Welcome to the Author Showcase, a project founded by Natzke on Trackmania Nations Exchange. We already made a lot of Interviews, with famous users like Ron Turbo, Panis and GanjaRider, but also normal TMX users like Quat or SeaDevil! We have gotten a lot of positive reactions to it. And we now got the great news that we can publish our Interviews on TMX Blog! We hope you enjoy it!

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So, The Blog went into a little dip after the the beautiful article about the WCG made by FastForza. Gladly we still have the interviews! So this week we stay in Nations (sorry TMU), and interview one of the more successful and active dude’s :) We present to you, the almighty:

Rewiind!

1. Please tell us more about yourself (birthday, real name, place of birth, height, weight, favourite colour) and your background?
Hi everyone, my name is Arno, I’m 16 years old and I currently live in Hoofddorp, Holland. I’ve lived here my entire life and I don’t think I’ll be moving very soon (: I’m a little over 180 cm tall, weigh about 60 kg and my favourite colour is.. I think blue. I live at home with my father (50), mother (43) and brother (19). Besides fish, we don’t have pets anymore which is fine by me. My hobbies are mostly listening to music and being with friends. Might not be the most original ones, but they work just fine for me ^^

2. How did you get your nickname?
Gooood question.. I actually have no idea. I do know when it was. I was racing with my old clan leader (a pretty long time ago) as ‘Slybox’. Then I changed to ‘Micro’ (you can guess the jokes ^^) and then I changed it into Rewiind, and it has been that ever since (:

3. What made you become a track builder and who made the biggest influence at your beginning?
Well, I have always kinda sucked at racing. In the old Nations days I was kind of good, but it plummeted and in Forever I was, for some mysterious reason, not able to perform that well anymore. That’s when I put the focus away from racing; on track building. Yes, I do have some tracks in Nations, but they weren’t very serious projects. In Forever I find myself having way more fun building than racing, so that’s kind of how it all started. My biggest influence.. You know, I don’t really know actually. Well, it was my dream (and still is actually) to create a track having the same style as some tracks from Phyter or Kendal in the old Nations. That style is something I have barely found in Forever, and I still really miss it. But since those guys (amongst others of course) were a big inspiration, I started to try building like them.

4. Can you please guide us through a typical track project from start to finish and what part of track building do you find crucial?
Pff.. 80% of my time in the editor I’m just making some starts of which almost all of them are discarded. If I have a really cool one, I save it, try to build on and maybe actually add an extra few seconds. Or sometimes I leave them in my personal beta area for a looong time before continuing on it again. And I do this with every extra part I add; don’t save it, until I’m completely satisfied with it. After that comes the scenery. While others don’t, I think this is a very important part of track building. Without scenery, it’s just boring and completely race-focused. With too much of it, it’s just annoying and makes normal driving too hard. With just enough of it, it adds a lot of atmosphere to the whole thing. I save MT for last. Although it can be rewarding when you created something nice and original, I think it’s a real pain in the ass >.< But I also think it’s necessary (intro & gps at least), because it shows you really put an effort in the track, except for the building itself.

5. Where do you find inspiration for tracks?
By testing other tracks, that’s one. Test tracks from my favourite or well-respected authors, try to interpretate transitions in a different way so it looks like it, but is still different (that’s right, never exactly copy stuff from others’ tracks). The other way I get inspiration is to get into the editor and just mess with it. After a long time you’ll come up with a completely new transition. Some might/will be way too impossible for normal driving, but it’s really satisfying when you find one that works really well (:

6. Can you tell us what great track builders need to posses besides versatile capability in track building?
Well, being versatile is a good thing, but it isn’t a guarantee for being a great builder. You still need to know how certain blocks work, which ones would fit best and what will drive the best. An advantage from being versatile, is that it brings more fun to the game. Sick of tech? Make a full speeder. But back the point, I think track builders need to know what the users want. LoL might be great to build, but the community isn’t waiting for more of those. Transition overdose? Might be fun to build or watch a good replay, but nobody is waiting for respawning every other second. Of course there are more things you’ll need, but this covers the basics.

