With the massively successful titles like the Hexen and Heretic lines under it's belt and with the guaranteed smash hit's like Soldier of Fortune and Star Trek: Elite Force on the way. . . it's a miracle Kenn Hoekstra had the time to do an interview. Hypothermia is sure glad he did.

I have found an amazing sense of community and the willingness to go the extra step for the fans when dealing with Kenn. I think Ravens games have always been favorites due in large part that they are developed by gamers themselves. Jump in and see what thing Mr. Hoekstra himself likes and soak in the information he gives to the "Future Game Developers of America". With any luck, we might even learn how to correctly pronounce his damn name!!!

1.) How'd you get started in the Games Industry and/or who was your inspiration.

I was in the right place at the right time. I met Raven’s Eric Biessman through his brother Jeff and we started playing role-playing games together. Eric and I became friends and when Raven started hiring level designers again, he put in a good word for me. I interviewed and got a job offer the next day. On February 3rd, 1997, I joined the Raven team and the rest, as they say, is history.

ancient history)

I signed away the next thirty years of my life to a mortgage. Building my first home is certainly something I’ll never forget!

EXCLUDE me. That’s a given...)

Bruce Shelley (Age of Empires/Age of Kings) and Chris Roberts (Wing Commander series)

4.) What's the most annoying thing to deal with as a Project Administrator?

The feeling that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everyone everything they need... It’s tough to feel good about the dozens of things you do get done when there are so many things left undone at the end of each day.

I break it" now that you’re a famous Game DOOD.

I’m pretty good about staying off my home machine unless she’s working or out with friends or otherwise occupied. Truth be told, I think she uses my home machine more than I do... Heh.

6.) Tips you can give young-developer-Jedi in training

I have a few tips for Future Game Developers of America (That’s going to replace the Boy Scouts in a few years...mark my words):

Play at lot of games. Get to know their ins and outs and styles. Don’t limit yourself to one genre, either. Play as many games and game types as you can and on as many platforms as possible.

Utilize the Internet as the ultimate resource to make contacts and more importantly to learn the trade. Rust (www.gamedesign.net) for example is a wonderful resource to learn about level design. LoonyGames (www.loonygames.com) is full of articles, information and tutorials written from inside the industry. GameJobs (www.gamejobs.com) will tell you where there are job openings across the gaming nation and the site is full of essays and information about how to break into the business. The Internet is your friend...

Use the tools the developers give you and modify existing games to create a virtual resume. It’s a visual business and a successful mod will get you farther than a piece of paper any day.

Don’t get discouraged. Persistence (without being annoying) is the key to victory.

Learn from your mistakes and from others’ mistakes. It will help sharpen your skills as a developer and strengthen you as a person in all areas of your life.

Last, but not least (I just HAVE to point this out), don’t e-mail your resume to fifty companies at once unless you’re using your e-mail program’s BCC function to mask the recipients. We get tons of generic "Hello, I’m looking for a job. Attached is my resume..." letters every week that are clearly cc’ed to fifty other game companies. This is unprofessional and conveys a sense of "I NEED TO GET HIRED" desperation that is a sure path to the recycle bin. Personalize each job request and tailor your resume and cover letter to each company individually. Mass mailings will not work.

Good luck! Breaking into this business is just as much luck and being in the right place at the right time as anything else. Break out that lucky Rabbit’s Foot and keep pushing on.

7.) Drink of Choice?

Diet Coke

8.) Tunes of Choice?

KISS, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, W.A.S.P. and anything that can be considered heavy metal, hard rock or classic rock. LET’S RAWK! (or something)

9.) Babe of Choice?

I’m partial to Kimberly Williams right now. Her appearance in NBC’s The Tenth Kingdom has renewed my faith in the human condition.

10.) The real answer to no. #9 for the married guys who had to say their wives.

Since I didn’t chicken out on #9, I’ll mention that Laetetia Casta is an amazingly beautiful woman as well. (Our new animator, Culligan Roberts, has shown me the light on that one)

11.) You’re working on a new project. . . . . HOW MUCH ASS IS IT GOING TO KICK!?!?!

I’m very fortunate to be able to contribute to all of Raven Software’s current games, including Soldier of Fortune, Voyager - Elite Force and our upcoming PSXII game. Much ass will be kicked and many names will be taken...

Since we are old friends, and hang out together all the time, share a little something with us that many people might be surprised to know about you.

I have a KISS tattoo on my left arm up near my shoulder. (Imagine my dismay when they announced their farewell tour recently) Ten years from now my kids will point at my arm and say, "What does that mean, Daddy?" and I’ll have to say "Nothing, kids...and no, you can’t get a tattoo until you’re 35!" =)

If you guys think he's kidding about that whole KISS tatto thing, let me tell you this. . . . after a little checking I found out Kenn is a CHARTER member of the KISS Army. wow. Being 31 yrs old myself, and KISS Destroyer being my first Album ( heh, vinyl baby. . . ) I too was a member of the KISS army, hence the bond you see between Kenn and I.

If you haven't snagged the Soldier of Fortune demo yet. . . what are you waiting for? Hit the link and get it!!!