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<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/Sendy" style="FONT-STYLE:italic" title="Sendy">Sendy</a><span style="FONT-STYLE:italic">
</span>is probably my favourite author on NUMA. She's among the most prolific
authors and she makes tilesets that consistently change my ideas of what is
possible with only eight different tiles. I don't know how she churns them
out, but I'm sure glad she does. Check out
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/map/54410" style="FONT-STYLE:italic" title="Abstract thoughts pretending to be biscuits">Abstract
thoughts pretending to be biscuits</a><span style="FONT-STYLE:italic"></span>.<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold"> Tanner: </span>Is there a single theme or
component that you feel unites all your maps?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> Nothing concrete. But I think
that the way that my mind works is evident if you look at a bunch of my maps.
I tend to enjoy creating 'devices' and quirky object setups, and I tend
towards complication. For the first couple of years my mapping suffered from
this but now I feel more able to dilute the complexity and deviousness and
weave it more subtly into the fabric of the map, allowing a sense of curiosity
to arise in the player as opposed to a sense of frustration and confusion.<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> Where do you get inspiration for
your tilesets?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> A lot of the time, from the way
the ninja moves. The game is so incredibly sensitive that it's almost as if
you can feel the terrain touching against your fingers in empathy with the
ninja. Again my tilesets tend towards complexity and I'm very fond of
combining contrasts such as straight edges with eroded sections. A lot of my
inspiration comes from doodling, since I like drawing 2D worlds, and of course
listening to music. Also I like to consider all the landscapes and
architecture I've seen recently that stuck in my head.<br/>
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Another factor is that the tileset is highly symbolic of the will of the
author. By defining what's solid and what isn't, where the ninja can go and
what kind of surfaces it will have at it's disposal, there is an almost sacred
power attached to that, and this inspires me to express myself as fully as I
can with tilesets.<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> What is your favourite type of
map?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> The kind of map that makes the
mechanics of N feel entirely new to me when I play it. One that makes me look
at a certain object in a whole new light. One that makes me giggle and scream!<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> Do your favourite type of map to
play and your favourite type of map to make differ?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> Not especially. I make maps
primarily for myself. I have a soft spot for well thought-out linear maps on
both sides of the equation, but nonlinear maps are often more tricky to make.
Er... Make of that what you will.<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> You also make music. How does
that compare to making a map?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> It's all about playing with
expectations and setting up tension and release. Not to mention form and
themes. I find all creative acts similar, it's just the skill sets are
different.<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> Is The Nth Dimension going
anywhere?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> Yes. I have tons of maps for it
now! Personally I think it's my best work yet - I've managed to incorporate
minimalism into my style without it going awry, which I feel was important to
master for the episodic format. There are a lot of easier levels in the pack
and lots of whimsical playing around with concepts.<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> Where did the name "The Love
Sessions" come from?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> It was made during a period of
time when I stayed with my boyfriend. We have a long distance relationship, so
the time we have together is always special. When I had nothing to do I would
sit down for 30 minutes and force out a map. They're almost like a diary,
taking me back to each day we shared, though the advantage is nobody else
could read it!<br/>
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<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Tanner:</span> How do you think being one of
the few well-known women sets you apart on NUMA?<br/>
<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold">Sendy:</span> I'm not really sure. I'm
surprised more girls don't do level designing. I always find it's a great
outlet for my energy. And recently it feels like my creativity has
skyrocketed. Plus I like the attention.
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