7. What is your general opinion of TM game, what is so addictive?
Pff, why isn’t it ^^ there are a number of solo tracks on which you can improve yourself till you have every wr. There’s an amazingly big and fun online community with even more tracks to try. Then there are sites like TMX to make your track directory even bigger! With over 126.000 (!) tracks in the database [and 100,000 on TMUX –Januy] there are, besides the crappy tracks, enough tracks that are worth testing. And with the coming of e.g. RPG and dirt there are even more styles you can try (: And I choose TMX as an example, since it is for me (and I’m sure a lot of others) the heart of TM. Without it, I would’ve quit TM a looong time ago!

8. What makes TMX so special place in your opinion and did TMX made influence at your life in any way?
Part of it is in my last answer x) The community is just great; so much nice people which are always ready to help you and give advices. Those same people show their weird side in the Off-Topic forum, which can be hilarious. Then the awesome contests (MTC, PP7’s contests etc.) which brings people together, the deep and ongoing discussion on tags, Px tracks and what not. I think.. no, I know this community is what keeps most people from quitting TM (:

9. Can you share an entertaining story from TMX with us?
I don’t think I’ve had a specific moment on TMX which was so special and hilarious that I should post it here, sorry x)

10. Could you share your virtues and flaws with us?
In real life, I think I’m pretty outgoing which (I think) is a good thing, and it makes meeting new people a lot easier. A flaw would be that I’m very lazy and can get annoyed pretty easily. I hate when I get annoyed, which annoys me even more xD

In TM, I think one of my virtues is that I can come up with new transitions or original parts pretty well. A flaw would be, that when I’m uninspired but really want to complete a new track, I just rush the whole process which results in not very well flowing drops, jumps or slides. I know that I could’ve made it much better, but I just don’t like spending weeks on one track..

11. What is your daily routine and your favourite daily activity?
In my schooldays I get up at about 6.45 / 7.00. I either take a shower or stay in bed, although the first one is way more common ^^. Then I get dressed, tidy up my bed and get downstairs for breakfast. At about 8.00 I go to school which starts at 8.20, usually till 14.10 or 15.15. When I get home, about 20 minutes later, I put down my bag, put on jogging pants, start up my comp, open msn, check e-mail etc. Then I always check TMX. Yes, every new post in every topic x). I start with my homework then, although I tend to skip it quite a lot ^^. I have dinner at about 18.00. After that, I just watch some tv, sometimes I go to the gym, maybe make some (more) homework, and usually get to bed at about 23.00. In week-ends I love waking up at like 15.00 or something. Some say it ruins your day, which I agree with, but it’s still cool ^^ At day I don’t do a lot actually.. At night I either chill with some friends or go out, hittin’ dem clubz x)

12. Who made the biggest impact in your real life on you and why?
Pff.. No idea actually.. My mom? x] She pushed me to work hard for school which got me to successfully complete my previous school year. So eh, thanks mom ^^

13. Tell us about a memorable moment in your life; a time you will never forget?
I think I don’t have an exciting enough life to answer this one :O Sorry guys ^^

14. What is the achievement you have made that you are most proud of in real life?
I think getting into the year I’m in now. At school, I mean. I completely underestimated how tough it was going to be, even though everybody said it would be hard. It was in like the last quarter year I started to really work, and I made it, but just barely. This year will be even harder, so I’ve made a commitment to myself I’m going to start working hard from the very beginning.

15. What are the goals you are still working towards?
Finishing school! Even though I still have 2 years (including this one) to go, but I can’t wait to get out of that place xD Another goal is actually choosing a study I want to do. We have a lot of days at universities etc. at which you can look for something that fits you and you’d like to do. I’ve already been to some, but still haven’t found anything that I’d like to do as a study. Fingers crossed on finding something soon!

