Interview [Issue 33] Let's meet the New Reporters!

[hogree 4,179]

 
Yep, New Reporters! Last month, we announced that Reporter Applications were open and now we have found four prospective reporters set to take on the job. From their favourite Tanki combination to their first-choice superpower, join me as we find out all about them!
mcmonkey25
A "typical" reporter, mcmonkey's knowledge of the game, experience within the community and grounding in the English language made him an obvious candidate for the reporter job. Bringing another animal name to the Reporter team, we frankly couldn't turn him down!
 

hogree: Yo mcmonkey. Nice to be able to chat to you. Mind starting by telling us a bit about yourself and who you are?

 

mcmonkey25: Hi Hog. I'm 16 and currently living and studying in England. I enjoy sports, especially orienteering, as well as writing and of course playing Tanki!

 

hogree: Neat neat. So what brought you to Tanki and how long have you been playing?

 

mcmonkey25: I was introduced to Tanki by Peace-Keeper-99 (a good friend from school) a couple of years ago. I was sceptical of the game at first, but I grew to love it and after what has felt like a long time playing, I am where I am now! As for the exact date I joined; I have absolutely no idea!

 

hogree: Nice one! Well, now you've been playing for a good couple of years, have you got a favourite combination? And any preferred playing styles or maps you thrive in?

 

mcmonkey25: For me, it has to be probably the classic XP. I'm quite bad at 1 v 1's but in certain maps, like Noise, Monte Carlo and Polygon, I find I don't play too badly :P. I am quite an attacking player, always looking to get the captures because I hate being idle in our own base. Yet, from time to time I use Isida and Viking because that is also a preferred combination of mine especially in Silence and Polygon. I find it quite versatile, but I like to stay in midfield with it so that I can still do both healing and killing.

 

hogree: Interesting. Yep, XP is a winner. As for joining the team, what made you want to become a Reporter?

 

mcmonkey25: I have always had a keen interest in writing and had recently tried to do more Tanki related articles. It wasn't much to start off with but it slowly turned into something I was trying to do more and more often. As soon as I heard there was a position for a new reporter, I went for it because I knew that I would join a very good collection of writers and I have always wanted to become a member of the Tanki Online staff so that I could give something back to the game.

 

hogree: Great. So, if you could describe yourself in three words, what would you choose?

 

mcmonkey25: Ummm... Tough one... I guess: 'imaginative, fun and hard-working'

 

hogree: Right, and what about if you could have a unique super-power? What would you choose?

 

mcmonkey25: I would have the ability to produce bananas from nothing... I'm only joking! Probably to be able to teleport anywhere around the world or stop time... Not very original, but together I think they would make a cool combination!

 

hogree: Deep stuff. Even though I'd probably prefer an old-fashioned chicken wing. Well, now you're a reporter, what can we be expecting from your pen in the upcoming months? Specialise in any genres in particular?

 

mcmonkey25: I'm hoping to develop my 'Everything to do with...' series, which summarises certain garage stats, advantages and disadvantages and how to use them. I also do quite a bit of fictional writing so expect to see a few stories coming from me. To be honest, I don't really specialise, I write about whatever pops into my head next and seems good!

 

hogree: Sounds great man! Looking forward to see your stuff. All the best, and thanks for your time!

 

mcmonkey25: Cheers Hog!

 S.C.Y.T.H.E
A talented writer, S.C.Y.T.H.E is affectionally known to Conan as "the second Remaine" and has already shown a great degree of detail in his application. Reasonably well known within the community, his impeccable English set him out as a worthy candidate for the job.
 

hogree: Hiya Scythe. Mind beginning by telling us a bit about yourself and who you are?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: I am a fourteen year old boy, living in the United States. I am homeschooled, which basically means I don't go to school, but play tanks all day. I am really into many kinds of sports. I also have been playing the piano and flute for seven years. People who know me say that I like to say things that make no sense. For example, yesterday I was inside of a restaurant after shopping. I was carrying a large cardboard box, about five feet long, which contained a table umbrella. Someone asked me what was up with the cardboard box. I replied, "Oh, the sandwiches here are just gigantic."

