3.9.02 |
12.21.02 |
For the 11th Host Spotlight, I interviewed Aaron, the host of the phenomenal online game 24/7. With a very casual, honest sense of humor, he shares with us his favorite games, his thoughts on how his game is successful, and much more! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Aaron Game(s): 24/7 |
For the 10th Host Spotlight, I interviewed the 2nd host voted on in the Forum. I sat down with the creator, producer, and host of the Survivor on the Net series. Zeb, an experienced and veteran host, shares with me the thoughts of his games' up and down popularity, his favorite games and hosts, and his favorite reality television show. All this and much, much more in the 10th Host Spotlight brought to you by eGame Central. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Zeb |
For the 9th Host Spotlight, I had the pleasure of interviewing J.R. and Rob, the two hosts of Big Brother Miami. With a casual attitude, they gave me their favorite online games, hosts, thoughts on being the 3rd best online Big Brother game on eGame besides Josh's Big Brother games, and their thoughts on his games! Also find out their future plans for possible sequels to Big Brother Miami! Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: J.R. and Rob Game(s): Big Brother Miami |
Welcome to the 8th edition of eGame Central's the Host Spotlight! This week I, Joseph, bring you my second interview. I decided to choose to interview the most sought after host currently on the net! The host of the Blockbuster, Award-Winning, Critically Acclaimed, Survivor: Webcam Series was the subject of my interview this week! After practically sweeping the eGame Awards and ORGS, he shares his feelings publicly for the very first time! I asked him the questions everyone else is afraid to ask and he answered like I never imagined. He answered so well that I decided to produce the interview in two parts, this weekend and next weekend! Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Rob Game(s): Survivor: Webcam |
This week, I will be doing my first interview. For my first interview, I decided to talk with Steve, not eGame Central's manager, but the host of one of the most popular games currently on the index. Steve has hosted one successful Mole game and has just finished The Amazing Race: The Online Journey! He has another Mole game in the works that is sure to thrill! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Steve |
eGame Central had the priveledge of speaking with one of the first successful online Mole hosts out there and one of the best as well. Sreetham has delivered two wonderful seasons of Mole RPG 2001, which held on to a Top 20 spot for 25 straight weeks, grabbing the #1 spot once during that time. Unfortunately Sreetham has decided to stop hosting, but the innovation of his games will surely live on. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Sreetham Game(s): Mole RPG 2001 |
The skilled host/producer of Big Brother: San Francisco, which took the Site of the Month title in May, recently spent some time with us under our host spotlight. Grateful for the attention received by BB:SF, Josh has announced the coming of a sequel to his popular game with Big Brother 2: Las Vegas! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Josh Game(s): Big Brother: San Francisco |
With nine Who Will Survive games (6 completed, 2 in progress, and 1 on the way), Host/Producer Dan has proven his great skill to both his players and faithful fans. After winning the "Best Host" award in the Spring eGame Awards. Dan took some time to talk with us, under our spotlight. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Dan Game(s): Who Will Survive - Series |
With a unique and exciting game, the host of Worl Challenge: Japan, has become well known in the online gaming world. Here's what was said in a recent interview with eGame Central. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: World Challenge Host Game(s): World Challenge 1 | World Challenge 2 |
The host of what many call the most successful series on eGameCentral, has come to tell us what he thinks about the online reality gaming community. Ax, the host of the first cybermole project, is telling us his top 5 favorite games, and sharing a variety of his other opinions. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: axthemole Game(s): the cybermole project |
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_________________________________________________________________________ This week I had the honor of interviewing Michael, the Host of The Real World: Dallas, for the Host Spotlight! The host of one of the most famous games in eGame History, Survivor: Madagascar, sat down not to discuss his past, but the present and future! Both looking bright, he discusses his favorite games, some hosting tips, and his future gaming plans! Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________________ |
February 23rd, 2003 |
Name/Alias - Michael |
Game(s) - The Real World: Dallas, Survivor: Madagascar, Survivor: Sri Lanka |
The host of what many call the most successful series on eGameCentral, has come to tell us what he thinks about the online reality gaming community. Ax, the host of the first cybermole project, is telling us his top 5 favorite games, and sharing a variety of his other opinions. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: axthemole Game(s): the cybermole project |
Host Spotlight - March 23rd, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
What do you look for in a game? "ingenuity and execution. these two qualities are probably the most important to the calibre of a game. ingenuity is essential to effectively integrate original concepts into fabric of the contest...not necessarily because a game uses something touted as new and original, but it can also be something as mundane as using new and interesting color schemes. every aspect of the game could be an exact imitation of a television show (or other source) and it just wouldn't do it for me. the way that a host improves upon existing schemes is what shows me that the host of a game is an excellent one. execution is something that relies entirely on the host of the game. the way the host performs every single move has some type of effect on the game. even the moves that the host doesn't take effects the game eventually. from the way a host stays or delays the schedule or the way a host announces players or even to the way a host says he has a deep impact of the game, because the host of a game will set the intial tone of the game. most likely the players will follow suit and that is the manner that the rest of the game continues. the hosts that have unique styles are seen as more memorable than others. execution of the game also relies on how the hosts/producers correct mistakes during the game or deal with squabbles between players. the hosts that can effectively deal with obstacles during the game are the ones that tend to complete the games. planning and creating a premise for the game is one thing...but everything else depends on the execution by the host." What makes your game so different? "the original series was done way back in last year march, but casting actually began in january of 2001. there were so few reality games back then that i remember and maybe only one established and completed mole game that i knew about. back then there were very few people that had ever participated in a mole game before, so casting was much more easier as nearly every player did not know what to expect. the games are only as good as the players themselves. casting was very lucky as i happened to get a lot of great people...without them the cybermole project would never be where it is today. the game was intended to be a good interpretation of the television show for the players. most challenges came from ideas from previous mole shows or by using trivia quizzes rather than using types of challenges that were online at that time. the cybermole project tried to be the best online interpretation of the television possible while still allowing it to occur online with minimum equipment possible. i suppose what allows the game to be so different than other online games is that it attempts to allow the viewing public to get so involved in all the activities. the public sees almost everything, from the way that the quizzes were answered to the intrudingly honest confessionals. the game allows many aspects to be seen...the players become like real acquaintances and you feel as if you know them by the time they leave the game." What's more important, good games based on real reality shows, or OK games that are original? "truly, a good game will always be better than an okay game. i definitely applaud those that take a chance on making a good original game and execute it well. those that adapt lesser known games i also applaud, it's a lot more difficult to be the pioneer and adapt an online game of something that hasn't been done before. i believe though that the quality of the game is more important. however, the games that are unique and original tend to get more visibility than any non-established game. it's hard to stand out being a mediocre game in an oft-done category than being a original mediocre game. it even took the cybermole project a while to get noticed in its first months on egamecentral. games like world challenge, efearfactor, virtual mistx have gotten high visibility very quickly because they're something new and everyone wants to see how the hosts did the game and are interested in the new concepts that are being brought to online games. the premise is not the only thing though. just because a game is original doesn't mean it should be warranted original status. some "original" concepts have even been done before and even so, the execution of these games isn't so great, so not all original games are of high calibre." Your Top 5 Favorite Games: "i haven't visited every gamesite out there (way too many survivor games) and some of my favorites are the extinct ones or not even listed on egamecentral. so in no way are my top 5 favorite games the best games out there, but these are ones that for some reason or another I seem to enjoy. And I'm also quite partial to mole games because that's what I know best...no offense to the awesome games out there. 1: od-survivor 2. with diaries integrated into the game, it allowed the public to see further into the minds of contestants than we ever wished possible. challenges were interesting and rose's winning streak was amazing. and webcam survivor v 1.0 is looking like it will easily surpass the success of its predecessors. 2: the mole online (by funnylookinkid). the curt humor in the executions easily showed that this game was worthwhile despite its simple message board format. 3: kymhkggq series 3. i know i butchered that name. unfortunately, it's no longer on the index so i don't know the correct spelling. it was a great read for the episode summaries, and i wish i knew the url so i could finish up to see if leo or his girl won :( and i also want to see how 'the investigation' starts out. 4: survivor 2: the james.com edition. back when the first game originally came onto egamecentral, it was the game I always put as my survivor game to move onto the top 20. then it disappeared. now it's popularity is surging, and with a great website, it easily deserves it. 5: the mole online (by jbrown). http://www.alphalink.com.au/~jbrown/ this one was never on the index, but it was the only other online game i knew that existed before i ever joined egamecentral. it developed into a great game and one of the most interesting challenges (train murder mystery) came out of it." Interview by Chad - eGame Central |
