Since February 2024 About Tameside has featured a video game review every month courtesy of Ashton based Bobby Kent. We thought we’d learn more about the games guru and asked him to tell us a little about himself.

“I’m a 27-year-old writer and gamer, disabled and all three of those have kind of influenced my enjoyment of both writing and playing video games.  My disability is the reason I like games so much and it’s good to explore the accessibility I can have in games.”

What was the first game you ever played and how has the industry changed?

“The first game was Spyro the Dragon on PlayStation One and I used to play it with my sisters to the finish and then we’d go back and play it all again.  There’s been some really major changes to the gaming industry and of course the one affecting me has been accessibility. Games used to have no options whatsoever with the only option initially asking if you wanted subtitles.  If you have a mobility condition you have requirements like change buttons to use to change the buttons what they do or what action they perform. That is now a major feature in gaming where you have an accessibility menu to customize most things. “

 What have been the surprise game hits in recent years?

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons, that was released right after Covid started and prior it had been quite a niche game but it grew in popularity. “

So where do you spend most time in Tameside?

“Well because it’s all based on transport with tram or train I am mostly around Ashton, I love going to Ashton Market and getting a coffee from Market Grounds.  I also like Rewind Collectibles in the town which was one of my favorite places growing up and still is.”

How do you choose which game to recommend to readers of the magazine?

“Firstly, I check out game release dates for that month and I go through them to decide what I would recommend to a broad audience.  So, I’m looking for something that would appeal to everyone, not just a hardcore shooter game.”

Your own favourite game to play?

“The Witcher 3, it’s a really epic medieval, fantasy, magical story about two dimensions – the one we live in and the dimension magic comes from. Every thousand years the dimensions overlap and the magic seeps through into the real world and with-it extensional threats to reality.  So, you’re on a big mission hunting monsters, in combat, taking on quests, story decisions so it’s just great fun.”

Thanks Bobby and check out his recommended game in this month’s issue!