Interview #5: Kim from Later Levels

Blogging live to you and yours! It’s your boy TWOTALL4UFOOL! It’s been a while since I’ve done an interview. Ok maybe a couple weeks. But I got a good one for you today. This is another blogger I found when I first started blogging. You can find a variety of things on her blog from a question of the month, to events such as a gamers blog party. That was pretty fun. If you were at the blog party you definitely know who I’m talking about if not you need to go check this girl out. Kim from Later Levels is my guest.

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2TALL: So first things first where are you from Kim?

Kim: I’m from a county called Essex in the UK. Apparently it’s home to the oldest recorded town, the longest pleasure pier in the world and the most haunted house in England.

2T: Right on! Tell us a little bit about Later Levels? The history, the idea, etc?

Kim: Later Levels was created in December 2016 when my blogging partner Ben and I realized that we couldn’t keep up with gaming trends and didn’t enjoy our previous style of news-and-reviews blogging. Full-time jobs, busy families and adult responsibilities meant we had to change direction and come up with something which truly fit in with our lives. We decided we wanted Later Levels to be somewhere we could share our thoughts on the more personal side of gaming – and the difficulty of trying to fit in time for it when you’re a grown-up.

2T: I like the that. It is tough to get in gaming time with all the responsibilities that come as an adult. Before Later Levels did you run any other blogs?

Kim: I tend to think of Later Levels as the latest version of a blog which originally started in February 2013, after I found a book called 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die and mentioned it to a couple of friends over a drink in the pub. It has gone through several name changes, redesigns and team makeups over the years, but the current site finally feels like a ‘proper’ home where I’m comfortable.

2T: What do you think the key ingredient is to having a successful blog regardless of your niche?

Kim: The key ingredient is you. The reason why readers keep coming back to a blog is because they want to know more about the person behind and their view on the world; so forget writing posts simply to attract followers and views, and instead create content you’re truly passionate about. The other important thing to have on your side is patience. Blogging takes time and effort, and a successful site won’t be made in a month.

2T: Yeah it does take a lot of work and patience to make a successful blog. It doesn’t happen overnight. What are some of your favorite blogs to read aren’t in our niche?

Kim: There are so many good gaming blogs that I don’t read many others! I do however follow a few that cover a wider range of subjects than just gaming. Megan from A Geeky Gal talks about conventions, cosplay and fashion among other topics, and is one of the nicest bloggers you’ll meet. Matt from Normal Happenings has such a lovely writing style and is ambitiously publishing a science-fiction novel as a blog serial. And Teri Mae from Sheikah Plate comes up with some great recipes that taste amazing.

2T: Those are all blogs I follow. They definitely go into topics outside of gaming. Any advice you want to give to anyone who is starting out in blogging or just thinking about creating a blog?

Kim: It’s really important to be yourself and create a blog which compliments your lifestyle and interests, otherwise writing just becomes another job and it won’t be something you enjoy doing for long. Get involved with the WordPress community through conversations and collaborations, as it’s the best way to meet like-minded writers who are a constant source of inspiration and guidance. And above all, keep learning: being a blogger gives you the opportunity to meet so many different people and you can learn something new from each of them.

2T: I feel there is plenty to learn out there in the world of blogging. How do you manage your time between blogging and playing video games?

Kim: It’s a constant battle ha ha! I have a fairly long commute into work so I use that time to make notes or start drafts for the posts I intend to publish the following week. By the time the weekend comes, I’ve got everything I need to be able to create that content; and I’m an early-bird so I’ll try to get it done before my other-half and stepson wake up and start causing chaos. That leaves me with (hopefully) some free time for video games during the rest of the week.

2T: Let’s go back in history again for a minute. Where did all start for you and video games?

Kim: I remember playing Double Dragon and Wonder Boy with my dad on our Commodore 64, along with Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt on the NES with my brother when I was young. But it was when my dad persuaded my mum to get me an Amiga 500 for Christmas when I was nine that I really started playing video games for myself… which leads on nicely to the next question…

2T: What were some of your favorite video games growing up?

