Sunday, July 12th, 2009
Issue: 134   Editor: MikaMania


Interviewing Mika. MotherFrick


For the past five weeks, the Buzz has interviewed Elite Guard members. But this week, we move onto the helpers of this game, the Help Desk Operators. This article will bring you an interview with the relatively new HDO, Mika.

The Buzz started off the interview by asking Mika how he was approached to become HDO. He said, "I was online not long after Nyxxie got her promotion, and the majority of the Help Desk Operators had been relieved from their duties, so seeing as it was Buzz material, I contacted 5litre and asked him what was going on. He told me he actually had something else he wanted to talk to me about and asked for my MSN. Once on MSN, Sabin was added to the conversation and I was accused of stealing around eight billion from the Bootleggers Buzz account. I knew I had not done such a thing, and with all the HDOs getting removed some bells started to ring, but I decided to go along a bit and eventually those two mean red guys fooled me into believing they were the slightest bit serious. As the conversation moved on, they asked me to repay every single dollar. However, seeing I did not have eight billion in my back pocket, that became somewhat of a problem. Eventually they offered me a way out. I could work to repay my debt, and then they offered me a position as HDO."

The Buzz asked Mika why he thought he was given the promotion. He said, "In the words of the Elite Guard, I 'excelled' in their eyes. I used to be, and still am, pretty active in the forums and try to help out people whenever I can in my own way. So personally I think that is the main reason for achieving it. Of course there could have been other reasons, but I would not know what they are."

The Buzz then inquired about Mika's favourite moment as a Help Desk Operator. He said, "I think the satisfaction from being able to help other players, to solve their problems and make them understand the game a little bit better. I find it extremely rewarding if I am able to help a player out by solving a problem he or she has."

The Buzz turned the interview towards Mika's daily routine as a Help Desk Operator. He said, "Whatever most of the other players do, really, with some differences here and there. When I log in I first check mail, providing I have any, then I check the Help Desk and the High Rollers Forum to see if there is any information from the Elite Guard and the Game Forum to see if it needs any moderation. After that I usually try finding an OC and do crimes. Of course I visit the Help Desk and the forums on a regular basis to see if there are players who need help, but other than that I just play the game. I am still a player after all. Being a Help Desk Operator is something that I do whilst being a player. Help Desk Operators are normal players, really. We do the same things everyone else does, most of the time, and a little bit more every now and then."

Mika's fellow Help Desk Operators and Elite Guard members, had lots to say about him. Sylv said, "I think Mika is very active and dedicated. I think his professionalism is great, and it actually made me reconsider mine. With the new Help Desk we can see each other's posts in the ticket. He really takes his time to answer a ticket and put effort in the ticket to make it as clear and understandable as possible." Sweetie added, "For a newer HDO, Mika has shown to be active as much as he can. Also, Mika is very professional when it comes to being a HDO."

The Buzz interviewed two players in Bootleggers, ImascuzzVI and Fuckle, and asked them their thoughts on Mika. ImascuzzerVI said, "I have not personally interacted with Mika that much, but the last time I did was when the crimes were updated, and I asked him about his fews on them and crew extortions. However, I felt the conversation was easy going, I felt comfortable talking to him, and he seems like a good player to me." Fuckle said, "I have never really interacted with him personally, but from what I've seen in the forums, he seems like a really fair, pretty decent and extremely helpful Help Desk Operator. Bootleggers is lucky to have him on the Help Desk."

The Buzz team is happy for you to get to know the other helpers of Bootleggers, the Help Desk Operators. They, like the Elite Guard, work their hardest to keep this game alive, and full of players. Thanks for reading!