Interview with the Witcher aka Ksandr_Warfire

With the CEO of CD Projekt RED, Michal Kicinski (left), and the lead designer of The Witcher 1, Michal Madej (right)

A bit about him:

Full Name: Vyacheslav, friends call him Slava.

Height, Weight: Not beefy, but well-behaved.

Place of Birth: Ukraine, Kharkiv.

Hair Color: Dark chestnut.

Eye Color: Gray-green.

Studied: You won't believe it, but finance.

Favorite Quotes: "Thirsting for justice, hire a Witcher" (What did you think? =))

Hello.

Hello.

So, shall we begin?

I guess so.

Tell us a little about yourself. And what did you dream of becoming as a child?

I'm a Ukrainian, treading the earth for almost a quarter of a century. I've loved chatting since childhood, and at around 18, my self-esteem skyrocketed, which led me not only to talk but also to write and draw. As a kid, don't laugh, I dreamed of becoming a carpenter to make myself a Buratino like Papa Carlo, and then to make him do my homework like Karabas Barabas.

Higher and higher, not in the TOP, but on the ladder

Where do you work? What is your position?

I don't work anywhere. Officially unemployed. My last boss turned out to be a rare goat, and I gave up on office work. I earn freelance in web design and what trickles in from website ads.

What attracts you to this work?

This format is great because I don't have to wake up too early in the morning; I regulate my working hours myself. At my workplace, I can browse VKontakte, watch porn, play games, and just twiddle my thumbs. The downside is that I wish I had more money.

What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

I have a black belt in sophistry. Don't try to argue with me. It's a futile endeavor. As for my weaknesses, I won't tell you, or you'll hinder my world domination plans.

Can you describe your character—is it fiery, calm, or something else...?

Calmly fiery. I'm calm, calm, calm. Then I get bored, and BOOM, I might slap someone. Fortunately, this happens very rarely. My mom says I'm "up to something." And probably, she's right. I love to listen, agree, and do things my way.

What’s your attitude towards sports? Extreme sports?

Everyone goes crazy in their own way. Due to relatively poor eyesight, I never really engaged in sports. Nevertheless, I run, jump, swim well, and now I'm getting into martial arts: hand-to-hand combat, staff, sticks, sword. I need to live up to my alter-ego, even if just a little.

I don't particularly welcome extremes. I believe that even without them, people have plenty of opportunities to break their necks. But if people enjoy it, who am I to tell them how to settle their accounts with life?

What do you love in everyday life, and what do you simply hate?

Mmm... I love to drink tea right at my computer. Or Coca-Cola. Or beer. It depends on my mood. I love running on "jumpers"—it’s incredibly fun. I enjoy relaxing by the sea and horseback riding. In short, I love a lot of things. The main thing is that I do it of my own free will, not at someone else's orders. I can't stand being taught how to live. Old ladies in the metro, politicians on TV, and other idiots. For such cases, I have one reply: "Don't teach me how to live, just help me materially."

I think that every person is not perfect and has their vices. Can you reveal yours?

I don't smoke, don't take psychotropic drugs. I consume alcohol, but in good company and with decent snacks. I chronically forget to take my mug with the teaspoon from the computer and wash it. It’s a very bad habit, and I can't do anything about it.

You know what phobias are—like I have a terrible fear of dogs (got bitten by one in childhood) and a fear of enclosed spaces. Do you have any?

I am an unusually mentally stable person. I even regard death philosophically. One day I decided to live forever, and it’s working so far. You can scare me, but I don't experience uncontrolled fear from anything. Well, unless it’s some real tangible threat like a meteorite falling on my head.

Have you been with Gamer.ru from the very beginning? How did you find out about it?

I don't have medals for participating in the beta test, as you can see. (They could have given one, considering I tested the clans.) I came to the project shortly after its official launch, around September. I can't recall exactly. I found out from the "New Disk" forum. Initially, I was infuriated by the wild amount of copy-pasting from my sites, and half of it didn’t even have a backlink. Fortunately, with the help of the guys from ND, I managed to reach out to the Gamer administration, and everything was fixed. Later, I came to the conclusion that the only way to avoid such "ugly" copying is to do it myself. This is why most of my early posts are copies of my own materials from various sites of the RPGArea coalition, which I manage with my team.

What attracted you to Gamer? And what do you dislike about it?

The hierarchical structure, experience, spells. I immediately liked the concept of the site, and it still delights me. What I don't like about the project is the speed of implementing ideas. But I understand that people are not omnipotent, and finances are not limitless. However, I would like the site to be technically updated more frequently.

Do you have a favorite author on Gamer whose posts you look forward to the most?

Overall, you can check my interests in the profile. I only follow those who interest me. But I can definitely highlight my comrade Agrippa; I read all of his works and always enjoy them. I also gladly read the reviews of AQuaRity collectibles. I would collect collectibles myself, but it’s a rather expensive pleasure. At least I can drool a bit.

