interview with ace antilles

Original Idea and Script by Decoy, fine-tuning and spell checking by
Forceflow. And double-checked be Darksaber hehe.


This month's edition of our interview will be with Ace Antilles. A primary tester for the XWAU opts he also moderates the Forum and has created The Battle Of Endor Update for XWA.


XWAUP: Let’s get going with the routine questions, shall we?
Ace: Start you interrogation! Mind tricks have no... Ok lets talk. ;)

 
XWAUP: Okay, once again we’d like to know how you got involved with the X-Wing series?
Ace:

Well it all started way back when I saw Xwing being previewed in an old PC mag. At that time it looked amazing, flying an X-wing! I was stuck on the boring Megadrive (Genesis), but I knew I just had to have it.
 So when I finally persuaded my parents to get a PC I had already gone and brought XW with add-ons in 1 box before we had it! This was the disk versions and I still have them. :) Then TIE Fighter and the Collectors series and I was hooked!
Then it was either just before or after XvT came out I stumbled onto Datamaster's Site. It was a very fun place and featured on SW. But when I saw Troy Dangerfield's early XvTED betas I was glued to the site. :) Here was my chance to improve a story lacking game (before BoP) so I got stuck in! Then I followed the Opt Project from the early E-W up all the way up to XWA.
It was then that I raved on the Databoard about Darksaber's Naboo N-1 Opt. Which I say was his major breakthrough one. So he really owes it all to me! ;D

 
XWAUP: Have you ever thought of making mods and testing them for a more popular game, like Half-Life or Unreal Tournament?
Ace: Yeah. Now I can't actually start playing a game without going into the folder or CD to see if it can be edited! ;) So far I've used others Mods on the major games like Jedi Knight, Half-life and Unreal Tournament. Also Aliens Vs Predator, where I refined some sounds. Basically I like exploring games Editors to see if I can extract any sounds or textures, stuff I can use for XWA.
I created some Star Wars FreeSpace pilot images to use. I also then used some FS sounds in my XWA sound pack. I've dug around in Phantom Menace, Racer, Jedi Knight and Rebellion to see how they tick too! ;)

 
XWAUP: Do you think that the custom made editing tools for OPT editing can compete with any of the editors that come out of the box for other games?
Ace: Well many games don't come with Editors. :( Take Star Wars for example, where would we be without custom tools? I think many fan tools are better because they make them to do what WE want! If you compare editors for the XW series with what Totally Games actually used, us fans actually have better gear! AlliED is supposed to be a better mission editor than the designers had and really without it we wouldn't have Shipsets to use Custom Opts with. :)

 
XWAUP: What is your opinion about today's XWA community? Since it is a small community compared to for example the UT community you should have a good overview of what is happening in it. What kind of future does the community have, with the apparent lack of support from LucasArts?
Ace:

As long as there are sites like XWAU, Darksaber's and my own releasing items to use in XWA then it will keep some of the interest here. But it happens in bursts like recently. XWA is an OLD game now. It's hard to make it exciting still. Every time a good new game comes out it shows just how dated XWA looks. They grab my attention for something different with great graphics and then I look back at XWA and see how it compares? XWA was outdated as soon as FreeSpace 2 came out and that even had Xwing influences.
That's why XWAU and just Star Wars in general have kept me coming back. Xwing Alliance is THE best SW game out to date. Some games get the Source Code to use, like AvP will soon. But you have to be a really good programmer to make use of it. I don't think it would revive XWA now but it might help.

 
XWAUP: How do you tell the difference between a good OPT and a buggy OPT beneath the surface? Have you got any tips and tricks for newer OPTers?
Ace:

Well I always look to see how accurate it seems to the movies or real stuff. Then I test the hitzones and lasers work properly. I sometimes do my "Naboo" test. Basically I see if I can slowly fly the opt through the same one! It's something that came up while testing the N-1 opt. ;)
Underneath I try looking it over in Opt Explorer and Snooper. A tip would be to run the Vertex Normal checks in Opt Snooper to see how many errors come up. The fewer the better and it is possible to have none. Also think about docking points. It's good to have them in a sensible place.

 
XWAUP: How long do you usually spend testing an OPT? How much time is spent playing with it and how much time spent poking around it in Ace_DxF?

Usually about an afternoon. It depends on the size of the Opt and what it can do. I don't look at in ACE_DXF as that solves problems but doesn't find them. If I find a bug I see how it might be fixed.

 
XWAUP: What do you think of Ace_DxF? Do you prefer OPTech?
Ace:

I can only do a few things in both myself really. ACE_DXF is a great program but it's old now. It takes too long to do certain things in it. OPTech is easier to use but it's still in development. It should replace ACE when it's finished.

 
XWAUP: What kind of utilities do you think the XWA community is lacking?
Ace:
 An all round editor. Many of the current programs in 1 easy package. Also an easy Opt installer. This is where most users have problems. Hellraiser's XES was looking good but he hasn't fixed the bugs in it.

 
XWAUP: How do you see the future for Star Wars space sims and do you expect LEC to come with anything new soon or will we still be playing XWA for the next few years?
Ace: I think there was a mass of PC space sims at once. It flooded the market. Anything new will be EP2 based and then it will be more console style only. If we can get more Editors and ideas then XWA could be an amazing game for many more years.

 
XWAUP: Is there still a future for XWA fansites and Mods? Will we still be at XWL and the XWAU in 5 years? What do you think?
Ace:

Sadly I think not at XW Legacy. It's going the way of XWA.Net which is just being Forums. It does have a great database but not much else happens. XWAU is very busy as it's the heart of XWA activity right now. It has great Forums and an ongoing project. I think another 5 years is stretching it though unless a lot of new people get involved.

 
XWAUP:
 What is the next project on your list? An update to the Battle of Endor Upgrade? Any more OPT's on your site?
Ace:

Currently I'm improving my site. Then to complete the Battle Of Yavin Shipset. Also to merge mine and Altair's Endor projects into 1 patch. Then maybe some Opts. 1 which will be out soon. Many ideas, little time. :)

 
XWAUP: Last but not least we have some short questions we would like you to answer short and firm.
1. Why are you working on the XWAUP project.
To make sure that the Team makes the best opts possible! Also it's the only hope for XWA fun at the moment.

2. Do you enjoy working in a team, or would you prefer to be able to concentrate more on your own projects alone?
Both. So far my projects have had team members and without them I really would be nowhere!
My thanks to Abolisher, Altair, Bios and Darksaber! ;)

3. What's the best thing going around in the XWA community right now.
Apart from XWAU not much is. I would say the future opts from Darksaber.

4. Who is the biggest upcoming talent in OPT editing?
Admiral Andy. He's really improved. Also BIOS-Boy's opts will be great!

5. What is the most important part of a good XWA utility, just one please?
Reliability. It's got to do exactly what it says on the tin! ;)

6. Steak, Chicken, or Seafood?
Egg chips and beans ;)

7. Will PC games be abandoned by LEC?
Nearly everything but RPGs and poor conversions of console games.

8. What's the best OPT and Utility (made by some one else) you have seen so far?
Death Star by Hernan Barreiro. Oh and the Container A by JC! ;)
AlliED by Troy Dangerfield. It just gets more and more features.

9. Will the XWAUP ever be finished?
Highly unlikely. But the most important ships that are used will be.

10. How did you like the interview?
I am the Weakest Link Goodbye! :D

 
XWAUP: Okay, thanks a lot for you time! It’s good to help making bug free Opts, isn’t it?
Ace:

Better than moderating a Forum of angry IFP bug finders! ;) Thanks.