With the simply amazing "What The End Is For" Carson emerged onto the level scene in a big way. Find out what Carson has to say about the reception of his debut level as well as what plans he has for his second release.
 
Real Life I'm nearly 24 and from all over the place, but mostly Boston, MA.  I'll always be a true New Englander, for better or worse.  I most recently moved back home from Santa Fe, NM, where I went to college at the aptly named College of Santa Fe.  It's known as a film school, though I graduated with degrees in English Lit. and Creative Writing. Recently I've been graced with admission into the awesome MFA Program For Writers at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina-one of the best post-graduate writing programs in the US:  I was amazed a flunky like me got in.  All of this is just until I can get a job doing game design, of 
course. ;-)

As some know, I've released only one map, though I've been doing the map authoring thing since doom.  I have 3 or 4 Quake Classic maps that aren't quite done.  I hadn't enough time in the past to really finish any maps, and "What the End is For" is my debut.  It was very well received:  I've gotten, to date, 71 overwhelmingly positive emails, I won the LevelX competition with it--which involves a trip to Long Beach California and a $1400 mega pass to CGDC (I can't go, unfortunately), and "WTEIF" is still #1 at Lt. Dan's after 35 votes (as I'm writing this, anyway).  I couldn't be more thrilled about it, and I can't thank the Quake 2 community enough for being so kind and supportive, especially of a name they haven't seen before.  It's a decent map, though I hope to do better in the future.

 
  W h a t   T h e   E n d   I s   F o r
 
I think a lot of designers are inspired by film production design.  I got into this first hand in College--they actually filmed a sci-fi show on campus called "Earth 2."  It didn't do very well, but had some fantastic sets I poked around.  An interest in 3D design sort of builds for you a keener sensitivity to architecture, production design, atmosphere, etc. in films.  I've also gotten into approaching lighting like a cinematographer-I have a bizarre value system I've been using.

Lately I've had this thing for technological ruin--where I live in Massachusetts there are numerous old mills and areas full of abandoned factories:  the bones of the industrial revolution.  There is something beautiful about architecture that is at once modern, old, monolithic and ruined.  I can see some interesting ideas for Quake 2 in there.

I've been admittedly negligent about playing projects from other Quake 2 map designers.  I should--and I think it's important to do so--I've just been short on time. My inspiration still comes from Quake Classic maps; and that's not really surprising to me:  Quake has had a longer time to gather a collection of 
masterpieces.  My favorite Quake maps are Dario Casali's Prodigy maps, especially "The Sombre Citadel," and Marcus Dromowicz' Mexx 9 maps.  These maps have a surreal, abstract quality to them--they sort of move the way the mind does when it's dreaming.  Really cool maps.  Other favorite authors are Iikka Keranen, Matt Sefton, Matthias Worch and Andrew Smith.  I've played just about everything for Quake and I think those 6 authors are the best.  Of course, all of the ID crew rules as well.

Quake IIWell, I couldn't be more thrilled with Quake 2 as a player or an author-its engine seems really exiting, dynamic, docile, and relatively stable.  As an author, it's a real charm to work with.  I hate hype, and I think hype caused some folks to take for granted many of Quake 2's phenomenal features-hence all the whining.  It's a great game.  I'm sure the next flock of FPS is going to be great, but I think hype is going to get the best of them too. The whole "quake killer" issue is about as interesting to me as watching paint dry.  What a waste of time arguing about that.  I'd rather play Quake 2.
 
Carson Utz takes a look at his completed level, "What The End Is For"
 
 I Like many others now, I use is QERadiant, and I'm totally in love with it-so much easier to use than any other editor I've tried.  In general, I think the editors that are billed as most "user friendly" end up being the worst.  That's just a personal opinion, though.  QERadiant is 100% raw:  no bells, no whistles, no flash, not even a manual (yet).  It's just pure  firepower.  I love it.  I'm also using Arghrad now, Microsoft Word 97 for lots of .map file tweaking, Wally and PSP for adjusting textures.  My computer is a gratuitous Dell Dimension XPS D300 that's been heavily futzed with and modified: it has a PII 333 processor and a compliment of three 128 meg DIMMS.  I've tried a zillion video cards and settled with the STB Velocity 128 AGP model.  It hoses out the frames like a minigun and can handle generic open GL work too.  I'm not a big 3DFX fan.  On the low-tech side, my monitor is an ancient 13" NEC that does 800x600 tops and smells like 10 or 12 blown light-bulbs when I fire it up.  It's a piece of crap, but I love it:  it's covered with stickers & photos of pals, old girlfriends, etc. 

I've been playing guitar as long as I can remember, and it's far more than a hobby-more like a compulsion, or a marriage even.  The best relationship I've ever had has been with my red custom shop Fender strat.  I spend a few hours with the guitar each day-I play strats, mostly, and beat-to-crap class A/B tube amps.  I also am heavily involved in writing, poetry, fiction, screenwriting, etc.  I don't play lots of computer games, oddly enough; I spend enough time editing and playing Quake 2--as well as writing--that I'd rather get away from the computer when not engaged in those activities.  I also run, work out and listen to tons of music.  At the moment, Jimi Hendrix, Richard Thompson,  Prodigy, SRV, Busta Rhymes, Garbage and Republica have my ears most often. 

Blues News loads on startup-I visit there several times in a day.  Rust sees a lot of me, too, as does Quake Workshop.  Lately, I've been visiting a number of SPQ sites once a week or so.  Other favorites are Experience Hendrix Interactive, The Trade & other good bootleg sites, Roger Ebert on Movies. 

Well, don't hold me to anything here, but I have a unit in mind for the next project.  I've got some blueprints done for the first map, but still haven't really started working on it.  As soon as I find some free time I'll get cracking.  I'm planning on making it a hub revolving around a central map divided into three regions:  each region will be unlocked by completing another map. Hopefully I'll have the time to do all this.  I know I've told some folks I was going to post screenshots, but I've decided against it for various reasons. And of course, for all the folks who hated the killer traps in "WTEIF"-don't worry I'll never use them again.  Also, I can get you a great deal on the Golden Gate Bridge, if you're interested.  ;-)  

I'd really just like to take a moment and thank everyone for the support and feedback-the Quake 2 community is the coolest and I owe them everything!  That's the web-masters and players both.  I've made some friends already and really found the whole experience overwhelmingly cool.  Also, thanks to Igor for this interview!  I appreciate it! 

~Carson Utz - April 30, 1998 
 
 
Cover Page - People - Top Ten Levels - Comix - Quake Map Hotel