16. What’s your idea of a perfect vacation?
I can tell you it doesn’t include parents ^^ With about 8 people, going to Spain or Crete or something for about 2 weeks. Having more than enough money. Meeting other people. Chilling, a lot! Hanging by the pool, with a great weather. Party till you drop. Drink even more! Might realize this next year; can’t wait!

17. Any phobias/addiction or both you’re willing to admit and could you tell your favourite food and drink?
Not ashamed to admit my biggest phobia: spiders. They’re disgusting. They’re so fast and they feel gross. I always check rooms for them when I get there for the first time. Sometimes I won’t use the toilets if there is a spider there. They’re just horrible >.< And an addiction.. Hmm.. I really love those nuts. Don't know how they’re called in English (or if they even exist in any other country than Holland), but here they’re called Tijgernootjes. Bacon & cheese, hmmm.. =D My favourite food is by far pizzaaaa <3 My favourite non-alcoholic drink would be.. Fristi xD And alcoholic would be Sambuca!

18. What are your top 3:

Games:

1. CoD 2: amazing game, have played it for a sick long time with some friends. CoD 4 is nice too, but never reached number 2’s level.

2. TM: as said in question 7 & 8, the community and diversity is just amazing and I’ve never seen that in any game.

3. Really unsure about it, but N Game gave me great joy xD The simplicity and the huge online community with a sick amount of user-made maps were great fun.

Tracks:

1. Flow by nap303: old Nations full speeder. Haven’t played any track online more than this one. Very good memories (:

2. The Pretender by NLpwf: One of the first tracks I ever seriously played in Nations. Also good memories to it.

3. I think Let me know when you’re lonely baby by Kendal: I said Kendal was a source of inspiration, and that was mostly because of this track. I just noticed I never awarded it, but it’s a damn good track.

19. How do you think TMX will react to Trackmania 2 when it is released?
As some have already seen in the forum, the opinions are very divided. I think it’s kind of the same as when Forever came out: some will stay at the old one, some will move on to the new one. And then the discussions are really getting started, mostly about why some think Forever stays the best, and others think TM 2 owns Forever. I personally am looking forward to TM 2, just because the new features and graphic improvements look really good. But hey, we’ll see how everything turns out when it’ll actually come out.

20. What advice would you give to someone who just starting out with track building and where we can find you online?
First, get yourself known. Not in a bad way by track spamming in every topic, but to start getting involved in some Off-Topic topics. Then, when you actually want to be known as a track builder, browse the track building forum. Here you can find a lot of useful tips to get started. When you’re actually in the building process, try the beta area, for advices from other users. Don’t update it after every new second though, this just gets on peoples nerves. Try to make your track as good as you can, not some uninspired LoL-track. Also when starting, it’s useful to try some highly awarded or BotW tracks. Just to get an idea of what’s hot and what’s not at the moment. When you are happy with the track, and maybe got a final approval of fellow users, it’s time to start on the scenery. Now this can be pretty hard when you start, because it’s a matter of taste which you have to evolve yourself. You could ask a good scenery maker to help you out and give you advices. After that, it’s MT time. I’d suggest to take your time to get yourself familiar with the MT editor, because this could be hard. Usually a simple intro and gps will do the trick, especially as someone who has just started. Now add a nice screenie, either made by yourself (again, get yourself familiar with the current screen style to see what’s hot at the moment) or by someone. People are usually glad to help with something like this. Then it’s time to upload it! Add a nice, fun to read Author Comment in which you give some facts about the track. PM your beta testers with the tracklink and ask them nicely if they could test the track as a final product, and you’re done! Now, this would be a great way to start your career; with a bomb. It’s very sad when it gets unnoticed though but this is something you’ll just have to deal with. Also, don’t name your track something like “cool track #1 try award now it’s cool”, but think of a cool name. Maybe browse your music library for some cool titles.

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A very nice interview, we might say so. We want to thank Rewiind for taking the time to answer these questions, and we’ll see you next week readers!

~ The Author Showcase Team