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TTA Evolution   Table of Contents   Rank System

You all knew this was coming one day. Here we are going straight to the top to talk top the main man himself, Balz, Odin, whatever you want to call him. Now sit back. pull up a chair, and lets find out what makes him tick, and what it takes to run one of the best parts of the internet.

Sachi: So Balz to start, approximately how long has it been since you created TTA?

Balz: In the fall of 2002 the project was started, we opened up for accounts in January 2003 with the basics done. There was still a lot to do and we didn’t have all the game rules (SW,PW,C,E) done then. Expect a big party in the fall to celebrate 5 years of TTA as its something I am quite proud of. <3

Sachi: What made you decide to create your own Triple Triad site?

Balz: I used to play triple triad myself on tripletriadx.com and the site was coming to a close. I really loved the game of Triple Triad and the community feeling. I knew nothing of programming or databases, I was a player. I found a couple of good ebooks on PHP and SQL and started to teach myself about open source scripting and put that to use trying to make my own TT game. Was I sure I would succeed? No, but I loved the game too much just to let it go.

Sachi: Would you be able to go through some of your day-to-day (or even week-to-week) duties that you need to do as the Main Boss of TTA?

Balz: Well I have a regular work week so in the few hours I have a night I look after card trades, player requests/problems, and maybe get to work a bit on quest. On the weekends I have a little more time to be online. With over 1500 active players there is always lots to do.

Sachi: What would you say is the best part about being the Main Boss of TTA? And the worst part?

Balz: The best part is easy, it's watching how much enjoyment others get from playing the game that I love as well. The worst part is dealing with problem players or people cheating. I am not a mean person by nature nor do I enjoy playing the heavy but when it comes to TTA, but I will do what is needed to make sure it remains the community it has become.

Sachi: What about trades? How do you feel about doing trades for us kids all the time, and what was one of the worst/longest you ever did?

Balz: I really don’t mind at all if its just a couple cards and you have all the correct information I need. When you start pming me for "move these 170 cards to..." then I start to hesitate. Why? As I mentioned before I only have limited time online a day, and if I spend 1 hour of it moving cards for one person then other things have to get left out. I'll usually run to Dalamar at that point ;p I have moved an entire account before but over a period of 1-2 weeks.

Sachi: How about the game itself? Ever load up your account with AA-Rares and l4m3 some n00bz? How about just playing in general, how many games do you usually squeeze in from time to time?

Balz: Sure, but that’s boring. I played someone the other day with 5 SE's so I could test SE Cait Sith to make sure all worked properly before giving the card out to an upcoming SE winner. My opponent got a laugh out of it. Mostly, I am just as happy playing with the old regular cards. Unfortunately I don't get to play as often as I would like because the other stuff comes first, but I try to get a couple games in every week anyway.

Sachi: What would you say your favorite ruleset is to use?

Balz: S,P,SW,PW,C open level 10

Sachi: Besides TTA, how long have you been kicking around on these Triple Triad sites?

Balz: Since 1999-2000 when I found tripletriad.com You could only play with the FF8 deck, but it was still a great site.

Sachi: Moving on to the clan scene for a moment, what clans are you/used to be in? Any specific reason why this isn't so anymore?

Balz: I was in a clan called "guardian force" when I first started playing. Eventually I won a tryout with Miah or Dalamar to get into "Avalanche". I quit Avl one day after Miah left me off the roster by accident (silly I know ;p) and soon after that I joined BoS. I spent years in the brotherhood working my way up from pawn to one of the leaders. My best years were with BoS. However, after an incident involving another clan member, which I won't go into detail, made me feel like I had no choice but to leave the clan.

Sachi: What would you say your inspiration for your nickname is?

Balz: Well despite some people thinking it has to do with male body parts, it has quite another meaning ;p My nick was once Odinbalz. Odin for Final Fantasy of course and bal-z like as in dragon bal-z. At some point years ago I dropped the Odin and just became Balz, though most that have known me for while will still call me Odin or Odinbalz.

Sachi: What would you say your favorite moment of TTA would be?

Balz: Tough one..does doing this interview count? <3

Sachi: <3. What about Graphics, how are your Photoshop skillz, good? Amazing? Terrible? Give us a little breakdown on what you can do.

Balz: Ha! My graphics are okay at best, that’s why Dalamar and I have always worked good as a team, his strengths made up for my weakness and vice versa (I like to think anyway :s)

Sachi: What about coding? I can only imagine what you have to look at to keep this site running. About how much codes and stuff do you need to look at/edit daily? For us non-h4ck3r5, keep it to laymen’s terms.

Balz: For the most part unless I'm creating new stuff, I don't have to look at much coding now. Most things can be accessed and done though a browser interface with just a couple clicks. Now in the beginning..well it would be nothing to stay up all night staring at PHP code and pumping out line after line of it. I know each page like the back of my hand, what every line does and means. After all it is my baby <3.

Sachi: Do you have a technical background that helps you with coding?

Balz: Not really no. While I did go to college I took chemistry and nothing on computers. My computer skills stopped at using excel. Everything I know was self taught. But I think just about anybody can do that if they work hard and stick with it.

Sachi: I know I do, but do you like the new PHP server? <3 PHP. How does it compare to the old one?

Balz: I do like the new server a lot. While the last server was with a big company, the customer service lacked. With this server I have found a big difference and am quite pleased with the resources and service we have. (Note* a server is a server, PHP is a server-side HTML embedded scripting language the server owner has to install so the server knows how to interpret the PHP language structure and execute the commands.) [Sachi's note: Heh, shows how much I know

Sachi: What about TTQ? Was it always something you had planned, or did it come out of the blue?

Balz: It was out of the blue kinda, one thing that most of us enjoy (the majority) is RPG's, that’s what brought us together. So I thought why not have a little side quest on the side to earn some extra points and cards for your accounts. Just to give players more to do and trying to enhance their experience here. I’ve had mixed results with the quest some people love it, some don't care a bit and just come to play TT which is fine too.

Sachi: Any surprises for TTQ you want to hint at?

Balz: New cities, more adventures, new cards.

Sachi: Do you personally know what all the quest cards will be, or are you playing it by ear? Don't worry I'm not asking in advance what they are, but it would be cool to know. I can keep it a secret you know.

Balz: Nah we just wing it as we go :p Expect to see a Yiazmat/Hell Wyrm card.

Sachi: Any other surprises coming up you would want to hint at?

Balz: We are going to start the defendable SE Rinoa soon, which means the holder must defend it every 3 months or lose it.

Sachi: Have you ever thought it was just too much hard work and felt like quitting tta? (Guest Question asked by Freya)

Balz: No not really, it is something I enjoy so it doesn't feel like work most times. I only wish sometimes people might understand I am not sitting here 16 hours a day just waiting for that next card trade request.

Sachi: Going to real life for a moment, what do you do during the day? School, work, or both?

Balz: I work for the city water dept. sampling and testing various parts of the distribution system to ensure we consistently provide safe, clean water to the residents. It's great job that I have enjoyed for about eight years.

Sachi: Favorite song at the moment?

Balz: Disturbed - Down With The Sickness or Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People

Sachi: And finally, what do you think TTA has in store for the future?

Balz: Fun, friends, and a good sense of community. For a lot of people this is a second home to them. I'll always do my best to keep that house sturdy for years to come.

Player Comments:

Shaggz - He’s been one of the best owner/operators of a TT site I’ve known. He is involved in letting the Community input there ideas, stays level headed in disputes, and tries to keep providing new features to help keep tta alive.

Kurama - Generous, friendly, helpful (I even remember him helping me with my homework once. The site would not be possible without him. He's toadilly delicious.

Sage - I've had the pleasure of working with him as part of staff for pretty much all my time here on TTA, and I've seen just about every side of him from the cuddly loveable Rich to the furious death machine Odin! He's a great admin who does his job without fail and has every ounce of respect I could give. Odin! You da man!