LU YOSI SESSION 04: Mon Macutay, Marketing Head
Hmmmm… let’s see… when a certain Hybrid BS from Chaos e-mailed me and demanded to go to media (GMA and ABS-CBN) and the courts if I don’t act on the hack… *wink* *wink*
Mon Macutay (a.k.a. GM Tristan III) is one of the most popular employees of Level-up Games. He’s currently the Marketing Head and he has served before in the capacity of Community Manager for various LU Titles, including Ragnarok and RF Online. Oh yeah, he’s my boss (LOL).
Wauks: Thanks for accepting the invitation to chat boss. Anyway, let’s get down to business. You were the Community Manager before for Ragnarok Online. How hard was it being GM Tristan III?
Mon: It was hard since YOU were the Luthor to my Clark. Hehehe. Seriously, it was both fun and hard. But I really loved the job and community work came quite natural to me. Having a writing background and being a “real-life†GM for traditional table-top games like D&D, Rifts, Vampire, etc. also helped. Being a CM is tough. But it has its rewards. One has to have the patience and the discipline since there will be players who will test your sanity. Just go into any PH MMO forum and you’ll know what I mean. But like I told you, it’s rewarding when you help a player get back his account, get back his deleted and hacked items. Plus, explaining to the community (honestly) regarding controversial issues requires a delicate balance. It’s both a science and an art.
Wauks: I take it an honor that you would consider me your “Lex Luthor”, hehe. During that time, RO faced a lot of problems. One of which was the popular rumor of inside jobs. How did you handle people who went to you with those kinds of problems?
Mon: Of course, I believed in the sanctity of the Hall of Justice (Level Up). When I came in, my first task was to regulate GM powers. I took away all their summoning and item generation rights. If you look at all my posts regarding these and similar issues, I really wanted to have concrete proof and evidence. Evidence beyond reasonable doubt -before I can believe in anything. As Gil Grissom once said; “the evidence cannot lieâ€. In fact, my name was dragged into this controversy before. And now, I think every Pinoy game has a “corruption†urban legend. For me, the solution is: take away from them the means to satisfy their greed and you lessen (or eliminate) corruption.
Wauks: I agree with you there. Anyway, let’s go to the juicy part of this interview. Everyone knows that I’ve been very critical of Level-up. Was it an issue with anyone in the company when they found out that the infamous “Waukeen†would be taking over RO?
Mon: *laughs*. Whew. Syempre naman. Ikaw ang number one RB critic. I would wage word-wars with you before, diba? Who would have thought that we’ll be finally working together. At any rate, I won’t name names, but there were some people here who were “uncomfortable†with you coming in. But we’ve been friends ever since RO days. I told them to just give “this guy†a chance.
Wauks: Munyahahahaha. It’s actually ironic na I find myself where I am now. Speaking about work, in the past few months, we’ve been working together on various projects. How did it feel having someone like me on your team (someone so anti-lu before hehe)?
Mon: Now you know what the other end of the stick feels, right? Wakokokoko. Anyways, I feel blessed and proud to work with someone of your caliber. I actually learned a lot of marketing stuff from you. Besides, seeing the game and the business from two sets of eyes is a lot more productive, don’t you think?
Wauks: Yes, but we need to exert more effort in communicating that to our community. Since we’re already talking about players, what’s the weirdest encounter you’ve ever had with an RO addict?
Mon: When someone came into the office and told me that he forgot his username, password, email address, secret question and answer, even his character name and server. He asked: “GM, kaya mo ba ako matulungan?â€. I replied: “Anak, hindi ako si Charles Xavier at wala akong psionic powers!â€
Wauks: Wow, kanina Clark Kent ngayon Charles Xavier na! Hehehe. This is an interesting topic, let’s push through with it. What are the best and worst encounters?
Mon: Hmmmm… let’s see… the worst encounter was when a certain Hybrid BS from Chaos e-mailed me and demanded to go to media (GMA and ABS-CBN) and the courts if I don’t act on the hack… *wink* *wink* The best encounter was at RPC 2005 in Olongapo. The band just finished performing on- stage and when they were getting down, some screaming girls with pens, porings and CDs started making their way to the lead singer. The lead singer thought they wanted HIS autograph… alas! They wanted mine! Naks!
Wauks: Nyawr! Thanks for accepting the invitation for the interview. Any message you want to say to our community?
Mon: I want them all to know that people like you and me are gamers too. And we always decide with that in mind. But sometimes, game balance and also this thing called “business†comes into the equation. We really have to factor these things since we have a lot of competition now. But LU has the best Community and Brand people in the industry. Honestly, we’ve made mistakes but getting up after falling and learning from these mistakes is what makes a team and a company mature.
