XWAU: As for another interview… Shall we get started?
Flavid: Nope
XWAU: Once again we’d like to tell everyone (again) about how you got started on XWA editing. Did you just want to edit as
many games as you could, or did Star Wars inspire you to work on XWA?
Flavid: Mainly it was because Star Wars inspired me to work on the X-wing Series. I started out as a mission editor,
and had to move into opting because nobody (besides MJT) would help me with opts on my Thrawn Shipset. MJT
basically taught me most of what I know about making an opt. What's kinda funny is that nop I'm trying to get
mission editors to help me with my Thrawn Shipset...hint, hint...
XWAU: Have you ever thought of editing another game with a larger fan base than XWA, like Unreal Tournament, Half-Life
and the like?
Flavid: I was thinking about trying to make a few Transformer models and skins for UT (Once I get it) or for Quake III
Arena. No much else though.
XWAU: 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?
Flavid: The only editors that I've ever used that came out of the box (to my knowlege) are the XWA skirmish editor and the map editor for War Craft II. I don't really remember the map editor interface so I can't really comment on that, but I do know that Allied is FAR F**KIN' superior to the Skirmish editor. Go out and buy a copy from Troy
today...
XWAU: 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?
Flavid: It's great. Who cares if it's small? I sure don't, but it's nice to see stuff like XWL coming back goofy-er (???)
than ever, and the forums over here are always full of new posts, be they good or bad. It's always interesting. I think
the community will hold together for another 10000 years ;-)
XWAU: What are your thoughts on greeblies? How much do they add to an OPT? Do they cause massive headaches?
Flavid: Greeblies really do add a sense of realism to opts, even if they have no point. They really don't cause
headaches, and I have actually begun to find them quite relaxing to make.
XWAU: Could you please tell us how do you start a new project; does it take a lot of research? Is it more difficult when there
is little information?
Flavid: I usually just start off with nothing. Actually, I try to find as many FREE references as I can before I start a
new opt, but when there aren't many references you have a lot more room to be "artistic." I'm never going to take on
something that actauuly appears in the movies, mainly because it's a lot of responsibility to get it right. If you screw
up on one little detaiol, Sax wil eat your balls.
XWAU: How’s the Interdictor coming along?
Flavid: What's an Interdictor? Actaully I have the side trench greeblies done and they met very little criticism, which is a good thing I guess. It'll be done by the end of Summer for sure, If I can get the domes textured that is...
XWAU: What kind of program do you use to make your models and why do you use it?
Flavid: I use Rhino 1.0, and I use it because I'm not going to pay so much money for the upgrade or another
expensive program.
XWAU: Did you ever try any other modelling program and if so why did you ditch it?
Flavid: I tried ProtoCAD before I got Rhino, that program sucks hardcore crap, and that's why I didn't start opting
before I got Rhino. I've also recently tried Blender ,but the interface is too tricky and I couldn't get anything to
happen in it.
XWAU: Are you pleased with the XWA game engine and the OPT format and if you could put one thing in the engine and one
more function into the OPT format what would those be?
Flavid: It works great in my opinion. It's not really realistic I guess, but I like it. If I could add one thing it would be
atmospheric support (which is kind of a lot of things, but whatever...)
XWAU: We’ve traditionally used ACE DxF but now there is also OPTTech. What do you think of the program?
Flavid: It doesn't work on my computer. So I don't use it.
XWAU: How do you see the future for Star Wars space sims and do you expect LEC to come with any thing new soon or will
we still be playing XWA the next 5 years?
Flavid: I think that they'll be developed more for consol use, like Rogue Squadron II, but I want an XBox or whatever
just to play that game now. But I'm sure LEC will start to work on more PC stuff again, I can certainly hope. I thionk
they'll have something new in 5 years, but not in 4.
XWAU: Could you tell us a bit about your future plans can we expect anything from you beside XWAU work?
Flavid: Well, I'd like to finish my Thrawn Shipset this Summer hopefully, but I probably wont. I'm also redoing
textures on a lot of my own opts. As far as X-wing editing, that's about it.
XWAU: Last but not least we have some short questions we would like you to answer
short and firm
Flavid: Isn't that what I've been doing !?
1. Why are you working on the XWAU project?
Flavid: Because they liked my interdictor model, and I said I'd do it all myself.
2. Do you enjoy working in a team, or would you prefer to be able to concentrate more on
your own projects alone?
Flavid: I kind of like working by myself, just because I've often found that you can't
really depend on other people. I guess that sounds kind of mean, but whatever...
3. What's the best thing going around in the XWA community right now?
Flavid: JC's mom ;-)
4. Who do you think is the biggest upcoming talent in OPT editing?
Flavid: Me, of course...
5. What is the most important part of a good OPT, just one please?
Flavid: Textures
6. If someone made a bad All your base gag, you would…
Flavid: WTF!?
7. Will PC-games be abandoned by LEC?
Flavid: It wouldn't surprise me at this rate, but I doubt it.
8. What's the best OPT (made by some one else) you have seen so far?
Flavid: Something by Darksaber. (Don't let that go to your head DS...)
9. Will the XWAU ever be finished?
Flavid: Nope
10. How did you like the interview?
Flavid: It's a little tart...
Okay, thanks for your time! Hope that Interdictor gets done soon, we need to trap some Rebel scum!