By way of popular demand comes U360′s latest Showcase.  I won’t bore you with the normal intro, so let’s get right to it.

Ok I lied…I got a letter from the government the other day…I opened and read it…

So who is this guy behind the console?

I’m an IT Specialist with the Government.  I’ve been on Xbox Live since 2003 with the same Gamertag.  An avid biker (Crotch Rockets and a custom chopper), a paintball player (looking to go Pro) and a die hard GAMER!

Walk us through how your Gamertag came to be.

It was on one of my TDY Trips (Government term for business trip) to Florida when I had my Xbox, but not Xbox Live.  I was at this new hip club and I saw all these hot gorgeous women smoking cigars, so I had to try one.  I ended up liking them and my very first one I liked was a Dominican Cohiba.  Soon after that I got my hands on a genuine Cuban Cohiba and fell in love, hence my gamertag Cohibaluvr (Cohiba lover)

Women and cigars? Nice. Has the Xbox 360 experience been a good or bad one for you?

Definitely GOOD.  I’ve met tons of new friends from all over that I would have never met without Live.  It has also fueled my passion for video games by also allowing me to play anyone at anytime….what a great concept.

What are you playing the most currently on your 360?

CHROMEHOUNDS…what an awesome game.  I didn’t think anything could get me off of Oblivion, but this game has done it.

Which title would you say has been the biggest surprise on the 360 so far?

The above title…Chromehounds.  Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t hear too much hype and articles on this game.  I also was not a big Mech person and MechAssult Lonewolf had turned me off.  This game is like GRAW with mechs, but with so much more.  It was a big surprise to me.

There’s always a game that you wish you hadn’t wasted money on.  Which is that game for you?

Far Cry Instincts.  Not that it is a bad game, but it’s not an Xbox 360 game.  I played it on the original Xbox and thought I was getting something totally new and different.  I immediately had flash backs of the old console.

Ok.  Fast forward. It’s the release of your most anticipated title. What game would it be?

Halo 3.  Gears of Wars would be my pick, but look at the history of Halo and where it has been and wondering where it is going.  Halo 2 from that midnight launch has held the number 1 spot for the most played game on Xbox Live, even beating Xbox 360 titles.  I’m just sitting here everyday thinking on how Bungie can out do themselves on Halo 3 and make this a better game from the past two releases.  That is why I’m anticipating this game.  How can you improve on the number one purchased and played game in Xbox history?  It’s mind boggling.

True. But they better. What has been your most ‘next-gen’ moment with the 360?

The dashboard…seriously.  THE DASHBOARD.  I think people over look what the dashboard really is and what it offers.  Look at what the original Xbox and other console games have as an interactive, informative, content driven interface it has.  The 360 dashboard is like a PC.  Really step back and look what it can do.  On your PC when you come home, you boot it up, check your email, do a little IM surf the net for new stuff, then start to game. 

On the 360 you come home boot it up, check your messages, do some IM, see what’s new in the Market Place, download some games and start to game.  Now think back to the Nintendo and Sega days…could you imagine doing all this?  That’s what next Gen is for me.

I’ve always said the dash is the best feature. How do you feel about what the Marketplace has delivered so far?

It has surpassed all my expectations.  In the early stages of the Xbox 360 I had never expected it, then it was mentioned what it could do, then  reality set in using it and I can see this getting bigger and better.  The foundation is set, and I expect MS to do some crazy stuff with it in the future.  This year’s E3 was evident of that and this system was barely 6 months old at the time.

Are you for or against making already existing content on a game available via the Marketplace instead of simply including that content in the game?

I’m actually for it.  It gives games a new life and added replay value, but I also think that if they do, that they do it often and not a once time small weapons pack or 1 map and that’s it for the life of the game.  Keep it fresh…constantly release new content for in on a regular basis.

Do you plan on purchasing the HD-DVD add on or any other of the new peripherals for the 360 soon?

I don’t see my self getting the HD-DVD peripheral when it comes out right away.  I love my whole set up and consider myself a movie buff, but for some strange reason, I can’t see myself watching a movie on my 360.  I still like my stand alone sets and maybe down the line I will purchase a separately HD-DVD unit when they come readily available. 

I want it fully loaded. I do plan on buying the Vision cam and a couple of the wireless headsets.

What feature would you say is the best reason to get an Xbox 360?

Xbox Live.  It’s the best creation next to slice bread and the wheel.  It totally takes you to another place with gaming.

I’m kinda partial to bread. You’re an Xbox Ambassador.  How has the program been for you and what changes would you like implemented in it?

Wow….overwhelming but also I got some huge gratification for helping others.  I still do.  I get about 5-10 new friends request a day.  During the first week of being an Ambassador, I had about 30 new friends that I help throughout the week.  I still get questions from them to this day about things they want to know about.  I think a way to improve it, would be to have a more stringent acceptance policy and to purge Ambassadors based on bad behavior. 

Unfortunately, for some people the draw of receiving an icon was the motivating factor in wanting to be in the program.  As Trixie indicated though, if that is the reason you wanted to be in the program and not want to fully participate by helping others as much as possible and going over and beyond the norm, then this program was not meant for them.

One game. One shot. You against Peter Moore. Who wins and what game are you playing?

Any game, his choice and the outcome will always be the same with me prevailing.  If I had to choose a game, it would be Moto GP and I’d be like Nicky Haden all over his butt.

Tough talk. Last words from the cigar man?

Love, Peace and Chicken Grease.  Remember, it’s only a game.  Press start and try it again.

Right on. Glad to have you here my friend!