We’re back with the another beta tester interview. This time the interviewee is Walter Dolce, a friend who volunteered to help with testing, and probably the first person, barring myself, who actually passed all the levels available on the beta testing version of Starminer (currently 62 out of a bit over 100).
Here’s the interview:
Marco Lopes: Tell me about some games which you have fond memories of?
Walter Dolce: That’s not going to be easy.
I’ve played many games in my life. Mostly on 3.5” floppy disks when I was a child or CDs when I was a teenager.
But now that I’m thinking about it, I remember playing Prehistorik. I was very little at that time. If I recall correctly, it was 1992/1993. I remember enjoying playing the game as it had dinosaurs in it, and I’ve always liked dinosaurs.
I also remember a game called Bananoid. It was that kind of games when you have to get to all the tiles with a ball or something. Like in Space Invaders, which I also remember playing.
ML: Oh, I remember Bananoid, it’s an arkanoid clone!
WD: Arkanoid! I remember that one as well (smiles).
Then I also remember Monkey Island, and the Indiana Jones games series.
But Prehistorik I think was one of the first games I ever played.
This is was around 1991/1993. I was very little, like 4, 5 years old. I used to play it on a 286 computer as I used to know it.
ML: (laughs) I remember all of those. Also the first 3 Monkey Island games, and the Indiana Jones games are some of my favourite games ever as well.
WD: Yeah, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis was my favourite one.
The story was very entertaining, I think I played that one more than once.
I remember you could decide what to answer to other characters during conversations and eventually the outcome of the conversation would change.
I also remember the ability to direct the punched during fights up and down the opponent’s body. That game was really good.
The Monkey Island games were also good.
Then there was also Simon the Sorcerer. I remember I was eager to go at one of my relatives’ house because he used to have a 386 computer where it would run normally. I couldn’t play it on mine.
There are so many good games. I would spend the night trying to remember them all… and how life was back then.
Prehistorik 2 was so good!
I’m just thinking I spend so much time building software but I never got an emulator to play them all again…
ML: Is there a part of a game or game mechanic that really spoke to you?
WD: Prehistorik (simles)
And Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
In Prehistorik I used to beat the hell out of the bad guys, and dinosaurs, with its club.
ML: What s your current highscore on Starminer
WD: Let me check… 12950
ML: What was the first game you remember playing?
WD: Prehistorik!
ML: What’s your favourite Starminer level?
WD: The one with the traffic lights. It’s beautiful and awful at the same time. Beautiful because it’s well designed and a great idea. Awful because it’s difficult. You need to be very reactive or you’ll crash the ship on the dark orbs.
ML: What’s your favourite thing about Starminer?
WD: Its simplicity, and the sounds. Even more now that I know how they were made (laughs)
ML: Is there a video game moment in your life, that you’ll always remember?
WD: I might have games moments. But can’t remember any specifically at the moment.
I remember playing Silver. It was a game with the best scenery and graphics at that time. The players were in stark contrast with the scenery.
The game was very good. The story was also good. The music, the sound effects.
I think it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. note we’re in the CDs eras already here
ML: Which game would you take to a desert island, and why?
WD: I would take one of the likes of StarCraft, Age of Empires. Any games like that. If I’m going to stay on a desert island I better entertain myself the best way I can. At least I could practice war strategy (laughs).
ML: How did you end up as a beta tester for Starminer?
WD: Through you as we both know (laughs)
ML: (laughs) But the people reading the interview might not know
WD: (laughs) Will the people reading the interview get to know how the game sounds were produced?
ML: I do have an article half written, about that
WD: We’ll need to get the other half out of the door then (smiles)
ML: (laughs) True