An Interview with the infamous webmaster of AoK Battlefield, BravenIrish! I'd like to thank him again for agreeing to this interview.

1. How did you originally get involved with Age of Empires?

A) Good one! I as a huge WarCraft player. 2 civs...Orcs and Humans, but still RTS. Through the Kali RTS ring I found out about a new RTS that Microsoft was releasing, Age of Empires. I searched for webpages to find info on what was suppose to be way better. Got the demo and was hooked. Bought the game the day before it was released!

2. Was there ever any "magic moment" that made you think that the AoE series was really something special?

A) I was amazed when I found out there were so many civs! The "Magic Moment" was when I installed the game and saw the intro...WOW! I fell in love with ES as I was coached through the Egyptian Campaigns and took my RTS experiance to the new AoE Cases Ladder.

3. Where do you think the success of the AoE series lies?

A) The Diversity. Each player has his own style. The options...you have room to grow, you have room to become successful with your own style. That's not mentioning the artwork, which is top notch! Hehehehe..and the gameplay is close to perfect.

4. What was your first webpage? What was it's theme?

A) First one? OK..It was my homepage. Looked real cool, but Java and graphic intensive. I tried to upload it to my space and it never worked the way I wanted...that's the day I learned to HATE America Online.

5. How long have you been involved with web design? What got you interested in it?

A) 3 years. I got interested in it because it's a pallet to paint on. A pallet that the world can see for free. If you ever want to express yourself, webdesign is your thing!

6. What motivated you to create an AoK website; Why did you decide to create the battlefield?

A) One word: PASSION! I loved the game, I liked the people I met playing it, I felt I had to give something back. You see so many sites looking for personal glory, money from advertisements, and fame. I wanted a site that was free of banners, selfless, and dedicated to Agers. A site built by Agers for Agers and not spoon feeding players what they want to hear. Battlefield is a site with PASSION!

7. How much time do you devote to your webpage?

A) I used to devote about 8 hours everyday. Now...Hmmm...about 2 to 3. I built the foundation and we have a few GREAT talents working to make Battlefield the best.

8. What do you think has made your site so successful?

A) Everyone here Loves the game! We have great talent here...all coming together to help Agers. New and old...we always imbrace true Agers. I think without Banners and Advertisements, a true love for the game...we feel PURE. Players working for players. We have weekly meetings on the Zone to improve our game, amature to expert, we embrace and help everyone.

9. Do you have any advice for some of the newer age webmasters?

A) YES! Hang in there and never give up. You'll get better at graphics, at HTML, and CGI. Never give up. Try new things, try to learn, try to put yourself into the site. Everything will come with time. DON'T do a site for personal glory, do a site to enhance others. Be SELFLESS. I feel in the end, GIVING people what they want and need is always more rewarding then taking, especially on the internet. TRY NOT to use a HTML editer like front page, you are at the mercy of a proggy and you'll never know exactally what makes a webpage work. Knowing the code will give you the options and power to express yourself! LEARN graphics, buy ADOBE PHOTOSHOP...you need original graphics. LEARN PEARL..you need cgi to have interactiveness with your friends who view your site. Never Copy! Be original! Have PASSION and NEVER GIVE UP!

10. Other than your own site, are there any other AoE sites that hold special meaning for you?

A) No...Battlefield is the best...hehehehe! Naw, really...My first hero was Shlonger. His webpages were real. He put himself into the sites he did and was honest..no BS! Others in my heart are Heaven and AoE2.com. They both embraced Battlefield since day one. I remember Angel Omnivac put me in the news for a post I made...Then we became a fun rivalry (shhhhh..he always won except once). So Heaven holds a speacial place in my heart...I even met Mike "Archangel" McCart (the creater of Heaven and now the Webmaster of Ensemble Studios!!!!). Merlin from AoE2.com helped me a lot too.

11. What do you like most about web design?

A) The ability to express yourself and touch many. The options, the freedom, and the friendships that can be made worldwide.

12. If you could have ES design a game for you, what would it be like?

A) Well...Anyone IRISH would always win, My friends who work on Battlefield would always be the best, AND we would all be millionaires! Other then that...Maybe a RPG where stats would be tracked (Like the Zone in rated rooms now)..or an RTS! I like 3d...so something with the new "BOOM" 3d...hehehe