Which irregular writer would you like RPS to hire?

[Kevin]

Exactly what it says on the tin.

Would love to see Tim Stone become the new regular writer, but I'm not holding my breath given how his specialties have (unfortunately) *extremely* narrow appeal. Still however, his writing style would can make me pay attention to any piece, even a review of some point-and-click adventure game with moon-logic puzzles (sorry John, but that's how I feel about the genre).

[Ian]

Tim Stone is excellent but writes about stuff I'm less interested in.

I'd probably go for Richard Cobbett.

[duff]

Axman13, without a shadow of a doubt.

[CMaster]

Zombie Dave Tosser

[westyfield]

I like Richard Cobbett for general stuff. Tim Stone's writing is great, but he only seems to do long features on strategy games or simulations.

[Jams O'Donnell]

Someone obsessed with indie stuff since that was both Quinns' and Kieron's niche, pretty much. I'm not sure who among the occasional writers most fits that bill.

[Vexing Vision]

What's Tom Francis doing these days? I never really see him write anything fun on PC Gamer anymore. Can the hivemind assimilate him?

[SeanybabeS]

Nick Mailer of Rum Doings (and John's friend) fame would be fun.

[westyfield]

What's Tom Francis doing these days? I never really see him write anything fun on PC Gamer anymore. Can the hivemind assimilate him?

He still writes a lot for the magazine, not sure how much of his stuff gets posted to the site though.

[Tikey]

I like Richard's writing. If someone gotta stay I hope it's him.

[Man Raised By Puffins]

He still writes a lot for the magazine, not sure how much of his stuff gets posted to the site though.
Indeed, he's definitely still a staff writer (or rather section editor, according to last months mag). He just hasn't gotten his teeth into anything juicey lately.

My initial reflex would also be to snaffle Tim Stone, but on second thought his present gadfly mode of dropping in, seemingly at random, with hot sim news and hoary wordplay remains highly pleasing. It would perhaps be a touch unseemly, churlish even, to attempt to tame the wild Stone.

[imirk]

churlish even, to attempt to tame the wild Stone.

Thats why you must romance the stone. :P

[vinraith]

I'd love to see more Tim Stone, it'd be ideal if he did a regular strategy/simulation column for the site. I gather there aren't enough strategy/sim fans around here for him to work as a full time staff member, though personally I'd love to see more strat and sim coverage on this site.

[Man Raised By Puffins]

Thats why you must romance the stone. :P
HOT!

Edit: "Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters."
SAUCY!

[westyfield]

I'd love to see more Tim Stone, it'd be ideal if he did a regular strategy/simulation column for the site. I gather there aren't enough strategy/sim fans around here for him to work as a full time staff member, though personally I'd love to see more strat and sim coverage on this site.

He started a regular strategy column a few months ago, I think it was called Heavily Engaged. Then, like so many RPS features, it vanished.

[sinomatic]

Whatever happened to Andrew Smee? Was he a figment of our imaginations?

[vinraith]

He started a regular strategy column a few months ago, I think it was called Heavily Engaged. Then, like so many RPS features, it vanished.

I had a vague memory to that effect. I'm glad I didn't hallucinate it, but very sorry that it didn't stick.

[Web Cole]

Lewie or Richard I would say. Tom Francis in an ideal world (Well, actually Kieron AND Quinns in an ideal world, but meh.)

[Tikey]

Oooh, I forgot Lewie. In my mind he's already a regular.

[Miker]

My vote goes to Mr. Cobbett. Wot puns he has for us!

[ptft]

+1 for Cobbett methinks. His PC Gamer Crapshoot makes terrible games interesting, which is quite a feat.

[Cooper]

I don't care who writes, so much as what gets covered.

(Actually, that's not entirely true - else I wouldn't be reading RPS)

What I mean, is I have adored RPS for opening me up to all sorts of wonderful stuff on the fringes of gaming. From Quinn's stuff on Pathalogic to Kieron's evangelising of Frozen Synapse. To all manner of 'hey, have a look at this great, oddthing' posts I've followed and lost hours to something obscure...