With a unique and exciting game, the host of Worl Challenge: Japan, has become well known in the online gaming world. Here's what was said in a recent interview with eGame Central. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: World Challenge Host Game(s): World Challenge 1 | World Challenge 2 |
Host Spotlight - May 4th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
Why did you decide to create an original game when it has a lot more work involved vs. making a Survivor/Mole one? "1st off, I am a creative guy. I don't like to stick to the normal stuff. I am a huge fan of Survivor, and I could have easily made a Survivor game, but there are almost 200 on eGame Central, and it wouldn't stand out... but I made World Challenge kind of like Survivor but with many twists. I had never tried hosting before, but I always had lots of ideas for challenges and stuff. Me and my friend were just thinking about making a game once, and we came up with the idea of 4 tribes of 4 people... and the unique switch challenges. We had a merge, then they split to 3 tribes of 3... they never knew what to expect. So the reason I didn't choose to make a Survivor/Mole/BB game was because I thought it would be more fun to create something new." When looking at a game, do you give it more credit if it is original? "I definately give it more credit if it is original. A game shouldn't be made just to be there, a game should be made to stand out. There are 200 Survivor games out there... if every single game was the same, no one would want to play. Challenges need to be creative, your website needs to be creative, and you just need to know what you are doing before you start hosting a game. Anyone can just host a game, but only good hosts can host an original game." What are your top 5 favorite games and why? "Where do I start... My favorite Survivor game has to be Webcam. I always check out that game, and it feels like I am part of them, 'cuz they have pics and video feeds... that game is off the hook. And I gotta give a shout out to my man Dan (Who Will Survive Host)... His games are fast paced, fun, and they make you have an emotional outburst every time you play... He is the best host out there (He won the eGame Oscar for Best Host)... and I respect him as a man... His games are awesome (Sign up for one!) I really like the Revenge games, they are really sweet. The fact that when you are voted out... you get to vote out someone after you... it is sweet. I love the Challenger game... it is off the hook, and Colin is awesome. And I love love love love love the cybermole project. The site is awesome, and the whole thing is just sweet." What is your biggest accomplishment of your site? "I honestly don't find my site to be that awesome... if it was, I would have been nominated for best site. The part I like about it is easy navigating, and my whole game is run off my site... I don't send out e-mails, 'cuz it makes them have to check it... and have a job all the time. It makes them feel like they are going to get the tree mail, and I am not delivering it right to them. I think my site has a fun design, and I enjoy making the site. I am by the way looking for an experienced web builder to help me with the WC2 site. So my biggest accomplishment of my site is that I actually have one." Interview by MoleMaster - eGame Central |
With nine Who Will Survive games (6 completed, 2 in progress, and 1 on the way), Host/Producer Dan has proven his great skill to both his players and faithful fans. After winning the "Best Host" award in the Spring eGame Awards. Dan took some time to talk with us, under our spotlight. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Dan Game(s): Who Will Survive - Series |
Host Spotlight - May 18th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
Why did you decide to make a Survivor site? "I am guessing that a lot of hosts start games for the same reason I did because I thought I could do it better than the guy who hosted the game I played in. I played as a Survivor in only one online game. The host was terrible .. always late for the challenges that HE scheduled and then once a challenge was decided or a Tribal Council finished it would take too long for him to update his site. The challenges were inadequate for the most part (hardly worth the wait about 80% of the time). I had no "webmaster" experience going into that game I played in. One of the first challenges was one of those typical "each tribe must create a website .. blah, blah, blah" type of deals. I went to Geocities and assumed the responsibility of creating the site for our tribe (we won that challenge thank you very much). I had such a good time working on the site that I wanted to do more with it. That is how "Who Will Survive" got started." Your site seems to stick out from the 160+ Survivor games on the index. What do you think is the secret to your success? Some might say that it is your creativity and humor, do you agree? "To the best of my knowledge, I was the first to animate the Survivor logo. A lot of the "creativity and humor" started with finding animation that would represent the game theme. I would think that the logo would be the first thing that would catch the eye of someone thinking of joining a game. The fact that the series has completed so many successful games will assist me in casting better players since anyone who applies knows that the game will be updated daily and the host is not going to disappear. Another factor that may ring true is that I do not take the location of the game as seriously as many of the other hosts seem to do. When it comes right down to it, the game location is not nearly as important as the quality of the players, the quality of the challenges, or the integrity of the host. I update the site quickly and I stick to the rules as they are written. I still have to make judgment calls from time to time, and I think I can safely say that I am fair and unbiased in those decisions. The pace of these games is also a big "success" factor. We run at least three Challenges and three Tribal Councils per week (per game) which promotes daily activity from the players. You can check into any active game site and see something new practically everyday. You won't see too many "ghosts" making it to the Final Four around here they tend to go early in the game and true "Survivors" make it further. Overall, I think the games are successful because we have fun." How did it feel when you received the "Best Host" award? "I was honestly surprised. I wasn't able to attend the live "chat" and found out by email. There were a couple of hosts nominated that were more active at eGameCentral than I was, and one had recently been in the Host Spotlight which I felt would affect the outcome. All this made winning all the more of an honor and I was quick to add a "thank you" to my web site since I missed the award ceremony. I was going to send someone to accept on my behalf but couldn't find anyone that I felt I could trust enough to forward the award to me." What are your top five favorite games and why? "First of all, you have to take into account that I run two games simultaneously and I update my site at least twice a day. So when I tell you that my knowledge of the games on eGameCentral is somewhat limited, it's only because I am busy. I will give you my list, but this is based more on the hosts than the games themselves. These are hosts I hold in high regard because they conduct their games with skill and integrity. These are in alphabetical order: The-James.com Edition (series) - I was going to name my games The-Dan.com Edition but that domain was already taken. The fact that he has so many loyal hosts is a true indicator of the quality of leadership he must provide. James is a smart and savvy webmaster and his games just ooze with quality. Each of the co-hosts that I have met are quality people and James is fortunate to have them. Sahara Survivor (series) - Since Joel has stolen every good idea I have ever had, it would only be obvious that I would mention him since it is practically a reflection on how truly great I am. But seriously folks, Joel and I share a great deal in common and he conducts his games in a professional manner with speed and quality throughout. Survivor / Moolah Beach / Big Brother (series) - Although all three of these games are a bit Extreme, the host does quality work in conducting his games. You have to respect the diversity of running games in three different categories. World Challenge (series) - Although I absolutely hate those big letters screaming at me when I first go to the site once it is safe enough to look at the screen again you can see that this host is having fun and the quality of game play is evident. And although I prefer the Survivor games I need to mention Big Brother San Francisco since it's such a big hit and I want to stay in good with that host. Josh is co-hosting Lizard Lick and I just want everyone to know that I taught him everything he knows. Please leave room for his rebuttal in the host spotlight or forum area." Interview by MoleMaster - eGame Central |
The skilled host/producer of Big Brother: San Francisco, which took the Site of the Month title in May, recently spent some time with us under our host spotlight. Grateful for the attention received by BB:SF, Josh has announced the coming of a sequel to his popular game with Big Brother 2: Las Vegas! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Josh Game(s): Big Brother: San Francisco |
Host Spotlight - June 8th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
