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So, Vander tell us a little something about yourself,
you know name/age - bio stuff. I've always repected that
you appear on the www just as you do in life, you hide
nothing nor afraid to share your mind :) |
| V |
My name's Jeff Vandemark. My friends have always called
me Vander. I'm 29 years old. I do contract computer work
here in San Jose. |
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Are you married? I can't see how with all the time you
must spend on the DescentBB and designing levels  |
| V |
I am single at the moment. |
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What are your Other Hobbies, oop's, do you have any
I mean? |
| V |
I enjoy outdoor activites like Camping, Mountain Biking,
Fishing, Skiing, Running. My new computer game addiction
has been Medal of Honor. |
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I think I probally speak for most Descent'rs on the
NET when I say THANKS FOR your time spent to create the
levels we enjoy,
me especially because I feel certian that your creations
will provide me, the tunnel-rat with some fun. |
| V |
Thanks. :) |
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How did you start playing Descent 1 or 2? |
| V |
My friend gave me the D1 sharware floppies. I played
the single player until finally getting a modem. Then
I was able to play 1on1 with my buddy. |
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What has playing Descent done for you? |
| V |
Descent has given me many hours of enjoyment. I've met
many great people through Descent. |
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Why do you continue to play Descent? |
| V |
Habit? A lingering addiction? I'm sure I don't have
to explain what's so great about Descent's gameplay, but
I've more or less been moving away from Descent for some
time. I probably play for like 30 minutes a week, if that. |
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Ok, well let's get this party on the road!
Speakin' of road/mines how many levels have you developed?
(do you have a complete list we can insert here?) |
| V |
Hmm, let me think ....
I think I ported a couple D2 levels to D1, too. |
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What/Who influenced you to try Descent and when was
that? |
| V |
Like I said, my friend gave my the D1 Shareware disks
before the full version was out. I was hooked right from
the start. |
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When did you create your first level, what was it, and
was it "good"? |
| V |
My first level, Vander's
Casket, was made a little after the full version of
Descent came out. I usually let others decide if one of
my level's is good or not, but I enjoyed playing it.
I didn't have an ISP account when I made it, but I uploaded
it to Compuserve. A bit later, when I got on Kali,
I found that people actually played it! I was stoked!
My second level, also made before I got kali, was pretty
bad. :) |
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Why do you spend countless hours developing Descent
Levels? |
| V |
I enjoyed trying to build fun areas to fight in. I suppose
it was an artistic outlet. On this last level, Resination,
I just wanted to show myself that I could actually make
a D3 level from scratch. I hadn't been able to up to create
something new, only the D2 ports like Indika and Hash
Bash, which gave me a blueprint of what to build. |
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Of all your levels can you say hey this is my favorite
level in each of Descent, D2 and D3, come on I know you
have a few, so give me a few then? |
| V |
Hmm, I'd have to say my favorite levels are Hash
Bash and Redeye
Ridge, for D2. Those are the two levels that I've
had the most fun games in.
Perhaps that speaks more of the folks I've played in there
more than the levels themselves, though. |
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What have you got going on, that might be of interest
to the Descent Community at Large? |
| V |
Nothing really. I don't have any plans to build more
levels, but you never know. The urge might strike at any
time. |
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Ok, I really want to know what level designer style
sticks out in your mind, you know every time you get a
level from him/her, you have to stop/unzip/load/look at
his/her levels? |
| V |
For D1/D2, there were many, but pHang and spaz jump
out. For D3, I'd have to say Otherone and Hostile. |
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What do you want to say to the Descenter's that use
your levels? |
| V |
Just have fun. It's what they were made for. And don't
pay attention to any of the minor errors I've made. :) |
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Where do you see Descent headin in the future? |
| V |
Well, Descent is obviously over the hill. I imagine
that without a new, revamped Descent game, new players
will be few and far between. That's too bad, too, because
there aren't any games with Descent's unique and challenging
gameplay. |
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WHEW, long winded huh!
Is there anything you would like to add? |
| V |
It was good to meet and have a smoke with you at the
Houston Roxfest a few years ago. And thanks to you and
watSup for the DBB. It has probably kept me around much
longer than I would have been. |
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