Donald Drouin is the LT manager who received levels/lpbs and make updates everymonth.
Some considered him as the ocean.
Q1: What do you think about this game?
It�"s the best addicting game that I ever played since I own a computer.
I like it because I can play at my rhythm with no stress being timed.
Till now, the possibilities seem to be
endless.
Q2: You have been
the manager of LT website for more than 10 years.
How did you insist, especially in the busy period?
Probably a big part of my insistence can be found in my previous answer.
But it�"s also because I discovered Laser Tank at a particularly difficult
period of my life. I was looking for something to regain my life and in some
ways this little tank saved me. So I was grateful and decide to help others to
get the same pleasure that I've found.
Q3: Could you tell
us some interesting stories about LT during these
years?
I remember back in September 2006, after having a computer crash with my old computer, some players decided to sent me some money for a new computer.
They asked me to provide a Post Office address to send donations.
Those players have been so generous that in less than a month I've been able to buy a new computer and extract my old data from the old one.
I'm still grateful now to all of them.
Q4: You have created several levels. What do you think of your levels? Which are your favorite ?
I�"m rather in the low average of the level
creators, I've made only some Deadly levels, but I consider that my levels are
quite interesting and merit to be played.
Strangely my favorite levels are not necessarily the Deadly one.
I prefer my Medium levels and I also prefer to play Medium levels.
And many Easy levels are quite fun to play too.
Q5: People may consider your level Ch-I#0009 as an outstanding one. Could you tell us how did you made it ? Further, how did you make a hard or deadly level?
I really don't remember how I made this level and I don�"t think there is a particular recipe to create very good levels. It's a matter of try and error. Creating a good level cannot be done in one shot .You should let it aside to forget it a bit and come back later to have a fresh look at it. If you can forget the original solution, you'll probably be able to find other solutions and shortcuts.
Long time ago, the great Kheper who created many very good levels in the past told me that he was assisted by his brother. He created levels and his brother was the beta tester (finding shortcuts and advising to add difficulties).
That�"s a very good approach.
Q6: Many people sent their lpbs to you. Did you watch them? Are they very interesting?
I watch some of them when I have time, but I learn nothing at watching a LPB for a level I didn't tried to solve at first.
It is like watching a magician when you know his trick. The magic is gone forever,
or like listening a joke that you already
know the punch, it's not funny anymore.
Q7: Could you say something to new players about how to improve their skills (except for watching tutor.lvl)?
Trying to solve the more levels than you
can is in my opinion the most effective way to learn. It also teaches you how
to create good levels by studying how the good creators have done.
Q8: Which players are most impressive in your opinion?
In a way or another, I think that almost all players have impressed me all along those years, (Let�"s say Garry who created so many levels that I was forced to put them in it�"s own level files Garry-I and Garry-II)
There is also so many great creators that I won't name here by fear of
forgetting some. You just have to look at the Deadly rated levels to know them.
Q9: LT�"ers may want to know more about you in the real life. Could you say something about your real life? Is anything of LT helpful for your life?
I had to retire from work at an early age due to bad health and my condition forced me to often be alone, so LT was welcome to my life at this moment.
It helped me to focus my thought on only
one thing at a time.
I think that my answer to Q2 demonstrate how LT has been so helpful for my
life.
Q10: What do you think about the future of Lasertank?
I�"m a little bit worried due to a big lack of new players and level creators, also because a lot of very good old players/creators have abandoned LT along those years.
The old style interface of LT is not very attractive for the youngsters.
They are more attracted by fast and realistic games.