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Tom Regan

@grapedosmil.bsky.social

1.3K followers 730 following 300 posts

Freelance journalist & consultant. Nose ring mafia. Editor of the NES-ential Celebration book. Words in The Guardian, The Verge, GQ, Metal Hammer, Fandom, Shortlist, NME, Gamesradar, Kotaku, IGN, Inverse, VGC, EDGE, etc http://www.tomreganwrites.com

www.tomreganwrites.com

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Jul 14

The Pro Skater games shaped a generation's music taste, but they were even more transformative for the bands on the soundtracks.

I spoke to Less Than Jake, The Ataris, Drain, AFI, The 900 and Tony Hawk himself about how Pro Skaters' killer soundtracks changed their lives

Keza MacDonald @mackeza.bsky.social · Jul 11

Happy Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 day to all who celebrate

www.theguardian.com/games/2025/j... @grapedosmil.bsky.social

‘It fully altered my taste in music’: bands reflect on the awesome power of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtracks

The games’ runaway success introduced a whole generation to hopped up US punk and metal. Bands including Less Than Jake, the Ataris and AFI pay tribute to a gaming megastar who loves them back

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 1d

Wonderful review, glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, I really should reply to those emails, BUT... the fate of New Ballbylon is in my hands, Andy!

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 2d

I can't stop playing Ball x Pit - send help.

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 3d

😘

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 3d

Always nice to see your story generating headlines.

IGN @ign.com · 3d

Battlefield boss Vince Zampella has said that Activision's best-selling Call of Duty franchise only exists "because EA were dicks." https://bit.ly/3W0sJr3

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Reposted by Tom Regan

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 4d

"The only reason Call Of Duty exists is because EA are dicks"

For GQ I spoke to FPS pioneer Vince Zampella, who revealed how Spielberg birthed the modern shooter, why now is Battlefield's time and which other famous Hollywood director almost made a COD movie.

www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/batt...

Battlefield 6 might just save the military shooter

Amid an explosion of noughties nostalgia, Battlefield 6 shows the cinematic first-person shooter still has life in the Fortnite era

www.gq-magazine.co.uk

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 4d

A fun fact from our chat.

Remember that incredible D-Day level in MOH Allied Assault?

It’s a scene that Zampella tells me barely worked, its sprawling virtual carnage only possible by swiftly deleting and loading the gameworld around the player as they slowly advanced across Omaha Beach.

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 4d

Battlefield 6 might just save the military shooter

Amid an explosion of noughties nostalgia, Battlefield 6 shows the cinematic first-person shooter still has life in the Fortnite era

www.gq-magazine.co.uk

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 10d

Can't believe that the people in charge of securing peace in the Middle East are *checks notes* Tony Blair and the co-owner of EA

Reposted by Tom Regan

George E. Osborn @georgeosborn.bsky.social · 16d

This week’s Video Games Industry Memo argues that Saudi Arabia’s acquisition of EA is a power grab of a soft power asset by an authoritarian state, enabled by Jared Kushner‘s inappropriately close relationship with MbS.

It’s an affront to democracy.

www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/a-kushy-de...

A Kushy Deal, 02/10/2025

Selling out democracy one $55bn video games business at a time

www.videogamesindustrymemo.com

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 17d

A warning to any other noobs after 20 hours of play - make multiple saves to ensure you don't get soft locked! If you're under-levelled and ill-equipped you WILL get completely stuck later on.

Level up those secondary jobs and make use of those sweet, sweet passive abilities and you'll be golden.

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 17d

As someone who never played the original, I'm having an absolute blast with FF: Tactics.

While some of the systems are a little obtuse, the purity of the combat, the excellent story and the intricacies of the job system have me utterly hooked.

The perfect handheld game - I can't put it down.

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 22d

Offt, this is a banger.

I couldn't make it out to Parc Del Forum this year, but after attending Primavera '22, '23 and '24, this line-up is definitely tempting me back.

Primavera Sound @primavera-sound.bsky.social · 23d

Put your headphones on 🎧✨

Regístrate ya para acceder a la Fan Sale de abonos. El registro estará disponible hasta el 28/09 a las 23:59 (CEST). La Fan Sale comenzará el 29/09 a las 11:00 (CEST) y durará 24 horas o hasta agotar existencias.

💐 Fan Sale: bit.ly/3VCiY1Z
ℹ️ Info: bit.ly/46Q6v0Z

Reposted by Tom Regan

Sean Cleaver @cleaverslips.bsky.social · 23d

A cool look at why retro consoles are doing the business right now.

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 23d

What's driving the rise in retro game handhelds?

For this week's @vgim.bsky.social I speak to Evercade's @cleaverslips.bsky.social, @apzonerunner.com and GamerCard's Grant Sinclair about the legality and longevity of gaming's newest booming industry.

www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/the-retro-...

The Retro Handheld goldrush 25/09/2025

How forward thinking companies are cashing in by looking backwards.

www.videogamesindustrymemo.com

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 23d

Pikachu asked that we don't mention the whole Fedora-chu thing, he's going through a tough time.

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 23d

Last week, I went to Paris to hang out with Pikachu in the Eiffel Tower.

While I was there, I played just over an hour of Pokémon Legends Z-A - a demo that left me with mixed emotions.

www.techradar.com/gaming/pokem...

I tried Pokémon Legends: Z-A and loved the new battle system – but the graphics are still pretty awful

Swapping historical intrigue for familiar fun

www.techradar.com

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 23d

Inspired by the 2am thought "why am I constantly getting Instagram ads for knock off consoles?"

Cheers, insomnia.

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · 23d

The Retro Handheld goldrush 25/09/2025

How forward thinking companies are cashing in by looking backwards.

www.videogamesindustrymemo.com

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Reposted by Tom Regan

Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein.bsky.social · 23d

ICE shooter Joshua Jahn's politics aren't what's being reported, three longtime former friends tell me.

www.kenklippenstein.com/p/the-ice-sh...

The ICE Shooter’s Motive

Joshua Jahn's friends speak

www.kenklippenstein.com

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Sep 18

Love this!

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Sep 16

Editors, I have some truly top-tier gaming interviews that need a home.

If you have budget and are looking for some juicy high quality features, don't hesitate to slide into my DMs.

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Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Sep 15

Someone also needs to check in on French Goku...

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Sep 15

̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶J̶o̶u̶r̶n̶a̶l̶i̶s̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶d̶e̶ "Where's MY code?!"

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Sep 15

The only time I've ever "broken" embargo was when I posted a question in a closed Journalist Facebook group asking about Cyberpunk's bizarre pre-review install process.

A butt hurt Journalist screenshoted my comment, moaning to PR that they hadn't got code... I got legal threats sent to my editor.

Tom Regan @grapedosmil.bsky.social · Sep 15

Shakespeare approved ✅