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Interview with John Crickett
John Crickett, AKA Spartan, is the author of the Oak II bot, he is also head coder at Team BDP.
You can reach him at johnc@krunch-x.co.uk
Cube: Who are u what do you do?
JC: I`m John, 21 years old. Compsci (computer science) student at Swansea Uni. About to sit my finals.
Cube: How much of your time are currently devoting to Oak?
JC: Very very little until I pass my degree :)
Cube: Early in Oak's development you decided not to make it a client. Why did
you make this decision?
JC: Originally because I didnt know it was possible and didnt think it mattered.
I decided to stay none client afterwards so I didnt have to rewrite large
sections.
Cube: Do you standby this decision?
JC:Well I havent made it a client yet...
Cube: Oak has a special aiming system. How does this system differ from other
bots?
JC: Oak cannot shoot off a weird angles or behind it or any such nonsense. It
has to look at what its shooting.
Cube:Have you any plans to intergrate Oak II into another mod?
JC: No.
Cube: In your view, how close is Oak to completion?
JC: about 5% complete... I`m still going to work on it until quake3, then I`ll
start Oak III (or maybe get a new name).
Cube: Do you have plans for another bot after Oak II?
JC: Apart from Oak III I`m also looking forward to seeing how good Duke Nukem
Forever is. As its using the Quake2 engine
it will hopefully be easy to port the bot over.
Cube: What's are you working on for Team BDP's Ebb of Life TC?
JC:
I`m their head coder. I`m spending most of my time helping
other coders in the group, or adding their code to the central repository.
When I do write some code myself its adding helper bots to the TC. I`ve also
done a few level effects too, though BDP has possibly the best team of
quake2 coders there is, unfortunately noone has seen their work yet.
Cube: What have you contributed to the SABIN project?
JC: I`ve exchange a few emails with William a long time ago, but I dont feel I
have much to offer SABIN at the moment. I feel the SABIN idea is too
complex.
Cube: Do you prefer coding as part of a team or on your own?
JC:
Depends who is in the team. If the team is BDP then most definately in a
team, the other coders are so awesome.
Cube:What are you favorite and least favorite parts of writing mods?
JC:Releasing them. I`ve had so much abuse about it. Though stupidly its all
about not updating the web site. Who cares the web site is only somewhre for
ou to download it.
I`m am also REALLY annoyed about this code theift incident. I have no
quarrel with either DarkSkye or Ridah but I am really dissapointed with the
way the community has flocked to support Ridah. Now if you step back and
look at it without names, X stole Y from Z. X made it better. Now according
to popular opinion theft is ok if you improve it. and Z is a bastard for
shouting that he had Y stolen...? Its absolutely stupid.
DS and Ridah have BOTH given a LOT to the quake community, neither of them
should be insulted as they have been. I can only see things like this
resulting in either or both of them finding something else to do with their
bot coding time.
Cube: Do you plan on doing mod's on the new first person shooter's coming
out, if their source becomes available?
JC: Oops yeah duke. I`m very doubtful about unreal though. Its too late, I doubt
it will live up to expectations.
Cube: John Crickett, thankyou.
JC:No probs.
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