One of the most noticeable aspects of your site is the wonderful layout and how it is a pleasure to look at. Do you think this makes a considerable difference to the audience of the site? Why did you go the extra length to do this spectacular display? "I definatly am one to believe that if the site looks better, people will stop to notice. If its just typing and dull colors, no logo, etc., no one would bother to look. So in addition to a fun game, the site is what completes it all. That's what I tried to do with BB:SF and I guess it's payed off! I also would like to add a special thanks to my partner in the game (BB:SF crew), Melinda Sawyer. She has done everything she can to help make the site look as great as it does. She even put up a Happy Birthday sign for me when it was my birthday! She's a great partner and without her the game what not be what it is. For the second question... When I am dedicated to something as much as I am with Big Brother: San Francisco, I'm deeply concerned with how it goes. So I do go out of my way, but being a teacher I dont have as much free time as one would think. I honestly do it mostly for the love of the game though. I have put my heart in it to make it fun for all involved. It has been just that. #9 on eGame Top 20, May 2002 Site of the Month, I couldn't ask for anything more!" You have had an unusual amount of success for being a new series and a host literally coming out of nowhere. What was your first reaction when you achieved reaching the Top 20 Countdown and the Site of the Month? "I'm a survivor kind of guy. After being in my first game, Who Will Survive: Central Park, I took in interest in wanting to host. I had just joined the reality TV online community so to speak and hosting had crossed my mind a few times back in March. My great friend Dan, host of the successful WWS series, helped me have the opportunity to host my first game. After a slow start I was able to start and complete my first game Who Will Survive: Lizard Lick. I learned so much from him as a host and it enabled me to grow and learn. After meeting Melinda and other great friends in the most fun game up to date, Survivor: Madagascar, I was able to finally get the motivation to create the site and get the game going (Great job to Michael for that!). I always had loved the Big Brother show, and after attempting to join a few Big Brother games online, not one that I can remember was consistent. I really felt that the catagory needed some "spark" to help players gain interest in playing a Big Brother type of online reality game. Being a feature site, #9 in the Top 20, and Site of the Month have all surprised me. But boy were they all delightful surprises! I have been so fortunate to receive the success I have. And I believe this is all due to the amount of dedication and heart I have put into this game. Whenever anybody puts in the hard work like Melinda and myself have done into a game, I feel that new series/new host or not... there will be amazing things waiting for you. It's great to be appreciated for what you do, especially when you love doing it! Because I'll tell you I don't get that from being a teacher!" You also co-host a Survivor game,and then decided to do this Big Brother project. Why do you enjoy hosting so much? "Well now, my Survivor game is over with, and it really did teach me the first bit of what hosting is all about. Being a co-host was great, but I had so many ideas and challenges that I wasn't able to express. Having my own site and game going, I felt I would be able to use my creative expression. I've done that with BB:SF, and I cant wait to start my next game after this. But I'm enjoying Season 1 while it lasts! Hosting and playing for me are hobbies... its a wonderful break from my hectic every day life! 'm sure a lot of players and hosts feel that way. With my kind of lifestyle, hosting is such an amazing break. I even find myself thinking about HOH Challenges or what not that are later in the day when I'm teaching my classes at work. No matter how crazy my wife thinks I am, haha, I have a love for it." Opinion matters from some of the best webmasters, so could you please select your top five favorite games and tell us why you like them? "Oh, this should be fun! 1. The best Survivor series on the internet no doubt is Who Will Survive. Dan is the best survivor host you will find out there, if you havent played in one of his games yet then you are missing out! 2. Survivor:Madagascar/Survivor:Kiribati Series. Being in Madagascar this may not be the most impartial decision! But at the time I signed up for that game, I was as busy as I had ever been in my life! I could not resist applying even being so extroardinarily busy. And now that my time in the game has passed, I still feel that it is one heck of a survivor game, being #2 on eGame Central shows it! 3. Survivor: Turgidity. One of the hosts is a houseguest in BB:SF so I have to give him some "props"! No really, the game has a great layout. Some of the survivors are are few of the best on the internet and the fact that viewers have to wait is very professional. The game should be one of the most interesting outcomes and it'll be very fun to watch when it is open to viewing in July. 4. World Challenge Series. Not only is the host one of my dearest and closest friends since I've been in the online survivor games, I know how dedicated he really is to making sure his players have a great time. When I see that type of interest, love, and passion for a game by a host, not to mention when the site is great and the game layout/rules are great as well... I can't help but call it one of my favorite games out there. 5. James.Com Survivor and I'm sneaking in a #6! e-Fear Factor. James runs a great game, he makes it very professional and survivor-like. He works very hard on the site and its something I appreciate and admire. e-Fear Factor is great in that it isn't a game that many have attempted. But this series is the only one thats been attempted successfully! The host does a great job with the site, I myself applied to be on episode of it. (Pick me! lol). Thanks for the great interview, I've enjoyed every minute of it! And all of you stay tuned for my second Big Brother game in the series, Big Brother: Las Vegas! It should be a good one. Thanks again eGame." Interview by MoleMaster - eGame Central |
eGame Central had the priveledge of speaking with one of the first successful online Mole hosts out there and one of the best as well. Sreetham has delivered two wonderful seasons of Mole RPG 2001, which held on to a Top 20 spot for 25 straight weeks, grabbing the #1 spot once during that time. Unfortunately Sreetham has decided to stop hosting, but the innovation of his games will surely live on. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Sreetham Game(s): Mole RPG 2001 |
Host Spotlight - July 20th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
A lot of people have complimented you on your creative task ideas. Do you have a method or way of thinking these tasks up? "A big mistake a lot of hosts make is that they decide to try and make all their tasks at one time, or wait until the last minute. This hardly ever works. Just going outside at the most random moments I will think of tasks and hurry home to write them down. To have a good task it needs to be a good level of difficulty and interesting to the players. Especially, if you can incorporate emotions or the social aspect of the game into the challenge, it makes it more exciting." What is the biggest achievement of your site? "Well, when the players tell me how much they enjoyed the game, it is priceless to have that great feeling. The feeling that you are the reason they had so much fun, you are the reason they liked the game. Also, getting on the Top 20 for the first time was so exciting!" Why did you only host one game at a time, and only one type? "As you probably know MOST hosts who try to do too much, their games eventually are abandoned, and even if they are finished, are poor quality. If you stick to one game, you get to spend more time on that single game and making it better. If you put a sequel to it, you can fix the errors that happened before, and hopefully make it work better." What are you top 5 favorite games and why? "I have seen very few games on the index, mostly Survivor and the Mole (must know my competition). With so many games and so little time, it is hard to get to see some sites. But what I have seen, these are the top 5, and deserve a huge round of applause. 1) Survivor: Elements The concept of this game is excellent. I like how the host incorporated the elements part of the game. Also the website design is beautiful. I like the easiness of looking at the site, and the friendly pictures, and fast loading time. The challenges are also well thought out and the episodes are a perfect length. 2) The Internet Style of the Mole (No longer on the index) If their was a prize for the best tasks, I would certainly hand this site the award. The creativity the host puts into the challenges, show it is a well- constructed game. 3) Survivor: The Sims in Jamaica I had not looked at this site untill it had won Site of the Month award. I decided to check it out, and was glad that I did. It has almost anything you can think of related to Survivor. It even has a talk show, and the castaways diversity is excellent. The episodes might be mistakened for the real show! This series should be quite successful in the future. 4) Survivor Webcam v1.0 With 3 eGame Awards, this is obviously a must on my list. Perfect is not a good enough word for it's website design. My eyes feasted on the beautiful array of colors, and its simple navigation. Using webcams was a terrific idea, and the site looks so much like the official Survivor site! 5) Survivor: Aruba My first favorite game and inspired me to make my own online game. It has a lot of great features similar to Survivor: Elements, which is why I love this site. It deserves some extra credit for being one of the "new" Survivor sites, and not having anything to work with. The site is easy to navigate and easy to look at. Well that's it for the interview, and I would like to thank my fans of the game for staying with me for 2 seasons of the Mole. You are the reason for the game's success, and I congratulate you. Unfortunately, I will not be hosting any more games, but I wish you good luck, hosts, and players in the future!" Interview by MoleMaster - eGame Central |
This week, I will be doing my first interview. For my first interview, I decided to talk with Steve, not eGame Central's manager, but the host of one of the most popular games currently on the index. Steve has hosted one successful Mole game and has just finished The Amazing Race: The Online Journey! He has another Mole game in the works that is sure to thrill! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Steve |
