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Staff Spotlight - June 2015

Hiya! It's time for Staff Spotlight again and this time we have Raidenthequick.

I've decided to take a new stance on the interview and am hoping to use the same format for all future MotMs and Staff Spotlights. Of course, if people prefer the old way, that's fine. Anyway, it's more of an actual now, instead of just a list of questions. Think of it like a news reporter's interview or an informal chat. Here it comes!
Tahixham: Hi there, Raidenthequick. How's things going with you?
Raidenthequick: Hey Tahixham! Going well, it's a Sunday afternoon and I'm just lazing about in my boxers. How about you, sir?
Tahixham: Nice to know... I'm good.
Raidenthequick: Good to hear!

Tahixham: So, obviously you're (at least I think you are) the only Yoshi's Island hacking staff member. What took your interest in YI hacking?
Raidenthequick: Most of the member/staff spotlights I've seen are stories about finding the site through YouTube or some other such avenue. Mine, naturally, is a slightly different path.
Raidenthequick: I joined the Yoshi's Island speedrunning community on IRC (#yoshi on SRL server) in ... 2013 I believe. I was (and still am) awful at running the game, but the community consists of very fun great people.
Raidenthequick: TheGreekBrit (known as Lexie or Alexander 'round these parts) one day joined the community as well. At first I thought he was a douche, and, well, that's still true ;).
Tahixham: Haha, I see. Sounds a bit different to other users then.
Raidenthequick: But he started asking around for help with a Yoshi's Island "disassembly" project. The first question I asked him was why? Why did he want to diassemble the game? Instead of answering with something logical, he just said "why not?". I couldn't argue with that, so here I am.

Tahixham: So. Have you ever tried hacking SMW as well?
Raidenthequick: I have never tried SMW. I know embarrassingly little about the game's code.
Tahixham: Is there a YI dissasembly? I'm a little out of the loop with YI hacking and have no idea on how it works or anything.
Raidenthequick: There is currently a 100% complete YI disassembly, and it even assembles to a clean ROM.
Raidenthequick: Including Super FX and SPC, everything.
Tahixham: Oh, right. Didn't know that.
Tahixham: Does YI hacking have such possibilities with ASM like SMW hacking does?
Raidenthequick: Definitely. Lexie and myself released a tool called SPASM, which is YI's levelasm. That's just the beginning, though. I am just one person and there's a lot to do, but I plan on adding many more tools like this, e.g. sprite tool, to make more ASM feasible.
Tahixham: Ahh, right. So maybe oneday YI hacking will be as easy as SMW hacking?
Raidenthequick: That's the hope! I'm getting there slowly.

Tahixham: Now all it needs is a finished level editor...
Raidenthequick: Haha, yeah. I will definitely make one of my own.
Raidenthequick: I've been considering ways to go about doing that, like the editor called Tiled, which takes care of much of the GUI work for me.
Raidenthequick: But we'll see.
Tahixham: To be honest, YI hacking has never really had much luck with level editors, has it?
Tahixham: EggVine was... well... you know...
Tahixham: GoldenEgg never got finished either.
Raidenthequick: Not quite. Golden Egg is probably the best you'll find, but even it feels very immature and lacking in many ways. Heck, the sprites show up as "0B9" and "1BC" rather than a nice convenient graphic.

Tahixham: Perhaps the level editor is one thing that's stopping the SMW hacking community from trying YI hacking? People get pretty used to Lunar Magic and it's ease of use.
Tahixham: There aren't many games you can hack that are as easy as SMW.
Raidenthequick: It's certainly a barrier for many people. I plan on taking down that barrier one small step at a time. For example, I wish to create a very nice Super FX tutorial, as I don't think one exists out there at all.
Raidenthequick: Super FX isn't really THAT difficult; sure, it has its quirks, but people can learn it.

Tahixham: So, have you got any hacking projects your working on yourself at the moment?
Raidenthequick: Not a fullscale hack if that's what you mean, as I'm so busy with the technical side of things.
Raidenthequick: But I have little things, like I just finished a beta version of a "babyless" hack, where Baby Mario is completely cut out.
Tahixham: I see.
Raidenthequick: The star count is now Yoshi's "health". Should be an interesting patch for people to play with, I hope.
Tahixham: Sound pretty cool.

Tahixham: So, how have you found your time on staff so far?
Raidenthequick: It's been interesting as I feel like I have my "own little corner" (YI) so sometimes I am a tad estranged from things that go on. But that is no excuse, I should make myself more involved in the community and everything.
Raidenthequick: People have been nice to me though, members and staff alike.

Tahixham: I see. Anything else you'd like to shout out to the community about... like, "hey, I want to talk about this"?
Raidenthequick: Y'know, I've talked to many people on IRC and I've seen many people posting, but I still don't feel like I have a good grip on who most people really are. I've gotten to know a good amount, even met up with one in real life, but I'd like to get to know more people. I suppose with time I will, but it'd be cool to have some 1 on 1 icebreaker discussion with random people.
Tahixham: Yeah.

Tahixham: Well, then, if there's nothing else?
Raidenthequick: Should do it. I've talked your ear off enough ;)
Tahixham: Haha. Alright then. Thanks a lot!
Raidenthequick: Any time. Have a good one!
So, that's that.
Congratulations, Raiden.
Originally posted by Raidenthequick
I'd like to get to know more people.
I'd totally query you @ IRC and talk with you (you seem like an interesting person with a nice sense of humor) but I can't really see you there.

I like the new format, by the way.
This reminds me of dialogs that students come up with at school, but I do like the format. Congrats to Raiden and all that.

Originally posted by Taxiham
Anyway, it's more of an actual now.
actual wut
Woo Raiden!!!!
#x{ravebaron}#x{ravebaron}#x{ravebaron}#x{ravebaron}#x{ravebaron}#x{ravebaron}#x{ravebaron}
Your layout has been removed.
I wouldn't trust this guy, have you seen his vidya prices?!
wr regular user becoming staff in 9:11.420
grats fuckweed


rest in piece, Tyrone :^(
POST MORE YOU'RE LITERALLY THE BEST POSTER ON THE SITE

also congrats
Originally posted by MoosieHD
i couldn't trust anyone either with shit trigger discipline

I do dig this conversation-style interview though. It feels way more natural than a pre-planned Q&A. Also man, you're doing God's work by removing Baby Mario from YI.

Just look above you...
If it's something that can be stopped, then just try to stop it!
Dude congratz Raiden!
(Is this enough? I don't want to get banned. Blackmailing is really rude...)
Thanks everyone!

Originally posted by Xyspade
This reminds me of dialogs that students come up with at school

Really? I've never come across this kind of dialog while at school. You must go to an awesome school.
I like this new format of interview better, I guess. Congrats Raiden, you deserved that award!
Windowless ride, feeling alive
Are you alive or just breathing?