Someone recently asked me the following question: “I get it, you are nostalgic for your childhood and everything, but why do you never talk about music, movies, TV shows and what not? The 80s and the 90s were not just about gaming!”
Well, I decided to focus on retro gaming because I feel in my comfort zone, but it goes without saying that I am fond of everything that is retro. With that said, I am not sure I will make a foray into music or movies anytime soon, but I am going to introduce to you a retro gamer who regularly does and man, he literally takes me back!
Dylan started his TikTok page just a few months ago, but quickly amassed thousands and thousands of followers. His secret? On one hand he brings back the best memories, on the other one he shows younger generations how fun our lives were back in the day, and TikTokers just love his content!
TLDR: today’s guest for the “we are gamers” series is a retro-er at heart who runs an amazing TikTok page. Enjoy!
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1. Welcome Dylan and many thanks for accepting my invitation. For a starter, please introduce yourself to RGL’s readers.
Hi, my name is Dylan or Dellboy as my friends call me and I run a retro gaming and nostalgia movie page on Tik Tok. I created the page back in August 2021, mostly just to upload videos of my Mega Drive collection and gameplay footage but, over the months, the page grew and I started to upload nostalgia movie / tv show clips from my childhood.
I also post polls, quizzes etc… And you can find me live streaming games 3 or 4 times a week. I have just recently also created an Instagram, YouTube, Twitch and Twitter page: just search for RetroSega81.
2. What was the first video game you ever played?
Ironically, Dizzy is also one of the first games I ever played on the Spectrum!
The first game I ever played I think was Dizzy on my ZX spectrum back in the 80’s. However my real memory of gaming was when I got my Commodore 64 one Christmas and would play games like Platoon, Robocop, Impossible Mission, The Great Escape, Commando & Paperboy, to name a few.
I also had the light gun and a disc drive, so was very lucky to get my hands on a lot of games growing up and that really when it all started I would say.
3. What about the first gaming system you ever owned?
Apart from my C64, my first gaming system I owed was a Sega Master System 2 and I remember it blew my mind the graphics! It came with Alex Kidd in Miracle World built in and I had saved up enough money to buy one more game, which was called Transbot.
I just remember playing these two games for hours on end even now, I still go back and play them on the Retro Console that I own.
4. Were you an arcade gamer? If you were, what about your favorite titles back in the 80s/90s?
I did play arcades growing up, but mostly this would be when we would go on holiday to Italy, as we went to the same place every year (Lido di Jesolo, just a small town right on the beach). However, in the main square they had the best arcade machine shop I would visit everyday and spend my holiday pocket money at.
The main game I played was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Hyperstone Heist, I absolutely loved that game! Donatello was my character. I also played a lot of the popular games like Operation Wolf, Double Dragon and any football (Soccer) games I could find.
5. I am going to name a few video game genres: please tell me your favorite retro title for each of them:
A) Adventure – The first game that comes to mind was a game I mentioned earlier called The Great escape on the C64. This game is basically what you may think you are a POW in a German prison camp and mission is to escape.
I loved this game sneaking past guards, breaking into buildings, stealing uniforms to blend in, hiding items it really had everything. I still want to go back and play again, as not played since I was a kid.
B) Platformers – This would have to be sonic and the first sonic I played on the Master System. Again this was another game that when I first played as a kid, it just blew me away how good the graphics and fast paced gameplay was. You could complete the game and still go back and play and try and beat it quicker and with more rings.
C) Puzzle Games – Would have to be Tetris on the Gameboy. I never owned a Gameboy till I was a bit older, but I remember going to my friends house to play his and we would sit for hours, just trying to beat each others scores. I think it’s a game even now you can easy pick up and play and still have tons of enjoyment in it, Although I am nowhere near as good now as I was before.
D) RPGs – For me the Fallout series no contest! I remember playing the very first Fallout on pc back in the late 90’s and loved it. Back then Fallout was actually a turn based game, however you still had so much free roam to explore the map, talk to everyone and do side quests and collect loot to buy and sell to upgrade weapons and armour. To me this game was way ahead of its time and now, I have continued to play on Xbox and Playstation – I really hope one day we get a VR version for the PS5, that would be so cool.
E) Racers – Easy, Mario Kart on the SNES. Although it was always Sega I had growing up (hence the name of my page), one of my best friends had a SNES, and we would basically just play Street Fighter 2 or Mario Kart on it. The races or battle modes just had me hooked from the start, always got super competitive too. Toad was always my character too.
