Hey, isn't it about time that you lot, the readers got to have your say in Back At The Ranch? In the first of an irregular series, we talk to FG reader Michael Foster from Blackpool. He likes books, his pet dog Max, motor racing of any type at all and dismembering Stroggs. He has been playing some form of videogame in his spare time for the last 25 years or so.

What games are tickling your fancy at the moment?
I've just got round to completing Breath Of Fire 3 on the PlayStation. Also I'm having quite a good time mucking around with Dance Ejay 2 on the PC. I play Gran Turismo, Quake 2 or TOCA 2 when I want a quick fix.

What was the first computer game you ever played?
Either Pong in an arcade or Breakout - it was on one of those huge cabinets where you actually had to turn a dial to move your 'bat'. I was only a tiny nipper at the time and my dad probably had to pick me up. I'm afraid that the first game I can claim to have paid for myself was probably Space Invaders, predictably. First game at home would be some sort of Pong derivative on the cheap and nasty all-in-one console that my dad bought, bless him.

Any particular favourites from yesteryear?
Hell yes. Defender was awesome. I used to play loads of stuff on the Sinclair Spectrum. Penetrator (sort of like Scramble) was always a good one, you could actually create your own levels, and I spent many an hour playing Lords Of Midnight. Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy were quite good for their day. We were easily pleased back then. There were some classics on the SNES as well: Super Metroid, Final Fantasy III, Zelda and Mario Kart spring instantly to mind.

What has been the biggest videogaming letdown for you in the last year?
Ridge Racer Type 4 wasn't as sweet as it could have been. If I'd written the code for the driving engine I'd be inside now for offing the guys that constructed the front end and game options. For me it just doesn't make me want to keep playing, which is really sad as it's a great game. It just could have been so much better.

Any titles you're really looking forward to in the near future?
I quite fancy Dungeon Keeper 2. I'm also dying to see Sega Rally 2 on the Dreamcast.

When all's said and done, what's your favourite game ever?
Tricky. I suppose it would have to be Gran Turismo. There are just so many great games that I have played in the last 25 years that this is a really hard choice to make, but I suppose, if pushed, this game has it all.