FG: When I say FIFA Soccer, what are the first five words that come into your head?

John: I hate that fucking game.

FG: Do you think EA's dominance of the sports market is healthy?

John: I think the dominance of American culture in the UK (and the rest of the world for that matter) is not healthy. It is part of the reason for some of the problems faced by the Britishness of SDR. However, that being said, I have no problem with any of EA's sports titles or of their market dominance in the sports area. But I still fucking hate FIFA Soccer with a passion.

FG: What games have you played lately that you've really enjoyed?

John: Heroes of Might and Magic 2 on the PC. I initially bought it for my daughter's birthday but now I am completely hooked and desperate to beat it. What is amazing to me is that this is the first game I have properly played as a punter (commitedly all through the night for weeks on end) for over five years. Other than this, I play Mario Kart 64 and ISS whenever the N64 is set up and I have been playing Scrabble and the odd game of Solitaire on the PC for donkey's years.

FG: Who are your heroes in the games industry and why?

John: Richard Garriott, Gary Penn, Peter Molyneux and Dave Perry for doing their own thing, believing in it, and not giving a fuck about anybody else.

FG: Who are the villains?

John: The hardware manufacturers for constantly fracturing and destabilising the market and never working together when it would be so simple to do and it would make all of our lives so much easier.

FG: What are you working on at the moment?

John: I am starting some work on a top secret game design, trying to write a novel, working on a techno concept album with a friend of mine and designing a matchday programme layout for Saffron Walden Town FC, who we sponsor, and who are doing extremely well this season - top of the league and still in five cups.

FG: If you were all-powerful and could change one thing about the games industry, what would it be?

John: I'd force the hardware manufacturers to standardise all machines and always work together on any new innovations.