From Star Trek Game Information
This Interview with Deemon took place on the 23rd July 2002.
Armada Universe: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Deemon: My name is Andy Johns. I am 31 years old and married with 2 children.
Armada Universe: Are you a Star Trek fan and which shows are your preferred viewing?
Deemon: Oh I’m a huge Trek Fan. DS9 is my favourite series. Enterprise is growing on me too. Non trek programmes I am into are Buffy, Angel, Stargate and anything else along those lines.
Armada Universe: When did you first start modding?
Deemon: I first started modding for Star Trek Armada 1. My claim to fame is that I produced the first new SOD for A1. It was the Miranda Class. I hadn’t set out to mod in the first place I just wanted to see if I could get it working but I got hooked and over the last 2 years I have built over 150 models, mainly Trek ships but also ships from other Sci-Fi series.
Armada Universe: And can you tell us how you got involved with modding Star Trek: Armada II?
Deemon: It was a natural progression. I had built so many models for A1 that it seemed a waste not to upgrade them for the new game.
Armada Universe: Can you tell us about some of the other modding projects you have been involved with in Armada and Armada II?
Deemon: My main involvement has been with the Millennium Project series of mods. But so many people have used my models that ‘ive probably contributed to most mods that have been released.
Armada Universe: What new modding opportunities does Armada II provide?
Deemon: To be honest not that much, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of new features in A2.
Armada Universe: What are your main goals in creating a new ship or mod?
Deemon: Realism and accuracy, I have scrapped so many models that didn’t meet my standards. There are quite a few sitting on my hard drive waiting to be reworked.
Armada Universe: And can you tell us the process you go through in creating a new ship?
Deemon: I gather as much reference as I can. Then I’ll spend a few hours going over it all and comparing it (Theres a lot of discrepancies between sources). Then I’ll sit down and build it. Normally a model will take between 1hour and a day depending on complexity. The textures normally take a bit longer, anything from a day to a week depending on how many texture pages are needed.
Armada Universe: What about the process you go through in creating a new mod?
Deemon: I don’t really build my own mods. I like to contribute towards other peoples.
Armada Universe: After that, how do you go about balancing your new mod or ship?
Deemon: I leave all that to the modders.
Armada Universe: What is your favorite ship and race from Armada II?
Deemon: I like what they did with the Cardassians they look pretty cool.
Armada Universe: Which ship that you have created is your favorite?
Deemon: Ooh tough one, probably my Norway Class. It’s got a load of detail in it and I was pleased with the way it all came together. Although my latest model of the Dominion Orbital Shipyard will probably top that when its finished.
Armada Universe: And what ship by another modder is your favorite?
Deemon: Hmm I like the Forces Borg vessels, they re awesome, but I think Pnuemonic81’s NX01 for Starfleet Command 2 is the best.
Armada Universe: What has been the most enjoyable experience of modding the game so far?
Deemon: I’ll never forget the night I got the Miranda to work in game. I had learnt Softimage at work for a week so that I could use the exporter as soon as it was released. I went home that night and put the model through the exporter, It worked but the ship moved backwards, easy to fix but it didn’t matter. It was my first attempt at modding and it had worked relatively easily. I was over the moon. I still have the screenshot. I keep it to remind me that with a little perseverance anything is possible.
Armada Universe: Is there any feature you are pleased with, that was put into Armada II?
Deemon: The light mapping was nice to be able to add to the models. It adds a new dimension, also the breaking apart of the ships rather than shattering into triangles.
Armada Universe: With that in mind, is there anything that you would like to have seen in Armada II?
Deemon: The holy grail! Multi-Vector-Assault-Mode, so many people have tried it, maybe we will have to wait for an add on or an update.
Armada Universe: What would you like to see the modding community accomplish?
Deemon: There are so many talented people in the community and it’s been interesting to watch new people arrive and find their places. Everyone has something that they are good at, they just need a push in the right direction. I’m very proud to see the people who I’ve taught to model get better and better. One of them has now even landed a job with Maddoc! So they have already accomplished a great deal, I just hope that they take their talents and continue to grow them and maybe in the years to come they will follow me into the games industry because some of them truly deserve to be there.
Armada Universe: And how do you see the future for the Armada II community?
Deemon: That’s an interesting question, the community seems to be in a low point at the minute. I don’t think that A2 has been as popular as A1.
Armada Universe: What would you like to see possible for modders in a future Star Trek RTS, or even a possible Armada III?
Deemon: As PC’s get faster and engines get better I’d hope to be able to use higher poly counts on models. More effects like glows and realistic damage.
Armada Universe: Do you have any ambition to become a part of the gaming industry, if you do what?
Deemon: I already am, I’m a Technical Artist for Electronic Arts. Which means I develop the systems that the artists and programmers need to get the models and other art assets into the game.
Armada Universe: And finally, what plans do you have after your current project?
Deemon: A rest, I’ve pretty much been modding for the last two years. It looks like A3 is long way off /if at all, so I’m going to try and take it easy although that probably wont happen!
Armada Universe: We would like to thank Deemon for taking part in this interview.
All of the above screenshots are from the Separation Mod by Westworld for Star Trek: Armada. You can get the Separation Mod from www.stgu.com/startrekfiles
The Prometheus and Galaxy X ships were made from Deemon's textured 3D Max meshes, all Damage Sprites, hard points and conversion to SOD format by Westworld.
The Galaxy Class was made by Pneumonic81, mesh & textures are all his original work, damage sprites and conversion by Westworld.
