<p>
"I try to be candid in interviews...but I've learned that whenever you try and
make a point about anything, you always end up sounding like a douchebag." -
Owen Pallett
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/nevermore" title="nevermore">nevermore</a>
</em>has been around a lot longer than most people but you'd hardly know it
from talking with him. It's hard to imagine that such a laid back guy could
have made as frantic a map as
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/map/7471" title="Tattletale">Tattletale</a>.
He's a moderator on the forums and a half-op on the IRC. I once read on the
forums that his favourites were a good representation of NUMA without the
crap. His thoughts on maps and the like are VERY LARGE! Oonce.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Linus, you are counted among the original ranks of
the <em>Legacy Team</em>. How were you approached to join this most
prestigious of organisations?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> It was all very understated, really. Back when
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/maximo" title="maximo">maximo</a>
</em>was more of a presence on NUMA and the forums, he caught me on IRC.
"You're cool," he told me. He explained the project. I was confused. "Do you
want me in, or do you just want me to watch?" I asked. I was insecure because
of emotional scarring. ;_.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> What's it like working with in a group with
<em>maximo</em>,
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/littleviking001" title="LittleViking001">LittleViking001</a></em>,
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/tktktk" title="tktktk">tktktk</a></em>,
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/sweep" title="sweep">sweep</a>
</em>and
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/kablizzy" title="Kablizzy">Kablizzy</a></em>.<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> It's very touchy-feely. We say "man" a lot after
sentences. It's cool, though. We feel good about ourselves. Most of the guys
are totally cool dudes, man. And awesome map makers, I learn a lot from them.
Pretty mature for the most part as well. Interesting group, really. Everyone
has their own little touches that they add to the group. We're all pretty
eccentric, as well. Most people don't understand us. We're tortured souls,
actually.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> You spend a lot of time on NUMA. What's your
philosophy when it comes to rating maps?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> I don't like modern maps, for the most part. They're
so boring. Very hip, following little style affectations that don't do it for
me at all. But give me a
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/stepself" title="stepself">stepself</a>
</em>map, an LV map, and I go wild. So really, in general I ignore looks. I'm
much more drawn to simpler looks, though, so that might affect which maps I
play in the first place. I rate almost entirely on how much fun I have playing
a map. I guess it varies depending on mood, but that's not my problem. ^.^
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Do you think the functionality of NUMA has improved
since
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/maestro" title="maestro">maestro</a>
</em>and <em>sweep</em> took control of it?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> Sure, it improved. Bitesized NUMA is brilliant.
They're great at weeding out multi-accounters. And for at least a brief period
of time, people were really critiquing and rating maps the way they should be.
Then again, there was something innocent about NUMA in the early
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/arachnid" title="Arachnid">Arachnid</a>
</em>years. I was recently going through a thread in which people rated
metanet maps, and the ratings were <em>horrible</em>. Which I didn't really
understand - how can our standards for maps be so different from the creators
of the game? I came to the conclusion that we're silly to look for anything
but what is fun. But short answer, in some ways yes, in some ways no. We're
always going to have foolish people, and that's fine. I hate to be one of
those complainers about NUMA. <em>Sweep</em> and <em>maestro</em> did a great
job.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> How does playing every NUMA map affect how you make
your own maps?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> Aha, funny question. I don't do that anymore. But I
used to, at least until my computer stopped working with NUMA maps. In any
case, having that experience gives me a nice perspective, I think. I try so
hard not to latch onto little stylistic constructs and affectations that make
maps old and unoriginal. I may not be so successful at shaving off all of
that, but at least I have that awareness. Being aware of something is good. I
like to be self-aware, especially about my emotional scarring. ;_.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong>
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/map/47970" title="Elighten"><em>Enlighten</em></a>
is such an interesting and unique map. What was the thought process behind it?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> In retrospect, it was TOTALLY PRETENTIOUS. But it was
fun to make it. I liked mocking existentialism. Looking at the world through a
peephole, was the idea behind the map. I guess subconsciously I wanted to go
on an experimental flight of fancy with the style in the map, and not have to
suffer gameplay repercussions. Stupid, I know. Same with the second map like
that,
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/map/58763" title="Isaac"><em>Isaac</em></a>. I
was just tired of worrying about so many things while making levels. So I just
had fun with design. I still like the way <em>Enlighten</em> looks, and it
actually doesn't play too badly. Too bad I probably can't resubmit it. How
unhip of me that would be! And everyone knows I like to be a hip cat.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> What is a map to you? Is it art, a level in a ninja
game, or something in between?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> I guess somewhere in between. Originality is important
to me, just like it is in art, but as I've said earlier gameplay is the be all
end all. The WORST thing for me is seeing people copying
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/astheoceansblue" title="astheoceansblue">astheoceansblue</a>
</em>and
<em><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/unconditional" title="Unconditional">Unconditional</a>
</em>and the sort. They have a cool style, but it's interesting because it's
their own. The design of a level is nothing more than a mode of reaching a
certain level of fun to me. It's like if you were in a playground and
instead of slides there were long paintings. And you slid down them. Except it
would be fun, and it wouldn't be bumpy. That's just like N. The design is
simply for fun, but one can put as much as they'd like artistically into it. I
try not to take myself too seriously, though. That's pretty bad, too. When
people attempt to be hip, end up with a pretty stupid map, and then act
totally pretentious about it. I guess I'm just describing myself while making
<em>Enlighten</em>. But... Well, damn. I am. That's a new life goal of mine,
though. To never take myself too seriously.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Which is your favourite art-form? Music, visual or
dramatic?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> Eh, that's tough. Musical experiences seem to be more
spiritual than visual art. Making music with other people is an experience of
harmony and working together, and I love that. But visual art is more
interesting of a form of expression for me. It's more reliant on someone's
perception of the world. People can absorb everything they experience, process
it, and put their own entirely unique spin on things. That's a great thing, to
be able to exaggerate and warp things in the world according to perception. I
also love films - great movies can really transplant into you a certain
feeling. It's almost like the overall product of movies represent the art of
emotions. They can take you on real roller coaster rides of emotion in a way
that nothing else really can. I suppose music can come close, but not as
dramatically so for me. They all have their upsides, I guess. I'm into a
whirlwind of the three, a whimsical, flight of fancy world of art in which
people follow whatever they'd like to do that day. These days, though, I'm
focusing on creating more visual art than anything else.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Do you have a particular artist or group of artists
who inspire you the most?<br/>
<strong>Linus:</strong> Not exactly. I like Cubism's approach to things, and
the artists' idea that nothing is static. That interests me, as well as the
idea that the perspective we see may not be universal. How much of perspective
is defined by knowledge of the world around us? I also like Matthew Barney's
<em>Cremaster</em> series. Interesting stuff, I think. I love Kate Winslet, I
think she's beautiful. But really, I'm just naming people and things off the
top of my head. I don't have any particular favorite.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Awesome. Thanks for your time, Linus.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Linus:</strong> Most definitely.
</p>