In this week's post, we thought we would continue with our series of Dev interview. This week its our scholarly researcher VonMudra!
What drew you to get involved with Traction Wars and what is your role within the team?
"Fuchs, the other researcher on the team, knew me through the Forgotten Hope 2 Forums as well as a gaming clan for FH2. He came to me about TW and I signed up pretty quickly. My role is as a researcher and general-know-it-all. I basically handle all the historical questions needed by the developers, like weaponry, map design, gameplay ideas, and other issues. I also do a lot of talking with the community."
What fascinates you about WWII?
"Since I could read I was fascinated by history, but it wasn't until high school that I really branched out to encompass something more than US Civil War history. In college I originally went in thinking I would study German WW1 and WW2 history, but by my senior year I had effectively changed focus over to Eastern Europe and Poland, mostly out of a feeling of mystery towards nations that aren't very well represented in academia in the USA. Sadly, this means it has been very difficult for me to get into a PhD program, as funding simply is non-existent for Eastern European studies since the end of the Cold War. I also do lots of reenacting, mainly WW1 and 2, as a variety of nations."
How did you come to accumulate your knowledge?
"I currently hold a Master of Arts with Distinction, and am pursuing a PhD in history. I mostly study Polish inter-war memory and cultural history, centered around World War Two and the Second Republic, but I do also dabble in Economic History, as well as late 19th Century and WW1 history."
Why did you choose to study German and Eastern European rather than the allied war?
"In high school I took German as my language course- mostly to be different from all the kids who wanted to do Spanish (growing up in Southern California, that DOES make sense though). That obviously led to the interest in German history, and of course a good chunk of German history is them going to war with other nations. While I do enjoy German WW2 history (and have reenacting German WW2 soldiers), I actually like WW1 German history better, maybe because it is a lot easier to explain that interest when there aren't terrible war-crimes around every corner. As for Eastern Europe, that came heavily out of the dearth of Eastern European study in the USA, especially in Southern California. There wasn't even an Eastern Europeanist on campus- just a German and Russian historian who were expected to, as I was told, 'overlap.' I found this rather worrying, and quickly got into Polish history as an area that is heavily understudied, but also heavily mythologized."
What is your most rewarding experience on the team so far?
"I would have to say either seeing my advice and opinions taken in to account towards making this game realistic in terms of weaponry being used, or simply interacting with the community and helping answer questions and educate people about history. On one hand, it is wonderful to see such things as the Lebel and other captured equipment in game, and being represented in a way that I don't think any game has done (even FH2). It will be fascinating to see the wider reaction to this as the game is released and non-forum goers are educated as to the real equipment issues the German army faced in Normandy. On the other hand, being that I am pursuing academia and higher education as a life-goal, it is simply wonderful to help teach people on the forums about WW2 and other history in general."
What is your favourite part of the game so far?
"My favourite thing in the game so far is definitely going to be the suppression system. I think we'll blow just about every MP WW2 game out of the water with that, and it is absolutely going to make combat a lot more realistic. But, of course, that is all I can really say at the moment!"
What is your favourite cookie?
"Red Velvet with white chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting. And it better be chewy and moist, damnit!"
What drew you to get involved with Traction Wars and what is your role within the team?
"Fuchs, the other researcher on the team, knew me through the Forgotten Hope 2 Forums as well as a gaming clan for FH2. He came to me about TW and I signed up pretty quickly. My role is as a researcher and general-know-it-all. I basically handle all the historical questions needed by the developers, like weaponry, map design, gameplay ideas, and other issues. I also do a lot of talking with the community."
What fascinates you about WWII?
"Since I could read I was fascinated by history, but it wasn't until high school that I really branched out to encompass something more than US Civil War history. In college I originally went in thinking I would study German WW1 and WW2 history, but by my senior year I had effectively changed focus over to Eastern Europe and Poland, mostly out of a feeling of mystery towards nations that aren't very well represented in academia in the USA. Sadly, this means it has been very difficult for me to get into a PhD program, as funding simply is non-existent for Eastern European studies since the end of the Cold War. I also do lots of reenacting, mainly WW1 and 2, as a variety of nations."
How did you come to accumulate your knowledge?
"I currently hold a Master of Arts with Distinction, and am pursuing a PhD in history. I mostly study Polish inter-war memory and cultural history, centered around World War Two and the Second Republic, but I do also dabble in Economic History, as well as late 19th Century and WW1 history."
Why did you choose to study German and Eastern European rather than the allied war?
"In high school I took German as my language course- mostly to be different from all the kids who wanted to do Spanish (growing up in Southern California, that DOES make sense though). That obviously led to the interest in German history, and of course a good chunk of German history is them going to war with other nations. While I do enjoy German WW2 history (and have reenacting German WW2 soldiers), I actually like WW1 German history better, maybe because it is a lot easier to explain that interest when there aren't terrible war-crimes around every corner. As for Eastern Europe, that came heavily out of the dearth of Eastern European study in the USA, especially in Southern California. There wasn't even an Eastern Europeanist on campus- just a German and Russian historian who were expected to, as I was told, 'overlap.' I found this rather worrying, and quickly got into Polish history as an area that is heavily understudied, but also heavily mythologized."
What is your most rewarding experience on the team so far?
"I would have to say either seeing my advice and opinions taken in to account towards making this game realistic in terms of weaponry being used, or simply interacting with the community and helping answer questions and educate people about history. On one hand, it is wonderful to see such things as the Lebel and other captured equipment in game, and being represented in a way that I don't think any game has done (even FH2). It will be fascinating to see the wider reaction to this as the game is released and non-forum goers are educated as to the real equipment issues the German army faced in Normandy. On the other hand, being that I am pursuing academia and higher education as a life-goal, it is simply wonderful to help teach people on the forums about WW2 and other history in general."
What is your favourite part of the game so far?
"My favourite thing in the game so far is definitely going to be the suppression system. I think we'll blow just about every MP WW2 game out of the water with that, and it is absolutely going to make combat a lot more realistic. But, of course, that is all I can really say at the moment!"
What is your favourite cookie?
"Red Velvet with white chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting. And it better be chewy and moist, damnit!"
