Interview part 9 m0ds: Indiana Jones meets Beer

Today, on this very cool, very spicy, very don't-wait-nothing-else-than-randomness interview, we feature teh best! teh coolest! teh m0ds!!! Yes..well. Time for total random stuff.
To quote m0ds:
"I'll do this now when I'm sober, otherwise it really will just be junk text..."

1) To start of smoothly, I'm going to give you the chance to tell me what's your favorite AGS game..if any?

No absolute favourite sir, so many are so good in lots of different ways. But I enjoy the games that throw me back to my youth with their retro flair. Recently I enjoyed AeroNuts, it was awesome. Not to blow my own trumpet, but Fatman is still one of my personal favourites - not just because of the whole experience around it, but it's the only AGS game I've got on CD, and I treasure stuff like that!

2) You are the core of the Fountain of Youth team, everyone pretty much is eager with anticipation about the release that we've yet to see. Care to explain what's taking so long?

The game is a team effort and so it's a matter of juggling free time for FoY time amongst real lives. The team members are experts in their field and have so much else to do. Miez runs his own business, Lorn runs his own business, Nacho is now studying in the UK... You notice a pattern - people have commitments so it's better for me to be sympathetic of that than to be cracking a whip (pun intended) and trying to hit deadlines. When you get the best, you get people who are already busy being brilliant in lots of other areas

And also sir it's because it's a hobby project. We all have reasons for making games, and we all have reasons for making deadlines too - if for nothing more than thinking if you don't finish a game you may never finish it. But there really is no strict timeline on FoY. The alternative of course, is to make it under LEC. You pay for it, but at least it exists! So Jim, which will it be? Creative freedom or a price tag?

(Valid points there Mr. Lovegrove..)

3) People have commented that the FOY (once awarded with AGS Best Demo) really feels like a true Indiana Jones game. What do you feel about that burden over your shoulders?

They ain't seen nothin' yet! Seriously, for 2006 the game did exceptionally well - and it's such an honour people were so kind about it. If it hit the right buttons then that is great, but seriously - compared to the material we have going at the moment the demo isn't a patch on the nostalgia you'll feel with the full-game. But this is why we made a demo, and took a while over it - so that we can do everything on the full game perfectly. Seriously, it's no burden. People either trust me or they don't. I haven't left the scene in 10 years and I don't intend to for another 10 either, it's too much fun - and though FoY has this spectacular worth, it is the biggest learning curve of the entire experience and will inevatably be the most rewarding, and I'm not one to argue with or challenge that exciting knowledge!

4) I haven't actually caught up with the time you were into the AGS pioneering, but I've seen the results. How did you come up with all those ideas that we all love about AGS forums. The Mittens for instance. And then there's the Ben Jordan movie!

Flattery will get you nowhere Mr Jim Spanos! (Well, it worked on how i got this job..!) Stay away from my pants! So I guess it's just what happens when you been kicking around the boards too long and "posts too much" A lot of it is gut instinct. Ben Jordan is a popular successful game series and Francisco is a good mate and I'm good with a camera so it seems only right to do a movie! In the same way the first film being successful pretty much proves the need for a sequel The same process went into Mittens - people obviously enjoy having a BBQ together so why not have a whole week together instead. And in the earlier days there was a lot of discussion but not a lot of making it happen, which is fine - people were busy on their games, but because I wasn't so heavily involved in the game making process at that point I would have time to address these ideas & issues & get them moving. It's questionable if anyone truly appreciates them - but thanks for making the assumption that it is the case, sir! Above all that, it's about making sure CJ is completely puzzled with the amount of strange and wonderful things that happen because of his creation, AGS - in the same way I enjoy the strange & wonderful things that happen because of my own

5) You're of the few that have actually worked with Yahtzee and lived to tell the tale. How would you describe that experience?

Yahtzee knows what he wants and that's been the key element to a good working relationship with him I think. He's also good at understanding where and where not to use music in games and has understood how to impliment a good soundtrack since the beginning. I'm certainly thankful for the experience - his games are a lot of fun and well made so I was lucky to get in there before he became a ZP celebrity. I'm also honoured that he considered my work to be valuable & complimentary to his games. But there was never much more beyond it than an email here or there about what he needed for the game. I don't think we ever actually exchanged a nicety - ever! But it was early discussions with him that formed Mittens, and also the AGS Awards and of course a role reversal every now and then when he would contribute some prose to my AGS ezines and stuff. I'm certainly interested to see if he makes another AGS game, and although this has been his longest break yet I believe AGS for him is a hobby too, something fun to do - and necessary to satisfy just who he/you/i ares

6) Last question..and trickiest. Did you showed her your Loom? Did she play with your Grim Fandango? 206 replies and not an answer..we're just sitting in the dark

My Quest for her holy salsa definitely left me with nothing more than my own chunky salsa. But it did create that awesome, funny thread! Yufster(Meowster!!) was always fun to talk with - but eeww no, I'd never go there You crazy ucking Spanos! Keep up the good work on the blog, and well done for ruining it with this interview of me!