F) Soccer/Football – Now this is a tough one, as would be between Fifa International Soccer on the Mega Drive or Sensible Soccer on the Amiga. I loved both and used to play them all the time. I don’t think I could really pick one if honest. I still go back and play these on my Tik Tok lives, however I have to say Fifa has not aged well, but Sensible Soccer is still amazing.
G) Sports Games – I played a lot of John Madden, NHL or NBA Jam on the Mega Drive, growing up. I never really watched the sports, but I loved playing the games. Also Wrestling, so WWF Royal Rumble back then I played all the time. These games are great now to add into your collection. (Apart from the wrestling games) all the others you can pick up pretty cheap, as so many for sale.
H) Any other games whose genre I did not mention? To name a random few games I loved to play growing up would be Robocop vs Terminator and Michael Jacksons Moonwalker (Mega Drive), Goldeneye (N64), Championship Manager (96/97, 97/98 & 01/02), Grand Theft Auto (also loved all those games especially Vice City).
And pretty much any action based movie game, so Rambo 3, Terminator, T2, Predator 2 etc on the Mega Drive I still play lots of now. More recently loved playing Dead Rising, The Warriors, Bully, Manhunt, Days Gone, Last of Us and currently playing Metro Exodus on PS5.
6. While growing up, what gaming system did you have the most fun with? Are you still a regular gamer?
Simply Sega at its best…
Definitely my Mega Drive. I loved it and played it all the time. Would get friends round for tournaments etc. My brother was not really into gaming (claims because he never actually got a shot to play as I hogged the Mega Drive), so I would try and lose to him, so he would keep playing. Just over a year ago, I saw Mega Drive for sale with 5 games, so I bought it and that’s where I fell back in love with retro gaming again and started to collect games.
The last count I did at Christmas, I had 150 games and counting for my Mega Drive. I then took the decision back in August last year to create my Tik Tok channel and the rest is history, as they say.
7. What is your relationship with the online gaming world? Do you play online with your friends/family members/random gamers?
Before I had the kids, I did use to play a lot of online Call of Duty or Fifa with friends, however now with the kids and friends having kids hard to find a time we can game, as I also train MMA 3 nights a week, so mostly online is either random gamers.
However in the last year my daughter who’s 7 saved her money to buy a switch and I have been playing a lot of Fortnite online with her. Not a game I ever thought I would like but it’s been amazing to play Duos with her and we have had a good few wins and she’s probably not far away from being better than me at it. She’s a proper little gamer girl she even loves playing my Mega Drive with Street Fighter 2 or Sonic 2 being her favourite and of course Mikey Castle of Illusion.
8. What are your finest memories related to video games?
The one that sticks out the most when I’m asked this question was always the first time I played Grand Theft Auto 3 at my friends, when he bought a PlayStation 2. I couldn’t believe how amazing that game was free roam, side mission, the story, everything just blew my mind. However, if I’m honest, my best memory now is getting play with my daughter and seeing the joy in her eyes, not just playing the games, but getting the play with me. We get munches on the go and just play – amazing.
9. What prompted you to start a TikTok page?
Dylan’s TikTok page: RetroSega81
Like most people I joined during covid and mostly just posted dance videos with my daughter. I followed a few gaming pages and I thought to myself: “I should create a page with my Mega Drive collection.”
So last August I created the RetroSega81 page and it just grew from there. I love interacting with people and when people comment on my posts saying “memory unlocked – thank you” it makes me so happy. As what you forget what is Nostalgic and a memory for you with a game, film or TV show is probably the same of hundreds of other people and that’s a cool thing, I think.
10. What is the goal of Nostalgia & Retro Gaming?
Just to keep posting and interacting with as many people, as I can and get to do cool things like this interview. I was also asked to do a podcast a few weeks ago, which was also great fun. Also to make friends with similar interests, I’ve made a few really great friends of the app that I talk to pretty much everyday and we all support each other.
It really is a great gaming community on Tik Tok and it’s growing. I’ve had people come to me to ask for hints and tips to help grow their page or edit videos etc… And always happy to help, as I remember how daunting it was starting out.
11. Last but not least: any future plans or secret wishes?
For Scotland to make the World Cup in Qatar and to continue to progress under Steve Clarke!! 😊Other than that just to keep enjoying the retro gaming and hopefully create a page that people love and enjoy. And seeing the new generation of retro gamers coming through, which is amazing to see.
