The great thing about SLTD Wrestling is our ability to love all things wrestling. Not just the live shows but the product including video games, talk shows, podcasts and more.
I have had the pleasure of having a written interview with James from VikingSizeGamer. James has been involved in the wrestling industry but due to injury, he had to move to other things. James is now a fantastic editor and creator with his own YouTube channel. He is also working with Virtual Basement on their new game titled The Wrestling Code.
Below are his thoughts on the wrestling industry, video games and his career overall.
FT – Your edits for the WWE 2K series have been fantastic to watch. Can you write a bit about yourself and how you got into the gaming/editing business?
VSG – It was completely random if I’m honest.I’ve had a lot of jobs in the past, but when I started the whole YouTube gaming thing I was working on a helpdesk for a big company. But none of it was internal or business to business. It was business to consumer, so I was fixing your mum’s or grandparents computer. Nine times out of ten it was malware or a virus so I learned to script in python and automated about 80% of my job.
With all the spare time I had, I was browsing YouTube trying to keep myself from being bored and seeing all the things people were doing online. At the time, No Man’s Sky had just brought out a new update and I used to watch SmackTalks “Did You Know?” videos. So I adapted it for No Man’s Sky. It did relatively well, but it wasn’t what I was truly interested in. It was always wrestling. So I turned my attention to WWE 2K and just built from there. I didn’t have experience in video editing before or animation. I learned on the fly.
FT – You have been involved in the new game from Virtual Basement called The Wrestling Code. Can you give me an idea of what your involvement is?
VSG – Right now, it’s contract work. But they’ve been great to work with. I produced the logo reveal trailer, their website splash page, and a couple of other things you’ll have let to see. We’ve talked about numerous things and the direction of the game so it’s pretty cool so far.
FT – Do you have any exclusive information solely for SLTD Wrestling that we could get from you on the game?
VSG – Ha, I have information. But none that I can giveaway. Just know that the roster isn’t finished yet. Plus there are still announcements to come about some other things.
FT – With all your work on Wrestling games, what got you into Wrestling in the first place?
VSG – You know, I can’t pinpoint it exactly. I was born in the WWF era, so I grew up with that. I remember having WWF bed covers and a matching beanbag with all the pictures of the wrestlers at the time. Jake The Snake, Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, Bret Hart. Then for a long time, it fell off the radar. Probably because we didn’t have Sky so we couldn’t get any wrestling on TV.
Fast forward a few years and we have Sky, I’m up late watching Cartoon Network and then at 10 pm it changes to TNT and the first thing that comes on is WCW Monday Nitro with Hulk Hogan on my screen. Immediately back in.
FT – What do you think of the current product of Wrestling?
VSG – It’s hard to gauge. There’s some good stuff and some bad stuff. Of course, I’m a massive fan of The Fiend, but his story should be a special one. I’d have booked him a little differently if it was me. Roman Reigns coming back is good to see, let’s hope he keeps this new energy up. NXT constantly does incredibly well and I’d say is my most consistent watch. AEW has been doing well, MLW is shaping up. IMPACT is seizing moments. I think once we start moving past the pandemic then we’ll see some big stuff happening.
FT – What are your goals for the work you’re currently doing?
VSG – It’s weird. I didn’t really have goals to start off with when I did the Reboot series. But it’s made me realise a lot of things — and grow as a designer and animator. After Patrick Gilmore got in contact with me it was a real wake-up call as to what I could achieve. Since then I’ve been designing more and more with the aim to move into game design, specifically a wrestling game.
There have been some opportunities to join WWE 2K but it didn’t pan out for me, the problems with needing to be U.S. based. But I’m hoping if I keep working and showcasing my ideas, practising my animations, refining my designs, then I can maybe parlay it into a job.
FT – If you could be involved in the wrestling business, what would you like to do?
VSG – Fun fact: I once was. In 2009/2010 I was working for a small independent wrestling company as a wrestler. But in mid-2010 I got a back injury so I stopped. Couldn’t risk my health for something that wouldn’t likely turn into something. Now, I’d probably like to write storylines. Or at least plan out things for storylines.
I had a whole thing for a WWE 2K Universe Mode planned out but just didn’t have the time. It would have seen Asuka and Kairi take on each other for the women’s championship and Asuka making a heel turn and becoming Kami Kana. Eventually, it would have ended with the only person who could stop her, a very old ally, Io Shirai.
FT – Anything you’d like to share can go here, such as social media etc.
VSG – You can, of course, catch me on Twitter.com/VikingSizeGamer, that’s where I spend the most time. And watch my videos over on Youtube.com/VikingSizeGamer
Thank you for taking your time to speak to me today. If anyone wants to see some of the effort that James goes into for his videos, then check out VikingSizeGamer on all social media platforms.
Recent Comments