GamesYouLoved Interview - Retro gaming is very much alive in 2015

GamesYouLoved - Retro Gaming is alive & kicking in 2015

7/5/2015

If you're in to gaming, particularly Retro Gaming, you'd have more than likely heard of GamesYouLoved. Behind the familiar GamesYouLoved logo stand some passionate people who want to share their love of gaming and promote our awesome community in a fun and inviting way. I spoke with Chris to establish more about the community driven; GamesYouLoved. Let's see what he had to say...

GamesYouLoved - Where every character is welcome

1) Tell us how GamesYouLoved came to fruition?

Well the 'idea' of a brand that celebrated classic gaming wasn't even called GamesYouLoved' and started back in 2002. In fact we even registered the domain for the original name which was Games Generaton. The idea came about from meeting up and talking about nostalgia and memories we remember and could potentially share . It was before YouTube and Twitter / Facebook and even the web is it was today.

We (Matt, Phil and I - the founding members) brainstormed a few ideas from a store, to a bar and website but it never came off. Then in 2012 after years of sitting on the 'idea' we decided on a new name GamesYouLoved, started our Facebook and the rest then just happened as the idea evolved into our our channels and activity.

2) What's your role within GamesYouLoved?

We all have similar shared roles - from updating the website, to social, organising and attending events and helping with Kickstarter promotions. Matt, Phil and I are the original GYL members but this has really extended over the years and we have about 12 regular contributors to the site, social and event support plus our website team of four help maintain the website.

3) What are some of your earliest gaming memories?

For me personally it's a jumble of memories partly because of age! I remember playing Space Invaders in the late 70s on Southend Pier and being hypnotised by the sound and gameplay. The arcades were so electric back then - dark places with fantastic new games turning up all the time. I also remember playing Outrun and Space Harrier continually in Butlins in the mid 80s. There was something about the arcades that I will never forget.

Then there's the computers (before I got consoles) of the early 80s. Trying to programme BASIC on ZX81 with my older brother - to watching my best mate load up Horace Goes Skiing after school before I got my own speccy a few months after. All these are early memories for me.

GamesYouLoved - Showing some serious love for Outrun

4) What does 'gaming' mean to you?

Everything. It's given me so much pleasure over the years, friends and the greatest 'hobby' that's really a way of life. We are lucky to have such a massive back catalogue of game now. When I was young and even into my 20's (early 90s) there was no notion of retro gaming. You had what was there and very rarely went back to play the games of a previous gaming generation - you looked to the current gen. Now we look back more.

5) GamesYouLoved seem to promote 'the community' of gamers. How important do you think the notion of community spirit within the gaming community as a whole?

That's really what GYL was set up for in 2012. The sharing of ideas about gaming with one another - and promoting the community of retro gamers. Before then it didn't have a concept that made it stand out - there was no real idea. We promote the idea that retro gaming is great, positive and has so many great areas to talk about . And it's the community from all over the world that drives it. We can't thank the gamers out there enough for getting involved and being part of that spirit.

6) You can take one game console and one game to a desert island. What would these be?

That's almost impossible to answer.. Wow what a question for me. I think it's like saying what is your favourite game and for me that changes often. To answer right now I'd say if I was on my own it would be Sega Ages on The Sega Saturn - Outrun, Afterburner II and Space Harrier all on one disk. If I was with a mate - Super Mario Kart on the SNES. As long as that mate wasn't Sami Cetin as he would kick my ass on it continually!

7) Who is the most passionate and avid games collector at
GamesYouLoved?

Easy - all of us. We each have our own passions and that's why our content varies so much. If we are not fresh and occasionally disagree with each other life would be boring. We are always open to new ideas and love the journey we are on right now.

8) If you had to pick one console to best represent the spirit of
GamesYouLoved what console would you pick?

Not sure I can answer that easily as GYL isn't about us.. It's about the community we serve and represent. Given this is global and from gamers of all ages it's practically everything. Also seeing unusual consoles and games make social media especially more interesting for us and our community.

The more we can achieve together the richer the experience we can have!

Source: GamesYouLoved

GamesYouLoved - Chris

You can be a part of it by checking out GamesYouLoved here. Thank you to Chris for his time. #GamersUnite

Gemma ~ Juicy Game Reviews

2 Comments

Ken Ashton

7/5/2015 14:14:33

These topics concerning early video game memories is something I could waffle on about all night. Unlike Chris I didn't have much access to the arcades as being quite a shy kid I think I was concerned about showing my ineptitude to those around me. Despite, I suspect being older than Chris my early memories of computers start in the same time period of the early 80's. I bought a upgraded 16k Spectrum with some games from a colleague around 82/83 and the first games I experienced were Jet Pac and Atic Atac. Despite being over 30yrs old playing these today still produce the same feelings now as then. In my opinion they are extremely well envisaged and constructed pieces of work which despite the lack of high def sound and colour clash so prevalent then I can still play these for hours. As far as one console and game to take to a desert island it's not something I've given much thought to but like Chris my current favourite changes on a regular basis. The actual console is pretty unimportant but I'm going to go out on a limb as far as the game is concerned and take the high risk approach of taking a title I haven't played before. I would imagine even your greatest game would wear a bit thin once every nuance had been discovered. For that reason I would suggest something constructed in the same manner as Elite though not necessarily of that genre.This type of game has no score and no end result so could potentially go on for ever, ideal for desert island fodder. Some food for thought perhaps?

Juicy Game Reviews

8/5/2015 13:22:32

Thanks Ken. Yeah the Speccy sure has some serious nostalgia. It's nice that you can still het a real kick out of playing retro games matey. I love reading people's stories.