Lets move swiftly along to TSA. How did you first stumble across TSA?
Before I came across TSA I wasn’t what you would call a hardcore gamer, and I had no idea of what was happening in the industry at the time or what games were currently announced. I remember I was looking for any news on a game. I may be wrong but I think I was looking for information on a sequel to Oblivion and then I came across TSA. It immediately gained my attention and after a few weeks of just reading it daily I thought I would become a member. So basically I found TSA by chance.
What was it that kept you coming back for more, versus other sites you’d stumbled upon?
I don’t know, since it was quite some time ago now. I think I just loved reading the different articles that popped up, but what kept me coming back eventually was how TSA cared more about its community than any other site I visited. The meets were also a big part of that.
Are there any articles or features that you really enjoy? Past or present.
I really enjoy Tuffcub’s massive pole (No innuendos please), I also enjoyed the Friday Fights, but what I most enjoy about TSA is reading what the community puts in the Forums and the conversations that we had there. I’m ashamed to say I stopped doing but I’ve been meaning to go back and start getting more involved in the forum again.
Well, if you spell it ‘pole’, innuendo is all you’re going to get! You should get back into the forums again. There’s always some nonsense going on!
I don’t know why I spelt it like that…
[drop]One heck of a mental blip. I remember you taking part in the Uncharted 2 competitions and clan last year. Have there been any competitions that really grabbed your attention?
Helping you organise the Uncharted Treasure Bearer was definitely a highlight for me. I also enjoyed King of Killzone and Best of Battlefield, which I created the name for and co-hosted the first one with yogdog.
Ah yes, so you did! Sorry I forgot about your role there. You’ve been around on TSA for a few years now. Are there any TSA members that you wouldn’t be too averse to meeting in real life?
Hmmm where do I start.
Almost everyone I follow on twitter, I would like to meet in real life but the people I would like to meet the most would probably have to be the people in the UC2 and KZ clans. People like yogdog, bodachi, aquastyle, thelonesteven, maneorix, AG, roy, spoof, ryan etc. and of course you tef. In other words, a lot of people.
I may not get that chance for a while though as I’m only 15 so I don’t see the point in going to Eurogamer Expo or Gamesfest, as I’ll only be able to see a few of the games I would want to see.
All the rated stuff is locked away behind a curtain and a bouncer at EGX. What else do you do with your free time away from school, TSA and gaming?
I do enjoy reading a novel or a comic, I’m currently reading A Song of Ice and Fire, as I just finished watching the Game of Thrones TV show. I’m only interested in one comic series, really, which is The Walking Dead, which I also gained interest in from watching the TV show. Apart from that I enjoy watching films and researching random stuff about history on Wikipedia.
A pair of popular choices there on the novel and comic book front. What was the subject of your latest Wikipedia dig? I often end up with about 20 tabs from loads of different tangents.
Recently I had a look at the the fall of The British Empire and the few overseas territories Britain still owns. All that leads to hundreds of different wars and events, which I find really interesting to read about.
It’s early days yet, but do you have any long term hopes, dreams and aspirations?
I honestly don’t know I think it’s to early for me to say, of course I would like to get into the game industry but I don’t know what I would be good at. My love of history could take me to something in that direction but apart from a teacher I don’t know what else I could do with that. I recently took a liking to advertising and marketing, which is what I’m doing in my recent work experience.
I’ve still got a year or so to go before I need to make any big decisions.
The thing to remember is that everything always branches into more specific areas. History could set you down the path of Archeology, for example. Then you could run around like Indiana Jones.
I’ll keep that in mind!
Right, we’re up to the final, and most ominous question. Actually no, thinking about it, asking you for the snog, civil partnership, smother question with the Top Gear hosts would be a bit too wrong…
That was not the question I was expecting.
Well, we’ll fall back to the usual trio with Peter, Lewis and Kris, the three loveable podcast hosts.
I think that’s an even harder and creepier question than the last one! OK then.
I would have a civil partnership with Peter as I think he’s an all round nice chap, I’d snog Lewis, and I’m afraid I’ll have to kill Kris, not because I hate him just because he’s the only one left.