Host Spotlight - August 10th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
First of all, congratulations! Upon the time of this interview, your 2nd online game (The Amazing Race: The Online Journey) has just finished production and shown it's final episode, been named #1 on eGame Central's Top 20, and won the eGame Award for Best Amazing Race Online Game! I was a personal fan of the game. It was very interesting and very well produced. Any comments you'd like to share concerning these accomplishments? "I want to thank everyone whose supported the game. I really am surprised and quite honored. I remember the day I first came across eGame Central and saw the Top 20 list. I remember thinking that I could never host that good of a game I don't think I will ever consider the Online Journey to be one of the best (just because I know what I could have done better), but I am honored that other people think of the game so highly. Thank you!" Also, have you been surprised at the fame that this game has gotten? What do you attribute the success of this game to? Both this and your first mole game are both very well produced and have great summaries and a great site. Why do you think your Amazing Race game has gotten so much more publicity? "Heh, I don't know if I would call it fame, but I am surprised by the attention. I attribute the success of the game to a few things. First is the quality of my contestants. Every contestant tried his or her best from the beginning to win the game. Their reactions were what enabled me to create an interesting and dramatic story. Secondly I attribute the success of the game to the changes in format. I don't think I could have had such a successful game with the teams and without the twists given as rewards to the contestants. As to the second question, I think partly my Amazing Race game got more attention was that it built off of the success of the first. I was happy with the amount of publicity The Online Betrayal received. I mean, for one week it placed #1 on eGame's Top 20 list and, over 3 months later, the game still ranks #11. I think that it helps that my Amazing Race game really was one of the only ones being produced at the time. There are over 50 Mole games while there are only 6 Amazing Race games. I think that while my Mole game got overshadowed at first by some of the other games, my Amazing Race game really was the only one of its type." Out of your first two games, which one did you enjoy more? Do you think you'll enjoy your second mole game even better than your first two? "I enjoyed hosting The Amazing Race: The Online Journey more. I think this was because I was not sure that the game would be dramatic enough and "work". At first, I was hesitant on producing a single-player Amazing Race game instead of the normal team effort. I felt that the television program found it's drama from the interaction between the teammates, not as much between the teams. In order to try and force more interactions between the contestants I created the Depression Stop. That, combined with some of the (in my opinion) best contestants I could have had, really made the Online Journey fun to host. I only hope my next game can be as fun for the contestants and for myself. What are your five favorite online reality games? "Wow, this was hard to pick. While some of these games are not the most critically acclaimed games (and when I say critically I am referring to eGame's awards). I do enjoy following these more than the sometimes boring Cybermole (sorry Ax, I'm sure you're a good person!). The Mole is Watching 2 - The 2nd Traitor: This was the Mole game that gave me the inspiration to host. I loved Ethan's interesting tasks and hope he can continue the success and creativity into his third game. Survivor Webcam: This series combines two great aspects of a great game: Innovation and Dedication. While I do not follow along every day, I enjoy watching this game progress. The Mole's Revenge: I always considered this game my competition while hosting my first Mole game. It was always a few spots ahead on the eGame's Top 20 and it was nominated for an eGame Oscar while mine was not. Looking back I can realize that it actually was a great game. Check it out! eGame Series Games: These include the e-Mole and e-Survivor. I like these games because they seem to start a whole new set of that type of game to start up. The e-Mazing Race, The e-Runner, and e-Fear Factor were the first of its kind. The host has a lot of guts. The games are also pretty good. The Amazing Online Race: I think this game is one of the more innovative and great Amazing Race games out there. I love the two-hour format and I wish the host the best of luck! So far it seems like he doesn't need it. When thinking of a game you want to do, what do you try to do with the concept so it will be interesting for you to host, interesting for players to play, and interesting for the audience to watch? "Selfishly, I always pick a game with a concept that I will enjoy hosting. Mole games are interesting because they are very psychological. Nobody trusts anything, but in order for anything to be won, they must trust everybody. The Amazing Race game relies more on the fact that the games a race and that a team can royally screw up and be eliminated. I wasn't sure on how effective I could relay that emotion through the Internet, so I tried to make it somewhat psychological with all live challenges and with the rewards given at the end of each leg. I think the format worked as, throughout the race, contestants were on the verge of tears, shaking uncontrollably, or overjoyed. It is with this emotion when the game becomes fun for the viewers." Why have you only done Mole and Amazing Race games so far? "Heh... Just wait..." Well congratulations on all your success! Thanks for giving me the time for this interview! I know I will be eagerly anticipating your 2nd Mole game. "Thanks again for giving me this interview. I hope other hosts can benefit from my experiences." Interview by Joseph - eGame Central |
Host Spotlight - August 24th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
Welcome to the 8th edition of eGame Central's the Host Spotlight! This week I, Joseph, bring you my second interview. I decided to choose to interview the most sought after host currently on the net! The host of the Blockbuster, Award-Winning, Critically Acclaimed, Survivor: Webcam Series was the subject of my interview this week! After practically sweeping the eGame Awards and ORGS, he shares his feelings publicly for the very first time! I asked him the questions everyone else is afraid to ask and he answered like I never imagined. He answered so well that I decided to produce the interview in two parts, this weekend and next weekend! Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Rob Game(s): Survivor: Webcam |
First of all, a big congratulations goes out to you! For all intents and purposes, Survivor: Webcam has been proclaimed by the eGame Awards and the ORGS as the ultimate online game! It was a great first season, and the 2nd season has everybody on the edge of their seats! Survivor: Webcam 2.0 was just named eGame Central's Site of the Month! Did you ever imagine your game would get this popular? What do you attribute this success to? "I can honestly say that I never expected this humble little game to become something so big and so popular. It was never my original intention to make a "blockbuster" reality series on the internet. Luckily, I stumbled upon eGame in the Fall of 2001, back when the game was still Opendiary Survivor. I can honestly say that eGame Central played an integral part, in helping get the word of my game out there. So I sat back and received a modest 5 or 6 applications to begin with. I just kept hammering out the word-of-mouth advertising and kept recruiting people from iVisit and other webcamming communities and slowly, the application count reach a very humble and modest 20. Many of the original applicants were under the assumption that they were applying for OD Survivor III, but due to financial problems with the website (OD), I was forced to discontinue OD Survivor and at the same time, throw many of the ODS III Spplications, out the window. I think hard work, determination and not giving up on an idea, got my game to where it is today." Where did you get the idea for Survivor: Webcam? "Well, this is going to sound like something your grandma or grandpa would say but, one late February night, I was brainstorming ideas, on how to make the transition from the game formerly known as Opendiary Survivor, into something completely unique, different and "ground-breaking", so to speak. I wanted to know what it would be like to make a game where people could literally interact with one another, in real-time, both visually and verbally. I wanted to know what it would be like to add a new element to the genre of online reality games. Of course, I tinkered with the idea for a few nights and finally came up with the concept of adding a "webcam" to every competition, every tribal council and basically, every aspect of the game. Now my only obstacle, was trying to figure out how to market and sell it to the hardcore (and non-hardcore) reality players out there. But basically I got the idea from my whacked brain, and things just went from there!" I just have to put you on the spot... Which season do you think is better? 