How did you get involved in the computer industry?
I called Marcus Dyson from China.
How many years have you been involved in working in the software industry?
Well I've been working in Graphics for years, but in Software for about 3 years.
What other titles have you worked on in the past?
I worked on Worms (doing the intro & cut scenes), Witchwood (cancelled),
Worms Reinforcements (background graphics), X2 (intro) & now the Worms sequel.
What have been your favourite and least favourite game to work on?
X2 favourite and Witchwood least favourite.
Has the industry changed for better or worse since you first got involved?
The industry, I think, has grown up. However on the other hand, it has become more narrow
in terms of game design etc.
Which other developers do you admire and why?
Mmmmmm, I'll have to think about that one.
What hardware do you use to do your graphics ?
I use a Pentuim P150 with a perception Video system. We used Lightwave4
for X2, now we use Lightwave5.
Have you used any special techniques ?
We both used the Zen / Whobrie facet-planing technique. It takes a lot
longer, but its worth the effort.
How do you work with the artists to produce end graphics form concept artwork?
We all come up with ideas, and usually go and make sketches or rough 3D
models. We narrow the ideas down and go with the idea that we all consider the
best. As everything is digital, we don't have to scrap any ideas. If a rough
model works, then we simply develop upon it instead of starting again. With
the more traditional 2D artwork, we can still use the origional sketches to
base our ideas on.
What hardware do you use to do your sound ?
I use a AWE32 sound card on the PC, a Korg M1 & a Roland JX3P.
How long does it usually take to produce music for a game?
I don't usually do the music, Bjorn does that. I use the Korg & Roland JX
to do effects noises or for 'test' music to put in to set the mood for the
game. This is later replaced with better music by Bjorn.
Do you use any tricks or silly things to make sound effects?
A lot of the sound FX for X2 were severely altered vocal noises. These
ranged from bleeps to background noise.
Which titles have impressed you with the quality of sound effects
(including the soundtrack)?
None in particular, although the general quality of the intro is getting a
bit scary. They're almost like movies, real big-buck movies!
How easy is it to develop sounds which fit perfectly with the game?
It's bloody difficult at times, although things can sometimes be easy as we
have a huge CD selection of sound effects etc. Again I do the intro's sound FX
and Bjorn does the in-game FX.
As the Audi ad says "the places you go, the people you meet, the clothes
you wear ?" what car do you own then ?
Civic Esi (With that sweet VTec engine, it goes like sh*& off a sho
426
vel!!)
Hey I had to ask, which are your favourite movies ?
I like SO many films but heres a few I've watched over the last
month: Apollo 13, Star Trek 4&6 & final Contact, all Star wars, Aliens;
basically I go with the rest of the sheep.
Hey I had to ask this as well, what's your favourite type music ?
Anything! ANYTHING, apart from Rap & Rave & thrash metal.
Do you think the Spice Girls represent an accurate protrayal of English
women in the C20th?
Yeah right. I think they represent good marketing, but that's it.
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