Interviews// SPOnG Game Stars: TV's Mr Iain Lee

SPOnG: Do you play games alone, online with others or multi-player with your partner, family and/or friends?

Iain Lee: Nearly always online. I haven't played a game at home, on my own for a long time. My girlfriend is kind of into the Wii, so we sometimes play those games together, which is great.


SPOnG: If you were given carte blanche to design the game of your dreams, what would it be?

Iain Lee: Oh, it would be a massively multiplayer online version of Elite for a home console. I can't believe it hasn’t been done already.


SPOnG: What talents could you bring to creating a game? If you had a job with a games development company what would you want your job title to be?

Iain Lee: Very few talents I'm afraid. I make a good cup of tea.


SPOnG: What book and/or movie license(s) would you like to see videogame versions of?

Iain Lee: Let's get an online multi-player version of Battlestar Galactica please. I know a game does exist (I bought it second-hand last week and haven't played it yet) but it's only single player. Come on, Humans vs Cylons. Also, when the hell is the Lost game coming out?

^{We looked and could not find it on Ubisoft’s most recent release schedule… so, we reckon, next year.}


SPOnG: Finally, it’s increasingly rare to see much positive tabloid or mainstream press coverage about gaming. There is much talk of video games being 'bad' for gamers (younger gamers especially). Do you have any thoughts and opinions on this issue?

Iain Lee: Video games have never done me any harm. Hell, I even made a living for a while talking about them. So, locking yourself in a room for hours on end isn't as bad as some people make out. Also, a lot of the criticism is levelled at the believable graphics nowadays. I don't think that makes a difference.

When I was a kid playing games, the graphics were lousy compared to now, but it just meant you had to use your imagination more. In a way, that's more powerful than anything. As for banning games, it seems a bit silly. I don't know the full story behind Manhunt 2, so I don't really want to comment on that specifically, but video games are still a relatively new entertainment medium.

Up until only a few years ago, some films were still banned and you had to get hooky copies from some dodgy bloke in Camden Town. Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Exorcist anyone?

People have knee-jerk reactions to things they don't understand. As the gaming industry matures, this will gradually fade and there will be an almost complete freedom on games.

SPOnG: Thank you, TV’s Mr Iain Lee.

For more from Mr.Lee check out his free podcast and his myspace here.