New0 - Victorian Quake Player (April 1999)
Interviewed by CYANIDE
NewO is an extremly talented Quake player and a member of Victoria's clan SOQ, a little known of player in the qw scene, as he is found at lans in Vic or SOQ lans many QW players will not have heard of him.

You probably also don't know many Victorians predicted newO as the darkhorse of Impulse 98 and he finished in 5th-6th place [there was no playoff to decide]. NewO was knocked out after losing by 1 frag to Reload on Messy Base, and to VuduChild on DM4 by 3 frags.

I caught up with newO to ask him about his thoughts on quake in general at the moment, the TGI as well as predictions and thoughts on the upcoming [well so they tell us :)] release of Quake3arena.

[CHAU]: Hey, well just to get started how about telling us when you started Quake, some of your settings favourite maps/weapons, style of games, any mods you like etc... :)
[newO]: I started playing Quake almost as soon as it came out, on my 486, over a home made null modem with my mate. Soon after that my brothers and I all got network cards, and we've had lan at home ever since :)I use pretty funky keys to drive.. instead of wasd, I use a-shift-z-x I used them in Descent, before Quake, and since the two felt similar to drive, I just stuck with em. Favorite map is a hard one.. I reckon it's a tie between efdm7, efdm8, fribdev1, and dm4. There are so many more that I havn't mentioned, but those are top shelf :) As ya might have guessed, I'm not at all SCARED to try the odd custom map here and there :) Fav weapon: The Shaft... it's pure genius. Rocketarena, ala arenax is one of my favorite styles of play, along with all the arena style mods (cross fingers for q3a)
[CHAU]: About your Quake-name, already knowing your first name and eventually making the connection it's quite funny, when did you think of it?
[newO]: Had that name ever since I started playing Quake... twas my first shot at a name, and I liked it. it's funny seeing peoples expresions when they finally learn why I'm called newO, and its also funny when people take it to mean that I am new to quake, and think they'll be having a push over game :)
[CHAU]: It's been over 4 month's now, but how did you feel about Impulse 98, it was definately the biggest and in my opinion [tho i didnt attend others as big] best run LAN since well Impulse 97 probably.
[newO]: I98 was the largest, most well organised, enjoyable and professional LAN I've attended, before or since. It was a real buzz to see so many like-minded people in a gathering like that. The array of hardware was drool-worthy. The competition was First rate. geez, i could go on :) Another good thing was meeting lots of players from different states.
[CHAU]: We're you pleased with your placing? How did you feel you played overall on the the 2 days?
[newO]: Yes, i was very pleasantly suprised with how I did at I98. I felt that I played allright on the day/s, played and survived some big names, so I was pleased. Playing Reload was really awesome, after the smackings he'd been handing out, i was stoked to have a close game with him. Remember also that It was on my favorite level, and his worst, and he still won.. it convinced me what a class player he is :)
[CHAU]: How long have you been in the famous SOQ? how does being in a nationaly famous clan compare to any of the other clans you've been involved in?
[newO]: well, I've not been in another "clan" before, so it doesn't compare :) I also play with a group of guys that go by the name of "the wiggles". The wiggles aren't a "clan", they'd be better described as "a future world power, set to take over a world near you next christmas holidays", or more accurately, a bunch of mates.
[CHAU]: Ok, enough of the small chat :). Did you follow the recent TGI tournement over in Sweden Download any of the demos? what did you think of the games?
[newO]: yeah mate, I sure did follow it. I was stoked to see an Aussie involved, and do well. The buzz in irc on #quake.au was amazing, and the whole thing seemed to be a gigantic success. I congratulate the organisers for running such a huge event so well. Hopefully the precedent set by the TGI can be followed up by similar and frequent events :) Got all of reloads demos, was there other competitors there? :) What did i think of the games? I reckon the style of play at the top level is about as anal as it gets, but thats more a reflection of the game not the people involved. The skill level involved however is obviously so so high, heh, those guys are freaks :) 1/2 aint bad.
[CHAU]: We're you suprised at the performance from the Scandanavien players? What did you think of how Reload played?
[newO]: Reload did good, hes da man. that Columbo guy really interested me.. specially the bit about 1 sens... I use 20 at the mo, and I'm beginning to think its too slow :)
[CHAU]: SOQ are well known here in Vic as a clan that makes the change to the new games very quickly, I noticed pretty much as soon as Quake2 was released they we're straight into it and quickly became one of the better clans in q2 as they we're before the switch in Q1. Joining after Impulse have you been playing Quake2 with them alot or have you stuck with Quake1?
[newO]: Erm, I dont think I've ever played Q2 with any member of SOQ, played plenty of quake and other games though.
[CHAU]: Is the clan as a whole planning to move to Quake3 straight away like Quake2 or will you feel it out first off and make your decision when you play?
[newO]: You'd have to ask "the clan as a whole" for that :)
[CHAU]: Ok, how about yourself. Are you looking forward to q3a's release or are you quite happy to play quake1?
[newO]: Ooooh yeah, I cant wait for Q3A. I make no judgements on how it will play or what my reactions will be to it, as I dont have the required time travel abilitys...... yet.
[CHAU]: What features are you hoping will/will not be in the final release for Q3A?
[newO]: Well, the shaft is in, so thats good :) What I would like to see, is a system whereby the score is dictated by how well you can shoot and move around, and a little bit o luck, as opposed to how well you can spawn frag people and a little bit o luck. I reckon one way to acheive that is to spawn with all ya weapons, much like arena, and have your score based on your efficiency with with said weapons. Thats the way i would love to see it :)
[CHAU]: Well it's been great to chat with you, thanks alot. If you'd like to add any comments go ahead :)
[newO]: Thanks heaps for asking me for an interview! I appreciate it. LAN ON!