.startdata = Nterviewed Week 25 Nterviewee maximo Nterviewer Kablizzy I'd like to welcome everyone back for another week of Nterviewed, but more importantly, I would like for everyone to welcome a man whom I have known for nearly three years now. While that isn't a long time by any measure, I have come to call this man a friend, a confidant, and a brother. Not many people these days know who maximo is, but if you want to know about one of the most influential men this community has seen, then read on.

Kablizzy: Welcome, maximo! How are you this evening?
maximo: Very very swell, and yourself?

Kablizzy: I'm excellent, thanks. Let's get started. Before Mother Thumping Impossible was even a passing thought in blue_tetris' mind, and long before Plue ever graced the pages of NUMA, there was a little map named Mount Doom. Tell us how it feels to have Mount Doom as a level in the game, but also as level 89-4?
maximo: Well, when the news hit that Mare and Raigan were doing a column of userlevels in the game, there was an instant surge of comments about what map should be last. I was really excited a lot of the players wanted Mount Doom at the final slot. Before 1.4 came out the duo emailed me (well, Mare emailed me) to ask what I thought about them editing the map a little since one of the locked doors was unnecessary. I was nosy and asked where in the column it was going to be and they said 89-4. It was about that time I got up and danced. It felt good being recognized by the makers of the game I've dumped more time into than most WoW players dump into getting to level 70.

Kablizzy: I'd imagine so. And speaking of which, you have spent more time at Metanet than almost anyone I know. You were around before the implementation of DDA maps, before race maps, before NedCon, and even before the NUMA login system. Having seen the Metanet community through its infancy and adolescence, how does it feel to be such an influential force to so many aspects of Metanet?
maximo: Well, it's really interesting now since I'm such a moot force, but looking back and thinking about all the things I've done it's certainly mind boggling. The thing I did better than anyone during the first year I was around is just map a bloody ton. I think up until a year ago, I was mapping at least twice a day, if even for a minute or two. It was honestly a bit obsessive but I loved it. I've seen just about every innovation to come out of the community, map-making wise. I was never really an innovator myself, I just made simple maps (see: symmetrical, with turrets of some sort) and people loved them. You were really the reason I did so much on the forums with tournaments and all so that's not really the part of my legacy I'm proud of, I'm more proud of my maps.

Kablizzy: And speaking of which, you've made so many great maps over the years, but you must have a favourite. Which map of yours would you call your favourite, and why?
maximo: I go back and forth, really. First, let me say I don't like Mount Doom as much as everyone else does so it's not that. Plue comes to mind since the reaction on numa was so positive. I love watching people play my maps and seeing what runs and routes they come up with. It's really rewarding to see what works in maps you didn't see when you were play testing, so all the replays on plue were just great. I love breaking my "style," I guess, and doing something I don't usually do though, I just don't have a lot of maps that emphasize this. I loved a lot of the work I did for Legacy, but nothing stands out to me. I did love Angular for the original NedCon, but no one remembers it because flipside won even though it wasn't as good, just prettier. I guess Plue is my answer, in so many words.

Kablizzy: So many words indeed. You were the first moderator on the forums, alongside myself and Tsukatu. How did it feel then to be the community's first moderator?
maximo: Well, I was very excited to be recognized again as a factor in the community. A little pat on the back always feels good, especially by a group of people I loved to talk with. I never did a whole lot in terms of mod work, but I loved being able to guide the community and set the tone for conversation there.

Kablizzy: And how has that view changed over the years?
maximo: No one knows me now, it has lost a lot of its meaning to me personally. They only things I do now are poke around serious discussion from time to time and make sure stuff there isn't out of order and what-not. Since the first time I left the community 2 summers ago I've been hardly active for more than month spurts at a time, the title doesn't really mean a lot since I don't know the people as well as I would like to, It's just hard to invest as much time as I did into the forums, thank my fiancé for that one.

Kablizzy: Yeah, I hear you're getting married in the not-too-distant future. Will that mark the end of maximo's presence at Metanet?
maximo: I hope not. I love Mare and Raigan and their work. I love N, and I'm confident that I'll love Robotology. In fact, I hope that Robotology will be good for us all since we'll all start off at zero and I'll get to be part of a growing innovating community again from the start. So, to answer your question, only time will tell, really (and, to a point, my wife-to-be; she's good looking and I listen to her).

