Interview: Talking Gaming with Famous Strangers

Famous Strangers, the dynamic and innovative band known for their dark, moody, and mysterious sound that blends atmospheric, visual storytelling with powerful, intense music, talk games (past and present) with us.

1. Let’s begin by going way back to the past! Specifically, your childhood and what your earliest memory of playing a video game is?

Jeff: I’m gonna say Coleco was my first memory followed up in 1984/5 when the original Nintendo came out. I got it for Christmas, came with Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, maybe Hogan’s Alley and Rad Racer. I was four or five years old.
Beej: I remember visiting family in the UK, and my cousins had Atari and those Activision systems where you’d slip a little piece of paper over the keypad to know the controls. That was my first memory of gaming. When Nintendo came out, I remember seeing it in the store window in England before it was released in Canada! Looked absolutely amazing!!! I had to jet to my friend’s houses to play since my parents didn’t let me game at first, u know the old”itll take over your life bla bla bla lmao!

2. At what age and stage of your life did you start to find yourself hooked by gaming and was there any particular thing that bore responsibility for that?

Beej: Even as a kid I just wanted to find arcades or machines anywhere! They were so mesmerizing! stores, lobbies on Vegas trips. I’d run off and start playing wherever i saw games.
Jeff: Looking back, I must’ve been hooked without realizing it , I put hours into games like Final Fantasy, Zelda, and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. We just all did it , it was part of life back then.

3. If you could point at one or two games that defined your childhood, what would they be?

Jeff: Definitely Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out and The Legend of Zelda.
Beej: I used to love double dragon and Blades of Steel. I loved the weird little guys in that hockey game and grabbin’ dudes in Double Dragon and given the knees and fists was always satisfying hahaha!

4. What about a system? Everyone has one that holds a very special place in their heart. SNES, PS1, N64, Xbox 360, Phillips CD-i? What’s yours and why?

Jeff: The original Nintendo. It was just a magical time , discovering all those stories and games at that age hit hard.
Beej: ColecoVision, Commodore 64 and Atari for me. That’s where it all started in my day.

5. Do you have a particular game genre that you enjoy more than any other? If so, what is it and why? Also, what’s a game genre you almost always avoid?

Jeff: I’d say action, RPGs, and flying games. Least favorite is probably trivia or very elementary games, though I’ve had fun with things like Wheel of Fortune too.
Beej: I like fantasy, role-playing, and first-person shooters. I used to be big on MMOs but I’ve shifted more toward single-player stuff lately. I avoid super cutesy styles. I like realism and chaos mostly. Flight, space/sci-fi and driving games are also choice!

6. How about multiplayer? Did you have a game that you found yourself sinking untold hours into online or do you just prefer the single player experience?

Jeff: I’ve actually never done online gaming , just never got into it.
Beej: Final Fantasy Online was a big one for me. I played it for ages in my younger days with buncha friends. I’d even fall asleep during missions and wake up running into a wall and left behind lol! Also enjoyed online racing games.

7. What is a game or franchise that you think you’ve sunk the most time into to date and what is a game or franchise that you’ve never quite been able to get into?

Jeff: Final Fantasy for sure , spent hours on the SNES and PS versions. I never really got into the Tom Clancy-style shooters. Give me two buttons and a joystick, I’m happy.
Beej: Same for me , Final Fantasy took the crown. As for what I never got into, I’d say kiddie-style games that are aimed at younger audiences.

8. Over the past couple of decades, what development within the video game industry has been revolutionary?

Jeff: VR has been revolutionary , even as someone not super deep into modern gaming, that’s clear.
Beej: Graphics, ram size/capacity and speed have evolved immensley but VR would have to be the biggest advance I would think.

9. Likewise, what development within the video game industry has been mostly negative for gamers overall?

Jeff: Maybe the accessibility on every device. Not that it’s bad, but sometimes kids might be better off doing other things. Though now you can make a career out of gaming, so it’s a double-edged sword.
Beej: Definitely cheaters in online games , they ruin it. Also, some games are free or cheap but then force you to pay inside the game to get anywhere. That kind of model sucks.

10. What is one aspect of gaming (all parts) that you consistently find yourself getting nostalgic over?

Beej: All the old games, Castlevania , skate or die, nhl 93-98 they’re so nostalgic. Rockem anytime.
Jeff: For me, it’s the eighties era. I was the perfect age when all that stuff came out , it’s burned into me forever.

11. Likewise, what is one aspect of gaming (all parts) that you’d happily never experience again?

Jeff: Getting too competitive with friends or family, getting frustrated, throwing controllers , yeah, I could do without that.
Beej: I once played a horror VR game. Although amazing, it can be a trip!

12. Focusing on the now, what are you currently playing and what is enjoyable about it?

Jeff: I still mostly play retro consoles. Sometimes I go back to games I couldn’t beat as a kid. On mobile, I’ll do online poker or quick games to pass time.
Beej: I’m not super focused on any one game right now, but recently, I tried Dune: Awakening. It’s a massive sandbox game that’s MMO, and tough solo but fun. Just a lot to explore and grind through.

We are currently finishing up shooting video for Deep Star and writing like mad. Soon to be in the studio & soon to release new material.

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