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10 things you might not know (and don't care to know) about Jim Stoilin'
Jim Sterling | 9:27 AM on 02.01.2009 54 comments


This seems to be today's CBlog activity, and since I'm as self-interested as the rest of you, I shall join in!

1: I grew up with bikers and a bearded alcoholic called The Preacher

I don't go into a great deal of detail about my childhood, save for the occasional joke on Podcastle, but if I've ever jokingly referenced a childhood surrounded by Hell's Angel Outcasts, I'm actually not joking. A lot of my childhood was spent in transit and among my earliest memories there are recollections of sleeping on people's floors because of homelessness, and people called Plek and Animal and tattooed people pissing in our wardrobe. My stepfather was a psychopath known to his friends and enemies as The Preacher. He had very few teeth.

2: I was an unsuccessful comedian:

Going as far back as secondary school, I wanted to be a comedian. In college I met my best friend and the man I thought I'd have a career with, Leo VK. Together we formed a group with another friend of mine called The New Associates, then The Associates, then The Morphine Associates. Funnily enough we had no actual success to go along with these name changes. We did a few sketch shows in and around London and I think we had a lot of good ideas, but we lacked the zeal to really make a career out of it. Before giving up and deciding I was a writer and not a comic, I tried a tiny handful of stand-up comedy gigs in music venues. I miss the stage terribly, but you have to admit to yourself where your strengths lie and do not lie.

3: Writing a satirical article sometimes terrifies me:

While I think there's a prevailing attitude that I don't give a shit what people think of my work, that's not entirely true. I certainly don't care if you disagree with my opinions or think I'm a shit human being, but if I write a comedic article, I really get worried that it's not funny and people will hate it. It's weird -- I can insult Sony/MS/Nintendo and revel in the backlash from people all day long, but if just one person thinks a humorous article of mine wasn't funny, I get very worked up. I think it ties in with the ex-comedian in me.

Getting a good reaction to a comedy article can only be described as a relief.

4: Withnail & I is a very important film to me:

As if it's a surprise that I love a film about drug-addled, swearing actors, Withnail & I is a very important film. It's the one film I can count on when life is shit to remind me that it could be shitter. Plus, having lived in similar squalor-filled situations, I can sympathize with the movie entirely.

5: I am compulsively honest:

Have you ever seen As Good As It Gets? There's a scene where Jack Nicholson keeps overexplaining everything because he doesn't feel like he's being precise enough. It's something like, "I'd spent all night out in the cold just to see you. Actually that's an overstatement, I'd rather be indoors ..." and he continues like this, exacting his thoughts out so he's not overstating or underexplaining. That's pretty much what I can be like at my worst. Especially with friends and loved ones, I have a problem with anything I perceived as dishonesty. Integrity is important to me and if I feel like I've lied, I will obsess over it for a long time. I can't even claim it's particular noble -- it's more a complex than a sincere form of honesty. It's strange. My wife at least says she knows I'd never be able to cheat on her.

OR COULD I!?

6: The first game I remember buying was Dizzy: Prince of the Yolk Folk

... and by "buying" I mean "having been bought for me." Being a 25-year-old isn't exactly old, yet I still feel pretty fucking old for remembering a time when I could walk into WH Smith and actually buy a videogame on a cassette. They were on the way out then, sure, but they could still be bought brand new while I was a kid. I remember my grandparents getting it for me, or my brother. Either way we played together. He did the controls, I did the hard stuff like working out what the fuck to do.

7: I wish I had some videogame design talent:

Unlike many of my industry peers, I'm not an aspiring game designer and I don't wish to move on from writing to a games industry job as a permanent career move. However, I am not bereft of videogame ideas, and one in particular I'd love to see become a reality. Sadly, I have no talent whatsoever in that department. Maybe one day I'll found my own studio and hire boffins to do the work for me. I have a number of concepts I'd love to have brought to life.

8: I'd like to do videogame voiceovers:

Again with the faded dreams of performance. I want to voice at least one game, and would love to have a secondary career as a vocal talent. I strongly believe that we need more recognizable voice actors in games that are actually known for that and not something else. David Hayter is someone I admire as the first rung on the ladder of videogame voice actors getting respect. Fuck, I'd even voice games for free, I don't need the money. I just want more people with a passion for the craft in the industry.

9: I learned to roller blade by walking up a hill with the blades on:

I consider this a defining moment of my life, where I decided that the best way to do something was to make it as hard as possible for you, then hoping for the best. An extreme crash course, if you will. I was only about fourteen or fifteen and scored a role as Ariel in Return to the Forbidden Planet, that year's school play. It was a singing robot who rollerbladed onstage. So, I learned to do it by walking up and down the hill that separated my house from my grandparents' house. It was fucking difficult, I feel over, and it hurt. But after that, you bet your cunt that rollerblading was easy as shit.

