As the links between video games and online casino continue to be taken to new levels, the Game Play series discovers how the gambling industry’s key players embarked on their gaming journey.
This week we spoke to SBC’s Multimedia Editor and Host of the iGaming Daily podcast, James Ross, to list through his many much-loved characters, discuss taking gaming advice from John Romero and his admiration for slots that take inspiration from video games.
SlotBeats: What was your first console? What is the first video game you ever played?
James Ross: So, the first console that I ever owned was the PlayStation 2. However, my dad did play the first PlayStation, which I remember spending many evenings watching him play games on. One that forever stays with me is Dino Crisis, which I was definitely way too young to watch, sorry for outing you dad.
Back to the question.
Even though my first console was the PlayStation 2, the first game I ever played was Spyro the Dragon. I was obsessed with that purple scaly dragon. I still am to this day to be fair, as I constantly jump back and play thanks to the Reignited Trilogy.
But I can’t answer this question without shouting out some brilliant titles for the PS2, Simpsons Hit n Run, Ratchet & Clank, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, God of War and the GOAT – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
SB: What is your favourite game of all time and why?
JR: It has to be The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Everyone knows of Bethesda’s Skyrim and Fallout 4 titles. But without the foundations set by Oblivion, it could be argued that many of today’s modern-day, open-world fantasy games wouldn’t be what they are today without Oblivion.
This, for me, was the first complete open-world fantasy RPG. This was peak Bethesda where role-playing mechanics were enjoyable with a hint of a challenge, a beautiful open world with various biomes and a story that, still to this day, has me gripped after however many playthroughs I’ve done. I can’t remember, it’s been that many.
I still remember when I entered an Oblivion Gate for the first time, I’ve never experienced a scenario in a game that’s so vibrant yet scary at the same time!
Also, if I haven’t sold it to people already, Sean Bean voices the character of the main NPC, which is probably a spoiler to what happens to his character.
SB: What mobile game have you spent the most time playing?
JR: This is a difficult one. I don’t tend to play mobile games too much. I dabbled with Simpsons Tapped Out when I was younger until I realised it was rinse and repeat, with the same thing over and over again, endlessly waiting while getting constant notifications to purchase perks with real money.
PUBG Mobile I’d probably say is one that I’ve played the most.
However, if you call game streaming on your mobile ‘mobile gaming’, then I play a lot of Xbox Game Pass titles on my Backbone. On that, I’ve been playing through the first Red Dead Redemption.
SB: Which mobile game are you currently playing?
JR: I’m a big fan of World of Warcraft and a friend who I play with had been begging me to get Blizzard’s Hearthstone. So I succumbed to his grovelling.
It’s a free-to-play, turn-based card game set in the World of Warcraft world (Azeroth) where two players construct decks of 30 cards, along with heroes with unique abilities and battle against each other. It’s very ‘Magic the Gathering’.
It’s not my usual cup of tea, but the WoW IP keeps me hooked and The Witcher’s Gwent card game further piqued my interest in the genre of games.
SB: Last video game completed?
JR: Now, are we talking about completing the story or completing 100% of the game?
If it’s the former, then it would be Giant Sparrow’s What Remains of Edith Finch. I’d always been intrigued by the premise of the game but just never found myself actually downloading it.
I then had a conversation with id Software Founder and DOOM creator John Romero before an interview I was producing for his recent appearance at the CasinoBeats Summit, and he brought the game up and went into how beautiful it was, so obviously if Romero says play this game, you play said game.
He was obviously right.
Now if it’s 100% – 1,000GS (Xbox) or Platinum Trophy (PS) – then I think it was Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
I’m not bothered if people say they’re kids’ games, they’re brilliant! I went through a phase of getting 100% in all of them when I was a teenager and the Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is in my top 10 games of all time. So I was hyped for this game. Also, I’m a huge Star Wars fan, so when this game was released, I think I got the Platinum Trophy within the space of a week.
SB: Favourite video game character?
JR: For childhood memories, I’ll say Spyro the Dragon. The cheeky purple dragon always finds a way to save the Dragon Kingdom.
But a special shoutout goes to Red Dead’s John Marston. I’m a huge fan of the Western film genre and, aside from the average 360 game GUN and Red Dead’s predecessor Red Dead Revolver, there was never a Western game that hooked me.
John’s journey did that. Plus, his need for redemption and the love and security of his family was such a rollercoaster. It was also great to see the start of his journey in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Wait – Nathan Drake! You know what, this is a hard question! I’ll stick to those three before I give you an endless list.
SB: Favourite all-time slot?
JR: Those who have made it to the final question probably get the idea that I like games from the Fantasy Adventure/RPG genre.
In my first few years at SBC, I was a Journalist for this very site and after the first six months or so, I covered a title called Dungeons from Evoplay. This was completely different to the traditional reels I was used to covering, as it was a warrior fighting monsters on each spin and progressing through his tower.
It was brilliant and kept the same RNG mechanics you’d associate with a slot. With each spin, you kill monsters and, if you hit the right spin, you win money.
Then the feature was an MMORPG-style dungeon where you keep progressing until your HP runs out or you defeat the dungeon boss at the end.
Brilliant title. Shout out to its successor Star Guardians as well. That took more from the FPS genre.