Some people say that Gamer is already "not a cake"; what do you think? Will you stick with it "to the bitter end"?

There's always a Napoleon cake. Otherwise, I don't see any fundamental difference between Gamer now and half a year ago. People come, people go. There's still activity. Every day I find at least five interesting articles for myself, which cannot be said about AG.ru or Igromania. So, it’s quite a cake. I believe the project has a bright future, so there's no talk of any "end". Unless Armenu suddenly gets fed up with the project, which I personally doubt.

This question follows from the previous one: soon there will be a "gamersblog"—will you move there, or is it more convenient here?

I will definitely register there and see what they offer their visitors. But what binds me to Gamer is primarily the people, including the administration, with whom it's pleasant to communicate and collaborate. So, I definitely won't leave Gamer, and how my relationship with gamersblog develops, only time will tell.

What’s your attitude toward all these BAINS, copy-pasting, etc.? Do you have your own thoughts on this?

One bain differs from another, just as copy-pasting varies. Firstly, not everyone can monitor the internet 24 hours a day. So, someone is bound to miss something, not to know, and not to see it. Thus, for some, it's a bain, and for others, it’s the first time they're seeing it. I willingly watched the cartoon about Simon the Cat a second time on Gamer; it’s just that good. The same goes for copy-pasting. If a publishing company announces a game release, or a site has an exclusive leak—why not share the joyful news? The only thing is that copyright must be observed, providing backlinks and remembering to ask permission from the rights holder (if required). Also, the post must be formatted properly. Some people only know how to Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V without knowing other keys. A post should be broken into paragraphs, highlight headings, possibly select your images, and add some comments. The highest skill level is what Agrippa does on a daily basis: gathering a bunch of interesting news, processing, and delivering it with analytics and other delights. But to reach that level, one needs to grow and grow.

You are in ninth place in the TOP 10; that’s not a bad result, and it shows you are progressing further and further. Do you have plans to take over the TOP 10 and become first?

I doubt I’ll be first. I don’t have the time or desire to copy-paste tons of nonsense. Furthermore, I don’t want to fall into blatant cheating like some of the guys in the TOP. I mean not only the TOP-10. If we could measure the average respect coefficient among users on the portal, the TOP would differ greatly from what we see now. It's just a pity it’s impossible. As for moving into TOP-7 or TOP-5, that’s quite realistic. I just need to stop being lazy and finish that batch of articles waiting for their turn. Additionally, a massive wave of news about The Witcher 2 is expected soon, which should positively impact my position in the TOP. Although, for me, this is not so critical. It’s much nicer to receive live recognition and respect from people. I write specifically for them; the bonuses are just a pleasant addition for an old RPG player.

Something changed around New Year’s, and thereafter you've started writing really good posts. Will you share your secret? Where does such an influx of inspiration come from?

In the fall, there was little time. The same Risen took a huge chunk of my time. That’s why the emphasis was mainly on news. There’s now a slight breather before the PR campaign for The Witcher 2 begins, and I’m writing my old drafts. I hope I won’t be overwhelmed, and I will finish the third part of the guide on creating fan sites, and take a few more interviews. I also promised Sericoff to write a post about breasts without getting banned. Let’s see what comes of it.

This question touches on the previous one; where does the inspiration for creating gold/diamond posts come from? Can you advise where to look for this inspiration?

There's no particular secret to writing "golden" and "diamond" posts. On one hand, you need inspiration. Wise people say it descends to us from above, and you can't influence it. But, in principle, you can cheat a bit. Powerful emotions often create a state akin to when your muse visits. And it doesn’t have to be only positive emotions. But I advise writing only when you're in a good mood and on a full stomach. Then the posts come out friendlier, somehow. And, of course, it’s vital not to forget to write about things you understand and that would interest your potential audience. Don’t forget about literacy, proper formatting, and structured presentation of materials. The problem with many of our authors is pure laziness. They often have good ideas and decent presentation but write them as a wall of text, without paragraphs and half the punctuation marks missing.

Do you enjoy teasing "noobs" in games and in general?

I’m not a proponent of bullying newcomers. If something is unfamiliar to a person, they will make mistakes, ask silly questions, and behave naively. Not everyone can immediately orient themselves, read, find the FAQ, etc. For example, I am very grateful to those who supported me in my early days on Gamer and helped me settle in. Primarily Magistrum, AQuaRity, and Sofcase. I really like the "Gamer Almanac" project; I try to support this initiative with my not-so-feeble contributions. Nevertheless, I enjoy poking fun, but my teasing is directed at users who see themselves as "badasses of the nation," trolls, and just riff-raff who make three mistakes per word even in swearing. It is almost a divine right to sass such idiots. If I’m too lazy to teach pals how to live, then the silent treatments and the pistol-whip come into play.

