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Subject: Community Spotlight: Great_Pretender
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Community Spotlight: Great_Pretender

This week, we had a chance to talk to one of the Bungie.net forum ninjas, Great_Pretender. Read on to find out some interesting background information and get the scoop on what TGP is all about.
<CrypticGuardian>    Hey TGP. What's going on?

<Great_Pretender>   Nothing much!

<CrypticGuardian>    Are you ready to do this?

<Great_Pretender>   I am SO ready. You won't believe how ready I am.

<CrypticGuardian>    Alright, cool. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? How old
                                      are you?


<Great_Pretender>   I'm currently living in Perth, Australia. I'm 17 years old, give or take 7 months
                                      and 13 days.


<CrypticGuardian>    What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?

<Great_Pretender>   Well besides playing games online, I have a distinct interest in television/film,
                                      multimedia studies, and some forms of awesome art.


<CrypticGuardian>    Anything in particular that stands out the most or is your primary focus?

<Great_Pretender>   Television and film studies, I hope. I just finished my exams and I hope I
                                      get into the media course I applied for at Uni.


<CrypticGuardian>    That's cool. Good luck with that. Do you play any sports or just have a favorite
                                      sport to watch?


<Great_Pretender>   I enjoy *watching* Aussie Rules Football, but I don't really get into sports
                                      much.


<CrypticGuardian>    I see. What about video games? Are you a big fan? If yes, what are some of
                                      your top favorite all time games?


<Great_Pretender>   Most of my favourite games are from Bungie. Marathon, Myth and Halo. I also
                                      have fond memories of Half Life, Thief, The Sims (I'm not crazy, I just like
                                      burning people), Black and White... Yeah lots of games. I only recently
                                      started paying attention to the gaming community, though.


<CrypticGuardian>    That's awesome. You've been a Bungie.net member since '04, correct?

<Great_Pretender>   Very late '04, yeah!

<CrypticGuardian>    Ok. Where did you first hear of Bungie and what brought you to their website?
                                      Was it their games, your friends, or something else?


<Great_Pretender>   I joined up because I saw my friend on a school computer asking a stupid
                                      question about Halo 2, and I figured I might as well become a member too.
                                      Only THEN did I realise that Bungie made Marathon and Myth as well, two
                                      games I'd been enjoying for years previous. So I joined for Halo, stayed for
                                      Myth and Marathon.


<CrypticGuardian>    Oh, cool. Being new to Bungie.net, what did you do later on to get more involved
                                      with the community? Explain what your role is now and what you have continued
                                      to do to help benefit others?


<Great_Pretender>   To be perfectly honest, I was a bit of a forum cop. Y'know, those ones that
                                      you look at nowadays and SHAKE YOUR HEAD ANGRILY because they are so
                                      deliciously annoying? I only realised after I became a mod how stupid it was.
                                      Nowadays I just be myself. An angrier and less lenient self to what I usually
                                      am.


<CrypticGuardian>    I see a lot of new members join Bungie.net, especially because of Bungie's
                                      new game release, Halo 3. They usually post in the Septagon and either ask for
                                      help or offer to help. What do you think is the most beneficial way to contribute
                                      to Bungie.net as a member? Do you have any tips or suggestions that would
                                      help them become more involved with the community? For example... how to
                                      go about certain issues, what to do, and what not to do?


<Great_Pretender>   Well, I wish more people would use their brains first time they come to the
                                      site. Read the stickies, stay up to date on current issues, don't reply to spam.
                                      All of the obvious stuff. That's really all anyone needs to do to be useful rather
                                      than useless.


<CrypticGuardian>    I agree. Has becoming a moderator and being around for the past few years
                                      here changed you? Or in other words has Bungie.net become a part of your
                                      life? If so, in what way?


<Great_Pretender>   I wouldn't say it's become a part of my life. Moderating certainly made me a
                                      more logical person in the real world, though.


<CrypticGuardian>    I understand. Can you recall a favorite memory or past time experience on
                                      Bungie.net? If so, may you tell us?


<Great_Pretender>   Nothing in particular. The more active period of the Myth Jumpers was rather
                                      alright. I enjoy playing Myth with them.


