STACK #246 April 2025

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What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

My mum buying me a PS3 and having to decide whether I wanted it to come with either Battlefield 4 or FIFA 15 . She was not impressed once she saw Battlefield 4 ’s gameplay...

BEST SELLERS at

APRIL

MARCH 2025

What’s your all-time favourite game or game series?

1 ASSASSIN’S CREED SHADOWS

’ s ROVING REPORTER

Infamous Second Son still holds a special place in my heart, as it’s a game that it didn’t even feel like I platinumed.

2 SPLIT FICTION

3 MONSTER HUNTER WILDS

ZAIN WARWICK @ JB Erina, NSW

What have you been playing most lately?

4 WWE 2K25

I’m addicted to Marvel Rivals . Help!

5 SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE

What’s the best thing about working in games at JB?

You can only have one games console from any era – what would it be and why?

Its awesome interacting with people who also play the games that I enjoy – and being able to share experiences with those people. At the moment, we all seem to be stuck playing Marvel Rivals and everyone shakes their head when I tell them I play as Moon Knight.

6 MARIO KART 8 DELUXE

I would have to pick the PS3, as I made so many memories on that console, like staying up to midnight playing Destiny with my school friends.

7 SUIKODEN I & II HD

REMASTER: GATE RUNE & DUNAN UNIFICATION WARS

8 PGA TOUR 2K25

Are you up to answering all eight of this month’s game related posers?

1. On which arcade and console system did the Fatal Fury series debut? 2. What was the name of SEGA’s 1986 dirt bike riding arcade game? 3. What was the name of the first ever SteamWorld game, released in 2010? 4. What was the name of the very first Carmen Sandiego game? 5. Which French software company published Captain Blood in 1988? 6. What was the name of the sequel to 2010’s Naughty Bear ? 7. What’s the name of the family restaurant setting of the Five Nights at Freddy ’s games? 8. Which renowned arcade developer released 2000’s MotoGP on PlayStation 2?

9 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6

GAME EXAM

10 MINECRAFT

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ANSWERS on page 52

1 What was the first game that you played? Pitfall! for the Atari 2600 - I think I only ever got two or three screens in, but I couldn’t get enough! 2 What was the last game that you finished? Visions of Mana – I really enjoyed the world and the gameplay, as I always do with the Mana series, but the story and characters were really impactful and touching. 3 What’s your favourite video game/series of all time? The Legend of Zelda - it’s an amazing mix of challenge and relaxing, new and familiar. Each one is a timeless adventure. 4 What do you think is the most underrated video game of all time? It’s a toss-up between either Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning or XCOM: Chimera Squad . They’re both games I worked on that did well in their own rights, but I really think the wider gaming community missed out on how great these really were. But I guess you could say I’m biased! 5 What’s the game that you most wish you’d worked on? Any of the classics - Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., Tetris . Really, I’d just love to have something I made that everyone in my family could play with me.

Senior lead producer on Civilization VII at Firaxis. ANDREW FREDERIKSEN

Visions of Mana

36 APRIL 2025

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