Geeking Out with Morgan Webb

By Cat Schwartz
March 22, 2010

Cat Schwartz and Morgan Webb, Webb (image provided by G4)

If you're a video game-playing guy or gal, then you no doubt know Morgan Webb. Called the "Gaming Goddess" by FHM magazine, where she was a contributor, she has been a gaming and tech industry fixture—known for her witty tips, tricks and picks—for a decade. A video fanatic since the Atari days, she is currently the co-host of "X-Play," a popular gaming show on cable channel G4. She boasts an impressive 45,000+ followers on Twitter, where she posts commentary on everything from the joys of watching a dog eating peanut butter to the best Android apps.

Our Tech Expert Cat Schwartz, who has known Webb since her early days in the industry ("we met at a failed startup in San Francisco during the web 1.0 days," Schwartz says), talked to Webb about her career and her can't live without gadgets.

Cat Schwartz: Now Morgan, I know full well how you got your start, but I'm curious as to what you say when people ask you this question?

Morgan Webb: This awesome (and hot) woman named Cat [Schwartz] told me there was a job opening at TechTV, and with her glowing (and probably inflated) recommendation, I got the job. I started with TechTV in 2001 as an AP (associate producer), and I produced Windows tips and helped out with research on [a show called] The Screen Savers. The show was an hour and a half live every day, which meant they had so much time to fill, [the producers] would occasionally let me on air. I got to learn under the masters, Patrick Norton and Leo Laporte, and I had (and have) so much respect for their talent. When they were looking to revamp [another show called] Extended-Play into [what is now] X-Play, I was lucky enough to have been playing shooters with the guys on that show, and they thought of me when they were looking for someone to host with the incomparable Adam Sessler.

CS: It's funny because I remember doing my audition for X-Play the same day as you, and once you started talking about RPGs and First Person Shooters, both of which I had never really heard of much less played, I knew you were the perfect fit. So you went from Tech TV to G4. How did that happen?

MW: TechTV was sold to Comcast and merged into G4, and I moved to LA to stay with my show. X-Play is a family and it was hard to imagine not being a part of the show.

CS: I remember coming to your house once and spotting a large open book about ants. I know you like learning about ants, but why—and what other else strange topics do you like to learn about?

MW: I find biology fascinating, and I love reading about spiders, ants, parasites, dinosaurs, and evolution in general. I am a frustrated entomologist. If I hadn't fallen into my current career (entirely by accident), I would probably have gone back to school and would currently be knee-deep in ant nests. I am really happy my life turned out the way it did because I'm incredibly passionate about video games, but it's always interesting to ponder life's what-ifs.

CS: Well, I have a feeling that one day you'll get your chance with that ant nest and I can't wait to see pictures! Onto my favorite topic: gadgets! Give me your top five favorite that you can't live without.

MW:

My Nexus One: First, it's not on AT&T (I suffered through the iPhone long enough). Second, it's way more customizable than the iPhone ever was. Apple likes to make decisions for you in order to make things more "user friendly." For example, I want to be able to delete items from my desktop, but the iPhone won't let me do that. I will never check my stocks on my phone, mostly because I don't have any—but I would still have to look at that icon every day. 1. Brand New Google Nexus One Unlocked Phone (buy it now price, $614.99)

My Consoles: I didn't want to use two of my gadget picks to mention both my PS3 and my 360. I can't live without either one. 2. Sony Playstation 3 PS3 40GB Console System Blu-Ray (buy it now price, $239.99), 3. Microsoft Xbox 360 Console HDMI 60GB Scene It + Extras (buy it now price, $194.35)

Sonos: My house is entirely wired with a Sonos system, and I can play any song on Rhapsody in any room in my house through my NexusOne. 4. Sonos BU250 = ZP120 + ZP90 + CR200 NIB (buy it now price, $874.95)

Gaming PC: I am still loyal to the PC for shooters and RTS's. I wish gaming laptops were a bit smaller and more manageable, but until then I'll just go with my beast of a computer. 5. Intel i7 920 Quad Core Gaming Desktop System New PC (buy it now price, $899)

30" Monitor: Once you play on a 30" monitor, you will never, and I mean never, go back to anything smaller. It will change your gaming experience and make you a better and smarter person (also, you will be more attractive). Oh, you'll also be poor because the video cards you need to run these things are brutally expensive. That's OK though; no one said addiction was cheap. 6. New Dell 3008WFP 30 inch UltraSharp Widescreen Monitor (buy it now price, $1,520)

CS: I love what you said about customizing your iPhone because it so reminds me of you and cool tips I used to learn from you on The Screen Savers. You've always been all about making the digital life what you want it to be. I remmeber you once showed a Windows Tip called "The One Click Shut Down." You ran around the set shutting off all the computers with one easy click. We all loved the simple ways you taught us to make our lives just a little easier. Now, because you're such a gamer, what are 3 games your playing right now?

MW:

1. Mass Effect 2: Yeah, I know I'm behind, but I've been to three conferences in the past four weeks, so I need to catch up to everyone else. Sigh.

2. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (buy it now price, $34.67)

3. Supreme Commander 2 (buy it now price, $44.98)

CS: OK, last question, do you buy or sell on eBay? If so, what?

MW: