Interview with Sten “ZTN” Uusvali
Degree Designer
2009: Quake Reside – ZTN Tourney Degree
1999: Wages of Sin
1998: Quake II Netpack – Extremities
From cyberfight.org, 9. November 2001
Jakie: Good day man. For first i wish to ask whats your identify, how previous are you and the place do you reside?
ZTN: The identify’s Butston Freem…I imply Sten Uusvali. I’m 30 1/2 years previous and I dwell in a small white home up on a hill =)
Jakie: As I see making maps is a interest for you? So, the place do u work, what are u doing? 🙂
ZTN: I’ve been balancing with my mapmaking in between interest and business mapmaking. To this point it’s been extra like a interest certainly, however who is aware of what the longer term would possibly deliver. However the true occupation of mine is programming. I’m a software program developer in a small, privatly owned Californian firm positioned in San Diego. As my enterprise card says…”Senior Programmer”…however being so near the Mexican border it typically interprets to “Senor Programmer” 😉
Jakie: What pc languages do u know? (I imply c++, delphi, php and so on.)
ZTN: I take advantage of actively C++, Delphi, x86 assembler…and that’s about it. I additionally know Primary and a tiny little bit of Java, however I’m fairly ignorant on the Net-programming discipline.
Jakie: What software program do u use for create your sensible maps?
ZTN: Thanks =) For Quake III I take advantage of QERadiant, for Quake and Quake2 I used an editor known as WorldCraft.
Jakie: Nicely, you made many maps for Quake1, Quake2 and Quake3, however how about different video games?
ZTN: There are some non-quake maps of mine, which aren’t extensively identified. Most notably some maps for SiN (which was Quake-engine primarily based sport anyway), just a few unreleased Doom maps and some unhealthy makes an attempt at Unreal, Additionally unreleased. Apart from these small sidesteps, I’m just about riveted to the id-produced engines.
Jakie: When did u begin to create maps and which one was the primary one?
ZTN: I began making an attempt when the primary publicly availabe model of the WorldCraft was launched. Can’t keep in mind when, however I feel it was in late ’96. The primary maps had been god-awful mess of brushes which didn’t actually should be known as as “map.” However the subsequent severe tries had been 2 Western-styled maps known as “Cactus Metropolis” and “Cactus Metropolis Nights” that are downloadable from FilePlanet (or FailPlanet), however don’t have a direct hyperlink from my homepage. Have to repair that someday once I keep in mind… The primary publicly launched map was “The ZTN Base” which is a large base-style map, downloadable from my web page.
Jakie: When ztn3dm3 shall be launched?
ZTN: I want I knew! That’s an omnipresent query, and may solely be answered by “when it’s achieved” Don’t all of us love that boastful sounding reply or what? =)
Jakie: Is there any maps, which you suppose are good, however on championships they don’t seem to be used? (Not solely your maps).
ZTN: Oh sure, check out Wiebo’s “No Class!” I imply take a look at it, it may’t get a lot better than that, but it hasn’t gained a lot reputation on the skilled tournaments. It may be that this map wasn’t meant to be a full-blown event map, however then once more, so wasn’t my “Blood Run.” It simply occurs, you by no means understand how the web neighborhood will interpret your map.
Jakie: What do u take into consideration “reputation” of ztn3dm2? You suppose there may be any mistake on this map or it’s only a participant’s alternative?
ZTN: Oh, I’m flattered abut the recognition and acceptance this map has obtained. There are few locations on this map I feel I ought to have solved otherwise, however all in all, I’m very glad the way it turned out…and extra concerning the large utilization of this map. Goes to indicate that I did a lot of the issues “proper”, a very good portion of that accounts to my trusty Ramshackle crew, whose feedback are invaluable in technique of finetuning the map.
Jakie: Your maps are common. Ztn3dm1 was a duel map for a very long time, however some months in the past skilled gamers began to play 2×2 on it. What do u give it some thought?
ZTN: To let you know the reality, it amazes me how versatile this specific map has turned out to be. It wasn’t intentional, truly, ztn3dm2 was supposed t be a 2×2 map. However as I’ve mentioned earlier than, you actually can’t predict how the web neighborhood will interpret your intentions.
Jakie: Do u play in your maps? 🙂
ZTN: Sure, however fairly frankly, I’ve received my ass kicked alone maps extra, that I’ve received. Which is humorous, contemplating a few of my early duel maps had been created for the only real objective of profitable our in-house tournaments held again in my previous office. Alas, the ploy didn’t fairly work…however the interest stayed =)
Jakie: Which map is your favourite? 2 maps: yours and in all.
ZTN: All in all, my favourite could be ztndm5 – The Vomitorium. This map in my view has all the pieces excellent. The format is attention-grabbing and never too complicated, it offers good floor for each duel and FFA deathmatches. And it seems good, too. As for different individuals’s maps, there are such a lot of of them, it’s onerous to choose just one. I’d say Adriano “Escher” Lorenzini’s “The Messy Base” traditional Quake1 map stands tall in a crowd. However then again, Dennis “Headshot” Kaltwasser’s maps all the time make me really feel incompetent, and the identical goes to Phil “retinal” Chopp.
Jakie: Might u say the variety of your maps launched?
ZTN: Ugh…lemme rely…right here’s the approximate quantity except I left one thing out (together with the rebuilds, modifications and business maps): 35
Jakie: How lengthy plan to create maps?