 

hogree: Strange type of homeschooling. :P Decent banter tho. I know a certain hamster who would be keen on gigantic sandwiches. Anyway, how did you find yourself in Tanki and how long have you been playing?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: Well, it's a long story. I was at a Christmas party late 2010. A couple of my friends were playing the game, and they invited me to the game and I created an account. I played on this account for a few weeks. After probably a month of playing, I reached the amazingly high rank of Master Corporal, and I stopped playing the game for a long time. But I did invite some of my other friends to play the game. Several months later, one friend that I had invited to the game reached Warrant Officer One, and I had a chance to try out Hornet (this was pre-rebalance). After that, I started another account, Snakey123, in hopes to get Hornet as well. Over the next year or so I played (not very frequently) and I eventually reached the rank in which I could buy Ricochet. Then, a few days later the infamous rebalance occurred. I really liked this update, because it allowed me to buy Shaft M1, Mammoth M1, Ricochet M1, and Viking M1, tanks that had been future dreams beforehand. After the rebalance, I played for a while. But I got caught up in some other games. I eventually returned in July, 2014. I finally learned to turn my turret at this point, and reached M2 ranks. I've been playing pretty actively until now!

 

hogree: Decent! So what do you like using nowadays? And any preferred gameplay or maps you enjoy residing in?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: What do I like using nowadays... that is a very hard question. I use all kinds of combinations. I really like Hornet M3/Railgun M2 for XP battles. I like Freeze M3/Viking M3 in most maps. And I love Titan M2/ Twins M2.  Above all, I like XP Sandbox. In this map, gameplay is extremely intense and always keeps my attention. I also love a good Polygon CP.

 

hogree: Mainstream but classic. So what set your mind upon becoming a Reporter, and why did you apply?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: Well, I didn't even know that the Reporter position existed until November 2014. Beforehand, I didn't even know about positions in the staff, except for there were mysterious moderators. In the fall of 2014 I began actually doing my research into the game, and found out all kinds of stuff. Still, joining the staff was an impossible dream for me. Then, I discovered the Newspaper. I noticed the position Reporter. Quickly, this position was my favorite because I really like to write and there is no definite age limit. I read all around the archives, and began to really get an idea of what a reporter does, and contemplated applying whenever applications were open. I actually started writing articles for my application in December. It seemed like this was the perfect opportunity to have my writing viewed by a large audience, and I couldn't wait for Reporter applications to open.

 

hogree: Right you are. So, let's say you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: Ambitious, Intelligent, and Practical.

 

hogree: Fair enough! How about if you could pick a unique superpower? What would be your choice?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: Well, I have always thought that being able to turn invisible would be cool. But recently I have decided that being able to slow or stop time would be the best power. If you could stop time but still move around, you could escape unnoticed from any situation. It would be equivalent to turning invisible, even better. If you could slow time, then you could think and run faster. If you think about having a power like this, there are so many cases where it would come in handy. So, the power of stopping/slowing time would be the best.

 

hogree: Good point. Well, thanks for that. How about a taster as to what you're planning to be showing in the upcoming few issues? Any specialities?

 

S.C.Y.T.H.E: I will be writing in a lot of different areas. I am planning on continuing my Decay story for at least seven issues. Also, I hope to write a series on the history of actual tanks and tank warfare in the future. Another big plan of mine is to start interviewing clans, in a sort of 'clan spotlight'.

 

hogree: Looking forward to it. Best wishes mate. Cheers for your time.

 Shedinja
A strong applicant, Shed showed a mixture of compelling writing and interesting ideas within his application. Although pretty young in his Tanki career, his ability to write is obvious and shows fantastic potential.

 

hogree: Hey, Shed! Welcome to the team! Firstly, could you give us a bit of detail about yourself and who you are?

 

Shedinja: Well, my name is Jonathan Gerbino, but I'm known to most people as Shedinja, or Shed. I am sixteen years old, and currently dwell in Boulder City, Nevada of the United States of America. I have been playing Tanki Online for a supplementary total of a year and a half, and yet I still  find myself discovering new things about it. Outside of the internet, I am in my junior year of high school at Boulder City High School, where I am a member the drive team in the local FRC robotics group, Team 3009 (Boulder City High Scalers). I also enjoy reading, writing, or tinkering with machines for entertainment. You can usually find me at the local library, either hanging out with my friends or doing a bit of solitary work.

 

hogree: Interesting! Another Yank in the team! Well, what convinced you to apply for the reporter job at this stage in time?

 

Shedinja: Well, I was taking a look at the game newspaper, and I saw this ad that stated that new reporters were being hired. So, I thought to myself, "Hmm. I've been improving on my writing skills, and I need the work ethic. Maybe I could attempt to apply as a newspaper editor. Besides, I might learn a few things that could help me in the long run." So, I cut out the prologue for the story I was currently writing (I was bored over the weekend), and sent it in as an application.