<CrypticGuardian>    Tight. Would you say you were more active in groups or in the public forums?
                                      Or were you just an all around members who did everything?


<Great_Pretender>   I'm more active in the public forums still. Just about every group I join, I post
                                      in twice and then forget about. That's why I don't join groups anymore.


<CrypticGuardian>    Haha, I see. So, recently it seems that all of the moderators got the Recon
                                      armor. Do you like it or want to say anything about it?


<Great_Pretender>   I like it. It makes me WANT to be a Spartan, for once.

<CrypticGuardian>    Does that mean you prefer the Elite model?

<Great_Pretender>   Yes! I just wish there were more perms for it.

<CrypticGuardian>    Yeah, it seems that the Spartans got the upper hand in Halo 3 with
                                      customization. I think there will be some download content in store for us fans
                                      along the road though. Anything you would like to see in the future for Halo 3?


<Great_Pretender>   More Forgabilities and gametypes. More Elite perms. A playlist for good
                                      custom games. Etcetera etcetera. Oh, and more maps.


<CrypticGuardian>    I'm sure you're not the only one looking forward to that. On the subject of Halo 3,
                                      do you play a lot online?


<Great_Pretender>   Right this moment, yes. My home computer exploded and I just finished
                                      school so I don't really have much to do at home. You should know how
                                      much I play online!


<CrypticGuardian>    I know... haha. Do you mind sharing your gamertag with the public? I never
                                      understood the meaning behind it. How did you come up with it and is there
                                      significance for it?


<Great_Pretender>   Trandom Kaggus arose through some spelling mistakes while I was playing
                                      Myth with a guy. So there's no real meaning behind it.


<CrypticGuardian>    Ok, what about your Bungie.net display name Great_Pretender or TGP?

<Great_Pretender>   I rather enjoyed the cover of "The Great Pretender" that Queen did. So I
                                      called myself the Great Pretender for a short period on Myth. I then went
                                      back to my normal name, "Da Cid."


<CrypticGuardian>    That's interesting. Some people noticed your new avatar from the other day. Did
                                      you design it? I think it looks awesome by the way, but why change it?


<Great_Pretender>   The orange bit is the Dwarven paratrooper symbol from Myth and there's a
                                      dwarf face in the blue as well. The rest is whatever. I changed it because it's
                                      been a year since I changed it, and I figured the new one fits the colour
                                      scheme better (although my last two fit the colour scheme as well).


<CrypticGuardian>    Nice. Well I think that wraps about everything up. Do you have anything else to
                                      say or would like the community to know?


<Great_Pretender>   Stop asking me about Recon armour... yeah I think that's it.

<CrypticGuardian>    Haha. Ok. Do you have any last questions for myself or any of the viewers?

<Great_Pretender>   Nope!

<CrypticGuardian>    Alright, thanks TGP for your time and take care.

<Great_Pretender>   Righteo!

[Edited on 11.14.2007 9:22 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 8:10 PM PDT
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What is this huge interest with Community Spotlights all of a sudden? Your interview was mediocre at best, it's still better than that other one I read. Good God what terrible spelling, grammar, and lack of depth questions. The one by Mike D

[Edited on 11.14.2007 8:13 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 8:12 PM PDT

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Posted by: Biggest Nerd Eva
What is this huge interest with Community Spotlights all of a sudden? Your interview was mediocre at best, it's still better than that other one I read. Good God what terrible spelling, grammar, and lack of depth questions. The one by Mike D


Constructive criticism is greater than stupid complaints such as the one you have provided.

I can say that I learned a few things about TGP from this.

Also, you just kind of left your last sentence standing there, right after complaining about grammar. Didn't have a period or anything of the sort.

[Edited on 11.14.2007 8:27 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 8:26 PM PDT
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SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

I liked it CG!!!

I'm pretty sure TGP does not want to admit that his GT is a Klingon word meaning "eats drywall", which is why he always says its just a random bunch of letters. We know the truth TGP.

I look forward to the next Spotlight guys. Keep them coming.

  • 11.14.2007 8:31 PM PDT

Official Town Drunk of Sandwichia. Nation of the Flood.
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Posted by: evilcam
I liked it CG!!!

