☆ Say Hello To Mr Atari Himself, LORD ARSE! - Video Games Memories ☆ #Retrogaming @Lord_Arse

Lord Arse is an international video games man of mystery and a retro gaming nut!

His Twitter account has over 100,000 Followers and he posts passionately on a daily basis all things Retro Gaming.

I've followed Mr Arse for a while now and I decided it was time to get to know the man underneath the Atari cap.

Here are some hard-hitting journalistic questions that I put to Lord Arse last week......enjoy some of Lord Arse's Video Games Memories!

1. What's your earliest video gaming memory?

My first adventure into the world of video games was back in the late seventies/early eighties with the Grandstand 4600, which was one of those Pong-type machines but also had a gun/rifle so you could shoot at targets (okay, massive white squares) on the screen. Nearly 40 years on, I can still remember being blown away at being able to “interact” with the TV rather than it just being a one-way medium. Amazing!

2. What was the first game console that you owned?

The aforementioned Grandstand was my first games machine but my first *true* console was the Atari VCS, which I was lucky to get one Christmas, either 1980 or ’81. Whilst the Grandstand was fun, this was a game-changer! I was addicted to Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Combat, Missile Command, Vanguard… in fact so much so that I often got something which I called “Atari Thumb”, where my thumb would get so sweaty from playing that I’d lose all feeling in it for a few days! I’m amazed it didn’t actually drop off!

My first actual computer was a ZX81, which I got the following Christmas. Whilst it didn’t compare to the VCS in terms of colour (black & white) and sound (it didn’t have any!) there was some really special about not only being able to play games, but to also make your own! So, I made many a terrible BASIC program that would just squeeze into the 1K of available RAM, but of course, it didn’t matter that they weren’t good, it was the fact that you could type some code into a machine and create your own little worlds! Something I’ve enjoyed doing ever since.

3. How did you get into the retro gaming scene?

Whilst I’ve always had a passion for old video games (I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to hold onto most of my old consoles, computers & games over the years) it was probably the Kickstarter for the Recreated Sinclair ZX Spectrum that got me searching Facebook for Spectrum and retro gaming groups and then starting up the “Lord Arse!” account on Twitter. So, I’m afraid you‘ve probably got Steve Wilcox to thank for that 😉

4. What's your favourite video game of all time?

Could there be a tougher question? It’s so hard to choose just one! Whilst there have been many games that I’ve played and enjoyed over the last 40 years or so, I’d probably have to give that one to the late Mike Singleton’s “The Lords of Midnight” on the ZX Spectrum. How on earth he managed to fit such an intricate turn-based strategy/RPG with great graphics and 1000’s of locations into 48K of RAM I’ll never know!

Of course, ask me again tomorrow and it’d be something completely different 😉

5. What's your favourite console of all time?

As it was computers I grew up with, I missed out on the Sega/Nintendo era first time around. In fact, after the Atari VCS, I didn’t personally own another console until the Atari Jaguar. Quite a gap in my education I know!

So, I’d probably have to give that to the VCS.

6. What's your favourite arcade game of all time?

You’ve got to love the classics; Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Galaga, Gauntlet… but the machine I’ve had the most joy with over the years is GTI Club. There’s nothing more fun than skidding around the Côte d'Azur with a real handbrake in your control! Genius addition.

7. What's your favourite sandwich?

I’m a man of simple pleasures. Give me a mature cheddar and Branston pickle in thick, white well-buttered bread and I’m anybodys.

8. What do you order from an Indian Restaurant?

As takeaways go, I’m more of a Thai or Chinese kinda guy. If I want an Indian meal, I’ll put my glad rags on and head to the local restaurant. Makes for a great night out! What would I choose from the menu? A chicken jalfrezi with all the trimmings washed down with a Kingfisher (or five) makes me a happy boy.

9. What's your favourite beer?

As a fully paid-up, card-carrying, beard-wearing member of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale - www.camra.org.uk) I’d have to plump for a good-quality stout, or on a warm day, a pale ale. I’d say that my all-time favourite though has to be a Belgian beer called Chimay Blue. Incredible stuff and just a mere 9% ABV!

10. What current generation video games do you play (if any)?

I’ve got a gaming PC and a PS4 but I have to admit, I don’t play that many modern games. I am slowly working my way through Fallout 4 and GTA 5 and recently I downloaded Lumo from Rising Star Games, which is heavily influenced by the likes of Knight Tyme and Fairlight and is an excellent game in itself!

11. How the heck did you manage to get so many Twitter Followers!!??

Old Spice. It contains magic.

12. What's your favourite video game genre?

In retro gaming terms, it would probably be a humble text adventure. I loved them so much I even made and released one for the Atari ST called ‘Evilution’ under the name Nigma Adventures.

In modern terms, I tend to enjoy open world/sandbox games. I mentioned Fallout and GTA earlier as two prime examples. I really enjoyed Skyrim as well and I’m considering picking up a Wii-U or Switch to play LoZ: Breath of the Wild as I’ve only heard great things.

13. If you were a console, which one would you be and why?

Without a doubt, the Atari Jaguar. Underestimated, underappreciated, probably not reaching its full potential… oh, and often found under a ‘toilet’ 😉

14. Can you recommend a good retro gaming shop?

Yes! My good friend (and partner in crime on the forthcoming ZX Spectrum documentary ‘Spectrum Addict’) Ant Harper has recently opened a web store selling classic and vintage computers, consoles and software. There are some real gems on there and all at superb prices!

Check it out at www.retrogear.co.uk!

Hopefully, You Enjoyed That Insight Into A Retro Gaming Legend...

Maybe YOU Have Some Video Gaming Memories You'd Like To Share With Everyone?

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"Stay Frosty!"