GBHBL Staff Interview: Fleshmechanic

1. Where did your GBHBL moniker come from?

Fleshmechanic happens to be my gamertag and it’s also a song by Placebo (a bonus track on their debut album).

2. What made you want to write?

I have a lot of opinions in general but especially so after watching a film/TV series or playing a game. So, it’s great to have somewhere to express my opinion in the form of a review and sometimes you get the bonus of someone agreeing and enjoying what you have to say, so that’s pretty awesome. Additionally, I’ve always wanted to be a writer (cliché, I know) and who knows, maybe one day while reviewing something I’ll find an idea that’ll motivate me to create my own story.

3. What area of GBHBL would you say is your strongest?

As long as I feel passionate or have a strong opinion on something then I think I’m strong at writing in any area of the site. Though, I definitely am more inclined to write about films or games because that’s mainly what I do with my life so it’s more natural for me to write more about that.

4. What would you like to see in terms of growth over the next few years?

More attention, more readers! We have some awesome writers and reviews on the site. GBHBL has already grown so much and increased in content in the past 5 years so the only way is up.

5. If you could add one new category to the site, what would it be?

Science Fiction! Of course this is a horror site but sci-fi is my favourite genre and it’s so hard not to be able to review any sci-fi movies.

6. What is your favourite memory in gaming? That moment that just made you go, wow?

I’m a late bloomer in terms of gaming, I’ve only been playing a few years but I already have way too many. Off the top of my head, the entire Bioshock series so far has amazed me due to its style and story. The Mass Effect series was one of the first game series I ever played and I was wowed when I experienced my first meaningful game death in Thane, at the time a game had never made me cry before. Lastly and more recently, The Witcher 3 astounded me more than any game, its beauty, its storytelling and although I got the bad ending it’s still one of my favourite games.

7. What does the achievement system mean to you?

Honestly, nothing. If I focused on getting achievements then I’d rage quit gaming forever because I get frustrated enough as it is but to actually have to care about doing an extremely specific thing would be way too much. I’ve seen Raptures Lost toil for hours and hours just to get one achievement and personally, I’m not willing to put in that much effort.

8. Where do you see the future of gaming?

Virtual reality is of course the next big thing, but hopefully it won’t require too much moving around because I’m way too lazy. I definitely think graphics will continue to improve, it’s astounding how much they can improve with even a few years (go back and play Bioshock Infinite’s DLC and you too will be shocked as to how quickly even that has lost its beauty with its poor finer details and flat graphics).

9. Single player or multi-player? Why?

Single player, always. I play games for stories primarily and never see the value in playing with other people online. There’s only two reason I would play multi-player and that’s either Raptures Lost needs help or he’s told me it’s fun so only then would I play it briefly.

10. What has been the biggest step-back in gaming for you?

Games series like Assassin’s Creed that are pumped out yearly, I can’t stand the fact that AC is an amazing series but it’s over saturated now and hard to enjoy. I think I’m at least 3 or more games behind because of how Assassin Creed’d out I’ve felt. Additionally, I’m probably one of the few people who actually care about the Kinect but it really annoys me that it’s been completely let go as if it’s a failed idea. I love using the voice recognition tool as like I stated, I’m lazy and I definitely think there’s more they could do with it in terms of making Xbox more hands free. Though obviously the Kinect games weren’t great but there’s still more that could be done with the technology.

11. Your favourite horror movie, what is it and why?

It’s no secret I love vampires so it’s difficult to choose between Interview with the Vampire, The Lost Boys and Fright Night but IWTV has to win because it’s so damn quotable. I adore this film, I adore all the characters and the story. It’s one of my favourite films of all time and is near perfect.

12. What are your earliest memories regarding horror?

Unlike others on the site I didn’t watch horror films as a child, the only memory of horror I would consider “early” is when I tried to watch Shaun of the Dead at home after it came out (I was 10 or 11) and it was too scary for me to finish. Obviously the concept of a horror comedy being scary is funny now but I don’t think I’d ever seen a zombie before that film.

13. What frustrates you the most about the genre?

The endless amounts of clichés that films can’t seem to get away from, it seems after watching so many horror films I can now guess which ending it’s going to be every time. Also, jump scares! – They’re not actually scary; they’re just startling and lazy.

14. What excites you the most about the genre?

Sadly, it’s any film that isn’t a rehash or remake of something else. At this stage everything feels like it’s already been done or it’s been long enough that it’s profitable to “re-imagine” and cash in on again so anything new and fresh is always exciting.

15. Where do you see the genre going in the next couple of years?

Many more remakes, probably ones that’ll officially kill my soul like The Lost Boys. I don’t believe anything is off limits at this point.

16. What got you into metal?

I actually prefer other genres over metal, such as alternative rock so I can’t say what got me into metal specifically. But, what got me into alternative music as a whole was when I was about 10 and I got the following 3 albums that changed my taste forever, Fallen by Evanescence, In The Shadows by The Rasmus and Meteora by Linkin Park. After that I was happily stuck in the phase I was apparently supposed to grow out of for the rest of my life.

17. How much has your taste changed over the years? Is that a good thing or bad thing?

I’d say it hasn’t changed much at all since I was 12 and My Chemical Romance were at their peak. I’m probably going to be emo for the rest of my life, and I’m completely happy with that.

18. The music industry is in trouble; it has been for a while. Why do you think that is? What would you do to change that?

Honestly, I hadn’t noticed that the music industry was in trouble.

19. What 3 bands (living only) are still at the top of your bucket list?

Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco.

20. What is your favourite live music memory?

I’ve been to so many amazing gigs and festivals over the years but my favourite has to be my first ever gig (seeing S Club 7 doesn’t count, okay). I think it was in either 2006 or 2007 and I went to see My Chemical Romance with my best friends, it was just amazing because I was so into them and they were at their peak popularity at the time so the crowd were really into them as well.