1.0 or 2.0?? Why? "Oh, you're tricky. I knew this question was going to come up sooner or later. It's a really good question and I'm sure, many will like to see my answer so here I go. In terms of casting and group dynamics, both seasons had very different 'vibes' and very different 'atmospheres'. If you could put this in terms of the visible light spectrum, they'd totally be on opposite ends. They were both very awesome groups of individuals and they were both great for very different reasons. It would be NEXT to impossible for me to choose which group was better, because in my mind, they were both awesome for different reasons. I'll start with Survivor:Webcam 1.0: What can I say, these people started this game off. None of them, nor myself, had no what we were getting ourselves into, on the quiet night of March 4th. This group had three awesome things about them: A. They had dynamic. None of these players were the same, they all had something unique about themselves. Their personalities were all different and independent. B. They were EXTREMELY anxious and EXTREMELY motivated to play this game. Many of them put other things in their life, on hold, just to play this game. What else could a host ask for! Their dedication went above and beyond anything I had expected. C. The sudden turn of events. I'm not going to go into the nuts n' bolts, but basically, this group did anything BUT a traditional "pagoning" session. Mandi, the winner of the game was in the "original" Pamona trib,e that went into the merge, with a disadvantage. She won so many immunities that she forced the leading tribe to vote against themeselves and her, the underdog from day one, came form behind and essentially kicked everyone's asses. It always makes for an interesting game when the underdog wins. I have become very good and close friends with many ex-1.0 players and to this day, I still talk to them almost religiously, each and every night. Some even moved on to help with 2.0. Secondly, Survivor:Webcam 2.0: What can I say, other than "controversies", "never-ending twists in the game" and "completely different personalities from 1.0" are key phrases that defined this season. This game was riddled with tribal and player controversies that when you look back, made for a really riveting and exciting game to follow. This game also had nearly double the amount of twists that the 1.0'ers had to face, thus making the game harder to 'survive'. Here's a few defining characteristics that have made this group really awesome: A. The Controversies: This game had a lot of drama in it. But this drama and controversy amongst players, gave the game a very different feel. It made the game both interesting to read and interesting to watch. I can honestly say that the controveries were a major player in this game. B. A Younger group demographic. This game had a lower average age of players. Ranging only from ages 13 to 22, this game was younger than the previous cast. Don't let anyone say that younger players make for a boring game because let me tell you, this game was by far, well-worth the age demographic chosen. These players were hard-working, dedicated and again, put many things, in real life, on hold, just to play the game they were/are so passionate about. This game had a younger cast for one very specific: it was summer, and to be honest, why the heck not! C. The Twists: This group was faced with relentless twists and changes in the game, that were probably enough to make their heads spin. Everything from the surprise three-tribe split (with a twist), to the triple and double immunity opportunities, made this game significantly more challenging and difficult to get through (at least in my opinion). It all made for a really well-played out game. I hope to remain good friends with these players long after the game has ended but we'll have to wait til' after the game has finished for any of that to happen." What are your 5 favorite online reality games/series? "Again, there are so many good games out there, that to list my favourites would be next to impossible, but I'm going to try my best to list the ones I have enjoyed following, over the past while. Some are classic while others are new kids to the genre. These is not all my favourites but I tried my best to narrow them down... (This list is in no particular order) 5000 Braincells: Maximum Reality. Why? This game brings a group of four very different people into an atmosphere, where they have to basically interact with one another. I like reading the episodes and I think it is run very well. It's a really good game! Survivor: The-James.com Edition. Why? Well this is where I got my first hand taste of what it's like to play in an online game. The game was very enjoyable and I made some very good friends out of it. It was well-run and I had no complaints about it whatsoever. 25 to 1. Why? This game looks like something I'd like to play. It's fast-paced and it looks like it is very challenging to play. I like strategizing and this game looks like the type to involve loads of strategizing. Survivor:Nightmare. Why? I only have one reason at the moment. It looks creepy. It looks like something that could make me pee my pants and anything that makes me pee my pants is bound to be good. But I guess I'll have to wait until it premieres, eh? Survivor: Madagascar/Kiribati. Why? These games are really nicely laid out, they are clear and concise to follow. I just really enjoy the effort gone into them. They are definitely worth a gander." Who are your 3 favorite online gaming hosts? "1. Michael from Survivor: Madagascar/Kiribati. Why? He runs really clear and concise games. He is respectable and has a lot of integrity as a host. 2. Sebastian from The-James.com (former host up to s4). Why? Good host, good game. I enjoyed the interaction. He took the itme to get to know his players which I feel is vital. A good host/player relationship is vital to a good game. It can be done without being biased or partial, and Sebastian accomplished that when I played S3. 3. Host of 5KBC. Why? he has a REALLY enjoyable game and he puts out some very quality work! Good work mate!" Do you plan all of your challenges for a game before casting even begins? Or do you do challenges as the game is played out? What do you look for in your challenges that will be exciting for the players to play, but more importantly, exciting for the audience to read about? "It depends on what I have going through my head at the time. If I'm having a day where I'm really brainstorming endless ideas, I may write up to 3 or 4 challenges, in advance, but for the most part, I write them as I go. I try not repeating challenges or making challenges (for 2.0) exactly identical to 1.0. Mind you, some challenges are just too good to pass up (ie. gross food, endurance and skit-based challenges), which is why they did make comebacks in 2.0. I try to make the challenges as easy to follow and easy to read as possible. I have been criticized in the past, for making my challenges too detailed, but the detail really comes in handy because for the most part, I rarely have players coming back to me and going "huh? what am I supposed to do?". I know what it's like to read a challenge and then feel extremely confused. I try to make my challenges detailed and descriptive enough, so that the players know exactly what to do, to get from point A to point B, without helping them in any way. To make things exciting to read and follow, for both players and readers, I try to make challenges that are either: A. "Controversial": (ie. may stir things up in the game), like eating bugs in front of the camera (because we know not everyone in the tribe will eat bugs and this could create some conflict) or; B. "Full of Detail": If there is a consequence for missing something as simple as labelling your challenge correctly, you could be putting yourself in jeopardy (ie. losing half your points just for that) and therefore, it makes the challenge all the more suspenseful and exciting to do. It keeps everyone alert and on their feet." What do you look for in a cast? "When I'm casting a group of players, I try to look for diversity in terms of personalities and ages. Though it's not always easy, I try my best to cast the best group possible and so far, I've casted two magnificent, dedicated groups of people. When I'm reading your application, I'm looking for you to be yourself. Basically, I'm looking for people who know how to answer the questions naturally. It's a long process just to apply, but the benefits of getting in the game, will last for a very long time. I urge people to take their time when applying because there is plenty of time to submit an application. I also look for people who appear to have dedication because dedication alone, has been the key to success, for this game. I want everyday people who are wild enough to 'want' to take part. So far, in this entire series, we've only ever had two inactive players and those were the first two bootees from 1.0 (Roberto and Trisha). This hopefully goes to show that SW applicants want to play. I love how players get so dedicated and involved this game. It makes my job all the more worth it. Without both wonderful casts, this game would never have been possible." Finally, something I'm sure everyone wants to know, do you plan to host other Webcam games? With the great success of Survivor: Webcam, do you plan on doing Big Brother: Webcam, The Mole: Webcam, The Amazing Race: Webcam, or an original Webcam game? If not, why do you just want to stick to Survivor? "At this time, I cannot comment on any future projects in terms of the whole "Webcam" reality genre. I would like to see these games come to life because the potential is definitely there, for some really great games. But for now, I have dedicated myself to two more full seasons of Survivor: Webcam (3.0 and 4.0 and more?) and that's where my current priorities are set, but who knows what could happen in the future. We'll just have to wait and see how things go for the next year." Survivor: Webcam 3.0 is coming soon! Any surprises you have planned that you can share with us? Any final comments you'd like to share? "On the night of the 2.0 Finale, I plan on disclosing a few sneak-a-peeks for survivor-webcam 3.0. I will say this much though, beware, because the game is getting a make-over, a rejuvination and revitalization. Again, the common theme for 3.0 will be: "If you think you know the game. Think again" but maybe more so, this time, than any other previous game. I plan on big things for survivior-webcam 3.0, but of course, those ideas are under lock and key for later this fall, when sixteen new webcam castaways, delve into this crazy game called survivor-webcam. Stay Tuned! To conclude, I want to thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to share a few things with my players and the eGame Community. I guess you can call this an 'exclusive' because this is the first time I have ever really disclosed any of my thoughts about Survivor:Webcam, in public. It's been a true pleasure telling you some things about the game and I look forward to seeing a few new faces at our 2.0 Grand Finale and Reunion. And, I also look forward to meeting sixteen fresh, new faces for survivor-webcam 3.0. Remember, if you can dream it, you can do it. Never give up on a dream and never let a dream give up on you!" Sincerely, - Rob, signing out. Interview by Joseph - eGame Central |
Host Spotlight - September 14th, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
For the 9th Host Spotlight, I had the pleasure of interviewing J.R. and Rob, the two hosts of Big Brother Miami. With a casual attitude, they gave me their favorite online games, hosts, thoughts on being the 3rd best online Big Brother game on eGame besides Josh's Big Brother games, and their thoughts on his games! Also find out their future plans for possible sequels to Big Brother Miami! Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: J.R. and Rob Game(s): Big Brother Miami |
