Welcome avid readers to the Forge Hub community Spotlight. Here we highlight some of the shiny stars, as well as under looked talents, using anything from inquisitive interviews, to map highlights and anything else that we feel has gone without enough notice. This week on the Community Spotlight we have Zombievillan, a very talented Forger who has had well deserved success about the Hub. Find out about his experience with Forge Hub in this edition of Community Spotlight.
Community Spotlight has come back to the wonderful world of forgers and since it's a question always asked to the forgers, how exactly was it you became interested in Forge?
Well, I loaded forge on the Pit years ago and thought that it was so cool that I could change the map anyway I could. I soon found that you could move everything on Foundry and I went crazy on it. I already had interests in designing and drawing, so it just appealed to me.
After being interested in Forge, it must have been that you sought out to find others like yourself, so how was it you happened upon the Hub?
Well, when I started forging on Foundry, I started downloading every map variant I could find from my recent players list on Live. I would play matchmaking just to see if people had cool maps. One day I stumbled upon one of Shadow Vipers "Project" maps and it was the first time I had seen any interlocking or geomerging so I saw Forge Hub on the description I believe, so I checked it out.
Once here, why did you decide to stay?
It was friggin' epic. I finally learned how everyone was merging their objects into the ground. The people were cool and helpful when I asked questions. It was pretty cool so I wanted to make something and share it too.
Everybody starts somewhere. What was your first map like?
Its called Tactacon. It was so messy, LOL! I went berserk on everything. It was my first time using the budget glitch and merging so it was bad.
What was it the was so wrong with this map and what did you learn from it?
Interlocking isn't everything. You also don't want to use every possible item you can fit in your map. Plus, back then, people really let you have it if your map was breakable. This one was easily breakable, LOL. Last but not least, spawns and weapon setups were important. I didn't even test that map, LOL.
Being a premium means you've gotten some features. Which was the first to grace the front page?
Aerialis. It was an awesome feeling! Back then I though I would never be seen on the front page. When I was building it, I started messaging every colored member I could find asking them to take a look but they all thought I was some noob. Vorpal Checked it out though, and helped me out a lot with the weapons and spawns and all of a sudden it was on the front page. It was epic.
You've had quite a few features. Of all them, which is your favorite?
Definitely Ephasus. I spent the most time on it and the center structure is my favorite structure I have built to date. It also had my most epic geomerges done way before Ghost merging was found. Making maps was hard work back then. (compared to now).
If you had to choose your favorite map by another forger, which would it be?
I'm not an MLG kid, but I loved Archaic. It was awesome and the first of its kind that I saw here.
With six features in the bag and nearing Architect, how does it feel to be one of the most accomplished forgers of today?
Its great and all but I don't consider myself amazing. Once I get Architect I am still going to make maps and try my best to continue helping others with their maps. Its an awesome rank but I will still be the same ol' zombievillan.
In all this time you've spent here what would you say has been you greatest achievement?
It was undoubtedly getting my first feature. At that time, it was unimaginable to me. I knew there were a lot of people on this website and for my map to be on the front page, it was friggin' awesome.
Being a successful forger, you must have some tips for the budding ones out there?
Gameplay is always more important than looks. Yeah, we want a good looking map, but it MUST play good to be played on. If you look at Wishbone, its not the prettiest map, yet people are still playing on it to this day. Not that its the best playing map but its fun to play on. So remember that when building. Every item you place, make sure it serves a purpose. Then go back and add aesthetics.
What do you think the main reason for your success is?
God. Everything I use, dedication or talent, was God given. Dedication was major. I was forging so much for the 1v1 tournament that my wife was getting fed up, LOL!
What are your plans for Forge future? Are you going to keep forging into Reach?
Hopefully there will be something new in Reach. Until then I am just gonna keep making maps with as many new ideas as possible. I will always try and come up with something new.
What's up in your personal life?
Well my wife is as hot as ever (check my album if you don't believe me, lol) and my newborn son is now 3 months old and growing. Its been a crazy few months though and I thank God for both of them.
What do you do for pass times outside of Forge?
Well I play Guitar a lot (metal) and I play Bass at the church. I also skateboard at our freshly built skate park whenever I get a chance. Other than that I work, and spend time with my family.
Anything else you'd like to add before we wrap things up?
I wanna thank Forge Hub as a whole for being such a cool, diverse community. There is a few losers that bash me for my Christian beliefs, but its all good. The other 95% treat me and others great regardless so keep forging guys and thanks for all the support and inspiration.
Thank you very much to Zombievillan for this reflection on his Forge career and the helpful tips that new forgers will surely appreciate. Check out some of Zombie's maps in the right hand column and leave some feedback. Make sure to keep an eye out for the next Community spotlight. If you feel you know someone who deserves a spotlight, send a private message to chrstphrbrnnn.
Wishbone - Co-forged with DeathToll77