I had the chance to interview one of the well-known members of Capcom-Unity, COMtributer , or as some of you know him, Orlean Knight. One thing that immediately stands out is his love for Monster Hunter. He’s written plenty of walk-throughs, guides, and blogs . Aside of being a fan, he’s a fantastic artist, writer, and aspiring game designer. 

Click the jump to read the interview!

Snow: Ok, so this is going to be fairly casual, since I hate scripted interviews… They sound so bland!

Orlean: Well I’ll try my best to sound as bland as and boring as possible. ^^ 

Snow: When did you first become a Capcom fan? 

Orlean: First become a ‘Capcom’ fan-atic? Well, I’ve enjoyed many of their games since I was young, and started playing the Megaman series back on the good ole’ NES. But even then I wouldn’t say I was a big fan.. I mean I only played every Megaman and Megaman X title until the release of Super Mario 64, and them my world changed. I really didn’t jump back into Capcom games until the release of Monster Hunter for the PS2 and also The Megaman Zero series for the Gameboy advanced. I enjoyed Monster Hunter for the surprising challange, and I enjoyed MMZ for the sheer pleasure of cutting up everything with the wicked beam sword. 

Ever since MH hit Playstation 2 I wanted to see more of it, but I wasn’t pleased with the status of the company in 2004. After I heard about the finacial downturn of the company and the new hires, I found them to much easier to work with and I did my best to help the community to curve off the difficulty of such a deep and challanging game like Monster Hunter. So I suppose you could say I’ve been a long time fan, but only as of the past four years have I been really active in the Capcom community. 

Snow: Monster Hunter, eh? I know you’re quite the fan with your in depth blogs and forum posts right here on Unity. What got you so involved into Monster Hunter?

Orlean: After one plays the game, it’s hard not to think of a reason why not to get involved. There are several reasons why, but perhaps the greatest reason was the terrible release of the game overseas. No advertising is really only scratching the surface… Even the official game guide was full of typos and misinformation, the game was really very community dependant. Since it was an online game for the PS2, there was always the potential need to help someone. 

But I was never a fan of doing all the work for people, no. I felt the best way to help the community was informing people on how they can accomplish task themselves. Not to mention it was also delightful making movies, animations, artwork, and lots of others things related to this game for the community’s benefit. In the end, I’ve gotten more pleasure from helping people enjoy the game than I got from playing it. 

Snow: You really have made a name for yourself here in the community. I remember when I first got Freedom 2, I got you on MSN right away to help me take my first steps as a baby hunter!

Orlean: Name is only a name. I’d perfer to have several of them in order to not earn collective attention. One of the more recent transformation is that of Comtributer – but even then I’ve been asked to return to my original alias. I’m always happy to help no matter what name I use however, and glad I could be of service – even if it may not have been much. There is still always more to be done, as the game and the community continues to grow – so too does the demand for a helping hand. 

Snow: Your help is appreciated here! So, since you participate so much here on Unity, what’s your favorite part of the Capcom-Unity.com?

Orlean: I’m sure the history speaks for itself. I’m quite a fan of blogging, even if there are seldom any readers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Capcom-Unity doesn’t support a rich population of gamers and critics, I’m simply saying that posts which try to delve a bit more deeply than the average game review tend to not draw a welcoming crowd. Not to mention that the internet is one of the most unsatisfactory forms of publication for the most part. It takes a lot of work to really draw in the community and hope they listen. 

I appreciate the Capcom-Unity website, I feel it a step in the right direction toward bringing gamers together. But I hope that they do not stop there, there needs to be so much more – not just on Monster Hunter’s account, but all of their supported games. I’d be a real undertaking to see Capcom really take the site seriously, and give players even greater power in building something special. Players want to not only be a part of a community, but they want to shape one as well. Right now the ability to make something unique is lacking, but it’s space eager to be filled I assure. 

Snow: I’ve read through your lengthy blogs myself , and I have to say it’s nice to have someone who goes into an indepth breakdown like you do. Oh, and the art on your fourth one was awesome too! Do you do a lot of art like that?

Orlean: Not like that exactly. As an artist I do a lot of things, and I’m still trying to learn more. Sketching characters and working them up in Photoshop is a fine ability, but I’m not as skilled as I’d like to be at it. Even now I’m working on bettering my skills while even working with Maya, an industrial standard 3D program. Even though I have the skills to work in the game industry and produce work on demand, I can say it’s not where I hope to remain for long.

I’m a lover of games of all sorts, mostly those people seldom pick up. Also a writer, I’d really enjoy to put my ideas to use into the development of future titles. I’m a Game Designer at heart, but sadly the artist position just pays more. My time in the industry has been brief, but I hope to build enough experience to eventually land the dream job I’ve always wanted. 

