Interview [Issue 53] In the Community Spotlight: MarineMan2

[GoldRock 6,165]

 

Welcome tankers - it's back! 'In the Community Spotlight', an interview series which has seen its fair share of newspaper history, has returned. And with us today, I've got the guy who credits his successful Tanki career to my amazing advice and mentoring, the guy who allegedly claims he "couldn't have done it all without Goldy", the one and only... MarineMan2!

 

GoldRock: So, MM2, how's it goin'?

 

MarineMan2: I'm doing pretty well, all thanks to your great wisdom and advice of course. *rolls eyes*

 

GoldRock: Now that is something I'm very glad to hear. Makes me feel all warm inside just thinking about the inspiration I must have been for you, y'know? (wipes tear away emotionally) 
 
Anyway, enough about me, although the subject could fill books as I'm sure my future biographer will realise in due course. Hehe. So, could you tell our readers who you are and a bit about yourself?
 
MarineMan2: Well to start, my name is James. I’ve been with Tanki Online for just about three years now, though I worked for the game as a staffer for about two. TO started as a hobby and quickly found its way to have a special place in my heart. I only dabble in other games a little, as most of my game time goes to Tanki. As far as hobbies goes, I’m interested in rock climbing, downhill skiing, civic issues, and playing my guitar (which is honestly a work in progress at this point).

 

 
GoldRock: Moving on - I've known you for a long time, but I'm not sure I've ever asked... How exactly did you stumble across the great game that is Tanki Online?

 

MarineMan2: Well Miniclip was one of several websites I commonly visited for online games, and one day I decided I would just goof off in the multiplayer section. I didn't intend to sign up for a full account, since there's usually some rubbish process where you have to provide a lot of information only so you can be spammed in every possible way later on. Anyway, I thought it was kinda interesting to see how far into the system I could get until the game started asking for personal information and the such. 
 
In my random clicking of multiplayer games I clicked on Tanki. It loaded me into the trial, and then much to my surprise, it loaded me straight into the game after just a quick username selection. I originally chose the username "marineman", but soon decided to create a new account with capitalized Ms, and I thought there was a nice ring to the abbreviation MM2.

 

GoldRock: Ooh, sounds like a good example of where the developers' attempts to make the game easy to get into actually paid off! And *cough* I'm glad they did and that you're here, of course :P 
 
Once you'd started to get into the game, how did things go from there? Did you get hooked into keyboard-smashing your way up the ranks straight away, or was your early career a little slower at first?

MarineMan2: Sooo... I don't know if you want me to be objective or subjective in my response, so I'll just go for both. Objectively, I wasn't especially fast when it came to ranking up, but I was moving at a fair enough pace. Subjectively... I was a beastly machine of ranking up. Which sounds epic, but is only true since I rank up super infrequently nowadays.

 

 

GoldRock: Well, it seems like you played the game a fair amount at first like many of us! When you started reaching the mid-ranks, what changed?
 
MarineMan2: Yea, it was definitely a lot of fun to unlock new items and to develop a strategy for both purchasing items, along with the combinations I could use them in. When I reached the mid-ranks I began to acquire a deeper understanding of the game. I finally found the forum and other game resources. My horizons broadened, and I guess it was at this point that I really discovered the Tanki Online community.

 

GoldRock: Aw, that's dramatic. On that note, how did you end up joining the Tanki staff? 
 
MarineMan2: Getting involved with the Tanki Staff was an interesting experience for me. I certainly wouldn't have come this far if it weren't for the support and good nature of a few people along the way. I started out as a guy who happened to know a good bit about the game with an interest in helping the community. Like many, I was initially drawn to the Chat Moderator position, since those were the Helpers I had felt the impact of most given the game itself was where I spent most of my time. I handed in a sloppy application and I wasn't really sure what I wanted or where I was going. Ostrica messaged me about a month later to inform me that it seemed like I didn't really fit the position (surprise, surprise), and suggested I look into the Consultants. 
 
I really committed this time, and became more diligent with my efforts. I carefully looked into things, and worked on the servers regularly, but upon applying, Issho_Fujitora responded to me saying that while I showed potential, I had a total of zero forum posts, leaving a lot of my ability and performance undocumented. He told me that I should work to grow as a contributor on the forum, and with this wisdom in mind, I went at it. About a month later I received a message from Issho on Skype saying I was admitted into the Consultants group for Candidacy. The rest is history.

 

 

GoldRock: What was it like to contribute to the community in such a way? What were some of the most interesting and exciting things you've done in your Tanki career?
 

