.startdata = Nterviewed Week 22
Nterviewee Barabajagal
Nterviewer Kablizzy
Welcome again to the new season of Nterviewed, as always, I am The Blizz, Tanner is still on hiatus. This week, I have a man whom I consider to be a true asset to the community, and a damn fine mapper, at that. Who is this man, you ask? Why, it's Barabajagal. I sat down with Baraba this week, and as it turns out, he lived up to all of my expectations.
Blizz Welcome to Nterviewed, Baraba. How are you this evening?
Baraba Most excellent.
Blizz Good to hear. First and foremost, I've noticed that we haven't seen as much of you over the past few weeks and months. Not to pry, but is there anything exciting in the wide world of Baraba that our readers should know about?
Baraba Well, there are two factors really. Firstly, I don't have as many ideas as I used to, and secondly, I've taken a more serious interest in music. And that takes up a lot of my time.
Blizz Ooh, music, you say? Are you working on anything specific?
Baraba Right now I'm learning the guitar (like every other teenager), playing mostly blues and rock and a little jazz.
Blizz Sounds exquisite. Insofar as your presence amongst the community, You seem to be one of the most level-headed and rational members that has graced the forums and NUMA, but you stay rather well-hidden, compared to some of the other big names. By all logic, you should be more well-known than you are. In fact, some have called you the community's "Best-Kept Secret." Why do you think this is?
Baraba It's a funny thing actually. I'm a very reserved person, and for many people this really doesn't affect online sociability. For some reason I just seem to gravitate to wall-flower status. In all situations.
Blizz Well, in either case, you've got a fan in me. There's something that's been on my mind literally since you joined the community - Where did you come up with your username? Does it have any special significance? On that same topic, how'd your nickname of "Mandrew" manifest?
Baraba Heh, well "Barabajagal" is, as some may already know, the name of a Donavan song. The reason I chose the name is because as a child I would often listen to my dad's vinyl. I used to love the song. A few years later I was mature enough to figure out that the song wasn't about some magic angel, but rather drugs and sex. Anyway, It's become a sort of symbol in my life for me. And Mandrew... I dunno where that came from honestly.
Blizz Heh. Fair enough. You are heralded by many (Myself included) as one of the greatest mappers in the community. What inspires you to map as you do?
Baraba Along with music, art has always appealed to me, I think that sort of carries over into my mapping. I try to pay special attention to simplicity and cleanness. When I think of a map idea, it usually comes to me as a series of shapes, like a bunch of triangles or something like that. Then I just sort of play around and change things till I like it... Probably more than you cared to know.
Blizz Hahahah, not at all. That's what this is all about. On the topic of mapmaking, are there any tips or advice you could give you the new members of the community just starting to map?
Baraba Yes! Definitely. My number one tip for new mappers is to look at the levels of the main game (00-99) and to figure out why they're so fun, then develop your own style retaining that playability. That's what I did anyway.
Blizz The Metanet levels are definitely a good starting point, that's how I got my start, as well. A short while ago, you posted what you called your "half-assed or just bad maps." Playing through these, though, they seem to be absolutely amazing. In fact, some of your most memorable maps, for me, have appeared in your so-called "Trash" packs. What, if anything, do you attribute this to?
Baraba When I posted those I wasn't entirely sure what people would make of them. I think of them now as 'sketches'. Short and unpolished I suppose would be a good description.
Blizz And speaking of packs, your Bonus pack is, as many people know, my favourite levelpack to date. How long did it take you to complete, and are there any sequels in your future?
Baraba I did it over the course of maybe three months, but unevely. Sometimes I'd make five maps in a day, other times I'd go a week or two with nothing. As for sequels, I would say my answer is a definite "maybe."
Blizz Excellent. I, for one, am looking forward to more from you. For the longest time, I thought that you were either British or Australian. It wasn't until maybe half a year ago that I figured out that you were indeed American. It seems like a rather wide-spread opinion of you, so why do you think people assume something like that?
Baraba I'm not really sure. I can tell you though that I've been to both the UK and Australia on vacation and I greatly enjoyed both, maybe something rubbed off on me.
Blizz Perhaps so. A short while back, you participated in Vehemence with me. Any chance you'd be up to helping me run a second version, sometime this summer?
Baraba You're going to do it again? I'd love to go for another round, hopefully I can clear some time for that.
Blizz I've been pondering it for a while, for those who wanted to participate in the first, and weren't able to. I'll be looking forward to that, for sure. Early on in your stay here at Metanet, you posted a topic about the N puns, and how you were growing tired of them. With that in mind, how does it feel to be featured in something called "Nterviewed?"
Baraba Oh, that. Y'know, for all their corniness, N puns really begin to grow on you.
Blizz You seem to be incredibly well-read for your age, and it seems as though you are able to excel well in many things you do. Do you plan on going on to any higher education, and if so, any ideas as to what you would major in?
Baraba Thanks for the compliment, although I'm not sure how accurate that statement is in reality. School itself has never appealed to me, but I think that should I chose to pursue anything like that, I think that I would get involved with writing. I do love to read.
Blizz As a bit of a humorous aside, how does it feel having been born after the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was made?
Baraba Clearly, I'm a member of a lost generation.
Blizz Hahah. I suppose you could say that. And finally, I've provided this space for anything you might like to say to all of our readers.
Baraba Oh, well okay. Contrary to my previous statement, I advise all of you to stay in school. And don't do drugs if you have an addictive personality.
Blizz Excellent, sir. Thank you kindly for your time, it's been a pleasure.
Baraba Thank you too, it made me feel significant.
.enddata = Nterviewed Week 22