The Professional/Third-Person Bio

Meagan joined Game Informer in early 2008 after graduating from the University of Minnesota. During her time at the U of M, Meagan pursued a degree in graphic design and journalism/mass communications, hoping to cater her skills towards a career in print media—specifically Game Informer. Prior to her gig at GI, Meagan covered interactive entertainment for the Girls Entertainment Network, using the opportunity to hone her writing skills, attend trade events, and learn the inner workings of the video game industry. Meagan often credits Tomb Raider as her gaming catalyst, being one of the first games with which she didn’t have to fight for the controller. Evidently her brothers didn’t see the merit of playing as a tough chick. The spark yielded by Ms. Croft turned into a fascination with the entire industry, and Meagan now spends her days happily submersed in the culture.

The Personal/Totally Random Bio

I like stuff. Which is why I collect so many things—comics, trades, video games, toys, vinyl figures and more. If it’s possible to collect costumes I do that too.

My interest in gaming began with Lady Lara Croft, as mentioned above. I played games regularly on the NES and SNES prior, but always had to fight with my brothers for the controller. Not with Tomb Raider. It was the first game I really thought of as my own, and spawned an unhealthy urge to collect Tomb Raider merchandise as a result. Through most of high school and college RPG titles sustained me—delivering the most bang for my meager college buck. But once done with school and working, my tastes greatly diversified. Now I will pick up and play pretty much anything. Action/Adventure, shooters, RPG and platforming titles tend to be my favorites.

Lara Croft is also responsible for my foray into comics, which began at a local hobby shop. When I spied a Michael Turner Tomb Raider cover, I was hooked. After a year of hunting down back issues, I realized that there were other good stories out there. I am an unapologetic Top Cow fangirl, but also love diving into Vertigo, Wildstorm, Dark Horse, Aspen, Oni Press and a handful of smaller publishers. Overall I tend to prefer supernatural to superhero. Capes aren’t really my thing.

Unless wearing them, I suppose. Cosplay is my new and most expensive hobby. I’ve been dressing up and attending conventions for at least four years now. Currently, my costume roster is as follows: Wonder Woman, Aphrodite IX, Adam Hughes’ Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Super Mario Sister, Mamimi Samejima (FLCL), Chi (Chobits), Zatanna, Grace (Soulfire), Witchblade, The Magdalena, Madame Mirage and a handful of original creations. The list of costumes I intend to do in the future is twice as long. If you don’t cosplay, you probably don’t get it. All I can say is that nothing compares to the feeling of debuting a costume for the first time. Especially if you’ve worked your ass off on it. You can check out my costumes at meaganvanburkleo.com

A passion for games and comics led to the toys, and toys eventually lead to vinyl figures and designer goods, which I am only now beginning to appreciate. Erick Scarecrow rules. Why do all my hobbies have to be expensive?

I'm also big into art, as evidenced by my degree in graphic design. When I'm not playing around in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, I am taking photos, drawing, painting, modeling and occasionally sculpting. If I had a welding station in my garage it would give my Xbox a run for its money.

On the personal front, I am married (met my husband at band camp), love my family, friends, cats, warm blankets and beer. My dog Kairi isn’t bad either.

That about covers it.