AceOfSpades

Hi guys, it's been a while since I've flashed my torchlight of death over one of you unlucky members so while I try to find four C batteries you guys can check out this quick interview I had with AceOfSpades. Who knew that he'd want to talk to me so much? I've edited the parts out about my life story and kept the bits I decided to ask him...

Stevo: What made you join Forge Hub?

AceOfSpades: It was a pretty long time ago so I'm not completely sure. I suppose it was a little after Foundry came out and I was fascinated by the idea of creating your own maps for Halo. I guess I searched for a place to share my (crappy) creations and found Forge Hub. I joined, posted a few (crappy) maps, and started to become part of the community.

Stevo: I think that could be said about most people on Forge Hub from the days of Halo 3. Which "crappy" maps would you consider milestone maps in your Forging career and why?

AceOfSpades: In Halo 3, I've got to say Epsilon. (Stevo: That actually looks rather good for old Halo 3 Forge!) While it doesn't seem the greatest now, and wasn't the greatest then, I definitely learned a lot from that map, mostly lessons on how to not over-complicate a map. Cyanide, a racetrack, was my first quality racetrack in Halo 3, and really helped to get me known as a racetrack-maker in Halo 3. Dream On, while not being my design, is definitely my favorite competitive map I made in Halo 3. The last Halo 3 map I would say is Sassafras, which I built with the wonderful Scobra. That map really brought out the experimental side in me.

Stevo: I recognise Cyanide as a map I had on my hard drive for at least 6 months and would often put it on when waiting for Testing Lobbies to fill up! Sassafras was also an interesting map I managed to play a few times, and I really don't think I need to say that Dream On has an absolutely mind blowing map layout. As for Reach?

AceOfSpades: In Reach, my first map, Essence really got me used to Reach's mechanics
and broke me out of my comfort zone of asymmetrical maps. Other than that, the three 1v1 maps I've released as of yet, Lux (coforged with the ever-sexy Kuroda),
Azula, and Ether have all defined what kind of maps I make and want to continue making into Halo 4.

Stevo: So in Halo 4 you'll be primarily focusing on creating maps for smaller parties like one verse one, two verse two?

AceOfSpades: It seems to be that I'm heading that way, but it definitely depends on what kind of game Halo 4 turns out to be. In Halo 3, I was much more focused on 4v4 maps because that's how its gameplay catered to my forging style. I find it more enjoyable to forge smaller party maps in Reach just because that's how it's gameplay caters to me.

Stevo: What gave you your inspiration to create some of Forge Hub's most favourite content?

AceOfSpades: Sometimes its buildings in real life, maps from other games, or sections of Halo games, but usually the inspiration for my maps comes while I'm sitting bored out of my mind in class. Challenging my mind to think of new and innovative maps is much more interesting than a lecture on the Civil War or Coulomb's Law. :)

Stevo: I tend to do that myself as well (The bored out of my mind sitting around thing)! Although, mine more or less turn out to be something more-or-less considered as Brain Farts. Do you usually plan an entire map out before Forging it, or just create a concept and wing it?

AceOfSpades: Despite what Xzample tries to tell me, I always wing it. I've tried to draw maps out on paper and then transfer them into forge, but I find that to be a waste of time.
While I'm drawing, I'm always thinking of how pieces will fit together anyway so I just skip that part and head into forge. My method ends up with a lot of unfinished maps sitting on my hard drive, but I think of that as a sort of filter for the maps that I really think are deserving of being finished.

Stevo: If you could give advice to any aspiring Forgers out there, what would it be?

AceOfSpades: Don't be another stick in the mud (Is that the right phrase?). I think that especially in Reach, innovation is the most important aspect to forge. To get your map to stand out from the rest, you really need to make sure that it's bringing something new to the table and not just sliding by as a above-average map. No one notices the above-averages. They notice the extraordinaries.

Stevo: I'd say that's some pretty good advice. It's not always about making things look visually different and appealing, it's more about making something happen in game which differs from other typical maps. What are you going to do during the Forge Lockout Bungie have put in place at the moment?

AceOfSpades: I'm quite honestly not even playing video games that much anymore as I've begun to realize how much of a black hole of time they can be, but when I do get on Halo, I'll still forge. At this point in Reach's life, I only really forge for myself because I find it fun and personally challenging, so I don't really need the file share.

Stevo: I guess gaming can be very time consuming if you're willing to dedicate the time to it. As in-game filesharing is still available, I'm sure a few of your dedicated fans appreciate the ability to download your up and coming work; Would you consider posting map previews for your latest creations, or is this simply a "visit my fileshare when you want" kind of moment?

AceOfSpades: I could post map previews, but they'll probably end up being more of "/never-gonna-be-posted" sorts of things (shout-out to Erupt :P). Honestly, most of the stuff I'm making right now will never come to fruition so it's not even worth putting on my file share. My spring break just started so I'm going to chill, play some soccer and basketball, and not do much of anything :)

Stevo: Ah 'Soccer', known to the rest of the world as Football... a lovely sport to play I must admit. Beyond having sport occupy your time, what is it you do? Are you a student, full-time worker, or just taking a break from all of life's stresses?

AceOfSpades: Even though I live in America, I have found myself calling it football due to the colossal amounts of European soccer I watch with British announcers :).

Stevo: Good to hear...

AceOfSpades: Right now, I'm a senior in high school, which means since its the 4th quarter, I basically do nothing in school. I could find a job somewhere, but that's too much work (I'm a lazy-ass). Honestly, the best job I could think of would be to be a soccer referee (I think I have an obsession). I do enjoy doing random stuff with friends (One of my friends has a horse mask, which I'm sure as soon as you saw that, endless possibilities popped into your head.) and listening to music (mostly electronic and alternative stuff).

Stevo: Endless possibilities? Despite wearing it on your head for pranks, or using it as a sick sex toy... I think I've already run out of possibilities for a horse head. Perhaps a makeshift carrier bag for transporting beer to a party?

AceOfSpades: Just the different pranks you can do. Imagine just walking around Wal-Mart with it on. Hilarity ensues with most reactions... especially when my friend just walked up and bought a bag of carrots... :D Some people kept surprisingly straight faces though. I guess it is Wal-Mart though.

And on that note, AceOfSpades had enough. He closed down the Forge Hub webpage, picked up his laptop/macbook and got on his golden unicorn and flew off into the sunset (because unicorns fly) while I stood and stared in awe at his life's accomplishments...

Well, that didn't really happen but I'd like to think it did as I didn't get a reply to my next question about whether he'd find it unusual if a partner requested he wear a horse mask in bed with him...

If you have someone in mind that deserves the torchlight of death shining on them in the near future: Feel free to shoot me a PM!

Now where are my batteries!?

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