For the past decade, Andrew has been a familiar face on The Vintage Gamers YouTube channel, making appearances here and there. Now, he is stepping into an official role as a host on The Vintage View Podcast. With his new position, listeners can expect to hear much more from Andrew as he shares his insights and opinions on all things gaming. It’s time to introduce him properly, as he becomes an essential part of the team you know and love.

Do you mind telling us what you do for your day job?
Collection Agent / Emotional Punching Bag

What are some other hobbies you enjoy, outside of video gaming?
Writing, reading, self-loathing

Was there a specific moment or game that made you fall in love with gaming?
Watching everyone else have fun while lacking my own console, until I got my 360 and Dragon Age: Origins.

Do you remember the first gaming system you ever owned or played?
NES

Do you remember the first video game you ever played?
Super Mario Bros.

How has your taste in games changed over the years?
Not really.

What is your favorite gaming genre and why?
Fantasy RPG. Because I hate reality.

What is your favorite game or series and why?
Pokémon. Literally my most standout memory from childhood was getting Blue Version for my birthday, and not having a Game Boy yet.

Do you have a standout favorite video game character and why?
Professor Oak. Best father figure in gaming. Gives you a WMD and says don’t ride your bike inside.

Do you have a favorite gaming system and what makes it stand out to you?
Game Boy Color. Long road trips, playing by the flashing street lamps, using Pokémon to escape my difficult childhood, etc.

What’s a hidden gem or underrated title you wish more people knew about?
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. My favorite LoZ game.

Is there a piece of music or sound effect from a game that instantly brings you back?
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 is the soundtrack of my youth.

If you could bring back any classic game for a sequel, what would it be and why?
Zombies Ate My Neighbors. It was stupid fun. I was obsessed with it on my friend’s modded Gen 1 Xbox.

Are you more of a player or a collector?
I prefer the term “Curator.”

Do you own a certain game, system, or piece of gaming history that you are particularly proud of?
My Pokémon collection. I have games, manga, cards, toys, and even art of myself and my wife as trainers.

What are your thoughts on emulation compared to original hardware?
Emulation is the future. Classic hardware won’t live forever. That doesn’t mean I don’t want the original stuff. Like hipsters and vinyl albums in the early 2000s.

How do you feel about the whole homebrew scene?
Homebrew is gaming. Don’t make me reference Ready Player One at you.

Are there any gaming misconceptions or myths you’d like to debunk?
You’re still a gamer even if you don’t finish games.

How do you feel retro gaming influences modern titles today?
Modern gaming is all about being clippable and ranked. It’s stupid and I hate it. I miss a game just being fun and telling a story.

If you could spend an hour with any game developer, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?
Peter Molyneux. I want to know how he feels about modern gaming and its avoidance of storytelling.

What makes a game “vintage” to you, personally?
Ten or more years old.

What do you think you bring to the TVG crew?
I’m the good-looking one.