Summary
I am a computer programmer during the day, a husband and a father to a two year old daughter.
What little time I have after all this, i spend playing games and working on personal projects.
I am honoured that you liked my site so much that you actually took the time to read this.
If you really want to get in touch with me, you can follow me on Twitter.
Thoughts on Games and Gaming
My main interest in games has always been story. While I do occasionally enjoy a mindless puzzle, click or twitch-fest, the games I keep returning to have some sort of compelling storyline to them.
As such, my favourite genres are RPGs and Adventures. I also enjoy some RTSs, and the occasional FPS, mainly if it has a good single player component.
My Other Projects
I addition to this review blog, I have one focusing on the Law of Attraction and finance, which you will find at Money Conciousness.
I am also currently helping my wife, Karinda with the launch of her Make up book (which I will link to here as soon as it launches).
My Background
You still want to know more about me? Ok then, here is my life story, with a special emphasis on computers and gaming (that is why you are here, right?).
The Beginning
I was born in Serbia in the late 70s. I was always fairly gifted at science and mathematics, and got my first computer (a ZX Spectrum 48 , if you really want to try it out – here is an online Spectrum Emulator) at the tender age of 6. I spent hours palying games on it, or waiting for them to load from the tapes that they came on. I also tried to wrap my head around the idea of programming around then, but never really got anywhere. Strangely enough, I still remember playing Manic Miner (if you really want to, you can try out a remake) and Jumping Jack (which also has a remake/sequel), which I though were the height of cool at the time.
It was also the first time I got exposed to adventure games, with The Hobbit, although my enjoyment of that one was somewhat impaired due to the fact that I did not speak English at the time.
A year or two after that, my family moved to Kenya for a couple of years, where I finally learned to speak English (although those of you reading this might argue against that statement).
Upgrading
Soon after my return to Serbia, I got a brand new Amiga 500 as a birthday present. At the same time, I befriended a neighbour who was a proud owner of an IBM PC/AT (or possibly a clone… it was a while ago). We spent most of our time at each other’s flats playing various games. This was also around the time that I took my first tentative steps into programming, using AmigaBasic, and the book I got with my computer. The Amiga also marks the first time I have ever used a mouse, and my first contact with graphical user interfaces.
The two games that I remember the most from this period were Xenon, on my Amiga and Defender of the Crown (you can still play the original, or get the remake),, which I first encountered on my friend’s PC, but then got the Amiga version for myself, with its superior graphics and sound. I also started exploring RPGs, such as Eye of the Beholder.
Moving on
After a couple of years, it was time for my family to move on. We had a brief stint in Zambia for about six months, and then to Botswana. In Botswana, I met a lot of Amiga 500 enthusiasts, like myself, and also got introduced to tabletop role playing games. It was there that I first started getting into graphic adventure games, such as Leisure Suit Larry, Zack McCracken and The Secret of Monkey Island (which at the time shipped on eight separate disks… some of mine did not work, so I never finished the game.)
When our stay in Botswana came to an end, we moved further south, to South Africa. This is also when I got my first PC. due to fear of viruses, I was not allowed many games, although I did manage to get Dune 2, which kept me busy. It was my first real time strategy game.
This was also about the time that Internet connections first became available to members of the public in South Africa, and, after much badgering, my parents got me one. So, armed with my 14400 modem, I first erupted onto the net, wasting countless hours on irc and usenet. I did try out a couple of MUDs at the time, but no specific ones come to memory.
Soon, it was time for me to move on, and I left home to attend University, armed with a notebook my parents purchased for me, and a copy of Master of Orion.
At university, I theoretically studied programming, although far more time was spent in partying and hanging out. I did manage to get a bit of gaming in, but during this time, it was not a big part of my life.
Pretending to Adulthood
It was while i was at university that I met my wife, and we got married at around the same time that I graduated. I also started working as a programmer then, which I continue to do so to this day. Having settled down a bit, I have found more time to do a bit of gaming. Two years ago, I became father to a daughter.
About six months ago, we moved to Serbia (again). Here, in between work and family, I get a little bit of time to devote to gaming, and to this blog.
Well, if you really want to know more, I have a contact page for a reason.
