Ages ago when we used to have a forum and visited many forums we found Dave perry's forum, and emailed him and asked if we could interview him and he said yes :)
Below is said interview, questions are crap coz we didn't even think he would say yes, we would like to thank Dave for letting us interview him and get his side of the story.
Also back then we were called The Xbox Anchormen.
Below is said interview, questions are crap coz we didn't even think he would say yes, we would like to thank Dave for letting us interview him and get his side of the story.
Also back then we were called The Xbox Anchormen.
Hi Dave, thanks for the reply pm and thanks a lot for
allowing us to interview you.
First I have to ask, what really happened on that
fateful day when you played super Mario 64 ?
It has gone down in games master history, and its one
of my personal fav moments we did see Dom rip
the piss out of you on TV which only added to making
that day so memorable, so tell us your side
of what happened.
Oh man, listen. This has been talked to death and after 10 years there's not a lot more left to say. The bottom line was that certain people on the show lied to me. I was made promises about impartiality and fairness that were not kept. Why was the final game changed on the day? Why was Dominik's best friend allowed to compete on a game he had been practising on for three months, yet no one else on the show had even played before that day? It was rigged and I was so angry I wanted to walk off the show, but the Producer promised me that Kirk would NOT get to the final, and if he did, then a neutral game would be chosen. That was all I wanted, for things to be fair. At that time I'd have beaten anyone on an even playing ground. And they knew it too.
Didn't Kirk even get an Earthwork Jim question in the Quickfire semi-final round to make sure that reached the final? Bloody hell, the guy was working on the development of Earthworm Jim 3D at the time. How obvious did the 'fix' need to be? But people just wanted to see me get beaten and so to this day ignore the evidence in front of them. It was a shame, and I reacted badly, which made it worse. But I guess if I have to find a positive then there's definitely a backhanded compliment in the fact that they had to cheat to finally beat me.
Did you and Dom really get along off screen? as a
viewer of games master it looked like neither of
you liked each other.
I was all right with Dom initially, and we got on fine up until Series 2 or Series 3. After all, I had been one of the people that had given him his big break. But then things changed, and I don't know why. Maybe it was because I was very supportive of Dexter during his stint on the show, or maybe because I didn't buy his McDonald's sponsorship excuse for not doing Series 3, especially when he returned to do Series 4, which notably still had the same sponsors.
Even when he started making faces behind my back on camera (during Series 4), the feeling of dislike wasn't particularly mutual. It was a cowardly thing to do, and a few well-chosen words soon put an end to it, but I genuinely don't know what his problem was, and to this day still don't. To be honest I don't lose too much sleep over it.
I never subscribed to McDonald's being the Dominik Diamond show. For me it was always meant to be about the games.
What do you think lead to the end of one of the most
popular TV gaming shows ever ? and do you think
Games master could ever be brought back from the ashes
?
I felt that it stopped being about the games. It became a cheap laughs sketch show, and by Series 7 you could see that everyone was bored of it. Except for me of course, I'd left long before that. The spark had gone. I could see the car crash coming and did not want to be a part of the wreckage that was those last few shows. It was sad after being one of the show's original creative team and knowing the buzz we all felt in those early years. It all got spoilt.
don't really know that much about Dave Perry the
games animal or what you're doing now, so could you
tell us about you and what you're up to these days.
I must admit that from what Ive heard about you and
your ego that when I asked you for an interview
I expected a fuck off who are you lol.
I try not to tell anybody to fuck off if I can help it. Everybody deserves to be treated with respect. But this is a vicious and often unfriendly industry if you are new to it.
It's interesting that so many people are still interested in the mid-90s heyday of games TV though. Yet whilst I am probably the most active figure left over from those days, and more than willing to talk to and help those who ask me for help, if I can, I also take the most stick.