First of all, congratulations on being one of the first 2 hosts to be voted into the Host Spotlight! Do you think this Host Spotlight is more flattering than past editions due to you being voted in by fellow hosts? Also, what are your thoughts on being one of 3 Big Brother games on the eGame Central Top 20? What do you think about being the most famous Big Brother online game on eGame Central other than Josh's BB:SF and BB:LV? How do you feel about this great success and what do you attribute it to? JR: "This means a lot coming from the votes of other hosts. It shows that they appreciate the work that we've put into our game. Josh runs an amazing game and being second best to him isn't bad. He just better watch out." Rob: "For sure, I truly believe that being voted in by other hosts is an honor. There are so many great games out there. So this is extra special. Well Josh's Big Brother Games are amazing so to even be put in the same Group as his is great. But for our success we owe all of it to the great cast, without their dedication this game wouldn't even be possible." At the time of this interview, there are 67 Big Brother games on the index. Your game is one of the very best. What makes your game stand out from the rest? Rob: "I think our webpage is really well put together, and for that JR gets full credit. He took the time to make sure that it looks very well done. And like I said without a dedicated cast there is really no game at all." JR: "I think the hard work and dedication Rob and myself have put into it helps. Since we have fun running the game our cast has fun playing the game and the viewers, hopefully, have fun watching." What is your favorite reality show? Why? JR: "I'd definitely say either Big Brother or The Amazing Race. I like the idea of Big Brother: lock 12 strangers in a box and see what happens. The Amazing Race is very fast paced and keeps me interested. Wait, does Temptation Island count?" Rob: "My favorite reality show is Survivor. It has always been just because at the beginning you have to work together as a team, and then as the game progresses you break away from the team and start looking out for number 1. Plus the whole concept of traveling and being out in the wild is GREAT!" Who do you think will win Big Brother 3? Why? Rob: "The winner of Big Brother 3 will be Lisa. I truly believe that Danielle is going to realize that she cant beat Jason in the finals and turn her back on him. Then the house will see her true colors. Meanwhile Lisa will just keep breezing through the game like she has been." JR: "I think Marcellas will win because out of everybody left he's the one that has, in my eyes anyway, lied and schemed the least besides Amy, but I don't like her. In the end, as long as Danielle isn't the one with the 500G I'll be happy." Who are your favorite 3 hosts in the online gaming community? JR: "You know, I'm embarrassed to say, but I only know two hosts. Josh (Big Brother LV and SF) and Dan (Who Will Survive). They are both really good at what they do." Rob: "Dan Baker - Great host, played in some of his games, and he just makes the game so much fun. Not to mention the man is VERY VERY dedicated. Josh - He is a fellow Big Brother Guy, and although I am yet to play in a game of his, I know how dedicated he is. Not to mention he runs the 2 best Big Brother Games, so he must be doing something right. Mark Jeffery - Big Brother Calgary, It Is a long shot and it was his first time doing one, but I think he did a very good job." What are your five favorite online reality games/series? Rob: "Who Will Survive - Played in 2 now, and each time the challenges are new and exciting. Survivor Webcam - Seems Like A Great Idea. Big Brother - Calgary - Like I said, New Host New Game. Not To Mention It is My Hometown!!! The Big Brother: San Francisco and Las Vegas. Give be Murder In Small Town X . They all do a great job hosting." JR: "Big Brother: Las Vegas, Who Will Survive, Big Brother - Calgary (hometown pride), Survivor Webcam, and Survivor Madagascar". Do you have a sequel to Big Brother: Miami in the works? Do you plan to do host games in other genres? JR: "Yeah, I've already got a layout and plans for a Big Brother Miami 2. Of course, I'm sure Rob has a sequel in mind for BB Miami, too, I'm not sure if he'll put his in Miami or not. Since we're co-hosts, I guess there is going to be two sequels. Either way, I'm sure we'll do another one together sometime." Rob: "Well me and JR are maybe thinking of going separate ways and trying our own game out. Don't know how it will pan out yet, but you can never be too sure. I would love to host a sequel to Big Brother Miami with JR again. Right from day one things just seemed to fall into place perfectly. As for Other Genres, I don't see it happening. Big Brother is just a really good fit for a game." Thank you for this interview and good luck with the rest of Big Brother: Miami! I'll be eagerly watching for the conclusion! Any final thoughts? Rob: "Yeah I just want to say thank you to everybody for showing an interest in Big Brother Miami. eGame Central really helped us out. As for the viewers of Big Brother Miami. We Hope you enjoy the finish. THANK YOU TO ALL!" JR: "Yeah, thank you for talking to us. I hope everybody's enjoying Big Brother Miami so far, and it can only get better from here on out. Stay tuned for my Big Brother Miami 2." Interview by Joseph - eGame Central |
Host Spotlight - September 21st, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
For the 10th Host Spotlight, I interviewed the 2nd host voted on in the Forum. I sat down with the creator, producer, and host of the Survivor on the Net series. Zeb, an experienced and veteran host, shares with me the thoughts of his games' up and down popularity, his favorite games and hosts, and his favorite reality television show. All this and much, much more in the 10th Host Spotlight brought to you by eGame Central. _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Zeb |
I'm gonna start this 10th host spotlight off with the same question I asked JR and Rob last week. Congratulations on being one of the first 2 hosts to be voted into the Host Spotlight! Do you think this Host Spotlight is more flattering than past editions due to you being voted in by fellow hosts? "Well, I believe there is much to be said for being voted in by fellow hosts and I appreciate it so much! I love this idea and I hope it is always used by eGame to decide who is interviewed. eGame has done a great job in allowing the hosts more power in deciding what happens and I know a lot of hosts really appreciate that." Survivor on the Net is one of the longest-running Survivor series on eGame Central. It is also one of the veteran games overall. On the original Top 20, the first couple Survivor games were constantly on top. However, as the index has gotten larger, Survivor on the Net has fallen out of the limelight, despite constantly staying on the index, constantly re-doing the site, and constantly putting out newer and better versions of the game! Why do you think this has happened? "I believe this can be owed to the fact that it was drowned out by the mass quantity of new and more flashy games that were popping up at the time. I wasn't really trying to gain recognition at the time of SOTN's greatest popularity. The fact that it was on the Top 20 listing was just an added bonus to hosting. I watched in amazement as eGame Central seemed to have doubled in popularity over night. From that moment on Survivor on the Net was more quietly played out only due to the amount of other games on the listing." No matter how popular or unpopular your games are, the series continues to move on. Many hosts/creators have a hard enough time starting and finishing one Survivor game. How have you managed to get 5 (almost 6) Survivor games filmed and published? What do you attribute this success to? What tips can you give to other up-and-coming hosts? "Consistency is key to being a good host. You must always do what you will say you will do or else you lose respect that is so important. The reason that I have produced almost 6 games now is because I love hosting and I think the players love playing. It's great when I receive compliments from my players. It truly is motivation to keep you going. Pride also plays an important role when you start hosting. You may be a great host, but are never on time for challenges or vice-versa and this can cause your game to be a failure. I think in order to be a host you should have some experiencing playing first. Playing will give you a chance to feel it out and help you decide whether you are meant to host. In order to run a good game it will take a lot of work which is unavoidable, unless you plan on running a cheap game. With some playing experience, and a lot of planning you could create a Top Twenty game on eGame Central!" Survivor on the Net is actually believed to be a pretty good contender for an eGame Oscar this Fall. A lot of buzz has surrounded the game from other hosts. What are your thoughts on this? "I'm actually kinda surprised to hear that!! With the trend being Webcams, I would feel so fortunate to stamp an eGame Oscar to my webcamless game! It's so nice to know that traditional games like mine can still be recognized. To even be nominated for an eGame Oscar would be a dream come true! That would forever show my dedication and love for hosting these games. The one part of my game (among others) that sets it apart our from everyone else is its "Behind the Scenes" pages for every edition. I don't think many people know about it. It's the mostly unedited emails (challenge and Instant Message conversations) that have been sent in by our players. You could read the Day to Day pages, and then go to the Behind the Scenes Pages and a lot of the secrets to the story would easily be unlocked. There is so much comedy and revealing drama held within those pages that it should be read by everyone that visits the sites. Survivor on the Net IV and V had a ton of revealing emails and I suggest you check them out whenever you read about those episodes since there is hours and hours of good entertaining reading there!" What is your favorite reality TV show? Why? "The Survivor Series will always be my favorite. That shouldn't have been too hard for anyone to guess since I only have hosted and played in Survivor games anyway! Survivor is the ultimate game because it demonstrates an extreme measure of human capabilities. No matter which Survivor game you watch or read about (on TV or on the Internet) you can be guarenteed there will be drama and action. It's almost like watching an hour long movie every week. You have a begining with strategy talk, a middle with reward and immunity