Kim: I loved reading when I was a kid so when I played The Secret of Monkey Island on that old Amiga my mind was blown – it was like seeing worlds I thought only existed in books on the screen in front of me. That turned me into a fan of adventure games and afterwards I sought as much in the genre as my pocket-money would allow. I loved Simon the Sorcerer and Shivers, then later on Myst, The Longest Journey and Fable. It’s still adventures that I mainly play today.

2T: What are your thoughts on physical copies of video games vs. digital copies of video games? Which do you prefer?

Kim: Although I like the convenience of digital copies and being able to download something as I want to play it, I do prefer a physical copy. I like something I can add to my collection on the shelf to look back at and say: ‘I really enjoyed that game.’ I recently backed the Kickstarter campaign for the Myst 25th Anniversary collection just so I could get my hands on a packaged collection of all the entries in the series in a Linking Book box.

2T: I love physical copies of games myself. What do you think the future holds for video games?

Kim: It’s amazing when you look back at how far things have come in the past 30 years. We’ve gone from simple pixels and basic story lines to photo-realistic visuals and branching narratives full of emotion; and with advances in virtual and augmented reality, games are set to become even more immersive and far-reaching. But the thing I hope for most in the future is in connection with the gaming community. Although it has definitely become more inclusive and open to new ideas since I started blogging, there’s still so much ‘outrage’ over the internet and we’ve got a long way to go.

2T: Video games have come a long way but there still is a long way to go. What games are you looking forward to this year that haven’t come out yet?

Kim: I backed the Kickstarter project for Praey for the Gods back in 2016 and it’s finally due for release soon so I can’t wait to get my hands on that. Another Kickstarter project I’m waiting on is Trüberbrook, a point-and-click where all the scenery has been hand-built so it has a unique visual style. And Disco Elysium, an RPG I got to play at the Rezzed expo in April, is possibly coming out this year and it’s one I’ve got my eye on.

2T: What do you think the world would be like if video games were never created?

Kim: I can sum that up in one word: boring. Think of all the games we’d never have gotten the opportunity to play; the storylines we’d never have been immersed in; the expos we wouldn’t have attended; the friends we’d never have met, and the blog posts we’d never have written. I think we can all safely say the world is a better place because of video games ha ha!

2T: Yes it would be boring! Ok let’s change the pace up a bit! Favorite color?

Kim: I don’t really have one!

2T: Really? Favorite music artist?

Kim: Lots of 80s musicians (I keep it old-school).

2T: Ha ha I like that! Sneakers or heels?

Kim: I’d love to be able to say heels… but it has to be trainers (sneakers).

2T: Favorite food?

Kim: Ice-cream. Does that count?

2T: Sure does! Dream vacation?

Kim: I’d love to go to New Orleans or travel through Latin America.

2T: My brother was recently in New Orleans. Android or Apple?

Kim: Android.

2T: Great choice. Favorite video game character?

Kim: Murray from Monkey Island, although LeChuck comes a close second.

2T: Favorite cartoon character?

Kim: Cheetara from ThunderCats. If only I looked that good in Lycra.

2T: Guilty pleasure?

Kim: Ice-cream. Again.

2T: LOL! Hulu or Netflix?

Kim: I’m from the UK, so Netflix.

2T: Sony or Microsoft?

Kim: Sony.

2T: Nintendo or Sega?

Kim: Neither!

2T: Niether! Really? Anything you would like to ask me or say to the readers before I conclude this interview?

Kim: Thank you to you for letting me take part – it’s been fun! And to everyone, thanks so much for all your support over the past 18 months. I couldn’t wish to be a part of a better community.

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If you haven’t check out Later Levels yet you really need to do so. They are across social media from Facebook, to Instagram, to Twitter, to YouTube, and Twitch. If you go visit them tell them that 2TALL sent you. Special thanks to Kim for doing the interview. I had as much fun putting it together as she did answering the questions. Once again if you would like to be interviewed holla at cha boy. Get in touch with me before I get in touch with you! LOL! Blogging live to you and yours! It’s your boy TWOTALL4UFOOL! Remember that TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHEIVES MORE! Thanks for reading folks. Hope you enjoyed this interview.