I'm pretty sure TGP does not want to admit that his GT is a Klingon word meaning "eats drywall", which is why he always says its just a random bunch of letters. We know the truth TGP.

I look forward to the next Spotlight guys. Keep them coming.


thanks for translating it, my klingon is a little rusty nowadays.

  • 11.14.2007 8:32 PM PDT
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Posted by: spartakus14
Constructive criticism is greater than stupid complaints such as the one you have provided.

Your point? Why would I bump that thread just to criticize him when others did already back in the thread creation time? They all basically said what I was going to anyways.

I wasn't complaining, there's nothing to complain about. I was just saying at least this attempt at an interview was better than the previous ones this month. Calm down.

  • 11.14.2007 8:36 PM PDT

Nicely done CG.

  • 11.14.2007 8:40 PM PDT
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SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Trandam Kaggus meaning something about drywall is nothing more than inspired pontification. I don't speak Klingon, so I have no idea what eating drywall would sound like in it. I'm sure TGP knows though...

  • 11.14.2007 8:42 PM PDT
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Posted by: Biggest Nerd Eva
Your point? Why would I bump that thread just to criticize him when others did already back in the thread creation time? They all basically said what I was going to anyways.

I wasn't complaining, there's nothing to complain about. I was just saying at least this attempt at an interview was better than the previous ones this month. Calm down.


More importantly, why would you bother saying anything at all? And "mediocre at best" is hardly "not complaining".


In any case, that was a pretty good interview. I liked the stuff about why he came here, I'd never really heard that before. I have heard his real explanation behind his gamertag though. =P

  • 11.14.2007 8:44 PM PDT

Good job CG, that was a rather nice interview, I sure learned alot about TGP. Way to be informative and ask alot of questions. Oh and TGP, fix yer comp.

  • 11.14.2007 8:46 PM PDT
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Posted by: aku
More importantly, why would you bother saying anything at all? And "mediocre at best" is hardly "not complaining".

What do you want me to say? I thought it was quite mediocre, some of the questions lacked depth, some were unnecessary but over all it was decent. I'm sorry if I'm not gonna say "Great interview! Keep em coming" for my post to be accepted and not get ganged up on for no reason.

*EDIT* I still don't consider my first post to be complaining at all. You people need to settle down and understand not everyone sees a video game forum the same way you do.

[Edited on 11.14.2007 8:49 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 8:48 PM PDT
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Good work. I like reading your own spotlights, rather than ones you copy and paste. ;)

TGP in one of his finer moments... <3

Posted by: Biggest Nerd Eva
Posted by: aku
More importantly, why would you bother saying anything at all? And "mediocre at best" is hardly "not complaining".

What do you want me to say? I thought it was quite mediocre, some of the questions lacked depth, some were unnecessary but over all it was decent. I'm sorry if I'm not gonna say "Great interview! Keep em coming" for my post to be accepted and not get ganged up on for no reason.


He's entitled to his opinion, Aku. No need to push the issue. I said good work, because I liked it. There's not much for me to add to the discussion, but I'm expressing my opinion. If BNE wishes to say that it's mediocre, who's to say he can't?

[Edited on 11.14.2007 8:51 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 8:48 PM PDT
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TGP likes black and white also :D

I completely loved my first game to death, and the cd is all scratched up.
But I've brought it back from its deathbed many timed by buffering the cd till my arm got sore with odd household stuff (I've used ranges from rubbing alcohol to toothpaste, and they all work to a varying degree 0.o)

Still, I hate how Lionhead has dropped any interest on that series :(

Posted by: NinjAg
TGP in one of his finer moments... <3


I think its much finer than how I've acted in front of him :P

[Edited on 11.14.2007 8:53 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 8:49 PM PDT

Official Town Drunk of Sandwichia. Nation of the Flood.
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Posted by: Biggest Nerd Eva
Posted by: aku
More importantly, why would you bother saying anything at all? And "mediocre at best" is hardly "not complaining".

What do you want me to say? I thought it was quite mediocre, some of the questions lacked depth, some were unnecessary but over all it was decent. I'm sorry if I'm not gonna say "Great interview! Keep em coming" for my post to be accepted and not get ganged up on for no reason.


but you could have not complained.

