Name:Kevin Northern
Age:Thirty something... Yes, I'm that old.
Location:Canada, eh!
How old were you when you got into gaming, and which system did it?I got into gaming when I was about 5 years old, playing the Atari 2600 over at my grandparents house.
If different from above, what was the first system you owned?My first system was the Atari 2600, which my grandparents gave to me, but the first one purchased for me was the Atari 5200 which I got in 1983.
What systems do you currently own?Currently, I have an NES, SNES, Nintendo Sixty FOOOOOOUUUUUURRRRRR, Gamecube, Genesis, Dreamcast, PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox360, original Gameboy, Gameboy Advance SP, DS Lite, 3DS, Ipad/Iphone, a of course computers. I used to have an Atari 2600, an Atari 5200, a ColecoVision, and a RadioShack computer.
What is your favorite system, be it current or retro?Of what I own right now, I would say it is a toss up between my SNES, and my PS3. I’m leaning toward my SNES though.
A rough estimate of how many games you own?If you include all of the games that I purchased for the Atari 2600, 5200, ColecoVision and RadioShack computer, then I must be coming up to 900-950.
What game are you currently playing?Right now, I don't get to play as much as I would like to, but if I'm on my PS3, I'm usually playing NHL 11.
What is your favourite genre, and why?RPG and Adventure, but Sometimes sports can be, if done well. I like the depth of story and the mechanics of a well made made RPG above all else though.
What is your favourite game series, and why?Final Fantasy, for the reasons above. Though, I enjoyed the last couple still, they've definitely dropped a bit in my eyes. Legend of Zelda. Need I say more? Can't wait for Skyward Sword.
What is your all-time favorite game, and why?The Legend of Dragoon. Some people may knock it, but it was the perfect game made in my favourite genre. I really enjoyed the battle system and found it refreshing in a genre that didn't see much variation in mechanics. The story was great, and the cinematics sequences were IMO unrivaled for their time.
Who is your favourite developer, and why?That's a tough one tbh, but right now, it'd have to be either Naughty Dog (yes primarily for the Uncharted series) or perhaps Insomniac (Ratchet & Clank, Resistance). Interestingly, both Sony affiliated studios. Ubisoft is always in the mix too for me.
Give us your most under-rated/under-valued game.Legend of Dragoon was horribly underrated when it came out. It has a cult like following, but it's a niche one at that. It's unfortunate that this game didn't get big time exposure like Square's RPGs of the time, because it was every bit as good, if not better.
Any platform exclusive you'd like to see make the leap to multiplatform?I definitely embrace the idea of people being able to have access to all games regardless of what they buy, but at the same time, I believe console exclusives have their place in the industry. I'm not sure I want a gaming industry where everything would be built to be multiplatform, and nothing is ever optomized for one platform. Some of the best games we play are that way because the devs focused their efforts in one place. Didn't exactly answer the question, but I guess what I'm saying is, it's it exclusive, let it be. That's easy to say however when you own all the platforms.
How about your favorite handheld game?Keeping in line with my favorite genres, I'd say my favorite is probably Phantom Hourglass for the DS. I thought the cellshading was a perfect fit for the DS given it's capabilities, and I'm usually very pleased anything Zelda. That said, New Super Mario Bros DS is a very close second.
Any old series you'd like to see revived on current gen platforms?Ask me this a few years ago, it was unquestionably Kid Icarus. Seeing as how we're getting that, I guess my focus shirts to maybe something more like Contra. Not entirely sure how it'd work, but I'd be interested to have them try at it.
Tell us about your most memorable gaming moment, something you're going to tell your grandkids.I won the final battle in DK64, against King K.Rool, without taking a single hit. Anyone who played that game should understand how hard that would be. I’d also like to point out that boss fight was extremely well done.
Deep thoughts now:
Given the many news reports of people committing horrific acts against other people and then blaming videogames, do you feel that videogames are - in any way, shape or form - responsible for these atrocities, or are there other issues at play?No. Games such as those which simulate violence are not meant to be a learning ground, but instead they offer an experience is a controlled manner that is beyond the scope of what is acceptable in a society. Although, some games may go so far as to almost glorify certain aspects of these activities, the translation of them into the real life is not because of the game, but instead because of many outside factors. I think it is too easy for people to place blame on video game violence, and because of that so many parents seem to miss where the blame should really be placed.
Have you ever found yourself looking at life or the world around you in a different light after playing a videogame, or has a videogame had any influence on how you live your life?No, because for me when I play my games, I'm getting away from the real world, and I park my game experiences when I stop playing. I think that's where some of these arguments come from with games and their influence on people to commit violent crimes. I guess some people can't park the experiences the games provide, and start having it affect they way they think, and the way they view things. If you believe that stuff :p
And finally, tell us a strange but true fact about yourself.I wish I had something strange, or even kinda interesting to share. Sadly, I'm pretty much as boringly normal as you can be.
