- What's your next big project?
 Something really, really great that has got me super-pumped. Of course, I
can't talk about it now.
- Besides overall art direction, what parts of Rune did you work on?
I was a mapper for that project. The areas I
created include the Deep Underground maps, the Thorstadt maps, and the Dwarf
Maps.
- Where did you study / are you self-taught?
I studied English at Kenyon College. I took
art classes here and there. I wish I'd taken more. I misspent many of my college
nights hunched over a drawing table and practicing my draughtsmanship. I had
a fear of a suit and a seven AM commute. A dry and desparate fear.
- Describe your perfect day.
In Wisconsin? Oh, Nooo.
- Married? Kids? Animals? Do you want a cat?
No wife. No children. Two Ferrets. No Problem.
I'd like a cat to feed to my ferrets.
- What do you think when some people say Rune is too violent?
Rune is a cartoony sort of violence. It is not
a significantly "violent" game. It certainly doesn't merit a toddler's rating,
but the mere fact that it uses ancient weapons to destroy enemies puts it
in the Diablo/Heretic set of violence-irrelevant "who really cares" category.
Ancient weapons aren't a scourge in this country. Handguns are. Games that
depict violent acts with relistically modelled handguns and rifles are more
suspect...but even these I don't consider much of an issue
- Is Tim Gerritsen a bot?
Dude, it's funny you should mention that.
- Life at a video game startup - "livin' the dream" or "what was I thinking?"
Both. Definitely both. The latter comes with
livin' the dream.
- Best-Dressed Female Warrior:
- Brigitte Nielsen as Red Sonja
- Hudson Leick as Callisto
- Jennifer Lopez as faux Frazetta in Rolling Stone
- Milla Jovovich as Joan of Arc in The Messenger
- Virginia Hey as the Warrior Woman in The Road Warrior
Nice research. As regards realism? Milla Jovovich. Those were some dirty,
unkempt people. As regards T&A? Lopez. As regards apparent strength? Nielsen.
But I love The Road Warrior....split decision here.
- Tell us about the upcoming Rune add-on pack!
It's got new maps, new play modes, new skins
and characters...it's got a LOT of new maps. We're really pumped about it.
The new net code (It's free with the new patch) significantly speeds things
up, and the weapons are re-balanced, and the shields are more effective, and
you can (edited)
- Pleeeeaaassseee??? We've got beer brats....
Gag.
- What new game (from any vendor) are you most looking forward too, and
why?
Duke Nukem Forever. It's going to be a great
game on the design and technical front, it's got a distinctive lead character,
and it's going to have rollicking action, style and humor. I enjoy games that
are actually entertaining.
- What advice would you give someone wanting to break into the game business
as an artist?
Be an artist first, and someone who can slide
the selector between goraud shading and flat shading second.
- When was the last time you saw sunlight?
 August, 2000.
- Who designed the Venom character, and what new elements did you add to
it?
Man, who did design that guy? Anyone out there
know? For my contribution to the character...I got to draw the Symbiote when
it was no longer attached to Eddie Brock. So...I got to lend a new interpretation
to the look of the beast. Working on that series was some of the best fun I've
ever had in comics.
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