It's one of the main reasons I come to RPS.

This isn't a void the rest of the hivemind don't already fill and can't fill. But it was a particular part of both Kieron's and Quinn's approach PC gaming.

[airtekh]

Tom Francis has never written for RPS, (at least as far as I know) but he would be mightily welcome if he did. His stuff in PC Gamer is often hilarious, and very well written.

I love both Tim Stone's and Richard Cobbett's writing, so it's hard for me to pick between the two. In fact, no one can make me pick between them. I refuse to choose. Ha!

[Jockie]

Crapshoot is probably my favourite regular gaming column of the moment (Sunday Papers aside), so presuming Robert Florence is out of the question i'd have to say Richard Cobbett.

[CTRL+ALT+DESTROY]

Richard Cobbett is a darned good writer. He's got my vote.

[Alex Bakke]

Dan Gril or Richard Cobbett. I CAN'T CHOOSE WHO.

[Chris Evans]

I'd say Gril as I used to use him for some PR from time to time :D

[Gap Gen]

In some ways I think it's a shame that people would steer clear Tim Stone based on the sorts of games he tends to write about. Part of the joy of RPS is that it's pretty ecumenical about the games it chooses to review. Often wargames are impenetrable because they have cumbersome interfaces, but otherwise they're as much about clicking on dudes to make them die as other games.

In fact, something like Scourge of War: Gettysburg I find to be *less* hardcore than something like Starcraft 2, because the latter you have to learn optimal routes through the tech tree, learn micro tactics, buffs, etc. In SoW it's all about taking your little corner of the wider battle and fighting it as best you can with a bunch of guys with 1860s rifles.

[westyfield]

In some ways I think it's a shame that people would steer clear Tim Stone based on the sorts of games he tends to write about.

I think it's more that we've only seen Tim write about strategy or simulation games at RPS, so we don't know what he's like as a "here's a trailer for game x" or "game x has been delayed, here's some opinions" writer. I expect he'd be quite good, but I don't know for sure. Plus, Cobbett brings the puns.

[Jams O'Donnell]

I think it's more that we've only seen Tim write about strategy or simulation games at RPS, so we don't know what he's like as a "here's a trailer for game x" or "game x has been delayed, here's some opinions" writer. I expect he'd be quite good, but I don't know for sure. Plus, Cobbett brings the puns.
Tim Stone also did Strafe Left, long ago. http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/strafe-left/

[Gap Gen]

I think it's more that we've only seen Tim write about strategy or simulation games at RPS, so we don't know what he's like as a "here's a trailer for game x" or "game x has been delayed, here's some opinions" writer. I expect he'd be quite good, but I don't know for sure. Plus, Cobbett brings the puns.

Ah, that is true. And yes, I'd like to see Tom Francis on here if he ever gives up his PCG gig.

[westyfield]

Tim Stone also did Strafe Left, long ago. http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/strafe-left/

Cor, I'd forgotten about Strafe Left. The fog-of-war one is one of my all-time favourite game jokes. Thanks for reminding me!

[Alex Bakke]

The adventures of Ctrl Group 7 was my favourite, I think.

[Maykael]

Let there be Cobbet!

[Auspex]

Cobbett is a fine writer but I can't help thinking RPS benefit from someone younger and indie-obsessed. Maybe it's because I'm becoming older and grumpier but I think RPS would be better with someone younger and more positive.

(I really do love Richard though and would be delighted if he were the new full-timer)

[Kadayi]

Richard Cobbett has gone up in my estimation after The Witcher 2 Verdict (plus his responses in the comments were hilarious), however the site probably needs someone whose really into MMOs, indies and Strategy games for a bit of balance.

[Joseph-Sulphur]

Tim Stone! Or if RPS could somehow con Tom Francis into writing for them, that would also be great.