MarineMan2: It was such a fun experience for me! Honestly growing to know the job and the people was the best part. As a Consultant, I was exposed to a lot of different people in the servers. While as a Forum Moderator, I ran into a lot of people who just loved exchanging cool ideas and thoughts. My work on the Help site was just especially rewarding because it let me interact with a lot of people, while having a definite positive impact on the community. I liked the idea that every time I answered a question or posted a topic, that much more information would be available to players.

 

Hmmm… Cool and exciting things I've done in my career. Well… Winning the Supplies Tutorial Contest with you was a real pleasure. Getting Helper of the Month was something incredibly special to me the first time I was awarded it. Then not to mention being awarded Helper of the Year! Those awards entailed rewards, but mostly the mere recognition that I had served well meant a lot to me. And as for a more recent exciting thing that's going on with me, my involvement in the closed beta testing of Tanki X, and some community development work. I think everything is going to pan out well. From the game to the forum, nothing disappoints. (Especially for forum users, a treat lies ahead.)

 

 

GoldRock: What would your advice for new players trying to advance in the game, community, or even to join the staff be?
 

MarineMan2: Just be yourself and the right things will happen. Wanting to be a part of the Tanki Online staff is an admirable goal, but not at the cost of throwing out who you are as a person to simply pursue this goal. Trying too hard to become a Helper of the game ultimately doesn’t help you or the game that much. The best Helpers simply grow into the position, even before they apply. Staff members typically already have an aptitude for the position they hold. 

 

GoldRock: Why have you become so involved in Tanki i.e. why do you like it so much?

 

MarineMan2: For me, it’s because the game is fun and accessible. I can play it anywhere on almost any computer. Though beyond this, I derive the most value from our English community environment. The people of TO are my favorite part of TO. The opportunity to interact with intellectuals from around the globe is exciting to me.

 

 

GoldRock: Where d’you think you’ll be going from here?
 

MarineMan2: Well nowadays I visit from time to time just to get in the game, or maybe simply poke around the forum I’ve grown to love. I have been scoping out the deal with Tanki X, and you might find me doing some work there. The closed beta testing has proved TX will be really fun and interesting, so getting involved with community there should be awesome.

 

GoldRock: Last but not least, is it true that back in your newbie days to the forum, you used to sign off your posts in the awesomely cool manner shown below?

 

 

 

 

MarineMan2: Haha, thanks for bringing up that ugly bit of my past, Goldy. Yep, it’s true, and it was kind of ironic considering I was doing so in a series of posts designed to display my ability to the administration... A series of posts which all stood in violation of a rule that identified signatures as spam.

 

GoldRock: But please, the banter was real even if you were a slight noob at the time... Anyway, joking aside, thanks for taking part in this interview!  ;) 

 

MarineMan2: I knew you'd appreciate the honor. Anytime.

 

 

 

Did you enjoy this article? Check out the rest of Issue 53 right here!

Edited July 20, 2017 by Hexed

[MarineMan2 1,164]

Best piece you've ever published to be sure. :d ;)

Edited May 7, 2016 by MarineMan2

[Flexoo 6,980]

I am not sure if it was done in interviews before, but I appraise the use of pictures. It brightened up the whole interview.

[ToiIetPaper_BS 528]

Did anyone notice the date of the article?

 

 

 

I feel so sorry...You must had waited so long for it to be live...If I were you, I would had had been very desperate about it.. :P

 

P.S: The interview was great...I really like that..:D

Edited May 7, 2016 by ToiIetPaper_BS

[Lhamster 4,081]

You should have seen the title it had before it was changed to be published :lol:

[Supernatural 2,053]

Amazing interview!

That ping and fps in that Esplanade tho.. ._.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Supernatural

[Quarks 2,255]

You should have seen the title it had before it was changed to be published :lol:

I think you should tell us Lham, I really do.

[ToiIetPaper_BS 528]

I think you should tell us Lham, I really do.

Um um um...lemme guess....

Was it " [interview] MarineMan2" (or something similar to that?) :p

[austlee 56]

That was a good, informative interview, keep up the great work

[SHOAIB.ZAFAR 402]

Good interview!

[Barra 1,445]

Thanks for advices, great interview ;)

Edited June 19, 2016 by Barra

[r_Tellurium1 9]

Great Interview and the pictures even made it better :)

[asifmehmood 1,576]

I saw first question and answer fully 2nd question and little answer then all pics and left. (I knew Gold would have started multing later)

[Ninja 10,468]

I like rock climbing & skiing too, so far only managed to climb every tree in our local park, maybe one day I'll be able to do them properly...