Welcome, good sirs, to the Forge Hub Community Spotlight. Here we highlight some of our community's shiny stars, as well as under looked talents, using anything from inquisitive interviews, to map highlights, and whatever else we feel has gone without enough due attention. This week on the Community Spotlight we have xSoGx Grim, known for his aesthetic creature creations. See what he has to say about this and other Forge Hub stuff below.
FH: How did you come across Forge Hub, and did it all look "normal", did the site secure a "fixed" place on your favourites, or was there maybe something that "phased" you?
I got a relatively late start with Halo 3 forge, I skipped the whole Foundry scene and jumped right into Sandbox. I heard about forgehub, and at that time I had a number of maps on my hardrive, but I had set a very high expectation bar for this forging community, and just did not feel like I could meet it yet. Once I joined, just like all others I struggled to figure out how everything worked, and trust me I still learn new things here.
FH: What aspect of the site and/or the Forge Hub community did you enjoy enough to sacrifice your soul to our soul-sacrificing machine (actually it prefers candy but no one figures that out until it's too late), i.e. what keeps you active on the site?
I definitely like the fact that any member can pick which map post they want to look at, and leave feedback. This really gives you the opportunity to showcase your forgework. You are able to talk about your map, post screenshots from the angles which you think describe your work the best and finally give the community the ability to download both the map and the custom gametype (if it has a gametype) After a while you build up a relationship with the community and that is what keeps me coming back with more content.
A true Master Chieftain.
FH: I think it's safe to say that your "claim to fame" on this site is your incredible aesthetic maps. So, do you create other works of art outside of Forge? Real life Brute Chieftain earwax sculptures perhaps?
You just made me think of Mythbusters for some reasons haha. Outside of forge I may sketch or doodle while sitting thought a nightclass, but I am no longer a practicing artist, and my creative drive if you want to call it is sufficed by forge.
FH: When you come up with an idea for an Aesthetic map how do you begin processing that idea into an actual map? Do you sketch something on paper first or use Google sketchup? Do you go through every Object in the Forge Pallette and think "that would make for a good elbow, and this one could be a toe"?
I used to sketch my projects out on paper to help understand the proportions and details, but nowdays I just make a folder on my computer with screenshots and use that as a reference if needed. As far as forge objects, you learn which each one looks like and it all clicks of how those objects can be used.
If my DMR doesn't hit you, then I'll just poke you in the eyes.
FH: As well as your Forge art in Reach, you've also created similar pieces in Halo 3's Forge. So, what instigated your desire to use Halo's Forge to create these maps? Was it always your intention to use Forge this way, or did you originally plan on making Fat Kid maps for example (it's every young man's dream)?
And I’ve seen plenty of those. It took some time for me to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with forge. I had a number of infection, popular multiplayer map remakes, and then I went through a cave making phase. I always admired the aesthetic section of forgehub and the idea which stood behind it. “Does a map have to be playable to be great?” A lot of the content in the Halo 3 aesthetic section were things like ships, buildings, or switches. I looked at it and realized that things like characters from the game that we were all playing were absent. I did some digging around, and decided to forge a pair of Hunters. After that everything just seemed to click and I realized that this is what I wanted to do and dedicate myself to.
FH: Has Reach's Forge toolset allowed you more creative freedom for artwork ideas than Halo 3's? Did you have some ideas for characters/creatures to create in Halo 3 that you realised couldn't be done but can now in Reach?
Definitely, there were a lot of options on Halo 3, but there was a limit even with OLN of how much you could put into one project and what the scale of it was going to be. Halo Reach redefined forge, opening up a whole new door full of opportunities for the forging community. I always wanted to make a Spartan on Halo 3, but realized that the objects at my disposal would make it look blocky and I wouldn’t be able to go into much detail. I carried this idea over to Reach and… the Noble team.
Keep on liftin' me higher and hierarch!
FH: Do you make any other types of Forge maps or are you completely focused on creating Aesthetic maps?
My primary focus is on Aesthetic maps, but I gladly help fellow forgers with their playable maps if time allows me to do so. But you never know perhaps one day you will see something posted from me in the casual or competitive section!
FH: If my sources are correct (and also my sauces - although you can never trust a tomato) then so far all of your Aesthetic maps have been based off of something in Halo. Do you plan on creating some non-Halo Forge art at any point? I personally think a giant Mario hitting a "?" block with a 1-up mushroom popping out would look pretty cool in Forge.
Ha ha I’ll leave the Mario work to Zow Jr, but since you brought it up I would like to recreate some of the fine military machines that are out there in the world right now. Like a full budged Apache, or a T-90.
This sniper sure knows how to blend in...
FH: Is there a map out there, forged by this community, that you really like and which means your hard drive requires a regular cleanup with an anti-static cloth ... if you catch my euphamism? ;)
I’ve seen plenty of maps in my days, but Transit by DeathstarsOG is one map which has a permanent spot on my hard drive. It is a perfect combination of playable space and aesthetics slapped with a good chunk of creativity.
FH: Is Forge your favourite feature in Reach or do you also enjoy the Campaign, Matchmaking, Firefight, Arena, etc?
Forge is not the only feature which I enjoy in Reach. I thought the Campaign was epic with its story of six Spartans and their struggles (part of the reasons why I’m going through with Noble team). But outside of that, I play a lot of matchmaking with our crew, firefight is also enjoyable – nothing like shooting little grunts at the end of your day…
"It's not about the size but how you use it" - Yeah right!
FH: Since you and I are now intimately familiar with each other, what can you tell me of your life outside of the site? Any hobbies and such? If I wanted to take you on a romantic holiday then where would be the best place for us to go? Purely hypothetical of course!
Isn’t that what first dates are for?.. Ha I’m a college student, work part-time basically just trying to get by. Hobbies, do bars count?
We can always go to Washington and party with Bungie haha!
FH: In my previous Community Spotlight I asked that spotlightee, Mongoose, to suggest a question for the next guy. His question was: "What was the first thing you created in Halo: Reach's Forge?".
Actually even before the Chieftain, I hopped into Forgeworld and attempted to geo-merge together a cave, only to find out that I was limited on the “Rock”..
"Whose bright idea was it to stick Bob between us?!"
FH: So then, to finish us off, what is your question for the next spotlightee? It can be absolutely anything! Obviously you don't know who the next guy will be (nor do I) but that just adds to the fun!
Favorite forge object. I use the hell out of Seastacks. Anytime you see an aesthetic sculpture, you can bet that Seastacks were used to mold the rock form. What is your favorite or most used obect in forge?
I'm going in for the kill, I'm doing it for a thrill GREAT JOURNEY!
A big "Thank you" to xSoGx Grim for his fantastic maps and an engaging read. Be sure to download some of his creations and give him some congrats if you haven't already. Also make sure to keep an eye out for the next Community spotlight.
If you feel you know someone who deserves a spotlight, send a private message to buddhacrane, i.e. me!
If you have any thoughts on this article, or the front page in general, that you would like to share with us then we invite you to post your opinions in the Front Page Feedback thread.