1998 Sightings
12 December 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Excuse for bug-ridden games?
"There are a few notable exceptions, but most companies blindly rush out bugged games without due consideration for the people they're cheating with faulty products."
28 November 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Will Zelda 64 save Nintendo?
"Nintendo has already shot itself in the foot by previously showing vicious contempt to its customers"
14 November 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Does violence make for better games?
"One of the all-time classics, 'Tetris', has no violence whatsoever."
31 October 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Tired of late games?
"I'd rather play a top quality error-free game than a product full of bugs that was rushed out to keep the punters happy."
17 October 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Will the new machines kill off the arcades?
"Of course they won't! No matter how good new generation consoles become games-players will still return to the arcades for the simple reason they enjoy showing off to an audience."
10 October 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Best game ever?
Stu chose Elite, because
"Blasting snake-named hostiles and deadly Thargoids while improving your ship through interstellar trading, is as enjoyable today as it ever was."
05 October 1998 Chatterbox (Ceefax - Page 592)
"ITV's really scored with its new On The Ball presenter, Gabby Yorath."
03 October 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Do you dream about games?
"For one it is a way of life, for the other it's a sad addiction which takes over their lives completely."
12 September 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Has the games drought ruined your summer?
"Besides, enough top notch titles were released last Christmas to keep gamers busy until the next festive season."
05 September 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Do you buy games mags for content or the free CD?
"CD-obsessed games mags generally don't feature good journalism"
02 September 1998 Chatterbox (BBC Ceefax - Page 592)
"The Bill's recent storyline . . . has been great"
29 August 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: Games industry relying too much on sequels?
"All too often companies use them as an excuse to churn out uncreative software"
22 August 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 674)
Hot Topic: What makes a good game?
"Thoughtful programming with no bugs"
25 July 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Why the sci-fi plot?
"And sci-fi plots are easily thought up by busy programmers"
18 July 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Need a colour Gameboy?
"Nintendo is surely mistaken if it believes a Colour Game Boy will outsell classic machines like the PS"
11 July 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Single Games Format?
"No! To have a single format and give one company a monopoly would be disastrous for the games industry"
Stu missed the point entirely, as usual.
04 July 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: When should Sony release the PS2?
"Why mend something that isn't broken?"
03 July 1998 TV Letters (5text - Page 395)
Stuart asked whether there were any plans to repeat old episodes of "The Bill"
27 June 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: PC as games machine?
"The PC isn't the most user-friendly machine, but those who persevere are ultimately rewarded"
20 June 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Games less respected?
"Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached which states games are only played by spotty teenage males in darkened bedrooms"
06 June 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Has Nintendo let itself be beaten?
"Of course Nintendo isn't letting itself be beaten. To do so would be like pressing the self-destruct button"
29 May 1998 TV Letters (5text - Page 395)
5text said: "Stuart Hardy wants to write to Rhona Mitra of the Pepsi Chart Show"
They gave out an address, as well. Won't these people ever learn?
23 May 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: On-line Gaming
"With greater numbers of top games offering the chance to go "online" and compete against users from across the globe, it is definately here to stay"
09 May 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Updates of classic games a good idea?
Stu thought it was a good idea, simply because "youngsters could experience what they missed the first time round" (or something)
18 April 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: What's Best This Year?
Digi's reply: "There's just... just something about your letters, Hardy, which amuses us every single time. We don't even think you're trying to be funny."
11 April 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Games Players Losers?
"...consoles and hand-held machines are very popular with successful Japanese businessmen/women, who play them to relax between busy work schedules."
Hmm, looks suspiciously similar to one he wrote on the subject of whether games were confined to sad male adolescents.
04 April 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Running Out Of Ideas?
"It's far easier to produce a clone of an existing title than to break new ground and design an original one."
30 March 1998 TV Letters (5 text - Page 395)
Stuart wanted an address to write to the cast of 'Family Affairs'. Rather stupidly, (5)text gave one out. (When the cast complain about the number of letters they receive from Stu, I'm sure they'll be more careful in future...)
21 March 1998 Digitiser (C4 Teletext - Page 174)
Hot Topic: Nintendo's Colour Gameboy
14 March 1998 Chatterbox (Ceefax - Page 592)
"What is the name of the actress who plays the photographer in the current Nescafe Gold Blend ad? She is gorgeous!."
13 March 1998 Chatterbox (Ceefax - Page 592)
"TOTP is superb...it allows me to put a face to the artists from the songs in my extensive CD collection!"