Today we talk to a man who enters the record books as the first person to unlock every badge in Jetpack Joyride! This diehard fan took everyone at Halfbrick by surprise when he finished this MAMMOTH task in record time. We reached out to discover more about this crafty veteran and reward him for his epic achievement. Everyone, say hello to John Haasl!
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Hi John, tell us a little about yourself.
My name is John, I’m a 36 year old husband, father of 2 and live in Plano Texas, USA. I work professionally as a Senior Systems Analyst and have been playing video/computer games for about 31 years now.
Do you have any special talents?
I actually love to draw, but don't do a lot of it. At one point, I was recognised as an "iPad artist" when the iPad first came out. I had some stories printed on various Apple websites and it was fun to see stuff written when I was really just doing it for fun.
What’s the best thing about Jetpack Joyride?
It’s got to be the addictive “just one more game” feeling. Whether it’s trying to beat your best score, conquering another mission or collecting another medal, there are plenty of incentives to give it one more shot. I think it's one of those games that is so simple in nature, but so addictive because of all the extra challenges and collectibles. It just keeps you going!
There's also a Zen like feeling with the game. It was really relaxing to sit and play for a while after a long work day and just lose myself in a few too many games at night. After a while, it just felt mesmerizing to float up and down, dodging objects and collecting items. It can really take your mind off things.
How long did it take you to unlock all 125 badges in the game?
I started playing the game on the day it was released and found that I couldn’t stop playing. At first, I wasn’t trying to get all 125 badges as it was more about getting the achievements and reaching the top of the leaderboards. At some point though, I started focusing on the missions and collecting badges. I found myself playing here and there and getting a few badges a day. In the end, according to my final game stats, I had a play time of 12 Days, 19 Hours, 18 minutes and 59 Seconds! Editor's Note: That's over 300 hours!
What other games do you play?
Hmmm, I’m a big handheld gamer these days so I’m usually playing games between my iPod Touch/iPad, the 3DS and will probably be spending a lot of time with the upcoming PS Vita. I’m playing through Mario Kart 7 at the moment and I’m looking forward to Wipeout 2048 and some Uncharted as well.
When you’re not wreaking havoc in-game, what else are you up to?
I love spending time with my wife and kids and doing things with them. There's always something fun to do and it's great to be able to spend time with them. I also like to read occasionally and spend too much time researching geeky things as well!
What beats do you crank while you're gaming?
I definitely lean towards the heavier side of things when I can. Nothing like some good metal or industrial music to get the adrenalin flowing! If I had my choice, I'd listen to some Korn or NIN.
Can you pick a favourite movie of all-time?
That’s tough, but I really love the The Matrix. I remember how much I loved watching it in the theater and how great the story and special effects were. It was also the first movie I bought on DVD as well!
Pizza or hamburgers?
Gotta love Pizza, what other food can taste just as good if not better the next day!
Basketball or baseball?
Baseball. It's a slow sport that's better played than watched sometimes!
Barry Steakfries or Chuck Norris?
I'm showing a little bias here, but Barry all the way! He's had adventures with zombies, vampires and jetpacks… I can't recall Chuck Norris doing all of those things!
