November 2011
Topaz
So drawing your clothes on you is cheaper than buying them? I'll have to remember that.
I personally select each month's Member of the Month. People are picked based on their contributions to the community, whether they are: making excellent trials, providing comic relief or just being a brilliant person. The next Member of the Month could be you!
If you have any questions about the Member of the Month system, please PM me.
Topaz: Well, I'm glad to be here. Wherever here is. Can you take this blindfold off now? Also, I haven't eaten in 48 hours.
Meph: You're not blindfolded. I haven't switched the light on yet. *click* There we go. Now don't look down...
Topaz: Don't look down at wha- OH GOD WHAT IS THIS?! Is that... the core of the earth?
Meph: No. This is just my evil lair. Which happens to be Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's house.
Topaz: Whoa, I knew Brown was a bit weird, but some weird fiery ball under a precarious platform? What the heck was planning to do with this?! Infact, nevermind, best if I don't know.
Meph: I assume it's for burning money received from taxes. But moving on...
Meph: Tell us about yourself. What are your main interests?
Topaz: My main interests? Ha, that's easy. THE INTERNET! And video games. Wow, when I say it it sound much worse. I even went across europe for EuroGamer. I must admit, I'm a bit of a nerd aswell. My other main interests would be law and webcomics. Oh wait, they're still the internet.
Meph: What do you like to do for fun?
Topaz: Um, read webcomics, browse various websites and play video games. I also enjoy chatting with various people and playing EpicMafia. Be warned, it's very addictive. Other than that, I enjoy a good episode of NCIS or some other crime TV show. Of course I love lying in on weekends and the hot shower that follows. Showers are so relaxing.
Meph: Do you have any favourite places you like to go to?
Topaz: Ooooh... I would love to go to another convention. EuroGamer was so fun and the people there were great. Some of the costumes were hilarious. You ever seen an eight foot tall walking tree? I have. Other than conventions, I do enjoy a trip to America, Orlando to be precise. Y'know, where the American DisneyLand is? Been there about 5 times.
Meph: How did you start going to EuroGamer?
Topaz: I only went this year. I managed to worm my way into it by constant begging. My parents eventually caved and decided we'd go there for the holidays, instead of where we usually go: Spain. I was EXTREMELY hyped. I was still there when I came back to AAO, actually.
Meph: What are your highlights of the event?
Topaz: Well, the tree for one, and getting to see and play test some awesome new games. The devolopers of the smaller games companies, sometimes with only one man, were really great people. The biggest highlight would have to be meeting John Bain (TotalBiscuit) and watching the expert StarCraft II players battle it out under his commentary.
Meph: Which video games do you like?
Topaz: Wow. WOW. I have played SO many. My favourite, of all time ever forever ever, is Deus Ex. The first one. Other favourites would be The Elder Scrolls III and IV (I plan to get V soon), the Fallout series and Knights of the Old Republic. My favourite multiplayer game is Gang Garrison 2. It's an 8-bit demake of Team Fortress 2 and is just sooo addicting. I usually play co-op games with my three usual partners. I don't even remember how we met, but they're all around 20-30. It feels kinda weird at first. Right now, our favourite game to play is PayDay: The Heist.
Meph: What was the first video game you ever played?
Topaz: WOW. That's a hard one. I was playing games at 4 or maybe 5. I do remember that my first console was my father's N64. my first game was one of a few. Either Zelda: Ocarina of Time, James Bond: Goldeneye, Pokemon Colleseum or Jet Force Gemini. I'm not sure if the last one's name is correct. I think it is.
Meph: What was your life like, growing up?
Topaz: Well, when I was about 2 months old, my mum and my father split up, they were not even married in the first place. My mum then moved to live with my grandparents on her side up here in Scotland. I've lived here ever since. When I was young, I'd visit my dad in England up to 4 times a year. Nowadays, it's once a year. I'm not in good relations with my dad currently. Anyway, my life has been pretty good and as I've said, I've been to Florida multiple times and have had basically every nintendo console/handheld made. My grandparents spoil me a bit. In fact, that's an understatement.
Meph: What's life like for you, now?
Topaz: It doesn't feel too great half the time due to cyclothemic depression, but I'd say it's a pretty good life by most people's standards. I have a good amounts of things to keep me busy, aswell.
Meph: That doesn't sound good. What is cyclothemic depression, if you don't mind me asking?
Topaz: It's a state of depression that cycles through depression and a very happy, optimistic phase. A lot of the time it very random, and in short bursts for me. Usually around an hour. Yet sometimes I've been depressed for ages because of various reasons.
Meph: You're still a normal person, though.
Topaz: Hah, thanks. I try not to show my depression. I don't like people trying to help, it ends up just making me annoyed. Shall we move off this topic?
Meph: In that case, let's move on to... the future! Do you have any ambitions, at the moment?
Topaz: Ambitions? I lookup to people like the aforementioned TotalBiscuit and also voice actor and gamer Jesse Cox. They both specialise is gaming coverage and commentary which is an AMAZING job. Law is something I may consider getting a job in, also voice acting would be good. Other than that, I'm not sure.
Meph: Do you have any other role models?
Topaz: Hm... Not really. John Bain and Jesse Cox are the only two I can think of at the moment. It's amazing how their job is to commentate on video games, yet it is actually tough work.
Meph: What, would you say, are your main skills?
Topaz: Ooh, I dunno. I'm decent at your basic subjects at school (Maths, English etc.) and I excel with technology. I guess I'm quite intellectual and logical by way of thinking. I don't have the best people skills, but if I really wanted to, I could make a friend out of most people.
Meph: Can you tell us how you first got interested in the AA series?
Topaz: How I found AA? Very simple. My first was Ace Attorney Investigations, number one of course. I found it when looking specifically for crime games. I was unsure about buying at first, as I was in Spain (language, etc.) but quickly warmed to it after the first case. I played rigirously through it until the end, and then I remember specifically seeking out "Ace Attorney Online" on google, the god of the holy engines of search. I found the site and made my own case... which failed horribly. You remember that, Meph? Anyhow, I ended up purchasing the rest of the series, and spending ages doing so. That's how I got into AA, and got here.
Meph: Do you have all of the other AA games, now?
Topaz: I happen to, yes. I've played them all thouroghly and enjoyed every single one. My favourite would be T&T, unless you count AAI2 (GK2).
Meph: What's your favourite fan trial on AAO?
Topaz: I can't say I've played many. Maybe Turnabout of Courage by Blackrune. Because that's all I've played, really.
Meph: Last year, you released your first episode in Jack Zero: Ace Attorney. Tell us how you created the series?
Topaz: It started because I wanted to make a new trial series, that didn't need to have canon characters. It then turned into Jack Zero and thus went from there. As of now, I've spent over a year on part 2, inestigation 1. Although I've really only spent about an hour on it, but I made it over a year ago. In summary, progress is excessively slow.
Meph: Do you think you'll ever finish the series?
Topaz: Maybe one day, but definitely not soon. I wouldn't put my chips on anytime before 2013-2014, even.
Meph: Before we conclude this interview, do you have anything else you'd like to say?
Topaz: Uhhhhh... I'd like to say thanks to everyone who helped me in my grand scheme to rule the world be nice to everyone. Also, I'd like to mention that I'm waiting for Treuth to come back from his infinite BRB from AAO. And I'd like to give a special thanks to Gordon Brown for providing the house we hosted this in. NOTHING FURTHER.
Meph: I'm sure he will be most pleased. Thanks a lot for the doing the interview, Topaz!
Topaz: You're welcome, Meph. Now, let's go and burn tax money.