Gaming Tees from Seven Squared

Hear the story behind what drives the eagerness behind the undertaking. We spoke to Simon from the staff concerning the design, manufacturers and what goes into the entire thing!

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Hello Simon – first query! 

Q1. What made you begin the corporate within the first place (what impressed you)?

For a few years I’ve labored within the video games and gaming area and dabbled in merchandising infrequently however one factor that all the time used to frustrate me was the shortage of dedication given to what’s the best leisure journey in historical past on this space. I imply, what has been extra impactful than pc video games on the life and story of many people. So, I believed why not ask what a few others considered the thought and that’s when Steve and Dave joined in with the thought.Moreover, as a psychological well being advocate I needed to hook up with that ultimately as video games have all the time been each a strong basis and reminiscence financial institution for a mess of causes together with whenever you really feel crap and wanted an escape, they have been all the time there. It was additionally a purpose to get along with a good friend and play video games to get away from all of it.

All through my life enjoying a sport right here and there has all the time been supportive and over latest years the sense of neighborhood each for myself and my son throughout covid occasions has made it all of the extra palpable.

Q2. What computer systems and video games did you most love rising up and why?

To be trustworthy, once I began, I usually borrowed my mates’ consoles as I used to be not initially allowed one. I believe my dad and mom thought they’d be actually unhealthy for me and my focus.

Anyway, once I did, the ZX Spectrum, Vic20 and Commodore 64 have been the preliminary ones. Slightly dabble on the Amiga infrequently additionally plus the Atari 2600 which I beloved once I might get my palms on one.

The first console I truly owned was a Vic 20. Video games are various as you possibly can see from the journey shared so far however Kikstart was all the time an early traditional together with the Epyx portfolio like Cali Video games however the early teenage years headed to Bitmap video games from Speedball to Chaos Engine.

Away from dwelling, the arcade was a particular place and lots of an Atari sport from Asteroids to Battlezeone (now owned by Rebel) and 1943 Battle of the Halfway have been all the time favourites and dear! The latter of which I keep in mind spending all of the 10ps my Gran gave me out of her purse when on a vacation to the Pontins within the South West. She was not too happy, however I had enjoyable!

Q3. How are the clothes made and the supplies (cotton high quality) used?

We use Gildan Softstyle 100% Comfortable ring spun Cotton for all of our T’s.

This fall. What are you favorite designs out of your present portfolio and why?

I believe there are a number of for positive. Naturally the primary designs which Mike Montgomery was so prepared to help from that a part of the journey, particularly the newer field artwork Speedball 2 design.

Away from that, our first unique Protected In Our World design for Worms through Staff 17 is a good one for a lot of causes.

Past that I used to be actually excited to get the approval from Ian Livingstone so as to add some Combating Fantasy designs to the journey. I imply, who didn’t get pleasure from these role-playing gamebooks when taking a number of moments away from the display. I imply you needed to learn books as nicely when you would however these have been the one ones actually. However there actually are too many to record as it could actually really feel like reliving your childhood infrequently.

Q5. What has been your private expertise of the retro gaming neighborhood because you began?

Fantastic! We can not converse extra extremely of the neighborhood and the way they’ve embraced what we’ve got tried to do and within the correct method by seeking to construct relationships, license rights and ship an expertise they’ll additionally relate to.

It appears they too have sought a real revered and caring voice for the journey additionally. Their engagement in our annual “SafeMentaliTEE” occasion the place we spend the weekend carrying and sharing the journey and what meaning to our collective psychological well being has been excellent and we’ve got raised 1000’s of kilos collectively for the charity.

Which means rather a lot.

Genuinely the neighborhood has been nice, and we thank each single considered one of them for supporting what we are attempting to construct from a singular story perspective however for the charity additionally. Now we have additionally managed to do a number of design collaborations with the likes of Arcade Assault, Scumm and Villainy and Jinjar and so forth. Extra of these to come back once we can get them in.

Q6. What kind of issues do you cowl in your social channels?   And why ought to individuals comply with you?!

Each time we launch a brand new design (between 12 and 24 every year for the time being) we write a weblog put up about that sport and its connection to the story being informed.

We additionally test in on individuals once we can to see if they’re doing okay. Typically, it’s concerning the video games and the moments and why they’re a part of the story being informed.

We’re all the time fairly a fan of a retro advert whether or not that was from TV or magazines. Pure nostalgia! We love being tagged in moments and recollections by others as nicely, particularly once they hook up with the video games they beloved and why.

We simply want it was as simple to get rights to do every part individuals need. Now we have nevertheless carved out a place for attempting to do that proper and to be real and we actually do hope that comes throughout.  

Q7. What different manufacturers and video games/consoles would you prefer to work on sooner or later?

You need to see the record! We regularly joke about how lengthy it’s with requests and reminders of issues we had forgotten about on there.

Suffice to say we wish Seven Squared to be the genuine model relating to this journey and what it means to everybody, so every part is feasible.

Some are simply more durable to get. There are some notable gaps like Lemmings which we tried to nail for the Anniversary, however we simply couldn’t get that one to land in time (even with a bloody parachute!).

The place the arcade journey is anxious, we’d like to get a number of the Halfway portfolio because the recollections are deep there. Additional to that, annually we additionally intention to have a chapter with one developer/writer that provides the lion’s share of all gross sales to Protected In Our World. Final yr, because of the beautiful individuals at Digital Arts we have been overjoyed to have the ability to deliver Dungeon Keeper, Street Rash, The Sims, Theme Park and Skate or Die to the story and there shall be extra like this we hope.

I imply the journey wouldn’t be full with out having one thing each from these Magadrive moments and the moments of PC “dominance” within the mid to late 90s.

Q8. Any sneak peeks or future stuff we will reveal right here!?

This can be a huge yr within the story with 40 yr birthdays for a bunch of chapters from Combating Fantasy to Atari franchises like Pong. I imply simply seek for 1972 and see what you provide you with!

We may additionally crash in to some the early 2000s once more with slightly splash of magic.