10: My grandparents are the reason I'm here today:

My family is as English as you can get, which means we don't show our emotions and never say "I love you." However, despite the awkwardness of expressing one's feelings, I have never doubted that my grandparents love me. They practically are my parents, and kept me going when I was wasting my life. The reason I'm where I am today -- with a career and a family of my own -- is because they were there when all I had was another overdraft debt on my bank account. Saying goodbye to them was one of the hardest parts of moving to America. They drove me to the hotel the night before my flight, and were the last people I saw. Watching them as they walked to the car still cuts me up.

If I ever win a Pulitzer for writing about Princess Peach and I don't thank my grandparents, you all have full rights to slap me in the fucking face.



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54 comments | showing # 1 to 50

prev next 50 comments

garison's Destructoid Blog
That was also a great list, Jim, I learned a lot. It's nice to see the Dtoid staff taking part in the "10 Things" blogs.
Y0j1mb0's Destructoid Blog
I've always wanted to do a video game voiceover too!!

LOL.

Good stuff Jim. You better be at PAX. I want to have a drink with you.
Half left's Destructoid Blog


We know Jim, we know.
Jim Sterling's Destructoid Blog
Half Left:

BUAAAAHAHAHAHAHA! I love that photo.
Half left's Destructoid Blog
Jim Sterling:

I thought the knife wielding guy at the bus stop was better. But no one would know who it was.
The Young Scot's Destructoid Blog
I could listen to your Liquid Snake voice all day long
Tehmtnlion's Destructoid Blog
That picture is win. Good read.
SilverDragon1979's Destructoid Blog
Don't worry Jim, I will slap you in the face if ou don't thank your grandparents when you win that Pulitzer.

Thanks for participating in my "top 10 things you don't know about me" idea. It's nice to see the staff getting involved. :-)
Batthink's Destructoid Blog
Bloody hell, Jim, that is an eyebrow-raising background if ever I heard one... O_O
The GHost's Destructoid Blog
Beautiful 10 things post here Jim, just beautiful :D
Tdiddy9182's Destructoid Blog
Sounds like you grew up with Francis from Left 4 Dead.
pascuz46's Destructoid Blog
That's real awesome Jim. This was a great 10 things post!
Tubatic's Destructoid Blog
Thank you for sharing Jim! I've definitely learned alot!
McSnow's Destructoid Blog
That photo is one for the bank.

No, not that kind.
Half left's Destructoid Blog
And as for the strange upbringing.

I hope to hell that uncle touchie's puzzle basement is NOT based on fact.
Redzie's Destructoid Blog
Great Jim, I just found out you reals names.
GrayFox's Destructoid Blog
I really wouldn't say you're an unsuccessful comedian, as you basically make a living through comedy. I watch a lot of stand up and I laugh harder during podtoids than 95% of them.
Shin Oni's Destructoid Blog
all I have to say....

WHO THE FUCK IS JIM STERLING?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!??!?!1!??@@?!?1?!??!?!

that is all. though i'm not falling for this cblog fad.
Haxan's Destructoid Blog
I really hope that maybe you might give the performance comedy bit another try now that you're in the States. You've shown your improvisational chops on the various podcasts over the years. I really think that it's in you.
Fronz's Destructoid Blog
Awesome article, thanks for sharing!
NihonTiger90's Destructoid Blog
And now we know who the fuck Jim Sterling is.
Justice's Destructoid Blog
Good list Jim. A lot of sweet facts.
Vitamin Awesome's Destructoid Blog
I would buy a video game containing a Jim Sterling voiceover day one. I, too, would like to be a voice actor, I've done fake announcements at work for monster truck rallies and people say I do a damn good job at it.

Great read.
wardrox's Destructoid Blog
I'm eating a muffin. I named it Jim out of respect. :)
007's Destructoid Blog
Wow, this list is amazing. I love how people can really open themselves up on this site, and put important things about themselves into a blog.

Also, I'm SO looking you up on google now. There HAS to be a few videos of you somewhere on the interwebs.
vonneuton's Destructoid Blog
I agree with Haxan. This is the "Land of Opportunity", Mr. Sterling.
grafkhun's Destructoid Blog
nice list, also, don't give up on your comedian dream yet, you never know!
Johnny Justice's Destructoid Blog
I really do rate your comic ability highly. I believe you even surpass comics that you yourself have admitted admiration for.

