It was a video game journalism panel at PAX East 2010 that was the catalyst for what would become Mash Those Buttons.  After the panel, a group of friends – Jarret Redding, Jon Harris, Rei Liou, and Robert Allegretti – were discussing their thoughts about video game coverage.  They agreed that, while there was some good perspective out there for what was going on in the industry, too many outlets had become tied to the hype machine of video game marketing.  They wondered who would add to the voices that spoke to gamers, instead of as a company’s PR department.  That was when someone voiced one of the most ubiquitous of thoughts: Why not us?

Planning began, and not too much later Long Diep and Rob Wilson joined the efforts.  In the early summer of 2010 Mash Those Buttons launched.  There was a lot of blood and sweat behind the scenes, but no tears; everyone was carried around by rainbows and singing birds.  It was a little odd at first, but they got used to it.  Since MTB has launched, we’ve been fortunate to find several other individuals that share the same vision as the founding six. You can find them below: