Hobbies : Coding, playing ArmedAssault, running Sahrani Radio and
www.armedassault.eu
From my own experiences, my time with ArmA and the communities in general, I noticed the EU always had somewhat of an upper-hand, it seemed that the majority of their community had somewhat of a static hub, a group closer to the developers, and seemed to have had a jump on things before us US fellas. Due to their upper-hand in this, I always looked to Armed Assault (dot) eu for news, and information on the future of armed assault. They were definitely one of my favorites on my book-mark list for quite some time now, and will continue throughout their existence.
One of the top seated folks to present the news, Jerry, had kept me informed from radio interviews, and his website. We all owe a great deal to him, (and others like him) to present the news in a lighter fashion. So now I present to you the interview that you have all been waiting for...
(Blogger: Enven)
22-01-2008
Jerry Hopper: Yep Relax...(In regard to my panic stricken yelp after Jerry tried touching me)
Enven: Ok, so let’s begin: First off I'd like to say hello and thank you for your time.
Jerry Hopper: Any time it’s a honor!
Enven: Well thank you, I'd like you to state your name, affiliation, and the country you hail from.
Jerry Hopper: Okay, the name is Hopper, Jerry Hopper. I am affiliated with ArmedAssault.eu and Sahrani Radio. Oh yeah, the country - well, I am originally from the Netherlands, but currently living on Sahrani.
Enven: Awesome, where is your current residence on this lovely Island?
Jerry Hopper: I have a small room above the studios in Paraiso.
Enven: Awesome, being that the north and the south are going at it just a stones throw away, do you feel secure in lovely Paraiso? I mean my god; we can sometimes feeling the shelling impact (concussion) in Corazol whenever we patrol the area, and its coming from arc-lights 12 miles out.
Jerry Hopper: Well, I am not leaving the studios that much, after the last months, as you knows i have been away for a while. it had something to do with a damn close impact of artillery while i was at a friends house near Corasol. Nothing serious, but the sound of the impact made me deaf for weeks.
Enven: I hear that... So anyway...Lets get to some insightful commentary regarding the EU occupants of the island of Sahrani: Tell me about the current state of the EU scene and what sort of dealings the gaming communities/mods/sites, (from your perspective) have been sprouting, any good rumors in the rumor mill?
Jerry Hopper: Rumors, there are always rumors. I don’t know much of the EU scene, but that's something I definitely go dig into by listening to my radio show… Furthermore, I have heard things like that there is a new CWR lead. And I have heard some sounds about that community awards thing. Some good, some bad…
Enven: Do tell, do tell! Comon, give us a little dirt, scratch the surface! You know a little foreplay won't kill the crowd, at least they'll be buttered up a tad, eh eh, let’s hear it mate.
Jerry Hopper: Foreplay is essential…As far as I know, the old leader is just too busy to run things for CWR. Nothing serious…
Enven: I see… So how about that Community Awards thing… Care to give a run-down on that then?
Jerry Hopper: Well, when you are in a competition, like an Awards thing, there are winners and losers. This might hurt the feelings of some people, and might loose interest in doing what they do. But then again, I’d say - there is always next year.
Enven: Well, you're keeping a tight lip on this one also! What’s going on with it, care to give the public a little rousting on categories selected for the award ceremony? If possible, could you explain the process of voting/elimination…?
Jerry Hopper: Well, the community awards is essentially the 'community's vote and BIS wouldn’t be BIS if OFP wasn’t involved. in short it comes all down to this :
Operation Flashpoint Add-on/Mod of 2007
Operation Flashpoint Mission/Campaign 0f 2007
ArmA Add-on/Mod of 2007
ArmA Mission/Campaign 0f 2007
Community Member of 2007
Community Website of 2007
…If you vote for me, i tell you more… Deal?
Enven: Deal…haha
Jerry Hopper: Well, the whole thing will be in two stages: First are nominations, this is where people send off their nominations for the various categories. The second stage is of course, the voting for the finalists that come from stage one… I’m not sure, but each category has 5 finalists.
Enven: Interesting, so the phases are a process of elimination, that’s great to hear, that means it will be fair and balanced *as balanced as it could be via internet. I cannot wait to see the final product of these awards, and I am pretty excited to see what’s going to be listed.
Jerry Hopper: Fair? I don’t know, but I would like the people to know that they can buy my vote. ..hahaha … I’m kidding you....
