Getting to Know: Dave Law (Daddy-in-Chief)

2023 has seen Complete Xbox welcome Thistle’Do Gaming, Duncan Voices Indie Choices, Gaming Sandbox & Xbox Nation to the CX community. With an array of new names and faces, we thought you might enjoy learning more about the people bringing you content and collaborations.

Today we bring you a sit-down piece with CX’s team leader, Dave Law.

Introduce yourself and what you do for Complete Xbox

D: Hi, my name is Dave Law, and I’m what some might call the Daddy-in-Chief at Complete Xbox, but in truth I’m the man that leads the team. Having started gaming from a very early age via the good old Speccy, I’ve been right the way through the cycle of generations, however, it’s when I found a gaming community named RCC Gaming during the Xbox 360 era, that I fell in love with multiplayer gaming, getting to know people and putting myself out there as an Xbox Ambassador. I loved the Xbox community scene so much, I started writing and have written for several online publications, even contributing to the Official Xbox Game Magazine, before finding a home at Complete Xbox.

Q: How did you get started in writing gaming content?

As I mentioned above, I had a fondness for Xbox due to the community I was involved in, which lead to a lot of clan battles and chatting with people throughout the Xbox gaming communities. I was invited to test write for a couple of publications, probably because I’m quite chatty, having joined those publications, I then went on to write in to a few gaming magazines and was invited to write a piece for the Official Xbox Magazine.

Q: Do you have any advice for people who are interested in covering video games?

My biggest advice I could give to people who are interested in video game journalism is to write a few test reviews featuring games you have a real passion for. From there reach out to publications such as ourselves, this will show your enthusiasm and help you get articles and work published. From this point build an online portfolio and share that with as many gaming content sites as a freelance journalist, that you can. Hopefully they take you on, with the goal to becoming a permanent fixture. The best advice I could give is to have fun with your writing or video game content creation, the minute it becomes a chore it’s time to stop.

Q: Can you give us some information about what your role with CX involves?

I have a hand in pretty much everything, from behind the scenes with the website, formulating ideas, design work, editing our writer’s work and shaping the CX discord. I also review games, write previews, post news articles and help with our Twitter page and Facebook group. I enjoy the community side of things the most, talking to PR companies and developers, obtaining review codes for the team to review, as well as hosting our community nights.

Q: What are your first memories of playing video games?

My first memories of video games are from the ZX Spectrum, a fantastic machine, and a certain happy egg named Dizzy, I loved those games. Another memory was playing an arcade machine to death. Every time I went swimming at the local swimming baths, they had a little arcade area and you could not keep me off the Rolling Thunder arcade cabinet, those were the days!

Q: You’re a known racing game enthusiast, what was the game that got you in to the genre?

There have been many from the early 80’s arcade machines, right the way through to ‘Super Hang-On’ which was probably my favourite at the time. Console wise, Super Monaco GP is where I have the most fondest memories, I absolutely loved that game, and then the second version dropped in the shape of Ayrton Senna’s Super Monaco GP and I was in heaven!

Q: Favourite racing title of all time?

This will surprise some, but Test Drive Unlimited, which paved the way for games like Forza Horizon 5.

Q: You’ve mentioned Forza Horizon, where would you like to see the next game in the series set?

I would love to see a Forza Horizon in Hawaii, the place is an ideal location. It’s vibrant, there’s a lot of culture, as well as possible tv and movie references, but I have a feeling the next one is going to the likes of Japan and Tokyo.

Q: What game would you like to see as a different genre? Example: Forza, but it’s a management sim.

This is a tricky one! I would love to see a proper football game go down the route of creating a player and living the life, with a fully playable story mode that involves the social scene, going to bars, meeting that special woman, driving yourself to football matches, maybe even dashing down the motorway yourself for a deadline day deal. So an open world football series where you have to live the life of a footballer and everything that goes with it. Maybe starting out in Sunday league and moving up the ranks.

Q: If you could remake a game from a previous genre, what would it be?

Desert Strike and Jungle Strike would be amazing, as would TV tie-in titles, I would love to see that genre make a comeback, what I wouldn’t give for say a 24 The video Game remake.

Q: Favourite game from a genre you don’t usually play?

Hitman 3! I don’t usually enjoy stealth games, as I’m an all guns blazing player, or fists flying everywhere gamer. I find stealth games too slow for my own liking, which is probably why I suck at multiplayer shooters.

Q: Excluding any of the Xbox consoles, what’s your favourite console of all time?

There have been a few consoles outside of the Xbox generation time frame, I have a lot of love for the Phillips 3DO, and the Sega Dreamcast, both fantastic consoles, sadly way ahead of their time. However, if I had to pick an all time favourite it would be the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis. That console had everything in terms of the genre of game that were available.

Q: If you could bring over a franchise from another console, which would you choose? 

For me, it would have to be the Uncharted Series, amazing games, packed full of engaging and immersive action that really hooks you right the way through.

Q: Something you’d change about Xbox?

More single player titles, cinematic engaging titles that pull you in. I have to admit it’s something that PlayStation do very well. Let’s hope they are coming, they have been promised for a while now.

Q: What’s a piece of advice you’ve been given that you carry with you in life?

Always look for the positives in life, because even when things are tough, there’s usually a positive side to it. You often don’t see it because it’s easy to look at the negatives.

Q: Favourite colour?

Red – because North London will always be Red!

Q: Finally, what do you think of Tottenham?

I feel like I’m being baited in to this one…..

Shit! Seriously though I’ve mellowed out as a football fan.

For more from Dave, you can follow his Twitter account, catch him streaming over on the Complete Xbox Twitch account and at the Complete Xbox community nights on Mondays and Thursdays.