Interview ~ Charles Star

Hey everyone thanks for deciding to read my newest blog post. I got the chance to interview someone I look up to, I hope you enjoy!

[Messenger of Heaven]: Hey everyone, this will be a special edition post. Because today I get to interview one of the most creatively brilliant writers the simming world has ever seen… Charles Star

[Charles Star]: Thank you. Unfortunately, it sounds like you don't know me very well!!!

[Messenger of Heaven]: I think you possibly underestimate your skill level, from what I've seen it's pretty impressive.

[Charles Star]: Everybody has a good day every now and then. Regardless, it's an honor to be here. 

[Messenger of Heaven]: Well it's an honor to have you, this is actually my first time doing an interview so this should be an interesting experience for the both of us.

[Charles Star]: Excellent. I can't wait to see what you've got planned here.

[Messenger of Heaven]: Well I guess we should start with the questions if you are ready?

[Charles Star]: I'm game! Let's do this!

[Messenger of Heaven]: So my first question for you is what are your biggest accomplishments simming wise?

[Charles Star]: Ha! Not getting fired from my first sim? Wait, that did happen! Fortunately, they let me back in.

I've been fortunate to role play and serve with many great simmers over the years. Simming by nature is a team thing. I'd say the highlights were my original USS Sunfire sim--where we were all new to online role playing, founding Independence Fleet (IDF), coming back to IDF as Chief of Operations years later, running community events--like FallFest, SciWorld, and ToS, bringing the community together at SimEnc and Ongoing Worlds, and then finally--serving as the President of UCIP--it took a lot of gumption for that wonderful group to select an outsider as their leader.

I still consider UCIP my home today: It's a truly extraordinary collection or writers and role players. As for the sims I led, I couldn't possibly name one, so I'll go ahead and say them all: USS Avalon, USS George W. Bush, USS Patriot, USS Washington, USS Sunfire, USS Liberty, USS Challenger, USS Constellation, USS Javelin, and the USS Chuck Norris. It's been a fantastic ride with a lot of great people.

[Messenger of Heaven]: Alrighty then time for our next question. This is about your recent creation. The Simming Endeavor, what made you want to start this gameshow?

[Charles Star]: Ha, I wish I had some grand story about how the concept developed over time, but I don't. I was sitting in an airport and the idea just popped into my head. I don't remember what I was thinking about or reading or watching at time.

I do remember eating some airport food and then emailing David Ball about the whole crazy idea. The structure and format of the game is pretty close what I imagined back then. Fortunately, we've had a lot of great contestants who took the game in multiple unexpected directions. 

[Messenger of Heaven]: What has it been like hosting this sort of event?

[Charles Star]: It's been fun... and exhausting! It's a lot of work in the background to keep everything going with all the comments, actions, and voting, etc. The best part has definitely been getting to know the contestants over the course of the game.

They'll all fantastic and represent their clubs really well. It's a great group! In addition to the game show part, their simming has been top shelf stuff. Then add the all of the fantastic special guests we've had. It's been a blast. But yes, tiring as well.

[Messenger of Heaven]: Do you ever feel sad over losing contestants?

[Charles Star]: Yes, it's always sad to see people go from the game, especially since they all contribute in unique and interesting ways. They've each added something special to the game/sim. But alas, those are the rules! And really, without the game show aspect, this incredible group of role players never would have come together in the first place. It's a double-edged sword.

While we're talking about contributions, I also want to recognize Bella, who has done an amazing job with all of our art and graphics. Without her, the game simply doesn't work. Imagine reading the episodes if they were entirely text. We wouldn't be here talking about the game at all.

[Messenger of Heaven]: Bella has for sure done an amazing job.

You seem to care for your contestants deeply but out of the eliminated contestants who was your favorite and you wished had stayed the most? 

[Charles Star]: Ha! I'm not sure I can pick favorites! All of the contestants have been wonderful and have made the game better. I think you take any one of them out and both the sim and the game show wouldn't have been as interesting. I really appreciate how they each were able to take a risk on something I couldn't fully explain to them back when they signed up. They did it anyway--I hope they've enjoyed it.

[Messenger of Heaven]: Come on now even though you aren't suppose to pick favorites I know you must have one you liked alot and wished had stayed that you found extra interesting.

[Charles Star]: Oh, of course! That would have to be Messenger of Heaven, naturally! [Messenger of Heaven]: Hmmmm, you don't happen to be saying this due to I'm the one conducting this interview now would you?

 [Charles Star]: Not at all! winks.

 [Messenger of Heaven]: Do you have a favorite among the remaining contestants?

[Charles Star]: I think that would be unfair... especially since everyone still has to vote for the winner! 

[Messenger of Heaven]: Fair enough.

Thank you so much for allowing me to conduct this interview! It's been a blast. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have but sadly I am out of questions but hopefully in the future there will be a part two to this!

 [Charles Star]:It was a blast for me as well! Thank you very much for the opportunity and it's always great to talk to you. Have a fantastic day!

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Thank you so much for reading this week's blog please follow and stay tune for any future blogs! Up next is an interview I conducted with the past contestants and the two finalists. Feel free to join the sever to watch the interview live! https://discord.gg/Ev7jwE.