ZTN: Relies upon. Typically I simply begin laying brushes and all the pieces simply clicks. On different events I try to try to out comes solely a turd. Which get flushed. It normally takes me a month and a half to supply a map from the preliminary planning as much as the purpose, the place the maps is able to be launched. A few of my maps have taken one thing like 6 months to perform, ztn2dm5 being a very good instance.
Jakie: What esle do u create for Quake?
ZTN: Some textures for my very own utilization, noting a lot else.
Jakie: When did u see Quake for the primary time?
ZTN: The second I downloaded the QTest1 from an area BBS. It might need been round early spring ’96, if I’m not mistaken. The shareware model got here a bit later, on June 23th to be actual. And obtained my full model someday in October the identical 12 months, I feel.
Jakie: Do u have a configuration file for Quake? If sure, the place can or not it’s downloaded?
ZTN: I do have a customized cfg file for Quake, however it’s not downloadable. I take advantage of an oddball mixture for navigating round: my proper mouse button is for shifting forwards, and z, x, c for strafing and shifting backwards. I’ve used that individual mixture since my Doom days and the benefit of this format is that it leaves my lefthand center finger free for different duties whereas shifting ahead.
Jakie: Which Quake is the most effective? 🙂
ZTN: Which girl is the most effective? There are numerous solutions to that query…some like their past love, some are endlessly looking for their real love, some like what they’ve received. From the pure enjoyable and deathmatch standpoint, I like the unique Quake the most effective. From the mapping standpoint, nothing beats Quake III.
Jakie: Do u have a girlfriend (or spouse ;-), what does she thinks about “all this”? 🙂 Does she use a pc for her wants?
ZTN: God forbid, NO! No girl is allowed to deliver her stuff to my sacred room, not to mention contact my {hardware}. You’ll be able to’t belief ladies you understand, ahead of you’ll be capable to say “ni”, they’ve put in a 2,5MB bitmap with an image of a fluffy kitten to your desktop and despatched lots of of “jokes” and “persona exams” out of your e-mail addy to their associates. However, make no mistake, I do have just a few excellent girlfriends whom which I’ve a pleasant relationship with, it’s simply that the lone wolf a part of me doesn’t wish to cool down for the time being 😉
Jakie: What’s your private home computer configuration?
ZTN: Hehe, It’s a medicore PIII-450 with 384MB of RAM and 20GB harddisk, GeForce256 and a 17” monitor. Sufficient for me =)
Jakie: Do u have any brothers or systers? Does they play? 🙂
ZTN: I’ve an older brother, he doesn’t play, however his son does. And he has additionally created some maps, a few of them truly fairly well-known. He’s nickname is “paradies” and a few of his para2dmX collection maps are nonetheless getting used on Quake2 servers.
Jakie: Do u have associates – skilled gamers?
ZTN: Oh, I’ve many associates, although not skilled gamers, a few of them would do good at any skilled occasion.
Jakie: Have u ever performed on any e-sport championship?
ZTN: No, I’m not that good of a participant.
Jakie: Why don’t u take part in e-sport tasks, resembling XSReality, Cached or Cyberfight? And do u plan NOT to take part in future?
ZTN: However I’m taking part =) Not from the competitors aspect, however I’ve my foot within the door by offering maps. I map higher than I play deathmatch.
Jakie: What do u take into consideration CS invasion in Quake neighborhood?
ZTN: Attention-grabbing. However I’m but to attempt CS myself. Haven’t hardly had any time for taking part in even Quake III, not to mention studying a very new sport.
Jakie: What do u take into consideration e-sport future? It’s a sport?
ZTN: Oh it’s a sport allright. If throwing a cowshit could be a sport, e-sport may have no downside bearing an emblem “sport”. The query in my thoughts is nonetheless, how quickly until it’ll be accepted as a spectator sport. It’ll come for positive, however when?
Jakie: Which one in all skilled gamers you suppose is the most effective? Which crew and which nation in all?
ZTN: effectively…I feel I’m not relevant to reply that query since I don’t a lot comply with the skilled gaming scene =)
Jakie: Did you hear one thing about Russian gamers? About crew 4z and c58?
ZTN: I don’t a lot comply with the web event scene, so I’ve to apologize for not reckognizing any of the names. However I do know that Russian Quake plaers are doing very effectively. The truth is, a very good proportion of my “fanmail” comes from Russia. I keep in mind an incident just a few years again with a Russian high participant, who was denied of US VISA for touring there to participate of a high-class event. I felt unhappy concerning the man, he misplaced purely by politics, which I feel ought to be unrelated to the sports activities. However what are you able to do?
Jakie: For the tip, what would u say to your followers in Russia? 🙂
ZTN: Nazdarovje? Hehehe =) Thanks on your help and preserve holding your status excessive. Have mercy!
Blood Run (ZTN)
In 1997 Sten “ztn” Uusvali created the unique model of Blood Run for QUAKE 1 as a homage to E1M5 Gloom Hold, and it turned an instantaneous hit. Following the discharge of QUAKE III Enviornment, ztn re-built Blood Run from scratch and launched it in 2000 to a good higher reception. Through the years, Blood Run has turn out to be a staple of Duel competitors, and a favourite of gamers world wide. Numerous skilled tournaments have been determined, and lots of of hundreds of {dollars} earned through the years inside the halls of Blood Run.
– ZTN on wiki.quakeworld.nu
– Blood Run on lvlworld.com
– Sten on linkedin.com