As the links between video games and online casino continue to be taken to new levels, the Game Play series discovers how key characters within the gambling industry embarked on their gaming journey.
This week, Anthony Gaud, CEO of GaudHammer Gaming Group, rolls back the years to remember his first video gaming experiences with “cutting-edge” early consoles and arcade classics, while providing us with a monster list of all the games he’s completed since 1997.
What was your first console?
My dad actually got our family the Fairchild System F (1976), which was pretty cutting-edge at the time. It had these cool twist handle controllers you could push, pull and rotate – which was way more advanced than the Atari joysticks that came later.
It was also the first console with swappable game cartridges, thanks in large part to Gerald Lawson, a talented Black engineer. Not many people know this, but the system even had basic AI for playing against the computer.
What is the first video game you ever played?
I’m pretty sure it was either Pong or Space Invaders in the arcade. My dad used to take me to NYU in Greenwich Village on weekends when he had classes, and I probably played them there.
What is your favourite game of all time and why?
This is a very tough question as I play so many games, as many as I can regardless of genre. Some of my favourite moments throughout the eras include
Arcade Classics: Dragon’s Lair, Donkey Kong, Time Pilot, Zaxxon
Early 80’s: Pitfall, Space Invaders, QBert, Ladybug, Miner 2049er
Late 80’s: Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter, Sonic, Metroid
90’s: Played many games, but Super Mario 64 was exceptional. Also enjoyed Street Fighter (again), Doom, and Quake.
2000’s: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and IV, Halo 2, God of War, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts (which I would later work on)
2010’s: The Last of Us – a standout game of the decade
2020’s: The Last of Us Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima
That’s a tough one! I’ve played so many games across all kinds of genres. But if I had to pick, I’d say the Uncharted series. It’s got everything – great story, great characters, awesome voice acting and really fun and perfectly refined gameplay. The graphics were incredible when the games came out, and still look incredible now.
What mobile game have you spent the most time playing?
Angry Birds, hands down. It’s just perfect whether you’ve got a minute or an hour to kill.
Which mobile game are you currently playing?
Right now I’m into Star Wars Hunters. I play it on my phone and on the Nintendo Switch. It’s great for when I’m at home or when I’m out waiting for my kids to finish up their rowing practice.
Favourite video game character?
The classics are hard to beat – Master Chief, Lara Croft, Mario, Sonic. Nintendo’s characters are just as good as anything Disney’s come up with, in my opinion.
Wildcard pick – Wreck It Ralph, which technically is not a game (although there is a promotional arcade version of the movie out), but he is a game character. Fun fact: when I worked at Disney, we tried to get him into Kingdom Hearts, but Square-Enix wasn’t sold on the idea because they didn’t think the movie was going to be popular.
Favourite all time slot?
Oh, that’s easy – Kitty Glitter! I can’t say too much about it, but I ended up defending it in a lawsuit and really fell in love with how simple and fun it is. Also, best name of all time.
Last video game completed?
I actually keep a list of all the games I’ve finished. I’m close to beating Final Fantasy 16 and Stellar Blade, but they’re not quite there yet – maybe 95% done. These are the games and the years that I finished them. Anything prior to 1996 I didn’t keep track of, unfortunately.
1996-2002: Mario 64, Shadows of the Empire, Tomb Raider, Rogue Squadron 1, Tomb Raider 5, No One Lives Forever 1, Rogue Squadron 2, Halo 1, Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1, MechAssault, Splinter Cell 1.
2003: Ratchet & Clank 2, Silent Hill 3, Prince of Persia, Knights of the Old Republic, Splinter Cell 1, Panzer Dragoon, Freedom Fighters, Tron 2.0, Call of Duty, Unreal 2, Max Payne 2, Crimson Skies, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.
2004: Van Helsing, Transformers, Chronicles of Riddick, Red Dead Revolver, Onimusha 3, Splinter Cell 2, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, Ninja Gaiden, Jet Li: Rise to Honor, Bloodrayne 2, Halo 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, MechAssault 2, Half-Life 2, Resident Evil 4, Katamari Damacy.
2005:, Republic Commando, Brothers in Arms, Stranger’s OddWorld, God of War, Area 51, Splinter Cell 3: Chaos Theory, Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Condemned, Call of Duty 2, Kameo, Ghost Recon.
2006-2007: Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Tomb Raider: Legend, Oblivion (Main Quest), Resistance, Gears of War, Rainbow 6 Vegas, Prey, Halo 3, Heavenly Sword, Call of Duty 4, Uncharted, Bioshock.
2008-2009: Metal Gear Solid 4, Gears of War 2, Army of Two, Star Wars Force Unleashed, Wall-E, Resident Evil 5, Modern Warfare 2, Halo ODST, Uncharted 2, Assassin’s Creed 2.
2010-2012: Halo Reach, God of War 3, Mass Effect 2, Star Wars Force Unleashed II, Super Meat Boy, Skylanders, Battlefield 3, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Kirby Return to Dreamland, Gears, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, Halo 4, Max Payne 3, Lego Batman 2, Super Mario Bros 2, Smash It!
2013: Tomb Raider 2013, Bioshock Infinite, Devil May Cry 2013, Last of Us, Call of Duty Ghosts, Ryse, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lego Marvel, Dead Rising 3, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Pokemon X, Batman: Arkham Origins, Outlast, Assassin’s Creed 4, Minion Rush, Super Mario 3D World, Last of Us DLC.
2014: Lego Movie Game, Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, Infamous Second Son, Kirby Triple Deluxe, Titanfall – Campaign, Mario Kart 8, Watchdogs, Call of Duty Advanced Warfighter, Pokemon Omega Ruby, Captain Toad, Yoshi’s New Island.
2015-2017: The Order: 1886, Battlefield Hardline, Batman Arkham Knight, Halo 5, Disney Infinity, Force Awakens, HeroBound First Step, Until Dawn, Undertale, Uncharted 4, Kirby Robobot, Call of Duty Infinite Warfare, Battlefield 1, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Battlefront 2, Super Mario Odyssey.
2018-2024: Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, SpiderMan, Kirby Star Allies, Donut County, My Friend Pedro, Pokémon Shield, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, The Last of Us 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart, Pokémon Arceus, TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe, Ghost of Tsushima, Gears of War 5.