challenges, and an ending with climatic tribal council. To backstab or not to backstab, that is the question! I must admit, however, that I really enjoyed watching the Amazing Race this past season. The Amazing Race demonstrated not only the players abilities and strategies, but it was also packed with educational and informative information which made the game all that much more enjoyable to watch." Who are your 3 favorite hosts in the online gaming community? "You must keep in mind that most of my gaming experience has taken place in the Yahoo! Groups Survivor Games. Yahoo! Groups Games have some of the best hosts on the net! I have, however, heard a lot of good things about other hosts within the eGame Central listing who are not members of the Yahoo! Gamers. This is a tough question, but I will give it my best shot. Was there any doubt in your mind about who I would pick first Joseph? I have to include the most creative and comical host I have ever worked with, that is, of course, Joseph (bravesruul). When I first met Joseph he was working with the long running E-Survivor Series in Yahoo Clubs! I have found through time the way in which he conducts his challenges and commentary through email is so clever, and has always been something I've looked forward to reading. Joseph has had a ton of experience working with many games on the net, including hosting and playing in my Survivor on the Net Games! If you're interested in reading about one of the best games on the eGame listings then check out Surviving Big Brother's The Amazing Mole Race. Also, you should really check out Survivor on the Net IV: The Amazon Adventure which was also hosted by Joseph. That game ended a few months ago and really deserves more recognition than what it has been given, which is none. My other favorite hosts have to be Sam V. from the E-Survivor Series, and Greg from the Island of Mystery Survivor Series. They both have such a knack for creating the best challenges I have ever played in. I think they also posses a great ability overall and I enjoyed every moment playing in their games. I also have to give credit also to Sebastian, Mary Jo, and Tammy who have all worked with me at Survivor on the Net." What are your 5 favorite games/series in the online gaming community? "While I haven't had a lot of time to check the majority out, I do however appreciate a lot of the games on the listing. I hate to narrow it down to five, but here would be my short list... Survivor Webcam, the Suhvivevah Series, the new E-Survivor Series, and the E-Games produced by Steve because I love their entertaining dialogue and professional websites. The Island of Mystery because I know first hand it's a fun game to play and has a great host." With 5 versions of Survivor of the Net done, and a 6th All-Star edition almost done filming, what are your plans for the series? Your site says a 7th version is in the works. What about an 8th? Do you plan on continuing the series to the heights of Who Will Survive? Do you have plans for other genres of games? Big Brother on the Net? Amazing Race on the Net? "I plan on running Survivor on the Net games for as long as there is interest in them. That's what the banner has read on the homepage since the creation of the game and that's what I plan on doing until the end of time! I may not always be the host and producer, but I always want the Survivor on the Net games to be present online for as long as there is an active interest! I don't think I'll ever attempt to produce two games at once like I did for SOTN IV and V, but there will always be at least one running or in the makings. As far as other genres, I have given thought to it many times and I believe it will happen eventually, so we reserve the rights to Big Brother, and Amazing Race on the Net. As an interesting side note, as SOTN I was taking off we did start a Big Brother on the Net game, but unfortunately participation was lacking from our players and we had to cancel it a week after it had started." To wrap things up, do you have any teasers to let us know what is in store for the conclusion of Survivor on the Net VI, the All-Star edition? Any Final Statements? "I am very excited to produce the ending of the All-Star edition. The recurring theme has of course been one of a "retro" idea, so you can expect a little bit of the old, mixed in with a bit of new as far as format for the final part of the game. Thanks so much to the other hosts, and to eGame Central for allowing me this opportunity to express my thoughts. Thanks also to the players and guests of Survivor on the Net who make it so much fun for me to host these games." Interview by Joseph - eGame Central |
Host Spotlight - Novemeber 3rd, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
For the 11th Host Spotlight, I interviewed Aaron, the host of the phenomenal online game 24/7. With a very casual, honest sense of humor, he shares with us his favorite games, his thoughts on how his game is successful, and much more! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: Aaron Game(s): 24/7 |
First of all, I must congratulate you! Your game was on the eGame Top 20, was the September Site of the Month, and is nominated for 3 eGame Awards! I gotta ask..... how did your game get so popular? What do you attribute the success to? "Well, I think it's a combination of things. First, a good cast. I got lucky on that front. This and the last 24/7, which wasn't indexed, featured basically the first 12 players to apply. Naturally there was deadwood- you'd be hard pressed to find a game without it- but the game is structured so they all go before anyone valuable. I got some re-ups for the current one, and I got a LOT of good new players. Then you have my brother, Erik, who bought the book. Without that, I never would have gotten the idea for the game, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Third, I'd have to toot my own horn and say my challenges. I sat down in my room for nights on end, thinking up ways to be evil. I think I can safely say at this point I was successful." Alright, about the September Site of the Month Win, how much of a difference do you think the whole "Little Guy Rebellion" played a part in your win, if any? "To be perfectly honest, I think it played a big part. I posted a message in this Little Leaguer thread before the tourney, and when it actually got started, everyone who had posted in that thread got supported. And my little post about... whatever I posted about got me in on the ground floor. As the rounds progressed, and some little leaguers started dropping, support for me increased because they needed to get behind someone. Eventually I was the only little leaguer left. Now I'm going to air my own dirty laundry. At the start I felt I had no chance of winning. By the time I got to the finals I was obsessed with it. If it weren't for me attempting to get the entire 24/7 group to vote for me, plus a little spamming of my buddy list, you'd be talking to the host of Surviving Big Brother's The Amazing Mole Race right now." Actually, I don't prefer talking to myself, but that's ok! :-) How exactly did you form the game 24/7? It's obviously based on the book, but more specifically, what made you decide to sit down and make a very detailed online game about it? Many people find it hard to make an "Innovative" game like this. How did you do it and what makes yours so superior? "I was between games at the time- I had a bunch of failed games, including 'Game Show Network Online', where I did renditions of traditional game shows like Press Your Luck and Card Sharks, and 'Fear Factor Online', which had exactly one run. So I was looking for something to host. I tried something called 'Flashback', wherein I tossed as many games as I could together and called it a game. I got 3 applications for 16 spots. So here I was, reading the book, and all of a sudden I noticed how detailed author Jim Brown laid out the rules, and I thought "You know, with a little tinkering..." A little tinkering later, here we are. I think the game's superior because players don't have to do the voting. I do it for them, using what hostly information I gather- performance, strategy, participation, that good stuff. At the time I started, I had heard players were sick and tired of voting one another out of games, and that probably helped my cause." Who are your 3 favorite online reality game hosts? Why? "First is obviously my brother, Erik, host of the Gimmick Survivor series. Do I need to explain why there? Second, Justin Brown, host of Murder in Small Town X and the Mole: Online series. He's a pro at elaborate mind games. I'm currently in my third game playing under him, and I can say he obviously puts one hell of a lot of work into his games. Third, I would have to go with Colin Fogle, the winner of 24/7 1 and co-host of World Challenge 2. I don't know him as a host, but I know him as a player, and he's pretty cool." What are your 5 favorite online reality games/series? Why? "First two- MiSTX and Gimmick Survivor 5- I'm playing in one and my brother hosts the other. Well, that was easy. As for the others: 25 to 1- it's the kind of concept I wish I'd thought of. I would have applied to the second season, but I can really only handle 2 games at a time, and those right now are MiSTX and 24/7. American Internet Idol- A singing contest. Online. Gotta love the guy who can make THAT work. Any game that comes out sounding like "Surviving The Mole's Big Brother On Temptation Island's Boot Camp With No Boundaries". Because I like the name." What game on the eGame Central Index should get more attention that it does? "Yea, you had to ask the little leaguer, didn't ya? Well, I can't mention one specific game. I'm actually going to have to name the entire Amazing Race genre. No love for the Amazing Bathmat of Destiny and Philiminations and the [BOMP]. (All terms from www.televisionwithoutpity.com, which is just the most wonderful site in the history of the universe) There are no games in progress in the entire genre. That's a problem." With the success of 24/7, do you have any other games in the planning? Are they original misc. games, or are you planning to take a reality genre like Survivor or Big Brother and form your own personal version on that? "Funny you should ask. Just a few nights before I recieved the e-mail with all these questions, the aforementioned Justin asked me to co-host The Mole Online: Series 7 with him. I accepted. A guy who's good at screwing with your head paired up with me, a guy who's just an evil, evil (expletive)-- oh, boy, am I gonna have fun with this one." Thanks for the interview and good luck in the future! Any final thoughts? "Just because the world is coming to an end does NOT mean that you are relieved of your civic responsibility to be alarmed about the ongoing international epidemic of exploding organisms." -- Dave Barry Interview by Joseph - eGame Central |
