Staff

Vikki Blake (Editor-in-Chief)

I was never really the kind of girl who played dollies or dress-up, and my nerdgirl fate was sealed from the moment my dad brought home a super-shiny gorgeous NES. I was hooked. While other girls were falling in love with teenage pop sensations, I was falling in love with gaming. I got lost in Hyrule. I kicked ass in Street Fighter. I had inappropriate dreams about Solid Snake, became obsessed with the gorgeously grim environments of Silent Hill and am still kind of addicted to Guitar Hero. I’ve grown up with a particular penchant for survival horror, but I’ll turn my hand to pretty much anything that doesn’t involve pink and fluffy things.

Whilst I love music, video games, books and all things geek, my true indulgences include Ben & Jerrys ice-cream (Cookie Dough or Dublin Mudslide, please), strong tea (made in a pot and not in the mug), gin (with tonic), chocolate (any way it’s given), doctors (naked), talking too much, complaining and swearing profusely. I am a natural blonde, a Diet Coke junkie and kind of NSFW.

In addition to running GGS.com, I’m the UK Contributor and token girl gamer at game blog Aeropause.com and run the biggest Silent Hill site and forum in the world, Silenthillheaven.com.

Sarah James (Deputy Editor)

My first experience with gaming was playing Jet Set Willy (rofl) on my best friend’s ZX Spectrum at the tender and impressionable age of 12. The Sega Mega Drive was my first console which quickly turned me into a hardcore Sonic fan, though it wasn’t until I got my hands on a Playstation that I became a “serious gamer”.

I play most genres though, like anyone else, I have my favourites. Silent Hill introduced me to the wonderfully terrifying world of survival horror and to the idea that games can have storylines that can totally immerse/intrigue/baffle you. Final Fantasy introduced me to RPGs, the concept that sleep isn’t as important as gaming. Tomb Raider is responsible for my love of the action-adventure genre and, more recently, Uncharted has further fueled that fire. (Nathan Drake? Phwoar!). One of my many downfalls is finding it hard to admit defeat if I’m not very good at a game – if you ever see me on MW2 online, you’re in for an easy kill (that’s where this girl gamer sucks!)

Other than gaming, I’m obsessed with writing, web design, Nathan Drake and chocolate. Most evenings, you’ll find me huddled over my laptop, swearing as I try to figure out why a piece of code isn’t doing what I’m asking it or huddled over my controller, swearing as I try to figure out why I just died for the 15th time (MW2).

Sarah Grace (US Editor)

Ahoy and avast and girde your loins! My name’s Sarah, and I’m not the most typical gamer. I was never introduced to gaming as a kid, as I often admitted defeat when I couldn’t fight the SNES controller from my older brothers. Sadly, my venture into gaming began at 12yrs old, when I was introduced to a demo of a neat game called Metal Gear Solid. After that I did wallow in many RPGS (Legend of Legaia, Final Fantasy, Valkyrie Profile), but my first love always belonged to action based games. While I missed out on those early gaming years I more than make up for it with zeal nowadays and I love to identify and write about the pathos of fictional characters. Whether it’s discussing Kratos’ redemption in God of War, the Divine Tragedy of Solid Snake’s life and career, or the ins and outs of why Silent Hill is such a kooky town, I’m usually up to my neck with facts and symbolism.

Steve Wood (UK Editor)

How much of my life is gaming? Ask anyone and they’ll tell you my spare time is owned by controllers and keyboards as well as my mind being made of Circles and Crosses.

My gaming addiction began with being flattened by barrels on the original Gameboy when I was just an ickle lad. Now many years later I’ve progressed to being flattened by Super Mutant Behemoths as a man with big hair and an avid thirst for Pepsi Max.

I’m into almost every genre but a good FPS or RPG can shut me up for weeks. Only 6 years ago was I introduced to the wonders of Survival Horror by Silent Hill 4, something about running screaming from a two headed furry thingy fascinated me. Since then I’ve been catching up on all the titles I missed during the years I was oblivious to the games that now fuel my obsession with finding a great scare.

I tend to be shy at times but when I’m writing I make my thoughts heard (to some people’s annoyance). I’m a bit crazy, I invent words, direct detailed insults at difficult gameplay (without using hefty swears) and all whilst trying to extract humour from everything I do.

So that’s me, now if I can be excused I have Zombies to bash, Ghosties to photograph, Worlds to save and a fizzy beverage to acquire.

Mitu Khandaker (Contributing Editor)

Hi, I’m Mitu, and I belong to that curious breed of people known as ‘video game academics’. That is, I’m currently pursuing a PhD researching crazy, experimental new control mechanisms (see my personal site for more info), and like to think about solving difficult problems regarding our interactions with games.

As is probably blindingly apparent, I am a huge video games nerd, and have been as long as I remember, though particularly since the days of my hand-me-down Master System II and obsession with Alex Kidd. These days, I play any and all genres, though especially both love & lament the Gears of War series, FIFA, and have a recent unexplained penchant for parkour-type games.

Aside from playing games, I also enjoy designing games, and talking about them to anyone who will listen; whilst I believe games are awesome, I also seriously believe in play as one of the most important values that we all share as humans, and I hope to one day make video games to make the world a more awesome place.

Aside from gaming, I also dabble in many other bastions of nerdom, including throwing around dice-with-too-many-sides, and nurturing my nascent interest in graphic novels. I also enjoy travelling, undertaking crazy physical endeavours, working on my ridiculous number of secret projects, and learning new things.

Michael Cripps (News Writer)

If I’m honest, I didn’t get into video games until quite late. It wasn’t really until I was around 13 or so I got really interested in gaming, mainly because of the great lineup on the PS2. I had has a PS1 before this, but the only game I can remember playing on this which was actually any good was Spyro: Year of the Dragon, while the other games where things like London Racer and The Weakest Link which I don’t really like to think about!

