of either being finished off or left to reanimate. I personally believe that is one of the emotional scenes in video game history as you start to really admire Lee’s leadership throughout the game and the development of Clementine's character.
4. What is your proudest gaming achievement or moment? I’d say for me it’s earning the platinum trophy in a video game. Some games will have an easy and straightforward path to it, while others require multiple playthroughs, patience, and possible help from other friends or gamers. What’s great about trophies that need multiple playthroughs is you get to play the game in different ways and you might find information, easter eggs, or scenarios you didn’t get to see the first time you played.
Just because you earn all the trophies doesn’t mean it’s game over, I love to revisit the games I once played more than others and enjoy the game without having to read instructions, guides, or constantly fight for checkpoints.
5. If you could live in the world of any video game, which game would you choose and why? Not sure if I can pinpoint a certain video game..as long as it’s peaceful, fun, guaranteed survival, and cheap. That’s not too much to ask for right?
6. What upcoming video game release are you most looking forward to, and what features or aspects of the game are you excited about? For my fellow sports fans, I’m excited for “College Football 25”. I was never a big football fan and to this day I still consider myself a “casual”, but learning about the game and rules of football in video game form really help you catch yourself up while enjoying the experience.
I’ve also been a huge fan of management games, so being a manager, owner, or even coach in this scenario is a high interest of mine because that’s another side of business you get to learn and is a unique experience due to the fact that not a lot of games have those types of modes.
7. How has gaming impacted your life and what do you love most about being a gamer? Gaming has been a big part of my life, it’s not only been able to keep me entrained and distracted from some tough parts growing up, but video games have kept me engaged in storytelling, strategy, and creativity. I’ve been able to incorporate real life knowledge into video games and vice versa.
The gaming industry and culture rapidly changes whether it’s for the good or the bad, gamers are split on that. I tend to prefer more single player and game modes, but playing the occasional multiplayer games with friends is just as fun.
Gaming is subjective, there’s no correct way to play or complete a certain game, but it depends on your play style. Whether it’s being casual, strategic, aggressive, silent, etc, it’s all about having fun in your own way, if you buy a game, it’s your right to choose how you play it.
8. Who are your top three favorite video game voice actors, and what performances do you admire the most?
- David Bateson - Known for portraying Agent 47 in the Hitman Franchise. Bateson is an underrated VA who perfectly executes his role in every installment of the franchise. Just like how 47 and Diana Burnwood make a great team, so does Bateson and Jane Perry (VA of Diana Burnwood).
- Jeff Steitzer - Known for his multiplayer announcer voice acting work in the Halo Franchise. A very talented and respectful person who is always giving back to his fans. You can hear his iconic phrases such as “Double Kill”, “Triple Kill”, “Overkill”, “Killing Spree”, and more during matches.
- Keith David - On top of his legendary career as an actor and voice actor, his work on video games just adds to his impressive resume. His work on the “Saints Row” and “Call of Duty” franchises stand out to be the most.
Joe, thank you for continuing to build positive community throughout the Fandom platform as a Fandom Star! I truly appreciate our interactions and your willingness to provide feedback, support initiatives, and connect with fellow editors. Your ability to mentor others and lead by example are characteristics of a Star and you bring such positivity to the program. I'm very thankful for your participation and I truly enjoyed learning more about your editing journey! Thank you for continuing to be a champion of Fandom Stars and the Fandom community. You're amazing!