I don't mean to sound like an arse-kisser. I figure if you have something nice to say about someone, them 'em.
Dimly's Destructoid Blog
You're writing style is the sole reason I settled into Dtoid.

Cheers!
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Destructoid Blog
Wow, that's a hardcore up bringing, haha
Sup3rt3d's Destructoid Blog
Dimly says:
(# 28) on 02/01/2009 18:15
You're writing style is the sole reason I settled into Dtoid.

Cheers!

____

I second that!
randombullseye's Destructoid Blog
Does that make you an honorary angel?
Stella Wong's Destructoid Blog
thank you for sharing that Jim. I think you should do the voice acting thing. You got an awesome voice :D Your Sonic still cracks me up.
Bioautographical's Destructoid Blog
I'm married to the son of a Hell's Angel.

I say that to myself about once a day to remind myself how fucking awesome my life is.
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Destructoid Blog
After seeing Half Left's picture, I have an intense desire to watch Jim Sterling stand up.
Samit Sarkar's Destructoid Blog
Awesome list, Jimbo. We shall meet again someday!
AgentMOO's Destructoid Blog
Jim, that's some crazy childhood - all those jading experiences together show up in your satirical writing in a great way.
Fleet3000's Destructoid Blog
you seem like a decent and upstanding individual, even though sometimes you come across as a pretentious asshole. but it's a good thing sir jim. at least i think so.
lastSKYsamurai's Destructoid Blog
Agreed. This was a good list. I feel like my list is nothing but cheap now. uh, um. Thanks alot, Jimmy Jim Jim Jum....
Zodiac Eclipse's Destructoid Blog
And suddenly all the pieces have come together. Thanks for letting us into your world Jim.
Solgrim's Destructoid Blog
Wow at number 1
greeneggsnsam's Destructoid Blog
I can sympathise with point 3 entirely, Jim. It's truly upsetting when a joke that you've carefully crafted is poorly received. On the Internet it's especially bad; if you try to do the joke again, people will realise and label you "not funny" for repeating a joke.

OK, that's never happened, but I fear that it might. It's a shame that feedback on humour is just a laugh; something that is very hard to convey in a comment on a blog post."Lol" tells me nothing about my joke- what kind of laugh was it, big or small? As such, it's difficult to know your audience unless you can see/hear their reaction first hand.
Xhumation's Destructoid Blog
That was pretty deep.

Thanks for sharing Jim
Krahsh's Destructoid Blog
You seem less of a cunt now, hah!
But seriously now, it was sincere, interesting and a good read.
Magnalon's Destructoid Blog
Dimly says:
(# 28) on 02/01/2009 18:15
You're writing style is the sole reason I settled into Dtoid.

Cheers!

____
Sup3rt3d says:
(# 30) on 02/01/2009 18:41
I second that!
--------------

I third that!
kitae's Destructoid Blog
Hey Jim, I've tried PMing you but destructoid seems to be de-suck-toid today. Could you send me a link to Podcastle episode 1? Someone must have it somewhere....
Timmeh's Destructoid Blog
One of the first games I remember having was also Dizzy, back when I had a stack of cassettes for my C64. Then again, I'm 25 and English too - maybe that's what we were all doing back then.

I think someone should recreate dizzy for this generation, I loved that little eggy dude.
dgschrei's Destructoid Blog
Dimly says:
(# 28) on 02/01/2009 18:15
You're writing style is the sole reason I settled into Dtoid.

Cheers!

____
Sup3rt3d says:
(# 30) on 02/01/2009 18:41
I second that!
--------------
MAGNALON says:
I third that!

And I fourth that!

You were the sole reason I opened an account on this site and even though the other editor's have also grown on me over time, you are the only editor that I read every blogpost of that is delivered to me via Opera's feedcatcher.

Thanks for sharing those personal things with the community. My respect for you just grew multiple times. Also I really think you could make it as a voice actor and I can't believe you didn't make it as a comedian. You are one of the funniest guys I have found on the internet and there are a lot of people on the net.

So enough of the ass kissing, keep up the good work and I am looking forward to hearing your voice in a videogame near me soon.
Archwright's Destructoid Blog
Jim, you bring an amazing amount of quality and dignity to the video gaming press industry. You never tout your own opinions as gospel, and that is one of the reasons I hold your opinion in such high esteem.

While X-Play's Adam Sessler had to whine about the Killzone/Halo fans complaining, you handed the whole business like a gentleman and true entertainer.

Also... I would buy a game if you did voices for it.
boots555's Destructoid Blog
Cool, lots I didn't know about you there. Really interested in hearing more about that childhood with bikers.


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