SPOnG 2006 Poll – Atari, Joytech, Rising Star Games

Today, from SPOnG’s poll of 2006, we have Alex Verrey, PR Manager for top peripherals company, Joytech and – for those of a certain age – better known as ‘Big Boy Barry’ from Sky One’s early nineties’ videogames TV show, Games World.

Alex is from the ‘have a good time all of the time’ Spinal Tap school of Public Relations and is one of the few PRs in the industry who has a clear, uncynical and unashamed passion for videogaming. For this, more than anything, SPOnG salutes him (can you send us one of those amazing little Xbox 360 mini-LCD monitors now Alex?!).

Next up, Atari’s very own PR guru, Lee Kirton, who puts us all to shame by having managed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2006 for a worthy charity. SPOnG has just updated our new year’s resolution list, adding ‘do something genuinely impressive and difficult to raise money for charity’ above ‘stop smoking, drinking and being annoyingly snide and cynical all the time.’

Finally, some thoughts from Tony Coles from Barrington Harvey PR. Tony, amongst a bunch of other stuff, looks after the PR for Rising Star Games (quality handheld retro-meisters) and the Science Museum’s splendid Game On exhibition. Tony lists meeting Michael Barrymore as a highlight of his year. An Annus Mirabilis then Tony!?


SPOnG: What are your (gaming and non-gaming) highlights from 2006?

Alex ‘Big Boy Barry’ Verrey, PR Manager, Joytech

• Gears of War.


• Tomb Raider Legends.


• Motorstorm.


• Guitar Hero.


• The early bits of the World Cup.

Lee Kirton, PR Manager, Atari

• DS Lite.


• Myspace...


• LOST.


• The beginning of true next gen gaming with the 360.


• Climbing Kilimanjaro for a worthy charity.

Tony Coles, PR Manager, BHPR/Rising Star Games

• Xbox 360's big games arriving and them being generally brilliant.


• Spending entire days driving around in Test Drive Unlimited.


• Virtua Fighter 5 existing and being real (in Japan).


• SUPER FORMAT WARS: THE PRELUDE


• Meeting Michael Barrymore.

SPOnG: Gaming and non-gaming lowlights from 2006?

Alex ‘Big Boy Barry’ Verrey, PR Manager, Joytech

• I can only remember the good games, besides I couldn't possibly knock buddies in the industry! Can I just say 'World Cup' 5 times for lowlights?.

Lee Kirton, PR Manager, Atari

• Industry sales.


• Too much Red Bull.


• Getting back down from that mountain!

Tony Coles, PR Manager, BHPR/Rising Star Games

• Nintendo's safe usage testing not really taking into account the 'enthusiasm' of Americans.


• My 360 being ropey, but not enough to be worth sending back to MS.


• The 360's user interface still being horribly clunky a year on from release.


• DS Lite. Surely this is what we should have had in the first place?


• Giving up on Oblivion, Animal Crossing WW and Viva Pinata when the fun stopped 

SPOnG: Things you're either looking forward to in 2007 or would like to see?

Alex ‘Big Boy Barry’ Verrey, PR Manager, Joytech

• Banjo on 360.


• Killzone PS3.


• Another Power Stone on 360 or PS3 (Oh man, I'd push over an old lady for that one).


• A true Next Gen Tomb Raider.


• Metal Gear PS3.

Lee Kirton, PR Manager, Atari

• New Wii games!


• Alone in the Dark on next gen!


• Resident Evil next gen.


• Halo 3


• PS3

Tony Coles, PR Manager, BHPR/Rising Star Games

• PS3. I want to see the Cell being hammered for vast amounts of procedural goodness by the end of next year.


• Crysis. I want to see the PC make a mockery of console horsepower once again, even if it costs an extra Ł1,500 to do so.


• SUPER FORMAT WARS: EPISODE 1.


• Making sure my secret blog shakes the industry to its very foundations.


• Virtua Fighter 5 being in my house.

SPOnG: What two gifts were you hoping to see in your Xmas stocking this week?

Alex ‘Big Boy Barry’ Verrey, PR Manager, Joytech

• A PS3, obviously!


• Some sort of atomic laser.

Lee Kirton, PR Manager, Atari

• My lovely girlfriend.


• Guitar Hero 2.

Tony Coles, PR Manager, BHPR/Rising Star Games

• Bionic wrists.


• Bionic thumbs.

SPOnG: What were you doing at 4pm on Xmas day this year?

Alex ‘Big Boy Barry’ Verrey

• Stuffing a bird.

Lee Kirton

• 4pm on Xmas day I will be tucking into my dinner with family and then indulging in a few drinks and then getting involved in a bit of Singstar action whilst the old man snores on the sofa. Awesome.

Tony Coles

• Openly weeping.