Formerly of Activision and now of specialist public relations company Rocket Media, Ben reveals his innermost videogaming secrets.

What games are tickling your fancy at the moment?
Ridge Racer Type 4 for its sheer class. Silent Hill for its use of imagery as an integral part of the gameplay and storyline rather than a gratuitous afterthought.

What was the first computer game you ever played?
Can’t remember the name, but it must have been something I spent hours typing into my ZX81 from a magazine only to get an error message at line 120.

Any particular favourites from yesteryear?
Scramble because it was the first game that kept me going back for more until I finished it. Thankfully there was a virtually arcade perfect conversion for the BBC Micro which saved me countless 10ps as it took inch-perfect precision to get through some of the later levels. Sega Rally was and still is a great arcade racing game.

What has been the biggest videogaming let-down for you last year?
Wild 9 - hype, hype more hype & sadly no gameplay.

Any titles you’re really looking forward to in the near future?
The console versions of Quake II to see if the deathmatch experience will be as good on a TV screen. Prince Naseem Boxing as there has yet to be a boxing game that has successfully mixed the sim experience with arcade action and this should be the one.

When all’s said and done, what’s your favourite game ever?
Bomberman on the Mega Drive for countless hours of post pub incendiary fun with mates - a classic multiplayer game.