Enven: Shit, I hope you're not kidding…You earned it!
Jerry Hopper: Seriously, I am very interested in the nominees too.
im actually happy that BIS does this community binding.
Enven: Agreed, BIS is a very positive group, they've given a lot to the community for such a tiny group, with a time-table, let it be known, that isn't always the best way to do things, but they did it, and did it well. Onto another topic, since our last hearing from you before the whole artillery strike almost ending your ass, (I think it was a conspiracy, they're gunning for you...Stop gambling so much with those Northerners.) Your recent return to the air-waves is somewhat similar to the second coming of the prodigal son.
Care to give the readers a heads up on what is to come, or are you going to keep this under wraps until the right moment?
Jerry Hopper: Well, people probably know what's coming. Radio interviews just like the old ones. Some people know I announced a interview with the great Suma, and I hate to break my word. I’ll bugger the average community member with rumors, music, and a few new cool tools on our website.
With all those news-websites about ArmA, I am trying to deliver other fun news - kind of like you do!
Enven: Well, thank you very much. We're both two of a kind, you know that right... /me grabs pipe and smokes it.
Jerry Hopper: Hey, I like your style of writing. And face it, what good is another mod-news website? There are many good ones that cover all mod-releases etc. and its hard to compete against those.
Enven: Totally agree, and to say the least, news is news, but if you can't deliver it with some sort of zest and reflection, impersonal information is just as good as forum lurking. Now comes the fun part: Its time to give a bit of personal insight, about you, Jerry Hopper to the public...Stuff that most don't know about you.
Jerry Hopper: Well, I am a bald and goofy looking person, you didn’t know that huh? I don’t know much about me, hell I am a persistent lil’ bugger that I do know!
Enven: hah, well at least you're up front about it. Ever thought about hair plugs?
Jerry Hopper: I tried a wig, but they get sweaty, never tried plugs though…
Enven: Plugs are good, check them out, if you start doing web-casts it might be a bit more pleasing, although, I prefer the natural looks; I myself resemble a bear… So you're in good company.
How about a few plugging questions: Answer fast ok!?
Jerry Hopper: Ok!
Enven: Top Favorites List:
1. Favorite song of the week - In your honor - Foo Fighters
2. Favorite Food - Meat! Red're the better
3. Favorite group to play ArmA with: My old clan guys - dffclan.com
4. Favorite Weapon: My radio shows, in game: The SAW.
5. Top 3 movies:
1. Black Hawk Down
2. Hackers
3. That movie about Microsoft’s start (don’t know the title)
Yea, I am a nerd…
Enven: (Pirates of Silicon Valley)
JH: Yeah!
6. Linux or Win? - Well, Servers: Linux – centos, Clients: windows
7. Favorite season: Don’t have one; the whole year is 1 big party for me…
8. Favorite vehicle: The bicycle! (*go figure)
9. Best interview you have done: Poah, that a hard one. Can I pass? I guess the Dslyexci was one of the better ones.
10. Favorite place in Sahrani?: Chantico – Of course!
Enven: Ok, I've questioned you enough! Would you like to give any shout-outs, insights or anything before we wrap this up?
Jerry Hopper: Yep. First I want to say that you cant buy my vote!
Secondly, listen to Sahrani Radio! Its a good timewaster for when at work.
And shout outs, well - greets to all the guys i interviewed, and everybody who's playing ArmA actually.
Finally, I would call on all people to try helping each other out - we're in this for fun, not for bitching, that’s about it I guess…
Enven: Thank you very much for your time, information regarding your show, the awards and community. I hope that we could further this sometime over your radio waves, and I would be more than happy to have you back to ask you more about the state of Armed Assault, the communities from your point of view and your close calls in the lovely town of Paraiso. *This isn't over Jerry! It is an honor to have you here, and I hope to have you again for another interview!
Jerry Hopper: It was a pleasure, and something different when on the other side of an interview! (As interviewee - don’t know how to formulate this sentence)
==
I'd like to thank Jerry for his time, and hopefully we can continue with another interview, possibly an update on his whereabouts, the community, and gaming news. If you'd like to learn more about arma, and listen in on Jerry's interviews check it out HERE.
Please tune in sometime this weekend, or next week for more interviews, articles, and displays of videos/mods/rants!
A blogging idiot,
Enven