CliffyB, the retro gaming god
by Ross Miller 
{ Jul 10th 2006 at 1:25PM }
Is this the same CliffyB that is making Gears of War, the game we drooled over at E3? You can see the obvious influence Mario had in the making of Gears of War: just replace "Locust" with "Koopa" and "Assault Rifle with mounted chainsaw" with "fire flower." The resemblance is uncanny.
An e-mail to the B-man confirmed that Cliff Blezinski (super-ace butt stomper) is, in fact, Cliff Bleszinski (super-graphic curb stomper) -- the additional 's' makes all the difference. What follows is a rather interesting and hilarious reaction from the man himself about Nintendo, his childhood, and Nintendo Power editor Howard Phillips:
Oh yeah, that's me. My nickname in school was Nintendo Boy. Back in the
day I was a member of the Nintendo Fun Club - I even managed to acquire
the "I saved the Princess" arm patch which I immediately attached to the
sleeve of my "Iron Tank" shirt. I even had the fucking power glove.
I remember reading about Howard and Nestor, hell, everyone does. Years
later when we had our first sit down with Microsoft over Gears we were
in the meeting room when this one boyish looking fella is sitting across
from me. Moments later I shoot up, interrupt everyone, and point at him
and go "HOLY SHIT YOU'RE HOWARD PHILLIPS!"
Turns out Microsoft had hired Howard a while back and he was now my
gameplay guru in Seattle. He'd tell me all sorts of crazy stories about
back in the day... getting harassed in the mall by kids, how one boss in
Blaster Master apparently had a giant schlong that he spotted and noted
to make sure it was removed for US distribution.
Anyways, I couldn't wait for the first issue of Nintendo Power. I
remember going to the end of the driveway that summer every stinking day
and peeking in the mailbox for it. In the meantime I'd steal my
neighbor's dad's Playboys out of the box because, hey, black wrapper =
jackpot.
I can still remember how that issue of Nintendo Power smelled. That and
the Zelda instruction booklet. Hell, I get butterflies when I see things
like the E3 nominations and Gears is listed right there next to Zelda.
I love my job. :)
-B
[Thanks, Andrew DeMaio]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
that guy @ Jul 10th 2006 1:34PM
Very, very cool.
Sagan @ Jul 10th 2006 1:34PM
I believe he once said that he was in the first issue of Nintendo Power in an interview... Maybe with Gaming Steve if I remember correctly.
Adam @ Jul 10th 2006 1:34PM
Yup, this has been known for quite some time ;)
Endejas @ Jul 10th 2006 1:35PM
Does anyone else find it really hard to not like this guy? He's fucking hilarious.
Erik @ Jul 10th 2006 1:39PM
I had a chance to meet Cliffy B at E3 2004, and he is as nice a guy as he sounds. Only talk with him for a moment, but you could really tell he was all about the fans. His games reflect that. Its amazing to me that someone in the game industry has gained such notoriety. If anyone deserves it, he does. Hell, even my wife knows who he is.
Not that you give a rats ass, but here is a pic of Cliff and I from 2004. Damn, that was a good day.
http://home.comcast.net/~erikleitner/DSC00096.JPG
Borat @ Jul 10th 2006 1:41PM
Wow he truly is a hardcore gamer after all.
Probot @ Jul 10th 2006 2:00PM
#1, I've heard him mention it too, but I think it was on that MTV Developer's Roundtable Joystiq posted around E3.
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/mtv-hosts-game-designers-roundtable/
mercatfat @ Jul 10th 2006 2:12PM
This is great and all, but I'm mostly just glad to have finally solved where the heck Howard Phillips ended up after he left Lucasarts.
Now, I simply need to find where he is and stalk him.
NinaM @ Jul 10th 2006 2:37PM
Toooo Funny!! Good read. I had a few flash backs while reading this:
Nintendo Power SAVED my Zelda issues back in the day.
