We’ve a fabulous community at TSA, and although I’m sure that has been said plenty times over the months and years I think it’s about time that we go a prove it!
This new bi-weekly feature features me sitting down with one of TSA’s regular readers for a little natter about gaming, TSA and more. One of the slightly less crazy ideas that SolidSteven’s come up with. I took the nucleus and merged it with all the best bits of the Meet the Staff and old TSAtv interviews. We will be needing volunteers for future editions, so if you’re interested, please express your interest in this forum thread.
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Without further ado, I present you SpikeyMikey23:
Right, well I guess we’d best start with the first question: Who are you, how old are you and where do you come from?
I’m Mike, I’m twenty… seven and I’m from glorious Swansea, Cilla.
Cilla? I imagine that’s a Welsh word?
Nope, I’m taking the mick because your first question is one Cilla Black would ask on Blind Date!
So, I can put a tick next to “obscure sense of humour” then! On to the potentially pretty obvious question about the origin of your PSN/TSA screen name?
When I first bought a PS3, I struggled to think of a User ID, full stop. I had a mohawk/fauxhawk back then, and my neice referred to me as Spikey Mikey, so I kept that and added 23 on the end to represent my age back then. So it was only appropriate that I use it for TSA so people can add me with ease (and without asking me for it!).
I’d never have guessed. So, obviously I’m talking to you because you play games. How did you first get into gaming?
I first got into gaming when my dad bought me an Atari 2600. I’d dabbled with those rubbish LCD games before, so the Atari was out of this world back then. I became quite the master on Asteroids before moving on to Pitfall and Crystal Castles. That would have been around 1989…
Did your dad and family like to play games with you? Do they give you a run for your money in Street Fighter?
The old man only ever played Asteroids when I had the Atari. When my mam would leave for work, I’d be stuck with cartoons on the TV, and he’d be hammering the levels in Asteroids. I think it was one of those games that never ended, because he was good but never finished the game. Apart from that, its pretty much just me at the moment. I do have two nieces that are ripe for corruption. Oh, and the Mrs loves her Xbox.
I think it’s obligatory for dads to like and be awesome at Asteroids, though! With 22 years of gaming to choose from, there’s got to be a few stand out games for you. What titles are really up there?
Theres a few, Pitfall on the Atari, A Boy and His Blob on the original NES, along with Caveman Ninja. Batman Returns and Mickey Mania on the Mega Drive. Fifa ’96 on the PlayStation 1 (I remember scoring a screamer with some dude from Lazio, and the graphics blew my mind away. I still have the replay on a memory card somewhere). Also loved the original F1 on the PS1. But my all time favourites are the usual suspects – Final Fantasy VII and Call of Duty 4. They are the two games that I have replayed over and over again and never get bored of.
[drop]Do you have a game you’re actually embarrassed to have played? Hannah Montana, perhaps? Maybe there’s a guilty pleasure?
Ha, I find the Lego games quite embarrassing in my game collection, especially as I only have the pap ones remaining on my shelf, Indiana Jones & Batman. But my guilty pleasure is/was Leisure Suit Larry. I still have the PS2 game today. I even rented Box Office Bust on the PS3! Especially as the innuendo and digital boobies were awesome, as well as the swimming fella at the bottom for conversation options! Ahh! I’m tempted to play it now, after the Grand Prix.
Speaking of the Grand Prix, you obviously like Formula 1 a little bit. What are your hobbies and interests outside of gaming? (We had the Monaco GP running in the background, non-fans will be glad I cut all the exclamations at the race)
“A little bit” is an understatement. I love F1. It’s fantastic. I’ve actually been to Monaco and had a picnic (I was young) just outside the tunnel, there was a car park in it (the tunnel, not sure it’s there any more). Great place! Anyway back to the question – my main interests are football and socialising.
My main team is Swansea City, and I also have a soft spot for the mighty Hammers. I’ll be at Wembley tomorrow, watching my team try to win the richest prize in football. So yeah, I like socialising too, I like to get drunk, be it with the Mrs or the boys.
Other interests include music. Last song I played on my iPod was The Naked and Famous – Young Blood. What a song! I’m also big on TV series. Been through quite a few in the last year. Got big love for Sons of Anarchy, so I recommend it to everyone. I’m currently starting season 4 of The Sopranos and I love it!
