About the Interview: This is the first and last interview from a short lived and unpublished series on INTERSTATE76.COM. Since there's no need for any orphans we've decided to include it here. Owen (the INTerviewee) and Gulliver (the INTerviewer) have had more than a couple games together. Sit back and enjoy the read as they try to restart the Interstate interviews...
<Owen> Would you like me to Unbold so you can tell whos saying
what ?
<Gulliver> Nah, yours is darker
<Owen> Ok, My real name is Darren Ritchie
<Gulliver> And how did you come up with the ever-original "Owen"
for a handle?
<Owen> A mix of things really... it all happened oh so long ago....
<Gulliver> think hard
<Gulliver> ;)
<Owen> When i first started to write i was in grade 6. One of the
people who i wrote about was a character named Owen.
<Gulliver> ...I guess it was oh so long ago...
<Owen> I got that from an old Video game based on a book "Betrayal
at Krondor" a main chrs name was Owyn. Someone told me it was a girly
name so i changed it too Owen.
<Owen> As well I was a fan of the late Owen Hart.
<Gulliver> While your thinking back so hard, What was your first
(memorable) online experience with I76?
<Owen> Ooh this goes way back when i was a big newb... and i mean
big
<Gulliver> lol, we were all newbs at one point...
<Owen> I saw all these gangs running around and like many other
newbs i made my own gang. [RG] Rouges. It was a requirement to drive the
dover with Blue and White paint job. Being the newb that i was i also decided
it would be better to not let other people kill us. So it was a rule to
nuke before you died. [RG] sadly died a few days later.
<Owen> Im not sure what Alais i went by at that time... I think it
was Locke but i soon changed to Owen.
<Gulliver> Does it bother you when other people nuke now? With
your past pro-nuking history?
<Owen> Very much so. I had only started playing online for a week,
so i didnt know better. I stopped the nuking thing probaly days after when
people explained it too me.
<Gulliver> Good 'Ole Vets, setting us all straight.
<Gulliver> anyways, Describe your favorite moment in the Interstate
community.
<Owen> In the community... hmm
<Owen> The thing i regret was that i never really got involved in
the Interstate community until much later in my 'career'.
<Gulliver> really, played the single player missions alot did you?
<Owen> Interstate76 was my first online Game, i didnt know there
was such a thing as a community.
<Owen> I first got involved with the community When i joined VFH,
and Roadkiller aka HellRaiza directed me to the Wolfteam Forums.
<Owen> And from there i slowly learned about things like the AVA and
other gangs and such.
<Gulliver> Who in the community has had the biggest impact on you
and your gaming?
<Owen> Definately The Professional. 100% i can owe all my Greatness
(hehe) to Pro. He was the motivating factor behind pretty much everything
i did.
<Gulliver> He's a good man.
<Owen> I could never beat him and i kept Trying over and over and
it seems that no matter what i did i couldnt beat him. Sometimes i would
get frustrated and angry.. But in the end it just pushed me to try and be
better than him.
<Gulliver> onto the community. Interstate76 - Soon to be dead
or always the lingering community?
<Owen> Well i think its safe to say that Never again will we need
to use the scroll bar in 76 or nitro...
<Gulliver> lol, well put.
<Owen> But im sure that for years to come Die-hard fans will continue
to play the game...
<Gulliver> Will you be one of them?
<Owen> Even if turns from a weekly meeting, to a monthly to a semi-annualy
type deal. And i for sure will try to be around as much as possible.
<Gulliver> Good to hear.
<Owen> Perhaps one day.. When i am a rich writer with too much
money to count i will make a new interstate game.
<Gulliver> Next question, Hacking - A nuisance to the game
or a way to expand the field?
<Owen> Depends what the hacking is used for, If they want to exploit
the game go ahead. Just stay out of the Non hack games. And it is also definately
a way too further the game.
<Gulliver> so you don't mind them as long as they mind their own
business?
<Owen> The new mod for 82 will soon be out. Interstate Outlaws
which will Demo new cars and weapons and other enhancements And believe
you me it isnt some patch made by activision. hacking was required to make
it. But it was used to a good purpose. So its ok with me. As long as yes
they stay out of my games. or dont give any advantage
<Owen> Just like the Oil Hack for 76. Conviently called a patch, its
a hack used by non hacks. But it was a helpful hack.
<Gulliver> IO will definitely help gameplay.
<Gulliver> Next up, Your thoughts on the server problems. Should we
continue to complain?
<Owen> Ok i r...
<Owen> err sorry, I read this somewhere, in my english course in a
short story i believe...
<Owen> I dont have the exact quote but it was along the lines of sometimes
you have just got to give up. Its better that way. There is no point in
fighting.
<Gulliver> Dont fight the losing battle
<Owen> It's just a battle that cannot be won. They wont put up
a server for a handful of people that will play maybe one to two games a
week.
<Owen> its not worth it too them. They couldnt give a rats ass about
us.
<Owen> Anyone who would have given a damn is long gone now.
<Gulliver> what about Loose Cannon - Legitimate future or just
another I82?
<Owen> Well im not to sure on this games history as i never followed
it much. but if it gets the advertising it needs and a tech support team
that will actually do well tech support and a bit of funding we may very
well see a lot of Vigilantes there.
<Owen> If so we should all make a Vigilantes Guild, that would be
cool.
<Gulliver> Let's say it hits big, would you miss our small, fairly
close-knit community?
<Owen> Not at all, because we would still have it. Its just we'd
be a selective club of seasoned Vigilantes In our own private resort with
plenty of Newbies To shoot at. What more could we ask for?
<Gulliver> heh, and to think you use to be a big newb once...
<Owen> all those years ago. I was also 12, God i was a youngin
<Gulliver> You still are.
<Owen> Yes but im mature for my age. hanging out with all these
Old guys playing video games..., bunch of weirdos
<Gulliver> they are!
<Gulliver> whats wrong with them?!
<Gulliver> don't they have jobs or something? lol.
<Owen> hehe
<Owen> They do but they are probaly too stoned or something
<Owen> Bunch of Hippies, but ya gotta love em
<Gulliver> Get fired from burger King
<Gulliver> Alright, I got just one more question for ya
<Gulliver> It being fairly late into the night now, Are you currently
wearing pants?
<Owen> Yes, plastic Pink ones, Getting kinda chaffed and sweaty
but its well worth it.
<Gulliver> hmmm, I know the feeling. I made myself a pair of duct
tape pants.
<Owen> And im wearing my thong outside of my pants... Its black
lace, Im a big fan of Britney Spears so i feel i should copy her.
<Gulliver> Maybe you should call yourself Owyn...
<Owen> Perhaps
<Gulliver> Alright, thanks man
<Owen> I've considered numeros nicks hehe
<Owen> By the way one more thing
<Owen> Nachos