 

hogree: Fair play! So as a fairly experienced Lieutenant Colonel, what do you most enjoy using in Tanki in terms of combinations?

 

Shedinja: Well, the title 'Lieutenant' will be removed quite soon. ;) What do I like using the most in TO? Well, after playing a long run on my original account, Sigma_Ctu-s1_V3, I have narrowed down my garage to three hulls and three turrets: Hornet, Hunter, and Dictator, and Isida, Smoky, and Railgun. Almost all of them are of M2 status, spare Smoky. (That will receive its due upgrade by the next sale, however.) Out of those, my best offensive combination is undoubtedly Hornet/Railgun. I've been training with XP equipment since the end of my career on Sigma, and even though I know most of the tricks, I'm certainly not the best at it. (I'm considering buying M2 Wasp to give BP a try, but my currency income might be an impediment...) However, sometimes you can find me playing with Smoky/Hornet on offensive, and occasionally Isida/Hornet. For midfield, I tend to alternate between all three of my hulls, depending on the parameters and statistics of the match at hand. On larger maps, such as Berlin and Dusseldorf, I like using more agile tanks such as Hornet and Hunter to swiftly move me through the guaranteed maze of terrain. It's also preferable to me to use quicker hulls to transverse open ground between buildings quickly, so I'm not a sitting duck for Shaft and Railgun fire. On smaller maps like Industrial zone and Factory, where the middle ground is less clearly defined, Dictator is my hull of choice.

 

hogree: How about preferred battlegrounds? Any favourite maps?

 

Lt. Shedninja: I'm not always found in the same map often (spare Polygon CPs, I have an addiction). I like to know my way around all of the maps in the game. Knowing the battleground is half the battle, no? However, if I had to choose a favorite... I like ones that are medium sized, with low buildings. Things like Forest, Gubahka, Sepurhov... and one of my particular favorites, Kungur.

 

hogree: Absolutely... Learning the maps is a rare and vital asset for all players. Well, let's say you had three words to describe yourself, what would they be?

 

Lt. Shedninja: Oh, boy... I was never good at these kinds of things... Well, I'll give it a shot. Analytic, Friendly, Cautious?

 

hogree: I'll take that, even though I don't have a clue what Analytic means... :P Anyway, if you could pick a unique superpower, what would it be and why?

 

Shedinja: Well, if I were to choose any one superpower, it would have to be the ability to manipulate electricity. With the modern world leaning towards electronics, could you imagine the widespread possibilities that messing around with electron movements can have? Tamper around with the ability long enough, and you could probably even manage to make data flow from a computer malleable. You can let your mind wander with that one... :D

 

hogree: That's enough Internet for one day... o_o *mindblown* Lastly, what sort of articles can we be expecting from you in the coming months? Anything you specialise in?

 

Shedinja: Well, I'm pretty versatile with my writing; I have experience in making guides, short or extensive stories (depending on how long I have to brainstorm beforehand), analysis comparisons of things... I'm kind of like that gift basket at that Easter party that has both pencil pads and Snickers in it.

 

hogree: I see. Looking forward to it man! Welcome to the team! =)

 

Shedinja: Thank you so much! I'm so glad to be a part of it! :D

 Electro9876

Electro's compelling ideas and interesting story in his application noted him as one to consider and his position in the team is well-earned. Although perhaps not as grammatically strong as others in the new bunch, his ideas show great potential and he could be one for the future.

 

hogree: Hi Elec. Great to be able to talk to you today. Could you begin by filling us in a bit about yourself and who are you?

 

Electro9876: Hi Hog. My real name is Abdul, 14 yrs old, and in Grade 9. I was born and live in Canada with some cool siblings. My grades are good so when i'm not studying i'm writing or playing tanki ofc. And don't forget soccer!

 

hogree: Great! Well, how long have you been playing Tanki for and what's made you decide to apply for Reporter?

 

Electro9876: Well, I had two accounts. On Electro9876, I have been playing for about a year now. The reason that I wanted to join the team was to actually improve my english and writing. My writing is decent, and it takes me some time to perfect what i'm writing. Reading the issue is enjoyable, and i'd like people to see what i've got. :)

 

hogree: Sure, yeah. So on this account, now, what's your in-game favourite combo? And any preferred maps or gameplay?

 

Electro9876: Of course Hornet and Railgun! The map that that I like is Sandbox, playing the XP format on this map is one of the best things i've ever done. Other than Hornet and rail, I like to use Viking/Hornet with Smoky. Knocking off the aim of the enemy and watching them rage was what kept keeping me going with this amazing combo. Also like my other favourite combo, I like to use it on the map Sandbox!