I think I still have that magazine which initially belonged to my godbrother. LOL
Tony @ Jul 10th 2006 2:38PM
Cliffy B owns.
MosquitoControl @ Jul 10th 2006 3:01PM
Back in the Unreal days I found him pretty annoying not to like. He tried too hard to deny that he was a major nerd, and seemed too much like Jamie Kennedy in Malibu's Most Wanted.
But he's matured.
In any case, I was in Nintendo Power, too, for Maniac Mansion (I went through all my old issues, which I saved, and somehow didn't have that one.) Where is my invitation to give an E3 Keynote Speech? C'mon, I'll tell everyone how much it sucks that they've forgotten co-op!
BklynKid @ Jul 10th 2006 3:34PM
He said that in a interview a while back and I believe on Major Nelsons podcast more recently. Old news.
Jay @ Jul 10th 2006 3:51PM
What a sellout. Nintendo made him a gamer... then he goes and starts making Xbox games? If he liked Nintendo Power so much, why isn't he making Gears Of War for Wii? Some loyalty...
Erik @ Jul 10th 2006 4:18PM
Jay... I love Nintendo too! I guess I should smash anything not Nintendo with a hammer. Like my Xbox 360, my laundry machine, your nuts, etc...
obo @ Jul 10th 2006 4:34PM
Whew, good thing my nuts are actually a Wii attachment.
*ducks*
ogvor @ Jul 10th 2006 5:31PM
He mentioned to Gaming Steve in an interview that he went to one of those big gaming competions in the 80's. He had gotten all the way to the "finals" and then just foroze against his last "opponent".
Paulo @ Jul 10th 2006 6:12PM
A real gamer making a game? Why that sounds so strange!
untitled @ Jul 10th 2006 6:19PM
Oh yea? Here's a pic of Cliffy & I at this year's E3, Gears of War multiplayer hands-On session. Damn that game's fun as hell....
http://untitlednet.com/image_imgs/e3_day_2/orig_e3_day_2-7.jpg
Erik @ Jul 10th 2006 7:33PM
Damn...and he said he only loved me :(
Matt @ Jul 10th 2006 7:37PM
Cliffy is from North Andover? I went to Merrimack College!
squeevi @ Jul 10th 2006 8:29PM
Erik- LOL, That was a good one. It is pretty stupid to assume that just because someone grew up playing a particular system their loyalty should remain with that company till the day you die.
Donald @ Jul 10th 2006 8:48PM
Wow, I've got something in common with Cliffy B.
Except I got a full page. ;)
BONESTOCK @ Jul 10th 2006 8:54PM
That's cool! I never knew he was from MA!
jay @ Jul 10th 2006 10:05PM
What do you mean, donald?
calthaer. @ Jul 11th 2006 12:01AM
Get this guy back on JEFFK's SMARTEY MAN GAEM DESIGNAR SURVIVAR and make him win this time instead of Levelord.
Donald @ Jul 11th 2006 12:19AM
Volume 152 (Pikmin cover), page 84 - they used to spotlight Pokemon teams in the old Pokecenter column.
I actually had the occasion to fight a few of the other people who got in that column.
aabbyyzz @ Jul 11th 2006 1:43AM
I am from North Andover, MA!! i feel like i'm important.
Shawn @ Jul 11th 2006 3:30AM
Donald, did you ever play over mIRC?
Riggy @ Jul 11th 2006 7:20AM
I'm from Western MA!! We, unofficially, don't even exist! (Isn't that how everyone west of Worcester feels???)
CliffyB rules!
big_mike @ Jul 11th 2006 4:37PM
People please,
I think you're all missing the big picture:
How does one find a picture of the Blaster Master boss with a giant schlong?
Runciter @ Jul 13th 2006 11:37PM
Oh Donald, you silly Pokemaster, keep fighting to be the best, but until that time you will be the Falcon, and I shall remain the Falconeer.
(sorry, it had to be done) :)