Were games better in the "good old days"?
SM: Games were more focused and pure, gameplay-wise. But nowadays realism, graphics, sound, story, etc. are much better. It swings both ways for me, and for many other people, too, which is why I think we see remakes of older games like Asteroids, Pitfall, Space Invaders, Sinistar, on and on.

Describe Dreamcast in five words.
SM: Sega's last chance at consoles?

What's the most overrated game ever?
SM: Godzilla. Wait, that's a movie, sorry. Um, let's go with Trespasser.

What's the most underrated game ever?
SM: Heretic 2 is a recent game in this category, and I'd have to give the all-time nod to System Shock, which seemed to be a little ahead of its time, and perhaps too many players were expecting a basic shooter from this game.

Have you ever lied to an arcade attendant to get a free credit?
SM: Never. But then, I worked in arcades throughout the early '80s, and boy, did I take advantage of that job!

Who in the games industry do you most admire?
SM: John Carmack on the PC side, and Shigeru Miyamoto on the console side. No explanation needed.

What was the first videogame you ever played?
SM: Probably Pong. But my real addiction to gaming began with Space Invaders, and I quickly became an expert at most arcade games that came out. Even co-authored a book on beating arcade games in 1982.

Have you ever cancelled a date to play a videogame?
SM: No, but I sure missed a lot of college because there was an arcade nearby!

What videogame websites do you have bookmarked?
SM: All the top sites that update daily - about 20 of them. I make it my business to know what's going on with other developers and games.

Did you ever own a Jaguar?
SM: That's about the only system I haven't owned. There just wasn't a killer game on that system that I had to have.

What game are you most looking forward to playing?
SM: There are several I'm keeping a keen eye on: Ultima Ascension (I wonder how fantastic and interactive a world they can create), Kingdoms (I hope this game takes Warcraft to a new level), Black & White, Anachronox, and System Shock 2.

What's the first game you look for in an arcade?
SM: The way arcade games have gone (fighting, racing and shooting games), I almost always pass right on by them. Where are the truly innovative games nowadays? Hint: Not in the arcades.

Do you ever play videogames in the nude?
SM: Only with my wife.