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MCV 15/10/10 89 TAG-TEAM INTERVIEW


John Clark, UK managing director, SEGA


This week, Sega’s UK MD John Clark interviews Centresoft’s commercial director Margaret Pearson about The X Factor, Aston Villa and Twitter…


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You’ve been in the industry since it began and must have experienced some incredible changes. How would you compare the market back then to how it is today? The market has changed beyond all recognition over the last 20 years or so. Back then the cake was a lot smaller, therefore the slice of the cake was larger – for all involved. Publishers, retailers and formats have come and gone, as have distributors. The industry now offers a mass market proposition, and the size of the cake is much bigger with more players wanting a slice. The industry has also matured, and with that maturity comes huge challenges.


Centresoft has evolved over the years to maintain relevance and expertise. What does the future hold for the company? We’ve always tried to evolve in order to reflect the needs of all our partners, both for the immediate and future requirements they have. You can be sure that we will continue to maintain this thought process going forward.


I remember that famous MCV Awards night when you won the very first ‘best person in the world’ award. How has your life changed since then? Was it like winning The X Factor? It’s better than winning The X Factor. The only disappointment is


that Simon Cowell didn’t present the award – and I haven’t got a million-pound record deal. As for that night, I honestly don’t think I have ever been more shocked, surprised or humbled in my life to have been chosen to receive the award. Oh and to categorise myself in true X Factorstyle, I fall into the ‘over 28s’ category.


We’ve done our best to sing ‘Ireland’s Call’ at Twickenham, I’ve heard Centresoft friends sing ‘Angels’ to you, and I know you’re fond of ‘Brown Eyed Girl’. If I were to learn one of these songs to sing to you, which one would you choose and why? I would suggest you stick to ‘Ireland’s Call’, John, as you well know why. All the words come out sounding the same when you’ve had a good few pints of the black stuff. As long as you know the tune, you’ll be grand. Everyone sounds the same when we roar ‘Shoulder to shoulder to answer Ireland’s call.’ However I know you do a


fantastic rendition of Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold’ – I have the video footage as proof. I hear you fancy yourself as a slim Tony Hadley.


Centresoft is based very closely to Aston Villa – the best football team in the world. Indeed, they have some very famous supporters who are shaping their particular areas of


expertise, such as Prince William, Lord Digby Jones, Nigel Kennedy, Floella Benjamin and, of course, David Cameron. As a well connected face at Villa Park these days, which of these fans best represent your interests within life and business? I think it’d be the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King. This is so I can keep a close eye on spending, stimulating the UK market, and, of course, having control over all those lovely pound notes. If I were to pick one of yours though, it would have to be Floella Benjamin; described as a baroness, actress, producer and writer, and she even has her own cookery range. On her website she says: “Goodness knows what’s in store for me next, but whatever it is, I am looking forward to it with a big smile on my face.” I think these are words of wisdom, so, of course, I remind myself of them every morning when I’m stuck in at least five miles of traffic on the M6. When I’m on the way to the office to face another day – in rain, sleet or snow – I repeat those words to myself. This is just one of the ways I remember to keep a big smile on my face.


Do you tweet? Only at Halloween. Trick or Tweet.


Who will you be interviewing next week? Sony’s Mark Howsen.


FROM THE ARCHIVE


Margaret Pearson, Commercial director, Centresoft


ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK... October 16 2009


NEWS Nintendo kicks off its Christmas TV blitz, with the commercials starring the nation’s favourite Geordie cheekie chaps, Ant and Dec… Legendary band Queen is set to get their own music game, believes MCV… The Hut hires the popular Sarah Jasper as marketing manager for its games division… and MCVbags an exclusive interview with satirical TV star – and former PC Zonejourno – Charlie Brooker about his Gameswipeshow.


CHARTS All Formats Top 5 1. FIFA 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EA 2. Operation Flashpoint 2 . . . . . . . Codemasters 3. NFS: Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EA 4. Layton: Pandora’s Box. . . . . . . . . . . Nintendo 5. Wii Sports Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nintendo


AND FINALLY… The newest addition to the MCVteam arrives, as managing editor Lisa Foster gives birth to Charlie Carter, who can now occasionally be found staggering around the office shouting at the editorial team and chewing paper. Just like his mum.


Danielle Fleming, DSGi


Igor Cipolletta, ShopTo


Anthony Stocker, Argos


Stephen Staley, Gameseek


Joanna Hunt, Tesco


Gurdeep Hunjan, Sainsburys


Phil Moore, Grainger Games


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