Author Profile
Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot's sites as Editorial Director. He's also the editor-in-chief of both Time Extension and Hookshot's latest site, Steam Hype.
I've been gaming since the late '80s (Atari ST for life!) and my first console was the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis – I've been something of a Sega fanboy ever since. I began my career in video games writing for magazines and websites such as Retro Gamer, Pocket Gamer and GamesTM, before shifting to a full time role on the Hookshot Media network as Editorial Director.
Experience
Damien began his professional journalistic career with Retro Gamer magazine and has since written for Pocket Gamer, Eurogamer, CNET, Red Bull Gaming, SFX Magazine and many other clients within the tech and video game industries.
As a co-founder, Damien has been with Hookshot Media from the very beginning, holding various positions prior to his current role as Editorial Director. He was the Editor on Nintendo Life for more than one period during this time, and is currently the Editor of Time Extension.
Damien’s work on Time Extension sees him covering all aspects of the site’s retro gaming brief, including news, reviews, guides and features.
I love sharing new and old stories about the vibrant history of video games
Timeline
- 2010: Co-founds Hookshot Media, assuming the role of Editorial Director
- 2012: Editor of Nintendo Life
- 2022: Editor of Time Extension
Qualifications & Awards
- BA (Hons) Multimedia Design (2002)
Expertise
Damien’s first game system was an Atari ST, followed by the life-changing Mega Drive! Since then he’s owned pretty much every major gaming system and handheld to hit the market.
Damien’s favourite all-time console is the Sega Mega Drive. Not only was it his first console, it also introduced him to the world of Japanese import video games and arcade-perfect coin-op conversions. If he could only take one system with him to a desert island, it would be the Mega Drive.
My favourite genre? Probably shmups, followed by arcade-style fighting games. I don't have much spare time for gaming these days, so when I play for pleasure, I like games I can quickly jump into for a short period!
Damien’s Favourite Games
From the Archive
We asked Damien to pick out his three favourite pieces of work from across his personal archive, and tell us why he picked them!
The Making Of: GameFan Magazine - Drugged Coffee, Pirated Games And Empty Bank Accounts
I love doing deep-dive pieces into the history of the magazines and publications that inspired me, and this one was one of the most fun.
The 'Kawaii' Is A Nintendo Wii The Size Of A Keychain
Seeing modern-day hackers take old tech and repurpose it for a new generation is one of the most fascinating aspects of working on Time Extension, and it was encouraging to see the reaction to this news article when it went live.
Feature: How Rik Mayall Helped Bring Anarchy To Nintendo UK
Rik was one of my heroes growing up, so it was humbling to be able to speak to some of the people who worked with him in this tribute piece, which was recently republished to mark the tenth anniversary of his tragic passing.
Latest Reviews
8BitDo's first wireless Xbox pad is worth every jiggy
8BitDo has certainly come a long way since the days of creating clones of NES and SNES controllers – it is now one of the most respected accessory makers in the world and has even produced officially licensed sticks and pads for the Xbox family of consoles. The company's latest offering –...
Review 8BitDo Arcade Stick For Xbox - The Ideal Partner For Street Fighter 6?
Stick it to the competition
The arrival of Street Fighter 6 will have had many people rushing for their arcade sticks, largely because the standard controller that comes with the Xbox Series X and S is somewhat inadequate when it comes to playing one-on-one brawlers. If you're lucky enough to own a compatible stick, then you're probably already...
Review Streets Of Rage 4 - The Best Entry In A Legendary Franchise
Play it before it leaves Xbox Game Pass!
Update (18th Apr, 2022): Streets of Rage 4 is finally leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of April 2022, so with that in mind, we're republishing this review so you can see what all the fuss is about. Don't miss out on this one! Another Four Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass Soon (April 18-30) Original review...
Review Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor (Xbox 360)
Wreck warrior
On paper, it seemed like a recipe for disaster. How could Capcom possibly take the Steel Battalion series — famed for its intimidating controller and unwavering adherence to hardcore, hard-as-nails gameplay — and condense it into a motion-controlled game on a platform that is beloved by casual players and loathed by ‘proper’...
Review Kinect Star Wars (Xbox 360)
Your powers are weak, old man
It isn’t hard to picture the glee that must have filled the offices of Microsoft Studios when the deal to produce Kinect Star Wars was inked. Kinect has always been about removing barriers thrown up by physical controllers and letting players filful their fantasties, and what better advert for the tech than the...
Review Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure (Xbox 360)
Fools rush in?
Kinect is proving to be the ideal platform for younger gamers right now; we’ve already had the reasonably enjoyable Disneyland Adventures, and it’s highly likely that the forthcoming Kinect Star Wars will find more favour with pre-teens than thirty-something geeks. Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure is another controller-free...
Review Kinect Sports: Season Two (Xbox 360)
The best just got better
Despite posting impressive sales figures and delivering some engaging titles, Kinect has arguably struggled to find that elusive ‘killer app’ that is capable of convincing both casual and hardcore gamers of its worth. While the original Kinect Sports was a fantastic grounding in Microsoft’s brave controller-free world,...