As sound a reasoning as I’ve ever seen to that question. We’re at the end of the interview, now. Are there any final words of wisdom you’d like to impart to your followers?
Just thanks for all the good times you’ve let me have, and the amount of times you’ve all made me laugh while I’ve been a member of TSA.
MadJunkBoy
nice to meet u TGS!
and a really nice interview…
havn’t played so many games with u TGS apart from the ModNation Times… =D
and ur only 15!!?? OMG… thought u were much older! =D haha
Origami Killer
really Interesting read, I also had you pegged down as older, I remember seeing you in the Uncharted 2 competition. On the subject of searching history on Wikipedia, I also do this but tend to go down the route of more ancient and sometimes religious history, such as the Byzantium empire, Templar’s and of course who doesn’t have a look at the city of gold and all other legends like it. Having a surname as Jones as well, being called Indiana wasn’t too much of a surprise when I was younger.
Topgearsam
I just find the medieval period onwards more interesting mostly because there tends to be more stuff about war in more recent history. I have looked at ancient history stuff though, like the city of gold of course and the aztecs and it’s really interesting.
Origami Killer
I’ll have a look into slightly more recent stuff then, broaden my knowledge up a bit :)
aerobes
Always surprised by the level of maturity shown by the majority of the younger members here on TSA. Good read and a great gaming history for someone of such a tender age.
Nice to meet you, young gent. I, like you, await Skyrim with blatant awe and a dropped jaw. :)
ProjectJAY
Haha, I love that, “blatant awe and a dropped jaw.” I’m gonna start using it more often. Without your permission, of course :D
SpikeyMikey23
Howdy sam, also had you down for older. The paedos on this site will get quite excited now i imagine ;) lol just teasing
The Lone Steven
As long as he avoids general chat, he should be safe unless they are let out of their cages and onto the front page. :p
Kitch
You rang?? Someone left the cage open again. Oh and good read Sam pleased to meet you. And yes you are indeed the Victor Meldrew of your generation. Mike should be scared. He has always been the elder of the site!
SpikeyMikey23
Haha, knew it wouldnt be long before youbg blood was smelt!
XisTG
Hi!
From the Mega Drive to PS2? That must have been quite a leap!
Topgearsam
Hi *waves*
It was a huge jump. My mind was blown by the graphics but my mind was blown more by the fact that it was a dvd player!!! I was very easy to please back then.
DrNate86
That was the main thing I took away from the article as well, what a difference it must have been, I remember being gobsmacked at the leap between ps1 and ps2! Did you ever go back and experience any of the ps1 classics? FFVII and FFVIII would be two I would recommend if you are an RPG fan, the Final Fantasy games have never been as good since (in my jaded, rose-tinted opinion).
Topgearsam
I haven’t gone back and played any PS1 games the whole way through, as for Final fantasy I played the first part of FFVII but apart from Pokemon I don’t like Turn based fighting games like FF I prefer action RPG’s.
Charmed_Fanatic
HI, i cant help but read your name every time as TopOrgasm. Sorry :(
Topgearsam
lol its ok but I don’t know how you would read it like that, I don’t think it looks that similar.
teflon
Something on you mind, much, CF?
Jakster123x
Yeah, CF, I think you should maybe calm down a little there ;)
DrNate86
Giggidy!
The Lone Steven
I thought you were 18-20 years old Sam. :O Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. I remeber when you killed me and Tef in a funny way on uncharted 2 back when he could be bothered to host them.
I think Tuffcub would be happy that you love his pole. ;-) or he may get a restraining order against you.
Topgearsam
I’m betting on the latter.
jediryan123
anyone else read topgeargasm?
Charmed_Fanatic
Seeee im not the only one! ;)
Rocket_345
I thought you was much older than 15. I had you down as 18 -21. I think i’ve played a bit of UC2 and a bit of KZ2 with you but thats about it.
TSBonyman
Great read and nice to meet you kid. I can get away with that as i’m positively ancient in comparison :P – still enjoying video games though and i hope you do too for many years into the future.