Saturday March 18, 2006 Interview with Ctrl-Alt-Del Writer Tim Buckley
Alex Billington: Thank you for taking your time to sit down with me during this busy Digital Overload weekend. Can you give us an introduction to yourself, your history and what exactly you do?
Well, my name is Tim Buckley. I’m a self-employed cartoonist. I live on the East Coast and write a comic strip about video gamers.
AB: Did you go to college?
TB: I tried twice, heh. College just wasn’t for me. The second time I was in college is when I started my comic strip, and after a month or so I decided to drop out and attempt to do the comic full-time.
AB: Did you have any other “career plans” for your life before the comic hit big?
TB: Well originally I wanted to be a comic book artist. That was my life goal. Around the time I started my comic I was gearing towards doing conceptual art in video games. The comic strip was originally intended to just be something for my portfolio.
AB: Moving on more towards your gaming interests. What was the first video game and system you owned?
TB: The first system I owned was a Nintendo Entertainment System. So the first game I owned was obviously Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt. The first system I played however was an Atari 2600 my aunt owned.
AB: What is your all-time favorite game?
TB: That’s a tough one. I would probably have to say Fallout, which will come as no surprise to long-time readers of the comic. It’s the game that I’ve gone back to most often. My current favorites are Fight Night, Everquest 2 and G.R.A.W.
AB: Have you ever hosted a LAN at a friend’s house (or your own) before Digital Overload?
TB: Not a PC LAN. I hosted a Halo 2 Release Party in early November 2004. We had four Xboxes and four TV’s and played all weekend.
AB: Do you prefer PCs or consoles above the other?
TB: No, I think they’re pretty equal in my eyes. There are certain games I’ll only play on the PC, and vice versa. It just comes down to personal preference on a case by case basis.
AB: What is your take on the latest issue that has been arising regarding the eventual rise to mainstream acceptance of video games? I’ve noticed a lot of your comics still dwell on the idea that isn’t yet mainstream (e.g. Ethan’s leader of the Winter-een-mas crowds).
TB: I think it’s only natural. The only drawback I really see is in game companies making their games simpler and “dumbed down” to appeal to the masses, which alienates the more avid gamer.