Review Champion Jockey (Xbox 360)
Cracking the whip
Admit it. The concept of a horse riding simulator isn’t instantly appealing. When you consider that the medium of video gaming allows us to explore unlikely fantasies and pretend to be characters we could scarcely dream of becoming in real life, it makes you wonder who in their right mind would want to step into the grass-soiled...
Review Fruit Ninja Kinect (Xbox 360)
Juiced up
In an age where smartphone advocates are gloomily predicting the End of Days for dedicated home consoles, it’s incredibly ironic that one of the best-selling iPhone and Android titles of all time (over 20 million downloads, and rising) is made even more compelling by its fusion with Microsoft’s home console-based Kinect peripheral...
Review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (Xbox 360)
The spell is broken
After almost a decade of trying, one would assume that by EA would have nailed the perfect Harry Potter game. Since the launch of the first movie tie-in way back in 2001 – on the original 32-bit PlayStation, no less – there have been numerous missteps, false dawns and crushing disappointments, all of which have been made that...
Latest Feature Articles
Hardware Review GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller - A Low-Cost Xbox Cloud Gaming Option
Please sir, can I have some more?
Cloud gaming is a huge part of Microsoft's strategy moving forward, and to that end, the company is keen on giving players access to their Game Pass sub on as many devices as possible – with smartphones being the obvious first choice. After all, your phone is always with you, so what better screen to use for...
First Impressions Fruit Ninja Kinect
Ripening nicely
If you happen to own a modern smartphone then you’ve probably already sampled the delights of Halfbrick’s amazing Fruit Ninja. The game has now registered over 20 million downloads across mobile formats, and rightly so — it’s one of those unique titles that takes a very basic premise (in this case, the slicing and dicing of...
Latest News Articles
News "It's Hard To Say" - Xbox Boss Isn't Sure The Activision Blizzard Deal Has Paid Off
"It was bought at a time when our strategy was predominantly on the core consoles"
Remember when Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, and everyone assumed that Xbox would become the dominant force on the back of franchises like Call of Duty? It hasn't quite played out like that; since the merger was done, Xbox hardware sales have...
News Xbox CEO Asha Sharma "Doesn't Believe" GenAI World Models Will Replace AAA Games
"I've really come to appreciate the depth and the complexity of art"
Xbox boss Asha Sharma has been speaking to Fortune about the wider industry and the future of gaming hardware, and it should come as no great shock to learn that AI came up as a topic at one point. Sharma's previous role was President of Microsoft's CoreAI product, so you'd...
Rumour "Patience, Wumpa Lovers" - Xbox Might Be Resurrecting Former PS1 Mascot Crash Bandicoot
"A new Crash Bandicoot game is scheduled"
The same person who revealed that Spyro the Dragon is returning has now suggested that Xbox is looking to revive Crash Bandicoot – the same character who was once the 'face' of Sony's 32-bit PlayStation. As spotted by Comic Book.com, insider No Arms and No Legs, upon the confirmation of the new Spyro...
News Hideo Kojima Teases Filming For His New Xbox First-Party Game, OD
Knock knock
Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima has teased on social media that filming has recommenced for the upcoming Xbox exclusive OD. The game was formally announced all the way back in 2022, with the first teaser arriving a year later. It was also revealed that Kojima was co-writing the game with actor, comedian, and filmmaker Jordan Peele...
News Just Got Laid Off By AI-Loving Microsoft? Why Not Speak To AI About It, Suggests Xbox Producer
"I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people"
In a week where Microsoft has gutted 9,000 jobs, closed game studios and cancelled games – all while investing heavily in AI – you woul
News Noobs, Rejoice - Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree's Final Boss Has Finally Been Nerfed
Git gud
Look, Elden Ring is a hard game – it's designed that way. Even so, many people have expressed the opinion that the final boss of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is too difficult to beat, and that has predictably impacted their enjoyment of the DLC. If you're one of those people, then don't feel ashamed or inadequate – FromSoftware...
News Lost In Cult And Time Extension Announce 'The Console Chronicles'
A celebration of all things home console
Our sister site Time Extension is collaborating with award-winning boutique publisher Lost in Cult to produce a coffee table book on the history of home console gaming. "The Console Chronicles is a celebration of every system that you hold dear," says Lost in Cult. "We’ll travel back in time to when the...
Random 20 Years Ago, This Xbox Ad Was Banned From British Television
"When you're new, you have to be clear about what you stand for as a brand"
Xbox turns 20 today, and while we're remembering some of the most amazing Xbox-related games and events of the past two decades, it's perhaps worth mentioning the amazing British TV commercial for the console's launch which was banned following a handful of complaints...
News Microsoft Is Already Working On New Xbox Consoles, But Don't Expect To See Them Soon
Core console engineering is "accelerating"
It's a well-known fact that companies like Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are always working on new hardware, and even though the Xbox Series X and S are still reasonably fresh-faced, it should come as no great shock to learn that their successors are already on the drawing board – and Liz Hamren, CVP of...
News Xbox Cloud Gaming Will Be Integrated Into Consoles Later This Year
And will "light up all kinds of scenarios"
Microsoft has just lifted the lid on its future plans for hardware, software and all that sits in-between, and has revealed that Xbox Cloud Gaming is headed to consoles - along with pretty much everything else - later this year. While rivals such as Google and Sony are also contesting the cloud gaming...
