To start off with, I have to apologize for how long it has taken me to get around to this. It's been a busy month, so to begin with, just go over when you started playing America's Army, your in game name identifier, and the past three teams you played with in AA.

I started playing AA around 1.5, I got into the game through several school friends. At first I played for fun and had a huge break for around six months; after my family got a new pc I re-downloaded the game and started playing and honoring up at quite a fast pace.

From then on I found my way into a team and from then on I never really looked back. The past three teams if I recall starting with the most recent was team Vertex, Enervate and Replay.

My game name started out as Hodderisgod, but after being stalked by a player for having the same surname as him I decided to change it to Hoodini and it's stuck with me throughout the past 3-4 years through AA, q4, CS and shout casting.

Now I know you quit playing last year some time, but continued to keep casting America's Army matches occasionally under TsN, can you tell us what lead to that decision?

The main reason I left AA at a competitive level was due to the fact I went to university in Lancaster, England. I knew for a fact that when I went to uni I wouldn't have the time to train and compete at a high level. So I wisely stepped down from all of my admin roles and virtually quit the game. A month before university I became a shoutcaster for TsN and it fitted perfectly around my schedule for university, I wouldn't have to make training sessions, practice, scrim, pcw etc. I could simply cast a match whenever I wanted and to be honest I get a lot more enjoyment through shout casting than playing. I like giving the community the option to listen to their favorite games and that's why I took the decision to leave competitive gaming and to continue shout casting to the masses.

You are casting for quadV now, how did that come about, and what game are your favorite from both a spectators, players, and casting standpoint?

The main reason I joined quadV was to work alongside with several of the greatest commentators within the business. Two of my close friends Joe and Jay were with me in TsN and I wanted to continue working with them at quadV. To top things off the management team looked fantastic with the likes of Redeye and technical staff that I have seen produce fantastic coverage at LAN events at the i-series in Newbury. The chance of working with commentators that I had admired and seen on the big stage for several years was simply a chance I didn't want to slip away. So I applied for quadV and made it into the team and I am thoroughly delighted to be here.


My favorite casting game is either Quake Four or Counterstrike, both games are a different pace and have remarkable moments that make either unique. For example quakes speed and rail shots are awesome to watch, yet on the other hand seeing a five man lower site rush on source also excites me. So it's hard to say what game is my favorite from a spectator, player and casting point as they all offer different qualities. However I do have to admit that I love dueling Quake Four and the majority of my free time on the computer is either spend on that or Football Manager.

When casting AA, what was your all time favorite moment? When were you most frustrated?

I think my all time favorite memory has to be when I broad casted the TWL 6v6 summer cup. I remember the moment clearly when Eureka were winning 6-0 although they were 1v5 down in the 7th round. Elak for Eureka then went on to clutch a 1v5 situation and win the cup for Eureka. It was the perfect way to win a tournament of that quality.

Contrary to a classical AA screw ups, I think the more frustrating moments within AA casting have to be when teams refuse to be broad casted. I can't highlight one specific match I can only signify the fact some teams refuse to be casted. Yet I always pose the question to them about pleasing sponsors, being better known within other communities that may tune in and they generally reverse their decision and want to be casted.

If you could bring back something from the games competitive past, or just some feature in general what would it be? What would you add from your experience in other games?

Well as you all know whenever a new patch comes out there seems to be something that has been modified to a certain degree. So I'd simply bring back everything from 1.7 such as b-hopping, crouching fast and even the friendlier community hehe. As for adding something from a different game I'd probably have to say the counterstrike pace, it's fast and furious and very spectator friendly. In comparison to AA which sometimes lacks pace and excitement, therefore making it not very telegenic

In terms of playing the game competitively, do you see yourself ever doing that again?

I can't see myself ever playing AA again at a competitive level, the main reason being is that there are so many other games out there that have much larger communities, LAN events on a monthly basis and prizes that are life changing. With for example the CGS UK qualifier underway I think if I was ever to get back into competitive gaming I'd compete in a 1v1 and try and get drafted. But I can't see that happening so I'm going to stick to broadcasting and give it my best shot.

What about playing the occasional pub or pug?

I tried last week but I kept trying to jump and crouch slide around corners similar to quake. So after a few rounds on one of the new maps I got lost and bored, I closed out and haven't touched it since the broadcast of the CAL finals. But if AA kicks off with European CEVO I may start pubbing it again to keep up with the game and to put the quadV name out there.

If you could say one thing to both the developers, and the really the US Government behind the game, putting money both the money and direction into the project, what would that be?

Tough question, I'd probably tell the DEV's to stop changing things. If it's not broken then don't fix it; apart from that I'd like to see smaller maps that need a lot of skill to gain control of a map. Something like urban assault is a great example of the type of maps that I'd like to see in the map rotation. Especially that it has been picked up by CEVO and GGL.

As for the government I'd suggest they have more LAN events, with army recruitment officers, vehicles and soldiers at events with prizes. They could make it a television spectacle and attract a lot of popularity to both the game and the army which at the end of the day is their primary objective as the game is a recruitment tool.

And finally, what about something for the competitive community in general, where do you the game going in the near future?

I see the game getting to the stage where money and prizes are involved on a regular basis and possibly to the community size and stature of Call of duty 2 and Battlefield. But I can't seeing it being a Quake or Counterstrike as it doesn't have the qualities to be such a pro game. I believe that the consumer prefers game play over realism and AA definitely focuses on realism which will hinder its progress as a professional game.

However AA is growing, it has been taken on board by CEVO and the Army Sponsored GGL events and I wouldn't be to surprised to see another major tournament organizer picking the game up. As I started gaming and casting within AA I want it to succeed and make it to the big stage, but a lot of changes will have to be made to both the game play and community to get it to that position today.

Thanks for the interview, good luck if you cast CEVO and CAL this year