Why do you think that a lot of people get the wrong
impression of you ? (i know I did )
I don't know. The myth of 'The Games Animal' has grown out of proportion with the person. I have always been a bit cocky and confident, but then I have always tried to be a 'showman' if I can. I have never subscribed to the idea of being humble just to be liked. I have a tattoo that reads 'Humility is the herd instinct in the individual'. Those are my own words, and I truly believe in them. I won't apologise if my being the greatest game player of the 90s gets some peoples' backs up. Why should I? But I have retired from competitive play now. These days I only play for fun. But even that pisses people off, because they want to take me on and attack me when I refuse. Come on... I've done my bit. I took on anyone who wanted to play me in my heyday but eventually you have to draw a line. Games stop being fun when everyone you play just wants to kick your ass so they can boast about it. That gets old pretty quickly I can tell you.
Do you have any plans in the pipeline to be involved
in another gaming TV show, we desperately need one.
Yes, I'd love to get something off the ground. I feel ready to go back on TV. But you try getting the commissioning Editors to listen. Gaming is the biggest youth phenomenon of the last decade... yet outside of our own specialist media we get little or no coverage. It's ridiculous, but the industry doesn't help itself. It really doesn't.
What do you think has been the worst gaming TV show
you have ever watched ?
There have been so many bad ones. More bad than good that's for sure. In fact historically you can pretty much assume that, with the exception of Violet Berlin's Bravo stuff, if a show didn't have Dave Perry in it, then it was poor.
Out of all of them though 'When Games Attack' was the most disappointing and frustrating. That really should have been so much better. It had no excuses really. There seemed to be a decent budget, an experienced production team and experienced presenters, but it didn't work and some of the features were way too long and dull. They had a real opportunity to put gaming on TV right back up there, and they blew it.
I know back in the old days you was labelled as a
gaming pro, what did that involve ?
Being paid to play games for a living. In competitions, on TV and for magazines every day and I was paid handsomely for doing it.
Do you have any tips for anyone who wants to get into
pro gaming ?
Don't.
You have such a tiny chance of actually making a living out of doing it. The opportunities to win really big cash prizes are far more available today than they used to be, but consequently the competition has become really, really fierce. I was a phenomenon. I was able to buy houses and cars and live an amazing lifestyle, dating models, pop singers etc. But I was the exception to the rule. Try naming anyone else who has achieved anything like that in this country since.
However, if you really want to be a pro gamer then don't let me stop you. But be honest with yourself. You need to be really, really exceptional to start with, and then you need to make yourself better. Practice, practice, practice will help "but you might as well quit, if you haven't got it."
What do you think of the gaming scene today ?
Too confused. The message has been lost in the technology. Too many formats, too much emphasis on game engines and graphic engines... bloody hell, what about the games?
As for the 'scene', well it doesn't really exist in the way it used to. Everything is going back underground. Which is bad. The Internet is bad for gaming. It would take me a whole day to explain that one, but anything that forces the hobby back into the bedrooms, back into chat rooms and virtual gaming arenas online is bad for gaming. We are becoming easier and easier to ignore and poke fun at. Gaming is in danger of becoming reclusive and nerdy all over again.
whats the best and worst games you have played to date?
It's impossible to pick the worst games, because there are so many stinkers every month, and I've been doing this for more than 17 years!
My all time favourite games though would include Elite, Kick Off 2, Space Hulk on the 3DO, Dawn of War, WipeOut (all flavours) and Street Fighter 2.
Whats your views on the xbox 360, wii and the ps3?
I wasn't too keen on the 360 at first, but I think that that was because I wanted to see what everyone else was going to do first. And also the machine seemed to have been a rushed a little. There were sooo many problems with the early units. It was insane.
But now I own a 360 and I must say I am delighted with it and the gaming experiences it offers me.
As for the Wii, I am generally sceptical of anything Nintendo. It all tends to be gimmicky for gimmicks' sake. But the Wii could be an intriguing launch, so I will keep as open a mind as possible in the coming months, although I'm sure all the cartoony stuff will soon put me off. I think Nintendo is becoming a girl's gaming brand.
As for the PS3, Sony can shove it up their arse. They are treating European gamers with such disrespect that it is my opinion that we should collectively tell Sony that we don't actually want their new console in our territory. If we do want one we'll import it later, it'll be far cheaper that way anyway.
But of course that'll never happen. I am just so disappointed with what Sony have become. They are making Microsoft look like saints.
Being in the gaming business for as long as you have
do you still have a passion for gaming ?
