Jonathan Leigh has been interested in video games since childhood. His earliest memory is of playing Phoenix, an arcade game from the 1980s. Over the years, he has owned many gaming consoles and handhelds from Mattel Intellivision to recent systems like Nintendo 3DS, PS3 and Wii U. One of the first games that really got him into video games was Advanced Dungeons and Dragons on the Intellivision due to its innovative features. Some of his favorite retro games include Elite for its open-ended structure and Chrono Trigger for its story and characters.

1. Computer Games Design
Introduction exercise
- earliest memory of computer games
- games machines owned
- what first got you into video games
- favourite ‘retro’ games
- favourite video games character? Why?
- favourite current game
- most unusual game you’ve played? Why?
- Favourite handheld/portable. Why?
- Any programming experience?

2. Jonathan Leigh
earliest memory of computer games – Phoenix
Phoenix was an arcade game from the 1980s, I was young but I
remember my sister playing it in a local cafe. The aliens actually
felt like they had a mind as they honed in on you unlike space
invaders. It felt very revolutionary and it was difficult! This also
included stages that differed from each other.

3. games machines owned
• I have been into video games from a very young age. I have owned the
following:
• Mattel Intellivision (one of the first home consoles)
• Acorn Electron (PC)
• Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• Super Nintendo (SNES)
• Sega Megadrive
• Nintendo Game Boy
• Nintendo Game Boy Colour
• Nintendo N64
• Sony Playstation
• Sony PS2
• Sony PSP
• Microsoft Xbox
• Nintendo DS
• Nintendo 3DS
- Sega Dreamcast
- Nintendo Gamecube
- Nintendo Wii
- Sony PS3
- Nintendo Wii U
- Apple iPhone 5s

4. What first got you into video games
- Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
(Mattel Intellivision)
- This game was revolutionary at the time due to its use of sound
to generate fear (you heard the enemy before you saw it – a
warning) and the use of freedom and choice. This was one of
the first games to have an actual ending too. It also featured a
hub map and randomly generated dungeon maps.

5. Favourite older games
Elite – for BBC Computer. Open ended
structure and first sci-fi exploration game
Chrono Trigger for Super Nintendo – one
of the first Japanese Role Playing games – this
featured time travelling and a great story where
you care about characters
Other
Pilotwings (SNES) & Pilotwings 64 (N64)
Shemnue (Sega Dreamcast)
Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES)
Mario Kart (SNES)
Legend of Zelda (SNES)
Suikoden 2 (PS1)
Jet Set Radio (Sega Dreamcast)
Parappa the Rappa (PS1)
Virtua Fighter 2 (Sega Arcade)
Final Fantasy 7 (PS1)

6. Favourite video games character? Why?
Link from the Legend of Zelda