General Chat / Interview with Joe Holland

Kumba: Now, I know you are 20 years old and go to college in New Mexico. Are you enjoying college and what are you studying?

JH: Life, let alone college, has been a psychologically metamorphic process that has allowed me to experience so many diverse aspects of existence. I enjoy it thoroughly; every twist, turn, and unexpected enlightenment. I am currently studying for my undergraduate degree in English Literature. College life for me has been everything from fraternity parties (in my early years) to tranquil intellectual conversation while enjoying a smoke of dank leaf. Without a doubt, the most valuable lesson that I have learned in college is that knowledge, through education and experience, along with the mental application of intellectualism, is the key to enlightenment and an ever-evolving perspective on this unfolding reality.


Kumba: New Mexico is basically desert. Coming from Miami, I know a warm climate can be tough. Do you ever wish you lived in a cooler climate? How do you deal with the heat?

JH: The popular misconception that New Mexico is a large and vast desert of sand dunes and wasteland is terribly unfortunate. With the Rocky Mountain Range running vertically through the state into the Chihuahuan Desert it creates a drastic and stunning landscape that is simply enchanting. The northern region of the state is highly forested with snow-capped mountains (in the winter) and amazing scenery. The farther south you go the more you venture into that harsh and unforgiving, yet entirely revealing desert land. I’m originally from the Albuquerque area, which is slightly north of mid-state. The heat is never unbearable as it is always dry with little-to-no humidity. There are at least 4 distinct seasons in New Mexico with warm summers and cold snowy winters. The incredible natural sights and the most amazing sunsets are what make New Mexico a comfortable home, at least for the time being.


Kumba: Although I was not there, I hear that you were one of the influential people at the Danamation website. For anyone who came in after Danamation, could you give a brief description of what it was like in its heyday and why you were considered influential?

JH: Hmmm, Danimation in its “heyday.” Well, from what I remember it was a fairly basic website mostly devoted to the computer animation and graphics of Dan. There were pages exhibiting images of his work on feature films, M&Ms, and a few independent projects. It was the message board on the site and his complete collection of clear up-to-date RCT1 promo screen shots that first attracted me there. All the while a community of enthusiasts emerged from the expanses of the internet and flocked to the forums to share their anticipation for a game that would fulfill every roller-coaster enthusiast’s ultimate fantasy: to be the sole creator of every aspect of your very own versatile amusement park. I made a name for myself with my adolescent recreations of real parks like Busch Gardens Tampa and finally, Islands of Adventure.


Kumba: Recently, thanks to Coaster Ed and SA, I was able to see some of your parks. I think I like the IOA recreation the best, because the Hulk recreation was perfect, as were many of the ride layouts. Looking back now, what do you think of your most famous parks, Generations, IOA, and Sandia Peaks?

JH: I would have to award my greatest accomplishment to my recreation of Islands of Adventure for the solitary fact that it was incredibly aesthetically accurate for its time and exemplified the fine detail that I strove to achieve in all my parks. However, the park that is most personal to me is Sandia Peak Amusement Park because it sprung from the inspiration afforded to me through the unfamiliar diversity of my home state. I’m glad that you noticed the accuracy of my ride layouts. That was one thing I was very particular about.


Kumba: I'm not sure how often you go to New Element, but recently in a list of the top 50 parkmakers of all time done by their webmaster Iris, you were ranked the number two parkmarker! Do you agree with this and how often do you visit the NE website?

JH: I’m flattered to know that the community of enthusiasts found me influential and extraordinarily sufficient to hold the title of #2 park-maker. I always understood the significance of my work in RCT but never did I create any of it for the sake of self-centered attention. Everything that I made in RCT grew out of my passion for the art of the game and the attempt to create something that was pleasing and fulfilling for myself.


Kumba: I think the only thing we might have in common is that we both did a little work on SA's Rivers of Babylon Park. I remember telling you, on the night that it was released, how much I liked Lotus, the roller coaster you built with SA. You said, "I had a "vision." Can you describe this "vision?" A few people do not seem too fond of this ride; what do you think of people who say that it is strange or bad?

JH: Like most works of art, mine stem from an inner vision of what I want to achieve. When Chris mentioned he was creating an area of his park themed to Tibet, I immediately envisioned a flying roller coaster themed to a sort of archaic hang-gliding apparatus that swiftly and thrillingly soared over and through the valleys of the Himalayas where small and isolated Tibetan monasteries were built into the cliff sides. I think the reason Lotus received the negative attention was because the flying roller coaster type was new in RCT2 and people expected a more extreme and convoluting layout, as opposed to the gentle and flowing layout found in the real-life B&M coasters (AIR).


Kumba: It seemed for a while that you were completely gone from the community, until people found out that you did a little work on RoB. Since your basic retirement, how long have you been in touch with SA? Also, I know you don't live very far from each other, have you two ever met?

JH: Chris and I have remained in casual contact over the years since we were first acquainted. We’ve both moved on with our lives and just took on different paths. I did go out to San Antonio for a vacation once and ended up hanging out with Chris at his home park, Fiesta Texas. Chill guy.


Kumba: Other than a very rare post, you're never really seen around any RCT site I know of. Are you officially retired or do you possibly have one last project up your sleeve?

JH: At this time I can’t really see myself getting back into the game or a gaming community for that matter. I’ve evolved into a different person over the years and my interests and hobbies have completely re-invented themselves. Experience and Knowledge have brought me a broader perspective on life and opened my eyes to the world in a different way.


Kumba: What do you think of the parks being made now in RCT1 and RCT2? Do you think if you were still active now, you would be one of the best parkmakers in the world, as you were when you were active?

