Ghandaiah> Alright, PDX fans. Welcome to the very first Interview of the Week. I'm sure it's obvious what this is all about, but for the under-privileged in the brain-department, this is obviously a weekly interview. Each week, I'll be going out and finding someone who I believe would, frankly, make a good interview. This gives you, the public, a little insight on the minds behind the projects, or mods, or art, or whatever it is these minds are behind.
So, that being said, our first subject, willing or not, is the one and only Raptor, currently leading production of the WarZone mod, hosted here on PDX.
Raptor> *waving*
Ghandaiah> Welcome to the first interview I've ever done, Raptor =) Ghandaiah> *hands shake nervously* Ghandaiah> Heheh Ghandaiah> So, I'm a simple man, we'll start with a simple question. Of all the games out there, why choose Deus Ex to start tweaking with and manipulating? Basically, why make WarZone for DX?
Raptor> Well this goes back all the way to the beginning... When the Deus Ex demo was released I was amazed with the freedom of it... So I thought to myself... "This is the game I want to make my next mod" And here I am... doing one :) Raptor> The engine of DX is very good for modding as Unreal script is quite flexible...
Ghandaiah> Alright. Ghandaiah> Now, I read that you originally started this project as more of a means of personal satisfaction with the DX gameplay than an actual mod. How'd this end up growing into the blooming project it is?
Raptor> Ahh yes... The first version of Warzone just tweaked all weapons... It was all purely my own coding and nothing else... But as I was thinking about releasing the next version something suddenly fell on my head and I started writing down my ideas into a text book... This is how it basically started growing, with more ideas coming in from myself and other ppl.
Ghandaiah> Yeah, I went and downloaded that first version you have up on the site so that I knew what this was originally all about. Which brings us to the next question: Ghandaiah> Some might say that mods like WarZone, which focus mainly on realism, are basically copies of each other - you know, how everyone says "there are so many real-life mods out there"... What do you think will separate WarZone from what people perceive to be a mob of realism-based mods? Or, rather, what kind of plans do you have regarding that?
Raptor> Well, actually my first idea was to make it less reality based with weapons like phasers and that sort of things. But as I am a big fan of everything realistic (Rogue-Spear, Delta Force) I just couldn't do something like that... So I just needed to do my own "Vision" of real war... I've always wanted a mod what would have some cool activity going on constantly... Strategy working hand in hand with team work... That's How I put it all together and would like to see it come out.
Ghandaiah> I see. Ghandaiah> I've always been a fan of strategic, war-like games myself. Rogue Spear and Delta Force have always been in my game collection... and, suffice it to say, I've always been big on Tom Clancy books =) Ghandaiah> Earlier you said that the first release of WZ was more or less tweaks to the original Deus Ex weapons. Could you tell us what original WZ content you plan to have in the next big release?
Raptor> Well Basically none of the original Dx weapons will be used, not even the tweaked versions... There should be about 30 weapons total though... Should keep ppl busy for a while. All new models also... Tough the main weapon ideas will remain: sniper rifles, assault rifles, machine guns etc.
Ghandaiah> And, speaking of the next release, what impact do you expect it might have on the Deus Ex community? And what impact do you hope it will have on the community?
Raptor> Hmm that's a harder one... I'm not exactly sure what it might change in the deus ex community... My current goal would be to make deus ex more interesting, keep it breathing, attract more people to dx and encourage other mod makers to finish their mods also...
Ghandaiah> So you might say you're adding support beams to the further growing hustle and bustle of the DX community. Ghandaiah> Sounds like a plan. DX can't get enough attention, manipulation, and creativity. Ghandaiah> I read the WZ news earlier and saw that a chunk of team members had left the project. Regardless of the loss, you seemed just as motivated to get the project done, if not more so... Has WarZone recovered from this loss, and does this merely give you a greater obligation to get the project back onto its feet and running full speed?
Raptor> Well actually no one has left, just disappeared... Probably also left but as I've received no mail from any of the members who have disappeared its not sure. Some ppl just join the mod and after that don't reply or do anything... Maybe a personal goal for someone to just get into a mod... Who knows... Fortunately there are also different kind of ppl who work very hard. That's why we are continuing at the same speed... Other members just started working a bit more, probably because their goal is a bit more to just join a mod, their goal is to actually help finishing the mod, so yes basically we have recovered from the loss and it wont be stopped because of ppl like that.