 

hogree: Mainstream, but nothing wrong with that! Got to love a good old-fashioned Sandbox XP. Well, sell me to you. If you had three words to describe yourself, what would they be?

 

Electro9876: Athletic, smart, and amazing.

 

hogree: Good to have some humility in the team! :P You certainly sold yourself to me mate... Well, you might say you're amazing, but if you could pick a superpower, what would it be? ;)

 

Electro9876: Electrical Power xD

 

hogree: Explain.

 

Electro9876: Well, I'll have the power to take electricity and give to anyone I want. Think about it, you wouldn't be able to ever turn on the lights all around your house if it wasn't for me. Oh, you're welcome! ;)

 

hogree: Fitting for the name, even though that isn't my idea of a superpower! Nonetheless, thanks mate! So, now you're in the team, what can we be expecting from you in the coming issues? Specialise in any styles or genres? Any plans?

 

Electro9876: Lol, some amazing writing in every article, story or guide I write, and to be the best I can be! My goal as a reporter is to write some amazing articles and improve within each one, entertain everyone, and of course help them too!

 

hogree: Right... Best wishes and thanks for taking the time for this "amazing" interview!

 

Electro9876: No problem, and thank you!

Well, that's the interviews over, but you guys still can play a part in the future articles coming from the pens of each of these new reporters. Do get involved by suggesting articles for the upcoming issues, over on our "Newspaper Requests!" Topic linked here.
 
If you think you are a good writer and would like to become a reporter too, stay tuned for when applicants open! It will be announced in the Newspaper if we do open up again. We may also permanently open newspaper applications in the future, so stay tuned on that!
 
As for you who entered but were not chosen, keep writing! Many of you wrote creditable entries but just didn't pass the barrier we set for our new recruits. And don't forget - you can still enter all the newspaper contests and show off your writing skill there.
 
 

Edited July 30, 2017 by Hexed

[snipe3000 678]

grats

[liverpoolaum 811]

nice

[Kevred 1,586]

Elec, canadian buddies! Can I ask which province? (and maybe which town?)

[jazz20 1,181]

Hmmm so H.Y.D.R.O.G.E.N and O.X.Y.G.E.N are for the arabic newspaper then.

 

Good luck to all the candidates!! 

[Raredust 454]

Congrats to the new ones. ^_^

[SonicTemplar 10]

Good Luck electro <3 and mcm <3

-Shadow.T

[The.Skilled.Legend 1,459]

Elec, canadian buddies! Can I ask which province? (and maybe which town?)

Milton, Ontario. 

[The.Skilled.Legend 1,459]

Good Luck electro <3 and mcm <3

-Shadow.T

Thanks m8!

[LaLisa_My_Queen 271]

Nice interview and good luck reporters.

[fahim_the_boss 1,519]

Good Job Electro Bro!

[general1699 32]

are reporter applications still open ?

[SpreadLoveNotHate 374]

Milton, Ontario. 

I've found my new fav reporter. jkjk 

Hey Electro : ) I'm from Richmond Hill ^^ Lovely to have another reporter represent Ontario haha

 

Don't play too much Tanki :P 

[The.Skilled.Legend 1,459]

I've found my new fav reporter. jkjk 

Hey Electro : ) I'm from Richmond Hill ^^ Lovely to have another reporter represent Ontario haha

 

Don't play too much Tanki :P

Haha, thanks! :)

[G4TOR 5]

Congrats :'D 
 

[saudsaudsaud 23]

Nice interview ..

And congratulations to new reporters ..

[saudsaudsaud 23]

are reporter applications still open ?

Hi ..

You can follow the reporters section for more news ..

Best regards ..

[Thekillerpenguin 1,731]

are reporter applications still open ?

No, the application period closed earlier this month. It likely won't be open for quite a while.

[S.C.Y.T.H.E 1,072]

And BTW I was being sarcastic when I said that all I did was play tanki all day  :D . I do too much school...

[beaku 2,656]

No, the application period closed earlier this month. It likely won't be open for quite a while .

A year? A decade?? What?

[Thekillerpenguin 1,731]

A year? A decade?? What?

There isn't a fixed time frame for that.

[TankDestroyer890 135]

i cant w8 for it to open again because I will apply but I do hope the my karma doesn't get in my way :/,

 

but I am a great writer so...

[dj112_TURBO 388]

i also wanted to apply for reporter but im a bit late now

[LifeOfPi5 0]

[shot91160 51]

.