JH: As for the RCT parks of the present, I cannot say much, because I really haven’t seen any of them. But what I can tell you is that the spirit of the game lives on from person to person, year to year, through the passion of creation by means of self-expression that Roller Coaster Tycoon has allowed for persons of all ages. The game set forth a hurricane of diversity and creation that enabled a community of passionate people to share their unique dreams and visions with the rest of the world. To me, Roller Coaster Tycoon was not so much a game as it was a form of art - each park characteristically distinct as the person who created it. I hope that as long as there is individuality, diversity, and originality in this world, such mediums of expression will continue to exist and flourish.

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Very good interview Joe, thx for all the insight.

Another interview one comeing soon......

Great interview, I've always wanted to know more about this to me mysterious character who created Sandia Peaks, which by the way is a park I really like. Could someone send me or show me download for some other of JH's parks?
Anyway, he really gave some good answers. So much thought in so few words.

The best interview yet in my opinion, I literally learned something new in every answer. I like the intellectual conversation over a dank leaf part.

I like this Joe Holland fellow.



I hear his parks are ok too.

Hello.


Damn homie....

Joe is such a liar...



PAoD
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Awesome interview. Either Joe really has turned into some sort of Rob Van Dam zen-like character, he's always been that way, or he's just putting up a total front. I dunno... I'll talk to SA about it.

Still incredibly enlightening though.

You could have put things a little more simply, but hey, it was interesting to read so who cares!

Great interview. I haven't ever seen a JH post or anything, but it kinda let me into his life a bit and i liked it. He kinda reminds me of ed but calmed down way way more.

Joe, you talk (write) like an English Lit major, appropriately enough. Shame on you, you could have said the same thing with half as many words. I always thought I was precise with language, not overly verbose but perhaps if I looked at myself objectively, I'd seem the same way. It's nice to hear Joe's perspective on his parks and parkmaking in general. I don't feel like I really learned anything about Joe as a person though. The language is a little too formal and postcard-y to really feel intimate unfortunately.

Skylor - I have a feeling that the guy is actually dead. But if you're into that sort of thing...

Ed - who the hell would write that much on a postcard?

With the Rocky Mountain Range running vertically through the state into the Chihuahuan Desert it creates a drastic and stunning landscape that is simply enchanting.

I meant on the front of the postcard, not the back. Brochure-like is a better way of saying it.

Skylor - I have a feeling that the guy is actually dead. But if you're into that sort of thing...

LMAO!


...

Anyways, that was a great interview. Yeah, like Ed said, Joe spread his thoughts too thin with so many words, but it was a fun thing to read, focusing more on real life than RCT, which is a good.

Aérôglòbe

I meant on the front of the postcard, not the back. Brochure-like is a better way of saying it.

The heat is never unbearable as it is always dry with little-to-no humidity. There are at least 4 distinct seasons in New Mexico with warm summers and cold snowy winters.

But he did mention the weather, and you can't write a postcard without mentioning the weather

I must admit, my interview responses were a little wordy, but I am an English Major and words are practically my best friends. You can't write something without words, and in my opinion, the more you use in a well fashioned manner the more elaborate your prose becomes. If any of you have any more questions for me that were not asked in the interview, feel free to inquire in this thread and I'll answer them as promptly as my time allows.

As for the postcard/brochure description of New Mexico....how else do you describe a location? That's why brochures use those types of descriptions! I sense envy....

Joe Holland

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Great interview Kumba, but for the sake of your readers, try working on your format a bit.
Look at any of iris long posts to know what I mean.
As of know its just a jumble of text!
Keep it up, buddy.
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RoB has a Tibetan theme.. taha.

i keed. i bet it has little monks and everything.

but i've got a somewhat needless and already answered question, J. Holland: is your new way of speech the result of years of schooling and independant thought, or years of severe chemically-dependant thought?
goddamn hippies (and the like).


^ i didn't know that you fuckers put a smilie of Holland in the forii! real mature.

J. Holland: is your new way of speech the result of years of schooling and independant thought, or years of severe chemically-dependant thought?

I'm assuming it's both.

I'm assuming it's both.

Hah, I don't even need to reply to your questions! You have me all figured out! And who said that my responses were not personal? I think I'd much rather exist as a figment of your imagination, or continue to anyway... you petty petty fools...

evidently the school didn't teach 'im how to come across as well sarcastically as pretensiously..

but you're still my American Idol, man.. Quake.. Dragon Flight.. Timberwolf.. the entirity of Sandia Peaks.. you're the only dude i'll bow down to. and then give head to.

but you're still my American Idol, man.. Quake.. Dragon Flight.. Timberwolf.. the entirity of Sandia Peaks.. you're the only dude i'll bow down to. and then give head to.

I'll give you credit there, that was pretty funny.

Joe, I'm the last person to critisize yoor anyone else for using precise laguage. I understand that if you're a lit major, you're saturated with the English language and naturally that affects how you write and talk. Philosophy reading tends to have the same effect. I guess all I meant is that sometimes formal language obscures personal voice. It's not a criticism, just an observation. Maybe I'm off base here, but when sentences are carefully shaped and "literate" I get the feeling that the content is also fictional. Like I associate a kind of speaking with literature and that makes it seem fictional to me. Kindof like how a really good speech can seem less genuine than an impassioned speech in a more common vernacular. (see there I go again) It's easier to trust someone who speaks in an everyday manner than someone who sounds artificially articulate isn't it? I don't know, it's just a feeling I get.

If you're still open to questions Joe, I was wondering since you are an English lit major, what your favorite book is or if there's a book that you really identify with for some reason. And RCT related, you're seen by a lot of people as kind of a hero or godfather of parkmaking. Is this something you're proud of? Like, is it something you would list on a resume for example?