These days I spend most of my time searching for a game which can provide me with an epic experience. Any game with a great story will normally warrant a play, but my favourite genres are horror games, action adventure and sandbox free-roaming games. However, Mass Effect has opened me up to playing more RPGs, its just a shame I suck at turned based combat! Because I got into games at a later stage, this means I have been able to go back through older PS2 titles which I missed and have found some real gems. It would have been a shame if I had missed out on games like Psychonauts and Okami forever! I tend to be a console gamer, but there are a few games which I play on my laptop, such as Tropico 3 and Audiosurf.

Aside from games, I had a passion for gothic rock and metal, watching TV and anime and getting stuck into a good book. For me, not much beats a live music gig, some of my best memories from the last couple of years have been from where I have seen Delain live. However, spending time hanging out with friends is also just as good!

Jen Hawkins (News Writer)

Between mastering use of the B52 sized VHS player at 3, to then picking up the Sega Mega Drive controller for the first time at 5, I sold my young soul to gaming and never looked back. Now, fully matured (at least physically) and armed with a cup of steaming strong tea, I divide my time between my two passions, Gaming and Film.

As a youngster, I discovered the force that would stand tall as my gaming Mecca: Survival Horror. From first playing the Silent Hill demo, that came packaged as a deadly little extra with Metal Gear Solid, to hiding behind my Dad as he played Resident Evil for the first time. Both experiences left me a gibbering wreck under the duvet, but as though suffering from a terminal case of Stockholm Syndrome I kept coming back for more, now to the extent of shaking my head bitterly because Homecoming wasn’t scary enough. I will generally play a range of different genres, from the Free-Roam adventures of GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, rocking out to Joan Jett on Rock Band, to Stealth action titles like Splinter Cell. I am also very much into the co-op and multiplayer side of gaming, from Resident Evil 5 to Left 4 Dead, thought it can expose a fiercely competitive dimension to my personality that swears a lot and hates to lose!

My other interests include music, reading a range of literature, writing short fictions and articles, wearing big boots and having a damn good party! My main vices are my fondness for booze, Marlboro cigarettes, pizza, the word ‘Bollocks’ followed by my filthy laugh!

Tom “Slurms” Mackenzie (News Writer)

I was born with a controller in my hands. Not technically true, but as soon as I was old enough to grasp a controller I did, and I haven’t let go since. Over the years I saw my consoles change as I did, from the Playstation 1, to the Playstation 2 , Xbox, to the Xbox 360, and of course my Nintendo 64 to the Gamecube. I still play on nearly all the consoles, but I have to say my Nintendo 64 and Gamecube do hold a very dear place in my heart, for sheer retro quality.

I can associate many fond memories with gaming. Such as encouraging my dad play the original Tomb Raider, and being to scared by the butler on the training mission to even watch. And more recently, spending countless drunken summer nights with my mates, huddled round a screen and shouting at each other because someone just beat me at Super Smash Bros Melee with Jigglypuff, outrageous I know (Kirby FTW).

In terms of game genres I’ll give anything a shot. There is literally nothing I won’t unleash some sort of fury upon if necessary. After all, isn’t that what gaming’s about?

Other than all that, I do rather enjoy the simple things in life, chilling with mates, watching TV, drinking copious amounts of cider, all that stuff parent’s tell you to do less of. I also love writing about games, if there are people willing to hear what I have to say, then why not say it? Anyway that’s me, now if you wouldn’t mind I have a very pressing issue to see to, I think my mate just killed me on Call of Duty…

Niki Odolphie (News Writer)

My gaming style can often be described as willing human shield, every team needs mobile cannon fodder!

My gaming history runs back from Pong, Sord CGL M5, Spectrum, Amstrad, Psion, PC, PS1/2/3, Xbox1/360, PSP, Wii, iPhone and iPad the whole gamut, except so far the DS, although my Mum loves hers and I have had the occasional poke at it with its cute little pen.

My gaming claim to fame was UK Doom Champion 1993 after entering on a whim during a tech show at Olympia in London – they had to wait a little while as I needed to edit the config file to setup WSAD on the keyboard, that was cutting edge at the time I will have you know!

I tend to game in short bursts unless I get totally hooked in to a great story like Heavy Rain, or if the puzzle to solve is just too tempting. I long for the old mechanics of gaming however am excited to see them coming back. Games like Little Big Planet that encourage you to get out the pen and paper and create and share your games are the future.

I have a degree in Computing, not that gets you a seat on the bus, but it helps me understand some of the tech thats on show. Project Natal intrigues me on all levels as do pushing the boundaries in gaming with titles like Prey, Portal and Crysis. Prey done the whole portal things before it became cool and all about the cake!

As well as a published photographer and musician I enjoy reading science journals, sci-fi films and learning about anything and everything I can – very useful in the pub quiz.

You? (Wannabe GGSer)

We’re always looking for new contributors to join us here at GGS.com. If you are 18+, have a keen interest in gaming, great written skills and the time commitment to contribute regularly (we’re looking for at least five articles a week), we’d love to hear from you!

Whilst we’re not exclusively an all-female staff, we are particularly keen to recruit and promote female writers.

Working at GGS.com is currently unpaid – bummer, we know. That said, it’s not without its rewards; although our team is shiny and newly-formed, we have long-standing, established industry links and access many of the perks and privileges of the gaming press. Not to mention your writing will be read by fellow gaming enthusiasts and industry insiders alike – not too shabby, eh?

Sounds like this might be the right place for you? Get in touch explaining why you’d like to join us, coupled with a few examples of your writing. Who knows – you could soon be part of the GGS.com team!