You see, complaining is being negative, which is you, while constructive criticism is putting that negativity in a positive way. Trying to help them improve it by telling them why it is mediocre at best.

  • 11.14.2007 8:56 PM PDT
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SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Alright, this is not going to go anywhere constructive if we keep going off topic. Let's stick to the interview from here on in.

  • 11.14.2007 9:02 PM PDT
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Posted by: spartakus14
but you could have not complained.

You see, complaining is being negative, which is you, while constructive criticism is putting that negativity in a positive way. Trying to help them improve it by telling them why it is mediocre at best.

I did say why! Note the I thought it was quite mediocre, some of the questions lacked depth, some were unnecessary but over all it was decent.Okay evilcam, I'll just leave the thread since there isn't anything much left to say.

[Edited on 11.14.2007 9:05 PM PST]

  • 11.14.2007 9:05 PM PDT
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The only Twitter I follow. Except yours ;)
The Frozen Minority; Bungie's real underground. The oldest members, the deepest controversy, walking infamy.

1) Evilcam sucks.

2) TGP sucks.

3) Nice interview, learned some cool stuff about TGP's shady past. You're a great interviewer CG.

4) I think a mandatory part of the community spotlights from now on is providing a picture of that person in real life.

  • 11.14.2007 9:11 PM PDT
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<CrypticGuardian> Hey TGP. What's going on?
<Great_Pretender> Nothing much!
<CrypticGuardian> Are you ready to do this?
<Great_Pretender> I am SO ready. You won't believe how ready I am.

OMG SEX.

  • 11.14.2007 9:53 PM PDT

Halo3Planet, the place for all things Halo 3..

Need help finding skulls, make sure to go here.

Very nice. I learned a lot about TGP that I didn't know. I agree with Pezz, pictures are a must XD.

  • 11.15.2007 6:13 AM PDT

Thats Right I Was Banned For Watching The Webcams Too Much!Combat Arms - X647"He who'd walk a mile just to hold an empty hand, knows what it means to be a wealthy man."
Skin This Place Alive...

TGP is younger than me? wtf?

He was only six when I first started playing bungie games...

  • 11.15.2007 7:49 AM PDT
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Posted by: DEATHPIMP72
Anyone but Foman. He smells like cheese.

I don't know about having multiple people doing community spotlights... It might end up in clutter in this forum. Perhaps you and Mike and whoever else is interested could work out a "schedule" of sorts, so that we don't unilaterally have people posting three or four spotlights on the same day and pushing other convos down to the bottom.

That said, this was a well-done interview, and I appreciate the proofreading that went into creating this. Oh, and I love me some TGP. [/creepy pedophile voice]

  • 11.15.2007 9:14 AM PDT

Video of Rodent's Abode
Posted by: Cockburnicus
You missed the point like Vader missed the banshee, your whole argument is covered in bees.
Stop sending me group invites -blam!-s!

Interview Leche next, he has hawt ass cakes.

[Edited on 11.15.2007 9:35 AM PST]

  • 11.15.2007 9:34 AM PDT
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Posted by: PKF_647
He was only six when I first started playing bungie games...

I was only five when I started playing Bungie games!

Here's a picture from a few weeks ago.

Good job, CG.
-TGP-

  • 11.15.2007 11:39 PM PDT
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And the Shadow fell upon the Land, and the World was riven stone from stone. The oceans fled, and the mountains were swallowed up, and the nations were scattered to the eight corners of the World. The moon was blood, and the sun was as ashes. The seas boiled, and the living envied the dead. All was shattered, and all but memory lost, and one memory above all others, of him who brought the Shadow and the Breaking of the World. And him they named Dragon.

The link don't really work, TGP.
Anyways, good spotlight thingy. But this feels a little wrong, taken into consideration that Mike was trying to find someone to interview for his next spotlight. This feels a little "Hi, I'm making another spotlight because I can do this better than you and my grammar is better."
Wouldn't it have been better to just wait until Mike had posted his next spotlight, and then you guys could to every second spotlight after that?

  • 11.15.2007 11:55 PM PDT

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