Ghandaiah> Hard working people are the best kind of people. =) Ghandaiah> And, about that hard work of theirs - WarZone's progress looks quite impressive so far. Weapons look great, maps look great... Could you say that you're entirely satisfied with the direction the mod is heading and the progress its showing, and could you also say that its comparable to your original vision of WarZone as a whole?
Raptor> It could always go even faster, as we currently have only one mapper working on the maps, I'm happy with the progress of modeling though. I would have never imagined it will go that far though, when I first started the mod. But here I am and I'm quite happy about it, but I still need to finish it.
Ghandaiah> Some mods... or, rather, most mods... are released in alphas, betas, that kind of form. Half-Life's Counterstrike, for instance, started at a very small, very early beta stage - And then they just kept releasing version after version, building and building. Do you have any such early betas, besides that very first release, planned? Or do you simply see this almost as making a commercial product - finishing everything, polishing and perfecting, before an actual release?
Raptor> Well it's quite early to say anything yet but we wont probably start releasing another patch or build after one month... We are rather aiming at giving out the currently planned mod and later after it has been finished we might start releasing patches with maybe new maps or weapons... But its still quite early to say anything for sure...
Ghandaiah> I can understand that. Sometimes people treat mod makers like they know exact dates on releases, etc. Even though it's in very early stages. Ghandaiah> So, what kind of feedback have you been getting back from the community? Do people respond to the mod, and in what way?
Raptor> We've been getting quite a lot feedback actually. Mostly they are suggestions, new game modes, weapons, suggestions about how to improve something. Stuff like that. From time to time there have also been mails about some screenshots or news. Its a good way to start a day :)
Ghandaiah> Positive words from all the people out there is probably one of the best things that can hit your inbox. That and a message that states you've won $8 billion for that cheese eating contest last Tuesday. Oh, wait, only I get those. =) Ghandaiah> Actually, from what I understand, there are some people out there who are watching the mod's progress closely and saying some great stuff about you and the team. I won't name names, but I know certain people who comment on your l337ness when they find out about this interview. =) Ghandaiah> Anyway, as far as community interaction goes, interviews such as this always help. We've covered a lot of areas now, and our interview will be coming to an end shortly, so I'd like to move into some more minor areas. Ghandaiah> Such as: I noticed you have a screenshot of this cute (and when I say cute I mean freaky-looking) alien in your screenshot section. Mind if I ask of that little guy's origin?
Raptor> Eheh the legendary little alien... I think it was my second model... Did it while I still had the idea of "Coop mode" in my head. Currently I've set some game modes including the Coop on hold because of the little amount of coders. And if it wont change this little alien will not be in the game... Tough I had a nice nifty story about it... One of the most feared enemies in Coop. But it is currently on hold so it is not sure if ppl will ever see it in action.
Ghandaiah> Ah. Coders are, unfortunately, perhaps the most difficult people to find. Ghandaiah> So, then - What's your favorite WarZone weapon thus far?
Raptor> Well again it's a tough one... I like them all but so far I somehow remember the minigun from them all... Mainly because it primarily was a lot more detailed because it was lifelike, after that I had to remove detail from it and still make it look nice. (It had a too high polygon count) It took a lot time also. And miniguns are very powerful so it would probably be my favorite, of course I'd still have to create a nice code for it which would make handling the weapon also realistic, weight, damage, speed... I'm sure it will remain as my favorite :)
Ghandaiah> Mmm, miniguns... I always loved them in the Resident Evil series. =) Ghandaiah> Alright, final question of the evening: Ghandaiah> Will there be any goats in this mod? Be honest... =)
Raptor> Ahaha... Probably not... :( but who knows, everyone's mind can change... So keep watching.
Ghandaiah> No goats? Oh well. As long as there's cheese. Ghandaiah> Heh, just kidding. Ghandaiah> Alright, Raptor, and PDXers alike. That brings the first Interview of the Week to a close. I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I've enjoyed doing it, and as much as I hope Raptor's enjoyed being victim to my stream of questions. Ghandaiah> So watch out next week - We'll be coming at ya with more interviews, more questions, more behind-the-scenes action, and more goats! Ghandaiah> Thanks for your time, Raptor. Ghandaiah> *** - and that's a wrap - ***
Raptor> kewl :)
If you'd like to find out more about WarZone, hop on by the WarZone site. Thanks for reading the interview.
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