I love a good TV show myself, but hate it when something I’ve enjoyed watching ends up getting cancelled by the networks. Have you got any shows you wish had survived the end of year cull?
The main one that springs to mind is My Name is Earl. That program is fantastic and I can’t believe that no networks wanted it. Jason Lee (who plays Earl) is awesome, love him in the Kevin Smith films and Mallrats is one of my faves. I also quite enjoyed Reaper, it was a shame that got cancelled too.
G_The_Enemy14
My name is Earl is awesome :D I’ve only just got into it so I’ve got loads to watch. Also, I wish I joined in with the F1 champ, could have got to know some of you guys better. Anyway, good read!
DrNate86
Great feature, nicely done guys!
blackredyellow
Nice article, and nice idea. However, as a Reading fan still tasting the bitterness of the defeat last Monday, you could have picked a better candidate… ;)
Agree with the TSA Top 100 bit too, that was a great feature, fully worth the mammoth effort put in!
SpikeyMikey23
It was a cracking match, thought we were screwed when you scored 2 and then hit the post. Credit to reading fans, it was a great day out!
FrusciantesGhost
I like to think my taste in TV shows is the greatest of all time, on that note.
Watch Dexter, The Killing & like SpikeyMikey.. Nothing is better than The Sopranos .. Greatest show of ALL TIME.
blackredyellow
Dexter is brilliant, literally the only show I’ve been into for years.
teflon
I assume the original Danish version of The Killing? That was damned brilliant through and through. The last few episodes had me totally off balance, though I had posited the killer to myself much earlier in the series.
Must watch show.
colmshan1990
Dexter is fantastic.
I’m into Game of Thrones at the moment though, but everything else will be dumped as soon as new episodes of Dexter hit the internet!
The Lone Steven
I was wondering how my idea would turn out. An excellent article. I wish My name is earl wasn’t cancelled. It seems most of my favorite shows always gets cancelled.T-T Well done to the mods and well done to Spikemikey for being their guinea.*raises Tea*
TSBonyman
Nice idea Steven, well done! *raises glass*
For me, the best US comedy i had seen for years was Arrested Development and i was a bit gutted when it was cancelled but sometimes the best shows only last a few seasons. The League of Gentlemen is another example. It’s part of why they don’t lose their appeal over time.
SpikeyMikey23
cheers fella
m61726b
Great idea Steven.
The Lone Steven
Thanks guys,I may have a few more good ideas that i saving for a rainyday and when TSA runs out of ideas.Teflon and the mods may kill me for creating more work for them though.:OP
Manorhowze
Always good to see the community getting featured and SpikeyMikey is a good place to start. I always enjoy being in meets with him as he is always entertaining.
I too rented Box Office Bust and it was fun for an hour but then it started getting on my nerves. I loved the original game on PC though.
SpikeyMikey23
The original games on the pc were great, that was before internet porn though. Kinda negated it in a way haha
spooferbarnabas
Good community feature, hopefully it’ll be going for a good time as i enjoy these.
It was always a right laugh in the F1 races and spikeymikey was hilarious….happy days!
I’m sure F1 2011 will be good laugh too so i’m looking forward to that! :)
SpikeyMikey23
I can’t wait! got it pre-ordered already! good times!
gazzagb
Like you, Abridged Too Far is still my most favourite feature that was on TSA, along with the Time Travelling Microwave!
I really need to play COD with you sometime, it was only the other day I saw your 4.5 KDR in MW2! D:
billsmugs
I’d forgotten about the microwave, they need to bring that back!
SpikeyMikey23
I wish that was my real KDR. I was in a hacked lobby and didnt get out in time, Ended up having that KDR and all the challenges unlocked. Kinda ruined it for me.
Although my KDR was a healthy 1.54 before the hack.
m61726b
1.54 pah, that’s nothing :p
SpikeyMikey23
:P
gazzagb
Ha, I thought you were some sort of COD God!
MadJunkBoy
lovley/lovly (have forgotten the spelling!!!!) aricle! =)
my name is earl was excellent indeed and i also liked the top 100 games of 2011… great effort on that one guys=)
Ro6afc11
Nice one teflon & Spikey, great article. Think we first raced in Grid Meets which were also good fun.
SpikeyMikey23
I was more or less last as per usual ;) same with F1….