People often regard individuals who play video games as shut-ins who lack the necessary social skills to achieve success in life.

Jo Garcia is not one of those individuals.

Garcia, recognized by Playboy as their Cyber Girl of 2008, possesses the looks and demeanor to beat back those who question her legitimacy in gaming, as well as enough knowledge of the medium to converse with even the most dedicated players.

“I love all games, but I am a huge fan of Skyrim and Final Fantasy XII-2,” she said proudly.

Garcia has since injected her love of video games into her promotion efforts for Sony’s newest portable system, the PlayStation Vita, due to see release on February 22 of this year.

She has done this by travelling to various Vita Hill Social Clubs throughout the U.S. Her previous stops have taken her to Chicago and New York, and on February 11^th, she appeared at Miami’s Vita Hill Social Club to promote the PlayStation Vita while also spending time with individuals eager to get to know her while also getting to know the Vita’s software lineup.

Garcia expressly believes that the Vita will be a success; she admits to wanting to obtain “everything she can get her hands on” for Sony’s newest portable. In terms of games, she is most excited for Escape Plan and Uncharted.

“I think that Escape Plan is a very good game, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss is pretty sick,” she said. Jo Garcia was not the only Playboy model in attendance at the event. Leola Bell, recognized by the magazine as Miss February of this year, was present through an invitation extended to her by Playboy.

Unlike Garcia, who touts her gaming credentials, Bell is not as familiar with gaming lore.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about video games,” she admitted. “However, I used to play Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog when I was younger.” Despite her unfamiliarity, Bell expressed excitement about the potential latent in Sony’s newest portable. “If I wanted a game system, it would definitely be this one. It looks really cute and well-made, and I can take it with me when I travel,” she said.

The presence of the Playboy models definitely helped in adding spice to the event; Brittany Redmon, a cocktail server and model, cited them as a key reason for attending. “I love Playboy magazine and when I heard that Jo Garcia was going to be there, I definitely wanted to attend, as I am a big fan of hers,” she said.

Danny Pena, a podcaster and host of Gamertag Radio, is also a Garcia fan; the two are in fact good friends and he specifically attended to support her efforts. Alexander Yparraguirre, a graphic designer from Tampa, FL, appreciated the opportunity to test out Garcia’s gaming talents. “I am looking forward to challenging her in Wipeout and seeing just how good of a gamer she is,” he said.

As the PlayStation Vita nears its release date, events like these will prove helpful to ensuring that the system has a successful launch. While there were some individuals at the party who remained unsure of the Vita’s potential, most of the people who had the opportunity to sample it expressed confidence in its success.

“I think that this system is definitely something that I would definitely consider either purchasing for myself or my little brother,” said Redmon.

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About the author

Jason Townsend-Rogers
I am a aspiring journalist who possesses a master's from the University of Florida and enjoys writing about technology, entertainment and politics. I have also spent time in Shanghai, China and enjoy helping others when I am not applying my writing abilities.