Do you have any twinks on Gamer or in games?

No, I don’t. I always prefer to level up my main account/character as much as possible. Perhaps that’s why I don’t like games where you have to level up a party or team play is a must. I'm an old-school player; single-player rules forever.

Since when did you get into computer games, and particularly The Witcher?

I wrote in my contest work "The Path of a Gamer" that I started playing with Tetris, then got a Dendy, and only after that a PC. I am a hardened gamer to the core. I even chose my profession related to computers in the end. As for The Witcher, we happen to be of the same age. The first novel came out in the same year I was born. But I first read it at around 14, I think. I don't remember exactly. And I’ve been captivated by the computer version of The Witcher for almost five years now. On March 29, my site "Chronicles of Kaer Morhen" will celebrate its first small anniversary. It was on that day in 2005 that the first news about the site being open was published.

Do you play games a lot? Or ONLY in your free time?

A lot is a vague concept. I play rarely but accurately. The last game I completed was Divinity 2: Ego Draconis. Thanks to the company Snowball for the gift, by the way. I liked the game a lot, although it had its share of complaints. If laziness doesn’t crush me, I’ll write my review of this game. Before that, I played Crysis, earlier Overlord II, and before that Risen, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and the first Assassin's Creed. I binge on games, then take a break, then look for my next hit game. I don’t have time to play everything. Right now, I’m thinking about buying both BioShocks and a little later the second Assassin. And soon, The Witcher 2 should also come out. Thank God my game addiction hasn’t interfered with my work and taking time for my personal life.

What are your favorite game genres?

RPG—Forever! This is definitely my favorite genre. But I also love techy Action and Shooter games. They should please the eye, always have action, and go-go-go! In the first case, I'm training my brain, and in the second, I'm relaxing. Actually, compared to how much I played over the past three years, now I'm letting loose fully, since I just completely upgraded my battle computer last summer. I haven't had a console since the first "Sony"; it remains with my parents.

Since we are on the topic of genres, tell us about your favorite movie genres.

This is trickier. I watch practically any genres. Action, melodramas, thrillers, horrors, etc. What matters more to me is the acting cast, direction, and an interesting plot. I really love the works of Tim Burton and James Cameron. Not because they are currently popular, but because they are truly great people making great movies. And, of course, one of my favorite actors is Johnny Depp. I also like Bruce Willis. In my childhood, I admired Schwarzenegger, like all teenagers, though even now I respect him just as much. I really love going to the cinema and can't wait for them to build an IMAX here. I'll only go there, even if it costs an arm and a leg.

Since we have touched on movies, what is your favorite one?

I was very impressed by Avatar. And don’t spit; I really liked it, while communists and trolls can go to hell. The film is epically cool and has style. In the coming days, I want to go see Tim Burton's "Alice." I'm eagerly anticipating the meeting with the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter played by Johnny Depp.

Are you into Photoshop or perhaps a professional?

What does being a professional mean? I did not attend any art schools. I’m self-taught. But I have drawn a lot, and all my clients have been satisfied. So, I guess you could call me a pro. If you don’t praise yourself, it’s like being spat on all day. But I draw for my own pleasure, so such "work" is not at all stressful for me. Especially since this "hobby" brings in quite a good amount.

Mass Effect fan-site: New RPGArea project. Stay tuned for launch soon

Unclaimed design for the DotA site. For sale at a low price =)

So, you create websites; can you give us a list of them?

The list will be long. Yes, and I'm sure that the sites I’ve drawn are already known to many. These include Risen2.ru (formerly RisenGame), Arcania-game.ru, and Diabloarea.net. Materials from these and not only these sites are regularly published on Gamer. If anyone is interested in a more complete list of works from my portfolio or has a desire to place an order—feel free to PM me. Don’t consider it an advertisement.

Why the nickname Ksandr_Warfire? What does it mean, and what does it encompass? Surely this is more than just a label.

Ksandr is the name of a character from Olga Gromyko's book "Profession: Witch." There was an archmage named Ksandr. I read this book while I was purchasing the game Sacred. My character was a battle mage. When I ran into problems completing it (many remember the bug with wasser), I had to register on the Sacred.net.ru forum. To make the nickname more unique, the prefix Warfire was created (my mage specialized in the fire school). Thus, the nickname Ksandr Warfire appeared. Later, the alter ego was adapted to a Witcher style :)

Finally, what would you wish everyone?

If I were Miss Universe, I would wish for peace in the whole world. What can a gamer wish gamers? - Powerful computers, great games, fast pings, and lots of free time. For the portal to grow and gain momentum, making the dream of a six-digit figure on the counter a reality soon. And… and… let there be peace in the whole world.

Well, our interview has come to an end, and I also wish our gamers powerful computers, boxes or licenses, and as always health and happiness!