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Pint Shot Riot’s Baby Dave Talks The Sims 3, Videogames and Groupies
March 19, 2009
Electronic Arts is more than just a videogame company these days. It also has its corporate reach in the music industry through Artwerk Music. Pint Shot Riot, the latest band that EA has signed to a deal hails from Coventry, England. Gamers will hear the single, “Punches Kicks Trenches And Swords,” on The Sims 3 this June. Already huge in Europe, the new videogame should help them grow their newfound fan base in the States. Baby Dave, the band’s bass player, talks about why the band gravitated towards videogames, in this exclusive interview.
What games did you play growing up?
The first games I remember having a real impact were all on the Sega Mega Drive. Things like Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Road Rash, Desert Strike, Wrestle War, and Micro Machines were the order of the day back then. And a bit later it was FIFA. Happy memories!
What was the one game you remember getting hooked on?
The ultimate “staying up late in fits of frustration” game for me has to be the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The game the phrase “one last go” was invented for. One particular fiend and myself lost many hours to that one! At the time it was so new and different, I’d never played a game like that before. And also Pro Skater 2 and 3 were quality.
As a musician, what were your thoughts about the music in those early games?
I felt that THPS set a new standard in terms of music truly supporting a videogame and enhancing it. The tunes matched the action so well. And then I would find myself at clubs and things, where people would jump up and go crazy if the DJ played, say “Superman” by Goldfinger or “Police Truck” by the Dead Kennedys.
Can you talk about the role videogames play today for the music industry?
It definitely seems that the industry recognizes the potential in putting their product on a game these days. Everywhere you look CD sales are falling and DVD and videogame sales are going up. People will spend hours and hours with a game if it is good enough, and if you can supply the right soundtrack, you will be part of that experience.
For a band to break in today, are videogames like MTV was in the ‘80s?
I would say not because that was a unique situation and it was a very different type of media, where people tuned in specifically to see music. Games are definitely a good place for finding music you may not have found any other way though. And the potential is there to help break bands.
Do you own Rock Band or Guitar Hero?
Between the band we have both. Actually, I’m very close to completing World Tour on drums on the hard setting at the moment. And I’m the bass player! We don’t set them up in the studio though, that seems a bridge too far.
What impact do you think Guitar Hero’s music creator will have on aspiring musicians?
I can only see it as a positive thing, especially for younger kids who may have their first taste of making music from this. The seed could be sown for getting into it for real. It’s always important to introduce younger generations to music and making music, and if this helps that’s all good.
Activision is working on a DJ Hero game. What would you like to see as the next evolution of music videogames?
I think the Guitar Hero/Rock Band idea has lots of potential left. The idea of basing games around specific bands could work for a long time yet. Maybe in the future they could develop games featuring real instruments, which could teach the gamer exactly how to play as the game went on? That’d be pretty cool.
Is anyone in the band a PC gamer?
We dabble occasionally when we have chance to. I have a few hardcore PC gamer friends, too.
What are your thoughts on The Sims 3?
It’s amazing! It seems the series just keeps getting better and better.
Do you get free games as part of your deal?
We’re far too polite to ask for that!
What’s the better fringe benefit of being a rock star today, Free games or adoring female fans?
First one, then the other!
