Remember Tonyyeb? He’s not even really called Tony! TonyCawley is actually a Tony, though, so it’s time for us to meet the real Tony of TSA.
As per his request, I’ve hardly edited this, even leaving in the bit where he asks me not to edit it! That, and many a meandering tangent means it doesn’t half go on a bit! Enjoy.
[drop2]Right, who are you, how old are you and where do you come from?
I’m Abu Razzak Hamza Abdilahi, I’m 32 and I’m in a training camp in the Pakistani mountains.
Wait, so you’re not Tony Cawley, 32, South Rampart Street, London? I think I must have got the wrong number!
Haha, South Rampart Street? Never heard of it. Really I am Tony Cawley, I am 32 and I live in Bexley, Kent. Really I’m from Manchester, but I work in London!
I’m not publishing my street on the Internet, but I’ll PM it to you later.
Yay! LAN party!
I was thinking of another kind of party… Hold on, this isn’t going right. I’m coming across as all gay! Tuffcub will get excited!
Party in your pants? I’m not falling for that one again. So, I’m sure most people won’t have to make a huge mental leap to figure it out, but where did your username come from?
Woo, my username, it’s an indication of how uncreative I am. I couldn’t think of anything good or funny, so my actual name had to do.
Yeah… I didn’t think that question would have a very good answer. Oh well! Tell us, Abu, how did you first get into gaming?
I thought my answer was great! You should be more creative with your questions…
Right, my dad bought us an acorn electron back in the day, I must’ve been about 6 as my memories are sparse. I do remember a game called Air/Sea Wars, though.
That sounds pretty cool. Was it a bit like Battleships?
I’d love to say more but I’ve abused my brain over the past 17 years so my childhood is rather hazy. This interview may not go too well, my memory really is that bad! I honestly can’t remember the gameplay at all, I’m a little better with my memories later in my childhood!
Well, lets go there right away, and figure out what consoles you might have had after the Acorn?
Well I had a Sega Master System, then a Mega Drive, a Mega CD, a Sega Saturn, a PS1, then PS2 and finally a PS3.
Nice clean divide right in the middle there. Did the Saturn not do it for you, and you just switched to the PS1 right away?
Well I had a Saturn in Manchester, then went to Uni, and got PS1 for there. The PS2 came out shortly after so I spent my student loan wisely and upgraded.
Try asking me what games on what system, I honestly have no idea!
I can remember games I’ve loved, just no idea what system they were on.
What games did you have on those systems?
You barsteward!
You set them up. I’ll knock ’em down!
Ok let’s play this game instead; I’ll name some games I remember, you tell me what system they were on.
This sounds like a good game. I’m ready.
Speedball 2.
I think that was Mega Drive.
Shining in the Darkness.
I’ll leave that one to the readers.
Echo the Dolphin.
Mega Drive.
Toejam and Earl.
Readers… GO!
Original Bomberman.
I’m drawing a blank there too…
Sega Rally Championship.
Sega Rally was Sega Saturn!
John Madden 96.
PS1, perhaps?
Euro 96.
Ditto.
That was fun, hey?
OK think I’ve exhausted my memory, except I know for sure I wasted my Uni days sat with mates playing LMA Manager on PS2, taking turns.
Wait… No Sonic? Kris will be saddened.
How could I forget Sonic? The very first was the best.
A knock to the head? Perhaps a small child attacked you with a frying pan.
Don’t know how to respond to that, there are clear reasons for my poor memory but I probably shouldn’t advertise them to the world…
I also remember when FMV first arrived, and Mega CD had a terrible game I was amazed by. It was called Nightstalker or something.
Frying pan attack it is! All I really know is that there was a Star Trek: The Next Generation FMV game. I imagine that was for Mega CD.
Yep, but it wasn’t a small child it was a little monkey. Hold on, that picture of Steven is bringing back memories now! It was him!
How very dare he! Did you never feel like trying out any of the consoles manufactured by companies that don’t begin with the letter ‘S’?
No, I have an obsession with things beginning with ‘S’.
Santa? Steven? Satan? That kind of thing?
On a Saturday night I go out in Skimpy clothes and Stilettos.
Stockings?
Indeed, and I’m out purely looking for Sex. But that’s another story.
Yes. I think it is…
boyinastairwell
Ah! tonycawley is my folding nemesis!
tonycawley
Really? When did that happen? I don’t mean to be, I just fold from time to time.
boyinastairwell
Lol! I’ve been keeping an eye on the folding stats for the last couple of weeks and no matter how many folds I do you’re always a couple of places ahead of me!
moshi
The ramblings of a mad man, I approve highly.
tonycawley
Me not mad!
aerobes
And we both got a mention. This is a good day.
He’s a stand-up member (ooh-er) and a credit to the place.
yogdog
Nice to meet you Tony!
tonycawley
And you Yog
TSBonyman
Hi Tony, Albert Hoffman has a lot to answer for .. ;)
tonycawley
Who?
TSBonyman
The father of Labour Saving Devices.. i don’t want to put too fine a point on it but i recall your story about a “golfing trip” in the forums ;)
tonycawley
Ah, gotcha, good one! Lol.
Foxhound_Solid
Howdy dude. 32 eh….thats me in 6 week or so.
tonycawley
32 is a good age, I believe between 30 and 40 are the best, all down hill after that!
Amphlett
Yup, I can attest to that as I hit 40 a few months ago… Just like Tony I also have foggy memories in my twenties and early thirties. Ahhh, good times.
Gadbury
Yah, me too – 32 in April this year…
shields_t
I’m 34 in a couple of months you young whippersnappers.
There’s a word not used often enough.
stanley1664
exellent read as always.. Speed ball 2 was my favourite game on the amiga
skibadee
nice read Tony Tef :)
shields_t
Top stuff, can I borrow your speedboat when it gets a bit warmer?
Forrest_01
Bit late to the party, but nice to meet you tony. :)
That was a very enlightening conversation!