Come Get Some!

Age : 29 (2015)
Location : Concepcion, Chile
Occupation : Computing engineer.

CGS : When did you first get in touch with Build/Mapster?
Fernando : Even though I've known the game since its early release way back in 1996, I did not come to own the editor itself until my mother purchased me (as a surprise gift) the East meets West bundle in 1998 for my 12th birthday. Given that she did not know anything about the game and I was willing to do anything to get it, even if she would have refused to get it for me, I've just asked her to buy it. In the end, I got it that same day.

CGS : What was your first map, released or unreleased?
Fernando : My first unreleased map was going to be released for a particular episode which I can't remeber its name. "Polaris Outpost" was a very short space map (and that title is so generic I couldn't give it a more creative one). I still have it in my hard disk drive, and sometimes I take a look a it, and even play it just for the sake of old times.

CGS : What is your favourite among your own maps?
Fernando : I have quite a fond for all my maps, since I've made a huge effort for each and every one of those to be as enjoyable as the original game's maps and, practically, any good map out there in the net. If honestly I have to choose a favorite amongst my work, I would have to say "Terran Moonshaft". It has that classic 3DRealms feeling and I built it when I was finishing my career, which was practically my best time period for me.

CGS : How many maps have you done?
Fernando : Not counting the participations I've had in specific community projects, I have built and completed two full Duke3D episodes. That is, 22 full-fledged maps. I also have additional maps completed but are unreleased. I didn't bother to release them since they are very small in size, so why bother?

CGS : Where do you get inspiration from?
Fernando : The original game itself is my main inspiration. Seeing all these maps made way back in 1996 makes me relieve that great period in my life. Duke3D was (and still is) one of the best games in my entire life, and I attribute its release to contribute to my raising as a teenager. I've also sought inspiration from many other mappers and builders, but these have been limited, almost non-existent in affecting my output. That doesn't mean it's not acknowledged at all.

CGS : Do you listen to music whilst mapping? If so, what did you listen to?
Fernando : Actually I do. Anything from my personal collection is in my playlist while I map. Although during the development of my released "New York Rebellion" and "Orbital Oblivion" episodes, I tended to listen the most to "Pet Shop Boys", "Groove Armada", "Zero 7", "Hoobastank", "Café Tacuba" and "La Ley". Actually I have much more music, but these bands represent the biggest part of my music listening for work in mapping.

CGS : Do you see mapping as competitive?
Fernando : Not at all. For me, mapping has never been a competitive struggle to come out victorious and see who is the definite best of the bunch. Rather, I see mapping as a cooperative effort between people. I've never been trying to be better than another builder, nor I'm interested in doing that in anything else. I just try to overcome my limitations to be better for myself.

CGS : Do you still touch Build/Mapster?
Fernando : Not for the moment, since university has consumed my whole spare time. I still have the full game with the editor installed and in occasional moments, I open the editor and study the map and try to remember how to use it. Honestly, I still know how to use most of the functions, but I certainly would not be able to build another map the same way as I did years ago.

CGS : Are you playing any DN3D maps these days?
Fernando : It's quite sporadically. Maybe once a month I play exclusively custom-made maps and study them in the editor, but what's left for me is attention in other things in my life.

CGS : What's your favourite map of all time?
Fernando : I personally don't have a favorite map. I really do like many maps and tend to enjoy them really much, but I can't choose a particular one.

CGS : What are your opinion about the HRP and Polymer projects?
Fernando : I really like the fact that the community is trying to reinvent (if that is the correct word) the game to make it look more modern. And I quite like the Polymer project since it (is it or not?) gives the game the much desired Room-Over-Room, which is a function I've been wanting since the original game's source code was put online. But I'm not saying I'm a huge fan of them. I don't use them because I just like to keep the game faitful to its origins but also I can't even execute the projects, because I don't have a powerful computer. Maybe sometime later, when I upgrade significantly my computer, I'll check out these projects, but just to see them in action out of curiosity.

CGS : What other games do you fancy?
Fernando : My current game liking is just playing online in fr9.es with my girlfriend and Age Of Empires Online (I must admit I really like this game a lot) with my best friend. Also in certains occasions I play the Angry Birds franchise. Just small-scaled games only.

CGS : Finally, is it something you'd like to say to the DN3D community?
Fernando : It's been one of the best experiences I've lived in my life. The fact that the community is still alive makes me realise the game will live up much more than any other game there is actually now. I would like to thank each and every mapper, player and person I've met during this time. It's been fantastic. Let's not let this passion and enjoyment fade over in time...