FAQ Writer of the Week: Thuyker

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The unheralded heroes of the gaming world, FAQ writers trade their late nights for bragging rights simply to say that their walkthroughs, their secrets, their perfect paths through what seem like impossible missions work best. And what rewards do these slaves to countless pixels and polygons seek or receive? The knowledge that their sleepless nights detailing every last hidden item help gamers in desperate need of completing 100% of every game.

But here at IGN, we say enough with the gushy feelings and e-mail "thank you's" being all these tireless and sometimes tortured gaming souls receive. That's why we started the FAQ Writer of the Week. Every week IGN will pick the person we see as the best FAQ writer going and reward them with two games off of his or her wish list. But that's not all. We also feel that it's important for gamers to get to know these writers, the very ones that have helped them out of so many jams in the past. That's why every week we'll also sit down and talk to the Writer of the Week so you can get to know the person, and not just their moves.

This week we give big ups to one of the FAQ community's brightest newcomers. Thuyker will likely be a familiar name for anyone who's been stuck in the very best Xbox games. With mammoth FAQs for Knights of the Old Republic, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and Halo, Thuyker is one of the few and proud dedicated Xbox FAQ writers. How'd he get into FAQs? Why does he focus on Xbox? What can I do to make him cry? Learn all this and more in our in-depth interview.

IGN: You got time for a litle interview?

Thuyker: Sure... It's weird, but I'm almost a little nervous.

IGN: Don't worry, I won't ask any tough questions or make you cry. Promise.

Thuyker: (Laughs) Alright.

IGN: Cool. Now to make you cry... Let's just jump right into things. You're relatively new to the FAQ world, what got you started?

Thuyker: To be honest, I don't even really remember. I had used them in the past a few times, and there weren't really any of them out there for Panzer Dragoon Orta (my first one), so I thought I'd just go ahead and try it out for fun, since I was so addicted to the game and playing it all the time anyway.

IGN: I love that game! Did you find it was easy to write the FAQ?

Thuyker: The actual writing was way easier than I thought it'd be, but it was also a lot more time-consuming than I thought it'd be at the same time. I'd play for a few seconds, pause the game, write, unpause, and so on, just because I don't have a good enough memory to write after simply playing through.

IGN: Have you been happy with the response to your work so far?

Thuyker: (Laughs) In some ways, yes. I've been lucky enough to not get an email telling me I was a crap writer, but at the same time, I just feel bad because I really don't have the time to answer all the emails that I get.

IGN: That's the life of a celebrity.

Thuyker: (Laughs) Without some of the fringe benefits, I'm sure. Haven't received any nude pictures in the mail yet. At least not from FAQ-readers.

IGN: That might be a good thing. So you do mostly Xbox games. Is that because it's the only system you have?

Thuyker: No, I have a PS2 that's been sitting around gathering dust, because it stopped reading discs, a GameCube, N64, and a PC. It's just that all the games that I have for the other systems have been covered so well, that I don't really think writing for them would help too many people.

IGN: It's true there aren't that many Xbox FAQ writers out there. Why do you think that is?

Thuyker: It seems like the Xbox has enough of a fan-base that it would have a comparable number of writers as the GameCube, so I really have no idea why that is... good question.

IGN: Do you write a FAQ for every Xbox game you play through or are you selective?

Thuyker: Oh, definitely very selective. I'm not usually willing to waste 50 bucks on a game if I'm not sure it'll be good, let alone waste all the time that it takes to write a FAQ.

IGN: Which Xbox game is your favorite?

Thuyker: That's a tough one... I'd probably have to go with either PDO or Halo, with Knights of the Old Republic up there as well.

IGN: How long did that KOTOR FAQ take? That's one looooong game.

Thuyker: Oh man, I don't even know how long I spent on that one. Even if I did, I'd probably not want to tell you anyway, as it'd look like I have no life! The sad thing is that I still have quite a ways to go on it, but I still would really like to finish that off sometime soon.

IGN: I've heard rumors that you have no life... is that true?

Thuyker: (Laughs or possibly cries) I thought you weren't going to make me cry? Well, to be honest, I don't have much of a good life. All my time is spent in class or work. I probably only see my girlfriend about once every two weeks, which is pretty sad, since she only lives an hour away.

IGN: What does your girl think of your video game habit?

Thuyker: Not much, actually. It's not like I ever let playing games get in the way of going out or doing what she wants, so she doesn't have a problem with it. She wouldn't ever be interested in playing, but that's not a big deal.

IGN: Outside of Xbox FAQs, you have a couple of Leisure Suit Larry FAQs. Are you a Larry lover?

Thuyker: Yeah. I wrote those FAQs mostly out of nostalgia, though. I remember sneaking off into my bedroom to play those games back in the day. The old Sierra-type adventure games are still probably my favorite type of all time.

IGN: The first time you saw a girl naked, did you expect her to have pixellated nipple?

Thuyker: (Laughs) I thought this was a family website?! No... though maybe I wished all women were as easy as the ones in those games.

IGN: They aren't for you?? Getting back to FAQs... Can you see yourself doing this the rest of your life? Like 80 years old, in a nursing home, playing Knights of the Old Republic 10?

Thuyker: Video gaming, yes. As for writing FAQs -- No. Even in the last few months, I've barely had time to write much, and that's why I've slacked off on my Otogi and Knights FAQs, although I'm definitely going to finish those before I stop.

IGN: Would you do a FAQ if a new Leisure Suit Larry game came out?

Thuyker: It depends. Maybe if the game was as enjoyable to play as the old ones. I pretty much always play a game that I write for several times first, so if it just wasn't that fun for me, then I wouldn't write for it.

IGN: Gotcha. Any final words of encouragement (or scorn, or whatever) for your fellow FAQ writers?

Thuyker: Hmm... There are a couple people who have either helped me out with critiques, inspired me, gave me advice when I first started, etc., so I want to say thanks to Zoop, War Doc, Adrenaline, SinirothX, and probably a few others that I'm forgetting.

We'd like to give out thanks to Thuyker. Do yourself a favor and check out his FAQs.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/24/faq-writer-of-the-week-thuyker
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