Without question. I know many people who were avid gamers in the early days, but then just stopped as they got older. But not me. I'll never stop playing. Gaming is a big part of who and what I am. And I will continue to watch over this industry until I am no longer able to pull on my bat suit and climb to the uppermost ledges of Gotham's towers.
allowing us to interview you.
First I have to ask, what really happened on that
fateful day when you played super Mario 64 ?
It has gone down in games master history, and its one
of my personal fav moments we did see Dom rip
the piss out of you on TV which only added to making
that day so memorable, so tell us your side
of what happened.
Oh man, listen. This has been talked to death and after 10 years there's not a lot more left to say. The bottom line was that certain people on the show lied to me. I was made promises about impartiality and fairness that were not kept. Why was the final game changed on the day? Why was Dominik's best friend allowed to compete on a game he had been practising on for three months, yet no one else on the show had even played before that day? It was rigged and I was so angry I wanted to walk off the show, but the Producer promised me that Kirk would NOT get to the final, and if he did, then a neutral game would be chosen. That was all I wanted, for things to be fair. At that time I'd have beaten anyone on an even playing ground. And they knew it too.
Didn't Kirk even get an Earthwork Jim question in the Quickfire semi-final round to make sure that reached the final? Bloody hell, the guy was working on the development of Earthworm Jim 3D at the time. How obvious did the 'fix' need to be? But people just wanted to see me get beaten and so to this day ignore the evidence in front of them. It was a shame, and I reacted badly, which made it worse. But I guess if I have to find a positive then there's definitely a backhanded compliment in the fact that they had to cheat to finally beat me.
Did you and Dom really get along off screen? as a
viewer of games master it looked like neither of
you liked each other.
I was all right with Dom initially, and we got on fine up until Series 2 or Series 3. After all, I had been one of the people that had given him his big break. But then things changed, and I don't know why. Maybe it was because I was very supportive of Dexter during his stint on the show, or maybe because I didn't buy his McDonald's sponsorship excuse for not doing Series 3, especially when he returned to do Series 4, which notably still had the same sponsors.
Even when he started making faces behind my back on camera (during Series 4), the feeling of dislike wasn't particularly mutual. It was a cowardly thing to do, and a few well-chosen words soon put an end to it, but I genuinely don't know what his problem was, and to this day still don't. To be honest I don't lose too much sleep over it.
I never subscribed to McDonald's being the Dominik Diamond show. For me it was always meant to be about the games.
What do you think lead to the end of one of the most
popular TV gaming shows ever ? and do you think
Games master could ever be brought back from the ashes
?
I felt that it stopped being about the games. It became a cheap laughs sketch show, and by Series 7 you could see that everyone was bored of it. Except for me of course, I'd left long before that. The spark had gone. I could see the car crash coming and did not want to be a part of the wreckage that was those last few shows. It was sad after being one of the show's original creative team and knowing the buzz we all felt in those early years. It all got spoilt.
don't really know that much about Dave Perry the
games animal or what you're doing now, so could you
tell us about you and what you're up to these days.
I must admit that from what Ive heard about you and
your ego that when I asked you for an interview
I expected a fuck off who are you lol.
I try not to tell anybody to fuck off if I can help it. Everybody deserves to be treated with respect. But this is a vicious and often unfriendly industry if you are new to it.
It's interesting that so many people are still interested in the mid-90s heyday of games TV though. Yet whilst I am probably the most active figure left over from those days, and more than willing to talk to and help those who ask me for help, if I can, I also take the most stick.
Why do you think that a lot of people get the wrong
impression of you ? (i know I did )
I don't know. The myth of 'The Games Animal' has grown out of proportion with the person. I have always been a bit cocky and confident, but then I have always tried to be a 'showman' if I can. I have never subscribed to the idea of being humble just to be liked. I have a tattoo that reads 'Humility is the herd instinct in the individual'. Those are my own words, and I truly believe in them. I won't apologise if my being the greatest game player of the 90s gets some peoples' backs up. Why should I? But I have retired from competitive play now. These days I only play for fun. But even that pisses people off, because they want to take me on and attack me when I refuse. Come on... I've done my bit. I took on anyone who wanted to play me in my heyday but eventually you have to draw a line. Games stop being fun when everyone you play just wants to kick your ass so they can boast about it. That gets old pretty quickly I can tell you.