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ChrisH on March 8, 2007
Waukeen, does that mean you are the new GM Tristan III since Mon is not the CM anymore??
ChrisH on March 8, 2007
i meant to put in my RO blog…
mhuu~ on March 8, 2007
Now I wonder if anyone doesn’t know eho that hybrud BS is. Right Chief? ^^V
I got a question for GM’s. During the time when pRO was still free, you guys wander around Midgrad with out the telltale aura of a 99level sprite. Then all of a sudden, all GMs are supporting the aura. I’m just curious on who was the first GM to implement the said aura.
^^ curious lang po mga kapatid.
wauks on March 8, 2007
@Chrish
I’d rather stay as Wauks. GM Tristan will forever be Mon Macutay ^^;;
@Mhuu
It came with a patch methinks. I remember Nethermir suddenly having an aura. He was the first 99 knight.
Mike Abundo on March 8, 2007
I admire Tristan for getting on YouTube on his own initiative, despite Level Up’s inertia to launch an official channel.
It’s a lot like the initiative you show here on your blog, Carlo. Ben should have people like you and Tristan running the place.
wauks on March 8, 2007
Hi Mike,
Mon’s youtube channel is on soft launch mode. We’ll be releasing various PR materials later on when we officially launch the Level-up Youtube Channel together with the corporate Level-up Blog.
Agree with you 100% on getting the company to embrace New Media. In fact, we already have inhouse New Media Managers (Hi JC!) Hehe. Cheers!
melch on March 8, 2007
Now I’m missing GM tristan… sob.. I remember artistahin nga sya last-last(2005) RPC finals..
I’m confuse… How would you become “GM tristan”, if you’re a Brand Manager? I thought WinterTsuki replaces GM tristan as Community Manager? And I remember last EB sa E.G.G. that she’s not a GM, but a CM. Could you explain your new org structure?? Ehehehe…
GM Tristan on March 8, 2007
Guys,
Thanks for the kind words.
@Mike,
Thanks, dude. Wauks and I are constantly banging our heads to run LU better and serve the community well. do visit my blog. Let’s reciprocate links?
http://gmtristan.blogspot.com
GM Tristan on March 8, 2007
@mhuu
If memory serves me right, GM Preator was first with an aura or was it Phage?
GM Tristan on March 8, 2007
@melch
Hehe. “feeling artista” lang.
GM Tristan is semi-retired. I want everyone to get a GM with their own personality.
Wauks and WinterTsuki call the shots at RO now. But I’m there once-in-a-while for guidance.
Rok On!
ChrisH on March 8, 2007
hi Wauks,
can you please change my link to http://www.haravata.com/ragnarok, please??
thanks,
Mike Abundo on March 9, 2007
Agree with you 100% on getting the company to embrace New Media.
Level Up should embrace new media to the point that you don’t call it “new” media.
Mike Abundo on March 9, 2007
Oh, and I’m already subscribed to your blog, Tristan.
Wauks on March 9, 2007
Up next on the LU Yosi Break Sessions!
ROSE Online Community Manager and cosplayer addict – GM Lilith! To be posted sometime on March 9, 2007.
Rawr!
GM Tristan on March 10, 2007
@Mike,
Muchos gracias, sir! Appreciated!
GM Tristan on March 10, 2007
Hoy Wauks,
Kaw naman interview victim ko! Lagot ka!!!!
Wapak!
Wakokokoko
seaneas on March 11, 2007
Both GMTIII and sir Wauks are easy to talk with. I remember my first encounter with GMTIII, in cebu for RPC Regionals. lol. I also asked for his authograph, in the back of my T-shirt and inside the Game Guide of Juno Edition. Then, we answers my mails. Thanks, GMTIII.
As for Sir Wauks, he also talks to us players, especially my posts in RB. Thanks, sir Wauks. Tama ung sabi ni makmak641, “Take a big step in solving the player’s account problems and bring back the hack/delete policy and you will see the game boom again.”
Gud luck to you both. Kahit napag-iwanan na ang RO dahil sa mga 3D, I will always be there.
Sana maganda ung kalalabasan ng merging.
Request po Sir Wauks, can you interview somebody that will say something about the upcoming merge? Everybody is waiting for it. /e4
wauks on March 11, 2007
Can I interview myself? LOL. Seriously though, I’ll post stuff about the merger within this coming week.
I actually have the details, I just need to verify them before announcing. Ayt?
kaira on March 18, 2007
Nice interviews! /no1 Nakakamiss tuloy RO! ^^,
Nazgul on April 30, 2007
Lolz Ser Wauks :@@: Nakakatuwa ito, sana ito rin ang magawa ko for the notoriety that I am in RF. Makacontribute.
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