Hello readers. Welcome to another edition of the 22 Questions. More recently the interviews have been getting broader with people from all around the gaming community. This week I interviewed Michael Karlsson from Planet Halo. It seems like forever since I have had a true Halo interviewee. Good to go back to your roots every once in a while. Michael has some awesome answers. Have a read and enjoy.

• What is Your Gaming Alias:

Fluffaluffer. Used to be just Fluffy which I took when I was about 13. Getting a bit older made me realize that it was a very common nickname so I altered it a bit. In 2004 I was informed by Louis Wu about its similarity with Fluffer and what that meant (look it up in a dictionary) but still decided to keep it. ;)

• What Age Did You Start Playing Video Games:

I got my first C64 at the age of 2 (the year was 1987). Been playing PC games ever since and didn’t get a console until the Xbox was released.

• Who Would You Say is Responsible for Getting You Into Gaming:

I guess that would be the one who put the C64 in my hands, my dad. I also had this uncle who was a software tester who got a lot of old games and he always passed them down to me and my brother, I guess he deserves some kudos too.

• First Game That Had You Hooked:

The first game that really had me hooked was probably the original Scramble (recently released again on XBLA).

• Little Known Fact:

I cried when I read the end of Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire. :)

• If You Were to Make a Documentary, What Would it Be About:

I would like to make a documentary about Europe for some of the members of Planet Halo. It would be very useful in political debates where Europe is often generalized as if it was a nation or even more often as either Great Britain or France.

• What is Your Favorite Part of Your Job:

The interaction with the members of the site. It’s great to be able to be a part of the community you’ve created. That’s also the hardest part. Sometimes it can be tough to separate your role as a member and a friend and that of a Site Director having to enforce the rules and make decisions based on what one believes is best for the site.

• What Are You Better at Than Anyone You Know:

Probably being narcissistic and always sharing my cynical viewpoint in all discussions.

• Closest You Have Come to Death:

When I was a very young boy I almost choked while being breast-fed.

• Last Gadget Purchased:

I don’t really buy a lot of gadgets, I hate to carry stuff with me so I tend to stick with the most necessary stuff in my pockets such as keys, wallet and a cellphone. I suppose my cellphone also was the latest gadget I bought.

• Song You Are Currently Listening to:

I’ve been listening to a lot of Queen recently. Not any specific song really, almost everything is truly awesome.

• Favorite Ending For a Game, Movie or Book:

Halo 2’s ending. Hahaha, nah. My favorite ending is probably how Arlington Road (a movie from a few years ago) ended. I like it when movies and books don’t follow the standard “rules”. Surprise is almost always good, as long as it ain’t stupid and illogical.

• Favorite Movie Quote:

Arthur: What manner of man are you that you can summon up fire without flint or tinder?
Tim: I… am an enchanter.
Arthur: By what name are you known?
Tim: There are some who call me… ‘Tim’
Arthur: ...greetings, Tim the Enchanter.

• How Did You Get Started at What You Are Doing:

Back in 1999 I found a fan-site called Battleground: Halo. This was after reading an article in a magazine about an upcoming game called “Halo”. I began visiting the site frequently and in 2000 I joined the forums. After being a member for a few years the original staff abandoned the site and a member called Rams took control of the site and brought me and a few others along for the ride. He shortly handed over the role as Site Director to me and since then the site has gone from a GameSpy hosted fan-site to a Planet site run by GameSpy and as of the last few years IGN Entertainment.

• Thing That Keeps You Coming Back to Halo:

The community. It’s really that simple, Halo is surrounded by a great and diverse community and you’ll find all sorts of opinions, values and people in it. At times I’d like the community to be a bit more forgiving to different opinions but I suppose that’s not something exclusive for the Halo community as for the internet as a whole. Halo (and then I mean Halo 2) is also still the only game that comes with a smart and easy to use multiplayer system. People obviously have different opinions about Halo 2’s multiplayer gameplay and matchmaking but Halo 2’s party-system is still the king of the hill.

• What is Your Drink or Snack of Choice While Gaming:

Beer. I’m not really a 24/7 gamer and thus don’t really have the need for coffee or Jolt. My gaming consists of having a good time a few hours a week sharing a beer with long distance friends. Also, I don’t really take it all that seriously so I don’t mind the decrease in accuracy that comes with the beer.

• Game You Are Looking Forward to the Most:

I would be shot on sight if I did not say Halo 3 and Halo Wars. I’m also really looking forward to Assassins Creed, Worms HD and Fable 2 though.

• Game That Was the Biggest Let Down:

I rarely jump on the hype train so it’s really rare for me to be let down. Games that let me down are often games that get really successfull and which I have really good times. I was a bit disappointed with how Halo: Combat Evolved turned out. Don’t get me wrong here, it’s an amazing game but being on board from the start I had grown in love with Halo as it was shown at E3 in 2000. So I suppose that’s the game that let me down the most but it’s also one of the games I love the most. Sorry for what I lost but extremely happy for what I got.

• Most Exciting Gaming Experience:

The first time I managed to finish the old-school game Colonization and beat my older brother to it. That was truly an exciting and joyful moment.

• The Worst or Most Frustrating Moment You’ve Had Gaming:

The final boss in an old cartoonish RPG called “Silver” that most of you probably do not know of. I remember trying to beat that boss every day for a whole Summer without succeeding. After three months of failure I put the game away and haven’t tried it since. I made a promise that day though that I would beat that boss sometime in the future.

• Ideal Game That Has Not Yet Been Created:

Don’t really have an ideal game but I have an ideal game feature. I would like to have a role playing game where you’ll be able to train a youngling from the day he/she’s able to walk (a la your child in Fable) and then pop-up a list of your online friends and send him/her on a mission in that persons single player game. It could be helping out your friend or simply sending him/her as an assassin. This is something I would like to see in let’s say Fable 2.

• What Message Would You Send to Gamers Everywhere:

All Halo 2 players know that the most horrible thing to do while playing with your friends is to use the sword. The sword should NOT be used as it’s a so-called “n00b-weapon”. I would like to say; Sure, people will call you a n00b, “you’re so boring”, etc. etc. but do not be afraid to follow the Planet Halo motto and say: “F*ck this, I’m getting the sword!”.

———

Thanks for the interview Michael. I have to agree that almost every Queen song is a classic. Oh, and don’t forget your tissue when seeing that Harry Potter movie in theaters. Remember only a true man is strong enough to cry, and only a REAL man is able to do it while reading Harry Potter. Readers, if you haven’t already been by Planet Halo in the past then make sure to drop by the site and check it out. It is stocked with great information on everything Halo.

I hope everyone enjoyed this week’s interview. Stay tuned next week for another great person. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments you have at tiedtheleaderblog@gmail.com.

Posted by Dweezle