Do you have any plans in the pipeline to be involved
in another gaming TV show, we desperately need one.
Yes, I'd love to get something off the ground. I feel ready to go back on TV. But you try getting the commissioning Editors to listen. Gaming is the biggest youth phenomenon of the last decade... yet outside of our own specialist media we get little or no coverage. It's ridiculous, but the industry doesn't help itself. It really doesn't.
What do you think has been the worst gaming TV show
you have ever watched ?
There have been so many bad ones. More bad than good that's for sure. In fact historically you can pretty much assume that, with the exception of Violet Berlin's Bravo stuff, if a show didn't have Dave Perry in it, then it was poor.
Out of all of them though 'When Games Attack' was the most disappointing and frustrating. That really should have been so much better. It had no excuses really. There seemed to be a decent budget, an experienced production team and experienced presenters, but it didn't work and some of the features were way too long and dull. They had a real opportunity to put gaming on TV right back up there, and they blew it.
I know back in the old days you was labelled as a
gaming pro, what did that involve ?
Being paid to play games for a living. In competitions, on TV and for magazines every day and I was paid handsomely for doing it.
Do you have any tips for anyone who wants to get into
pro gaming ?
Don't.
You have such a tiny chance of actually making a living out of doing it. The opportunities to win really big cash prizes are far more available today than they used to be, but consequently the competition has become really, really fierce. I was a phenomenon. I was able to buy houses and cars and live an amazing lifestyle, dating models, pop singers etc. But I was the exception to the rule. Try naming anyone else who has achieved anything like that in this country since.
However, if you really want to be a pro gamer then don't let me stop you. But be honest with yourself. You need to be really, really exceptional to start with, and then you need to make yourself better. Practice, practice, practice will help "but you might as well quit, if you haven't got it."
What do you think of the gaming scene today ?
Too confused. The message has been lost in the technology. Too many formats, too much emphasis on game engines and graphic engines... bloody hell, what about the games?
As for the 'scene', well it doesn't really exist in the way it used to. Everything is going back underground. Which is bad. The Internet is bad for gaming. It would take me a whole day to explain that one, but anything that forces the hobby back into the bedrooms, back into chat rooms and virtual gaming arenas online is bad for gaming. We are becoming easier and easier to ignore and poke fun at. Gaming is in danger of becoming reclusive and nerdy all over again.
whats the best and worst games you have played to date?
It's impossible to pick the worst games, because there are so many stinkers every month, and I've been doing this for more than 17 years!
My all time favourite games though would include Elite, Kick Off 2, Space Hulk on the 3DO, Dawn of War, WipeOut (all flavours) and Street Fighter 2.
Whats your views on the xbox 360, wii and the ps3?
I wasn't too keen on the 360 at first, but I think that that was because I wanted to see what everyone else was going to do first. And also the machine seemed to have been a rushed a little. There were sooo many problems with the early units. It was insane.
But now I own a 360 and I must say I am delighted with it and the gaming experiences it offers me.
As for the Wii, I am generally sceptical of anything Nintendo. It all tends to be gimmicky for gimmicks' sake. But the Wii could be an intriguing launch, so I will keep as open a mind as possible in the coming months, although I'm sure all the cartoony stuff will soon put me off. I think Nintendo is becoming a girl's gaming brand.
As for the PS3, Sony can shove it up their arse. They are treating European gamers with such disrespect that it is my opinion that we should collectively tell Sony that we don't actually want their new console in our territory. If we do want one we'll import it later, it'll be far cheaper that way anyway.
But of course that'll never happen. I am just so disappointed with what Sony have become. They are making Microsoft look like saints.
Being in the gaming business for as long as you have
do you still have a passion for gaming ?
Without question. I know many people who were avid gamers in the early days, but then just stopped as they got older. But not me. I'll never stop playing. Gaming is a big part of who and what I am. And I will continue to watch over this industry until I am no longer able to pull on my bat suit and climb to the uppermost ledges of Gotham's towers.
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