Snow: What do you do now for a job then? And what are you looking for in that dream job? 

Orlean: At present I’m nothing more than an artist. I’m finishing up my last semester at college this year, establishing pieces for my first show in December and preparing to establsh a place of my own. So I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. As for what I want as a dream job? Well I’d centerain enjoy a position as a Game Designer, one which would allow me to put all my creativity, artistic ability, and writing knowledge to good use.

I’ve a collection of several game observations both good and bad, and it’d be very nice to get to play a role in making your own game. But in the industry, everyone wants to make their own game, and everyone believes they have the best idea. So trying to sell yourself as someone whom is original is not exactly a pitch to get very far. So likely, it will take years to develope a resume bold enough to back up whatever I want to pitch. 

Snow: Very cool! A bit of randomness; What’s the zaniest thing you’ve ever done for/with/regarding a Capcom game? 

Orlean: Perhaps the strangest thing I can recall would probably be when I was seven. I was such a fan of the Rock.. I mean Megaman series that I decided to design my own game. I wrote down lots of notes, drew several images of new bosses, new allies, and even drew out lengthy 2D levels on several drafts of Xerox paper. Everything was rendered in colored pencil, and for me it was an accomplishment. Since I couldn’t play the perfect game, I sat down and descided to dream it up. 

I found that to be a great pleasure indeed, and even though I never did see it made – and never tried to even attempt to get it made mind you – I lived the fantasy of playing it in my head. My parents didn’t know what to do with all of the mounds of information and artwork I would produce on my own, and always thought it to be just a casual side effect of enjoying a game. It was the first time I did such, and it certainly wasn’t the last. 

Snow: Being so involved in the gaming industry, how do you find out about games? Online, magazines, TV, friends, Felyne Fighters…?

Orlean: I can always trust my Felynes to give me the latest and greatest information when it comes to slaying beasts in the world of Monster Hunter. But in the real world I browse the internet and check release dates. Not to mention keep my eyes open for many of the games I’ve liked in the past, and hope for re-releases or new titles. 

Information about Monster Hunter doesn’t come so easily however; personally it’d be nice to actually visit Tokyo in time for the Tokyo Game Show to see the news unfold as it comes from the source. Perhaps one day I may so privileged to do that, but artist game fanatics are a dime a dozen – so one has to do a lot of work to stay in the industry. The internet is a rich source for gaming news, but not so much when it comes in the form of reviews and opinions. 

Snow: Going to TGS would be sweet! So, have you been to other game events like TGS? 

Orlean: Admittedly, afraid not. Certainly I’ve been to my share of conventions – yet I have not been to one which is a front runner for many of the games and devices that will populate the minds of many families throughout the emerging year. To be there when the first reveal is shown, or to be one of the first to try outside the company boundaries and not under the restriction of an NDA… no. Afraid I haven’t. 

Snow: So, I mentioned your blog real quickly above; Do you have a new one coming for us soon?

Orlean: I do as a matter of fact. But with the lack of much needed information from Capcom themselves, I have to do much of the research myself – and I’m used to that. But I don’t want to merely assume or express an opinion very much in blogs, though the latter of course is inevitable in one way or another. Much of what people read on the internet is not exactly solid fact, the same can be said about books as well. It’s not just the author’s responsibility to do their homework, but also the reader as well. Publishing on the internet makes things much more difficult, for the instant gratification of the casual user can quickly post their opinion and review – often negatively. Positive feedback is void and nonexistant, if people like what they read they keep that information to themselves. So that too makes things all the more difficult, and makes one work harder in order to attempt to curve what many in the public may wish to express. I wanted to be more clear on a very foggy time in Capcom’s history, and some many years later finding information about that period is harder than ever. 

Snow: We’ll look forward to reading it! So it’s safe to say we’ll see more cool stuff from you here on Unity then. Being the art junkie I am, I have to know if you’re doing some more Monster Hunter/Capcom related art soon?

Orlean: Oh no doubt. Actually it seems a lot of people enjoy the cats I did, so I may continue doing more of them – just in a more tasteful manner. Simple character layouts will not be enough for me. So I’m certain you can expect more cute cats girls in the near future. 

Snow:  I love your Felynes , and you just made my day! Well, thanks for taking you time to chat with me! I know you game online, so what’re your online names so we can join you?

Orlean: Well I’m on XBOX360 quite often. Many new games have been released this fall, and with new downloadable titles from Capcom like Age of Booty I’m bound to be doing something on there. I’m always easy to find, gamer tag Orlean Knight. And just about everywhere I go I bare the same name, so it’s actually hard -not- to find me. 

Snow: Awesome. We’ll see you there! Later!

Orlean: Take care.