Are these questions really frequently asked?

Yes. That one is, anyway.

So who are you then?

You can call me Kim. I’ve been playing video games regularly since finding The Secret of Monkey Island on my Amiga as a kid in the 1990s and still have a soft-spot for the adventure genre today. Visit the Press start page if you’re interested in finding out more.

Who’s that handsome chap I often see you hanging around with?

That would be Pete. He’s my long-suffering husband with a huge fondness for The Division series, new technology and roast potatoes. While he’s never been interested in writing blog posts, he can usually be found next to me during Twitch streams and expos. He also looks after a lot of the Later Levels artwork

What’s the deal with the blog name?

When you learnt BASIC on a Commodore 64 as a kid and can remember the release of the original NES, you know you’re getting on a bit. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. The name Later Levels and tagline ‘XP comes with age’ seemed to sum that up rather nicely.

How did the blog begin?

As with many ridiculous ideas, it started after a conversation in a pub with a couple of friends one evening in February 2013. The blog was initially an attempt to review 1,001 video games but then gradually evolved into something more laidback once I’d realised how crazy that was. There’s more of that story on the Press start page.

Later Levels used to be about video games. What’s going on nowadays?

Although I still write about adventure games, the blog now covers additional subjects as my interests have expanded in recent years. I take part in running events for SpecialEffect so there’ll be occasional updates on progress towards the next milestone, and there’ll also be posts related to my line of work. Take a look at the Press start page for further details.

Are you sure you’re not making any money from this?

Later Levels has always been a project of love, point-and-clicks and ice-cream. I don’t receive any income from what I do here and it’s never been an incentive for me. Having a creative outlet and meeting likeminded friends in the blogging community is way more important. This is all covered in the code of ethics in the User guide area.

How often do you post?

After sticking to a strict schedule for years, I now keep things much more casual. This means I’ve got time to actually do my hobbies rather than just write or talk about them. New posts will appear whenever there’s something I’d like to share and streams will usually take place on Saturdays. Subscribe to the blog and follow us on Twitch to receive notifications.

What’s all this ‘inclusion through technology’ stuff?

Gaming doesn’t have to be only for entertainment: it can do a whole lot of positive things for good causes too. I’ve been a volunteer for SpecialEffect since 2014, and Pete and I take part in the annual GameBlast event for the charity every February. Head over to the Inclusion through technology page to find out more about the organisation and our involvement.

Can I become a contributor?

As mentioned in the contributions and collaborations policy, years of blogging have made me realise I enjoy it most when I feel as though the site is something I’ve built myself. I therefore don’t accept contributions of any kind – but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together and create magic. Contact me if you have an idea for a project you’d like to discuss.

Can I advertise on the blog? I’ll give you plenty of cash.

I’m afraid I don’t accept any kind of cash incentive or gift and don’t use paid advertising or affiliate links. These things would jeopardise Later Levels’ independence so the answer is always no. As set out in the code of ethics, information provided in blog posts is simply there to be helpful, because that’s the nice kind of person I am.

Will you review my video game?

Life is too short to spend it on playing video games which aren’t your cup of tea, so I’ll only accept a digital code for a release if it’s something I think I’m going to enjoy. If you’re working on an adventure which features pixel-art and is inspired by Myst or Twin Peaks, check out the review policy for more information and get in touch.

How do I contact you?

I’m going to be straight with you: I absolutely suck at social media. I miss messages, forget to reply and never know what to say on a public forum. I’m much more comfortable with an old-school email. While I’ll respond via Discord message, your best bet is to drop me an email directly or through the contact form.

If ‘XP comes with age’, how old are you?

Are we talking physically or spiritually here? I’m not ashamed to say that I’m at least a decade older than most of the bloggers and streamers you’ll find within the community, because those years have given me plenty of insight and knowledge. But in case you’re wondering: the answer to this question will always be 21.

Maybe I’ll see you at an expo sometime.

Sounds good to me. Give me a shout and I’ll buy you a coffee or energy drink.