Kablizzy: Heheh, indeed. So, considering how long you've been staff, and how long you've been a part of the community, how has the community evolved since you joined?
maximo: Other than growing from a small group of people who had no life to a massive n00b eating community monster not much. It's been crazy to see people come and go and come back and go again and come back (Beyond myself). I've been excited about all the growth for Mare and Raigan, their game deserves the recognition it's gotten thus far and I only hope Metanet takes off and becomes self sufficient for them both in the future, they've put in the hours, that's for sure. But by the same token I do miss the days of 100 members and when any map came out it was a big deal. The first maps before NUMA where only one map would come out a week was just great, it's a whole 'nother galaxy now.

Kablizzy: Definitely. Ah, I miss those days. So, through all of this, how has being a mod and being an influential member of Metanet changed you, as a person?
maximo: A lot actually. By communication skills two years ago pale to what they are now. I've learned a lot about people, a lot of things you don't expect out of a videogame community. It's been just a great time and I've made a couple friendships I know will last long past this game or the next.

Kablizzy: Absolutely. It's amazing how much Metanet has given to us. How do you deal with being a role model for the impressionable young minds here in the community, before and now?
maximo: I guess my mantra has always been to stick to what I know and do that well. I can't be a role model for everyone, I don't think everyone should be like me. I just try to be open and honest and the response you get from people is always genuine.

Kablizzy: Always a good policy. You and LittleViking and I came up with the idea, a few years ago, of a Metanet Convention, and we've wanted to do something like that for some time now. Trogdor recently attempted to put one together, and I would like for us to get an official one endorsed by Mare and Raigan. Would you still be up for organizing something like that, perhaps in Toronto?
maximo: Regrettably, my funds for the next ever are tied up in starting a family. I do get to go to California next year and hopefully meet up with LV, and as soon as you get a life and move to the Midwest to be with me we can start talking. Honestly though meeting Mare an Raigan would be awkward, how do you talk to the two people who have wasted more of your life than anyone else. "So um, you guys make a great game, thanks."

Kablizzy: Hahah. I'd imagine there would be much groveling involved. So, yourself, LittleViking, blue_tetris and I have been working on some side-projects, a few of which we've codenamed "TLO," "Daedalus," and "Arley Portuna." Most importantly, since you and I are heading up the TLO project, why don't you let our readers in on our plans for that, and explain a bit about it?
maximo: Tactics Lord Online is my little turn based strategy game roughly in line with Tactics Arena Online (The names aren't the same, and no I didn't steal it, shut up). It's been a lot of fun to design and play, and I even made a paper version so I can play now since I can't code it worth a crap and play online. The game has two teams with different units on each side of a hexagonal map, the objective is to move your pieces and capture keeps and castles to win. It's just a blast to play and really makes you think. So now we just need CODERS who want to donate the next month or so of their life to the game and it's a go. We really want to make the game and set up servers for players, it's just too good of a game to not make.

Kablizzy: Indeed. I've since forgotten, but a while back, you suggested a name for our software company that I absolutely loved. What was it again?
maximo: Interactive obsession. I liked it more before I found out the logo I had designed for it has been used about umpteen times by other companies.

Kablizzy: Yes! That's the one! I still love that name. Off on another tangent, what do you see in store for Metanet this year?
maximo: Hopefully N+ on xbox gets them some great rep amongst gamers out there and I can't wait to see what happens with robotology and 1.5. They are a great team and great people, I don't see how great things aren't in store.

Kablizzy: Aye, I know we're all pulling for them. As head of the Legacy Team, how would you say Legacy has impacted the community?
maximo: Our biggest innovation has by far been the level pack, before Legacy there wasn't anything like multi-user level packs (at least not of the magnitude of what we did) and after Legacy just look at the number of level packs out there. Other than that we just pissed a lot of people off I think, but it was all worth it.

Kablizzy: Agreed. It's been a fantastic experience, for sure. Now, you began a short story a while ago, entitled "Way." Are there any future episodes in the works?
maximo: Nope, it sorta died out. It was a blast to write but community interest wasn't as enthusiastic as I had hoped. If people want more I would love to write it, it's just a blast to do. I guess it's in the hands of the readers if they want more or not.

Kablizzy: If you had to pick a favourite sports team, who would it be, and why?
maximo: I haven't watched sports in 2 years now (see: school + girlfriend = !sports) but I guess the St. Louis cardinals just because there my home team and my favorite sport.

Kablizzy: Excellent. And finally, if you'd like to provide some words of wisdom for all reading this, I've reserved this space for that very reason. So, with that in mind, take it away.
maximo: Love people, and you'll find just how worth loving they can be.

Kablizzy: Thank you kindly, maximo. It was a pleasure.
maximo: I agree, thank you much.

Next week, get ready to have your pants ripped to shreds, because I will be Nterviewing the man who began Nterviewed himself - Tanner! Be sure to tune in, it's going to be amazing. .enddata = Nterviewed Week 25