Q:

How long have you been beta testing for The Matrix Online?

A:

I became a beta tester for The Matrix Online in late October 2004 - how time flies when you're having fun!

Q:

What is your advice to beta testers on getting involved in community events?

A:

In this case, it's my belief that the simple advice is the best: just do it! Not everyone needs to be an event organizer, not everyone needs to come up with some brilliant idea for what to do - like my mother always told me, "No show goes off well if there's no one to be in the audience." So even if actively competing in a tournament event isn't someone's cup of tea, at least show up and be part of the crowd. That's what all these in-game events are great for - getting to know the other players of The Matrix Online and having fun together as a community.

Dance, chat, cheer and have fun! And if a player does have an idea for a great event, don't be shy - let people know! If you don't feel like organizing it all by yourself, there is a whole community here waiting to help you in any way they can to make sure your idea gets the full treatment.

Q:

What's been the most enjoyable aspect of being a beta tester for The Matrix Online?

A:

The greatest part of beta testing has definitely been the interactivity with the community. The Matrix Online community is a thriving, growing, alive entity, and it has been absolutely fantastic to watch it develop on a daily basis. Through my position at Radio Free Zion, I end up hearing about most of the events that are put together, and it's just wonderful to watch the community come up with new and interesting ways of coming together to experience the Matrix as a group. It always amazes me that people from all over the world can find so much common ground, and never before have I seen it work as well as it does here.

Q:

Is there a feature of The Matrix Online that you would consider your favorite, or most exciting?

A:

It might surprise many people that know me, but I absolutely love the fact that the Matrix is so HUGE! I don't know if that's a feature, but the ability to explore Mega City for months and months and still know that I haven't seen it all is just astounding. I guess I'm an explorer at heart, and The Matrix Online has definitely satisfied that desire within me. So many different places to go, different environments and styles - it's a whole world tour wrapped up in one massive city. I get to experience the flavor of so many different architectural styles, neighborhood types, even NPC types, that every time I jack in, I can be some place different than the last time I was here and get a totally changed view of it all.

Q:

How does The Matrix Online differ from some of the other MMO titles you have seen?

A:

So far, The Matrix Online not only has the best player community of any MMO I've ever seen, but it also has an uncanny connection to the developers and staff. I hear my friends complain constantly that they feel like their comments, suggestions, and questions are ignored by the staff of other MMO-type games, but that definitely is not the case with MxO. We have so much interaction and communication with the staff that is producing this game, we actually get to see the changes implemented that get suggested along the way. The game itself has grown a lot since I joined the test in October, and I can trace many of the changes directly back to the beta forums and player-suggested ideas. That alone- apart from all of the actual game play differences and the wonderful player community - makes this my MMO title of choice.

Q:

If I were to read "Sundog's Wish List for The Matrix Online", what would the first 3 items be?

A:

Whoa - dangerous question! Do I wish for world peace? Peace and love for all redpills and some Merv cake in every fridge? Nah...obviously, my number one wish would be for an in-game media player so that Radio Free Zion's listeners could jack in and crank it up without leaving the comfort (or lack thereof sometimes) of the Matrix. Wish two? Light shows in the nightclubs - just some color changes to the lighting in the different clubs on a timer would add a lot to their visuals, in my opinion. Wish three would have to be for the story to actually begin - my anticipation of what The Matrix Online is going to be when it goes live is so high, I just can't wait!