Inside Story - British Nintendo Champion



Tam

Age Range
26-35

Countries of Work
UK

Study and Career History
At school I was good at English and drama. My mum got me a NES Nintendo system for my Christmas and me and my pal just sat and learned that inside out. then a competition came up in Glasgow and I entered and won that so I went to the final in London. There was thousands in for the competition. It was all round Britain.

How long have you been doing the job?
A year and a half.

Did you decide on your career path or did it all happen by accident?
It just came my way - it was something I was good at. It was sheer luck along with a bit of skill. I was also on Gamesmaster, the programme on Channel 4, three times. I won twice and the last once I got beat so I was knocked out.

How did you get your "Glamour Job" ?
I was an assistant manager in Future Zone (computer games shop) for five years. Future Zone took me touring round all the shops in Britain and people were challenging me to play. If they won they had to pay out vouchers. I only ever got beat once at the Super Nintendo and Nintendo. It was luck how I got the job in the shop. The Managing Director of Future Zone was in the Job Centre at the same time as me and said to me 'you're the man I'm looking for'. I was really lucky because I was in the right place at the right time.

What does the job involve?
Playing games. You had to inform yourself of all the new games coming out and make sure you don't miss anything. Also read all the industry magazines.

Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day when I was touring Britain would be challenging customers at games and making sure they didn't beat me. Also, in the shop, I'd be stocktaking, helping out and chatting to customers. I'd be playing games for about two or three hours a day - a dream job!

What do you like most about the job?
You can play all the new games that come out first before anybody and all the new machines. I'd also get the new imports sent to me. And if there were any launches of new games and special events the shop would give me the money to go and buy imports from America and Japan... they were out about six months earlier over there. Starfox was one of my favourites at the time. It was called Starwing in Britain. But my all-time top game would have to be Super Mario Brothers 3 on the Nintendo.

What don’t you like about your job – if anything?
I didn't like working at the weekends.

During your teenage years did you have much vocational guidance from school, university, family or friends? What was your biggest influence?
I got advice from my mum and dad. My pals were helpful as I used to practice with them. I was really competitive and you need constant practice.

If you took end of school examinations did you get exam results you were happy with from your education?
I left school at 17 and I got good marks in drama and English. English is really good for lateral thinking!.

Do you think that what you studied in school or in your further education was right for the career you are in now? Any regrets?
I would have liked to have done something with computing at school. I might still go back to college and do something else.

Have you taken further studies since leaving secondary or tertiary school. If yes, what did you study and why did you decide you needed more qualifications?
No

What was your first job?
I was a concrete erector. My first game job was Future Zone.

What has been your most bizarre or challenging job to date?
Most bizarre is possibly having to scrape chewing gum off the shop floor. The most challenging was playing against the Sega Champion at another competition in London. It was a Starfox Nintendo competition, funnily enough. He got beat as well though, it was a guy from one of the HMV shops won it. I think he won a bike or a holiday or something?

What is your ultimate goal.... is this it, or do you have a pinnacle you have yet to reach?
I would like to be a kickboxing teacher. I love martial arts and I like the games like Mortal Kombat and Streetfighter 2 and would like to do that in real life. I'm a blue belt just now - that's not bad, three away from black.

What are your top tips for personal success?
Try your best. if you think of an idea try and implement it and try and help your fellow workers, although not in chewing gum scraping!!

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