Host Spotlight - December 1st, 2002 |
THIS WEEK'S |
For the 12th Host Spotlight, I had the privelage of sitting down for the 2nd straight time with a Site of the Month winner. This time it was the host of The Mole: Woven Betrayal, and it was a very fun, informal interview. From the host's favorite games to the host's opinions on the top competition and even the first ever Host Spotlight exclusive preview of the layout for the site of a future game, The Mole: Woven Betrayal II. Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________________ Name/Alias: ? Game(s): The Mole: Woven Betrayal |
It seems that I start every interview congratulating the host, and you deserve many congratulations. #1 currently and in the past on the eGame Top 20.... Nominated for Best Mole Game at the eGame Awards.... Site of the Month for October 2002.... Congratulations! What do you attribute all of this success to? What is the big appeal toward your game? "Thanks very much! I was very surprised to win October Site of the Month, because before then it seemed like Woven Betrayal wasn't that well known. As for the success and appeal, I am, personally, a big fan of Mole games because they really make you sit back and think, and I think that would be one of the big draws to most any Mole game, so I had a head start. For my game specifically, I hate to say it, but I think I may have initially caught people's attention simply through website design - but now that the episodes are starting to air, I think that they will keep people coming back." Alright, now currently on the Top 20 (Week of Thanksgiving), your game is #1. Right behind it at #2 is another very popular Mole game, The Mole Hill. Are you a fan of that game? What do you think about it? "I think The Mole Hill is a very well run game, and I am a very big fan. I am especially enjoying the sequel, because we get to see much more in depth episodes. What I think makes The Mole Hill so popular are the same two things that make Woven Betrayal popular - A nice website design (I was going to say 'clean', but I have been told WB can be hard to navigate) and some imaginative challenges that are well developed and thought out. I think we will see even greater things from The Mole Hill 2 in the next little while." Who are your three favorite online gaming hosts? Why? "Hmm...I wish I was more familiar with online gaming hosts - I generally focus on the game. I'd have to say: Cyclops Jester, Madam Xelda, and EQBeastlord (I hope I spelt all that correctly). For those who may not know, they ran Cyber-mole.com and they really did a good job running their game - something you probably didn't know: Cyclops Jester applied for Woven Betrayal! :-) Ax and the rest of the 'cybermole II: the project' crew. The main reason I mention them is because I really like how they are each playing the part of a veteran agent, each with different personalities, rather than just straight up hosting - it makes it more interesting. Mark from Survivor Tonight series. I really like Tasmania's website for starters (not sure if he made it or not), and I just think he has the survivor-like manner to him when he hosts. Also, one of my players was in Malakula and he said it was a fun game." What are your five favorite online games/series? Why? "This is a whole different ball game from favorite hosts, so I am basing things on different reasons. The Cybermole Project This was probably the first online Mole game I eer came across, since it was near the top of the list of Online Mole Games at eGame Central. It is definitely a classic, and one that sets the standard for all future mole games (I have seen the seating challenge reproduced in so many mole games!) The Mole Hill 2 For one person running the whole thing (basically) by theirself (like me), The Mole Hill is very, very good. I picked The Mole Hill 2, because rather than seeing 4 or 5 threads of conversation and reading short description of the challenge, we actually get to see all the conversations and SEE what the challenge was like! The Amazing Online Race- A great concept! 2 hour games means no inactives, no having to clear time and space to run it, and it certainly doesn't take away from this game's quality! Great website, nice concept, wonderful game! Survivor Webcam It is true, it is on everyone's list as a favorite. Although a seemingly simplistic idea, it is incredibly interesting, with the time and effort put into the extra features. My only problem with this game is, they don't have any official episodes, so aside from a few webcam snippets, we have no clue what is going on! Kymq4: the investigation In my opinion, it is VERY hard to run and create a MISTX game, because of the involved storylines and twists, not to mention the need for several people to play each part. This is a very well run game, and I like it very much. Many hosts shy away from hosting a Mole game. Why do you think that is? The Mole: Woven Betrayal is obviously one of the best Mole online games ever. Explain the process you went through in order to make your game such a big success? "Wow! One of the best ever? That is really nice to hear someone say! I think people shy away from doing Mole games in favor of something easier like Survivor, because in a Mole game, people expect twists and turns, and very imaginative and complex challenges - in a Survivor game, the twists and turns come purely from the players' reactions to each other, and challenges are not as hard to come-up with because people don't play Survivor for the challenges. Woven Betrayal's success happened right under my nose - I thought that not a person in the world knew about the game, and then, suddenly it all just fell out into the open. Not to say everything came easy - far from it. I would say that if you want your game to become a hit, don't think about it - just make your game quality, and be sure you and your players are having fun...if your game really is good, people will figure it out on their own." Name a game on the eGame Central Index that you feel does not get enough recognition. Why? "Well, I have to stray from the question in order to answer this question. I think that Survivor-Webcam gets a bit TOO much recognition...if I'm not mistaken they have had a monopoly on their categories at the past few eGame Awards, etc. Which means many other Survivor games that are deserving don't get any notice, so I would say most Survivor games as a whole (another contributing factor is how many there are) don't get the recognition they deserve. Specifically, I think that The Amazing Online Race may not get as much recognition as it should - Amazing race games are a dead species, but through it all this game has pulled through and outlasted all its competitors." Do you plan on doing a sequel to The Mole: Woven Betrayal? How about a game in another genre? "Actually, I DO plan on doing a sequel to Woven Betrayal, but not for many months - I really don't want to do it alone again, because running a Mole game is much harder than it looks (trust me, I know!). I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I am working on a new layout for WBII that anyone who wants to can take a look at:http://www.kenbrio.com/pokemon/testmole.html As for a game in another genre - I really doubt it. If I made a Survivor game, I would have to adjust to a whole different style of hosting/producing, and I hate to admit it, but a MISTX game would be much, much too complicated to run, so I will leave it to the two people that are currently running excellent MISTX games already. I will stick with the Mole for at least one more season, then...who knows? Thanks for the interview and good luck in future endeavors. Any final thoughts? "You are most welcome! I would just like to say that I really appreciate all the attention Woven Betrayal has been given, and that I hope someone will start posting in the speculations forums soon!" Interview by Joseph - eGame Central |
12.21.02 |
Every other week we feature a guest host, sharing with us, their favorite online games, what they look for in a game, and their thoughts on the online gaming world in general! We typically look for accomplished hosts for these interviews, but occasionally we allow the hosts to vote on who they'de like to see next, in a poll on the eGame Forum. Select an Interview from the list below: |
An inside look at the hosts of eGame Central. Without dedicated hosts like these, the online reality world wouldn't be where it is today. |
Host of The Mole: Woven Betrayal 11.30.02 |
Aaron - 24/7 11.3.02 |
Zeb - Survivor on the Net Series 9.21.02 |
J.R. & Rob - Big Brother Miami 9.14.02 |
Rob - Survivor: Webcam 8.24.02 |
Steve - Amazing Race: Online Journey 8.10.02 |
Sreetham - Mole RPG 2001 7.20.02 |
Josh - Big Brother: San Francisco 6.8.02 |
Dan - Who Will Survive Series 5.18.02 |
Host of World Challenge 1 & 2 5.4.02 |
Ax - the cybermole project 3.23.02 |
3.9.02 |
- - |
_________________________________________________________________________ |
_________________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the first edition of Host Spotlight! This week we have one of the most experienced hosts on eGame Central! He currently has announced the winner of his first season, is showing the episodes of his second season, and is currently in progress of his third. His game created the now popular stat system and has inspired many other games to be created as well. A lot know him as Chaos, some know him as Matt. He is the host of one of the oldest games on eGame Central. _________________________________________________________________________ |
March 9th, 2002 |
Name/Alias - Chaos |
Game(s) - Survivor X |
Interview by Chad - eGame Central |
NOTE: Not all links working. The interview format is being changed to save space and increase loading speed. |
_________________________________________________________________________ |
_________________________________________________________________________ As a special Christmas Host Spotlight, it was decided that Steve, creator and producer of eGame Central, would share his thoughts. eGame Central has seen huge success over the past 16 months, hundreds of games have been added, a staff has been put together, the eGame Awards started up, a domain name was created, etc. Here's what Steve has to say about all of that and more. Enjoy the interview and have a great Holiday! _________________________________________________________________________ |
December 21st, 2002 |
Name/Alias - Steve |
Game(s) - eGameCentral.net |
Melinda - Supreme Big Brother 1.11.03 |
