- Chrono : First off, your alias is one of the biggest in the community, but not too many know of your participation with the original Zelda Headquarters...what exactly was your status over there?
- TSA : Originally I was just a contributor; I submitted articles about the Zelda series and a few were published. I was later brough on full time as the Music Section manager, and shortly before its demise, I was promoted to the Zelda 5 section manager.

- Chrono : Yes I remember the Zelda 5 section, did you compose the Overworld remix that many thought was going to be the official OoT overworld theme?
- TSA : I never composed a single MIDI. I did what FireGS was recently harassed about over at ZREO; I took existing MIDIs and remixed them with a MIDI program I had. I just did not actually make any MIDIs from scratch. I also managed user submissions. Later on, some fans who made the MIDIs I then used to remix got upset and e-mailed us, but it was right as we were closing down. I personally didn't see what was wrong with the act, but we were going to credit them for their original works, but again, ZHQ went down so it didn't matter in the end. But from then on, I learned you needed to always credit people, even if you weren't directly taking their work and reposting it.

- Chrono : Agreed, we kind of have the same thing going on over at Zelda Chronicles. Anyways, let's talk a bit of what inspired you to get into the Zelda series. What aspects inspired you, first Zelda game, favorite Zelda game, etc.
- TSA : Well, I started off with the original Legend of Zelda on the NES about 18 years ago - that' s when I first played the NES in my life. It was at a friend's house, and it was just fun going around exploring in the game and then trying to kill enemies with Link's sword. But I didn't really get into the series until the early 1990s. I was fortunate enough to have been able to have seen the Zelda cartoons when they originally aired on TV, so much of my early perception of the series was based on that cartoon. I also got a subscription to Nintendo Power through my parents, and there is where I was exposed to more info about Zelda, before I got online. But I would say A Link to the Past was the single title that shouted "okay, this is the greatest video game series ever" and I just couldn't get over it. The Nintendo Power comic was also awesome, and I kept playing the game over and over and trying to re-enact the comic...but sadly I never found Roam.

- Chrono : Yes, I too believe A Link to the Past was the single Zelda game to give the series an awesome kick start. And I'm very glad to hear that someone else besides myself loved those cartoons :). Now, lets get a bit deeper into the Zelda series. What exactly do you think makes up a Zelda game? Everyone has a differernt answer for this, what's your opinion?
- TSA : This is a question that if I truly knew the answer, I would be able to make a Zelda game. I've heard explanations from fans and the creators alike, about "Zelda-ness" and the staples of a Zelda game. I believe many consider a Zelda game to be a "Zelda" game if it has very non-linear gameplay paths, very adventure oriented and filled with action and puzzle solving, but most of all, superb gameplay and huge fun factor. Some would say a Zelda game has to have Link or Zelda in it, or has to be in Hyrule or it's not really a "Zelda" game. It is a very complicated answer, but for me, it's not something I can easily put into words. When I play a new Zelda game, there's just something inside that says whether it feels like a Zelda game or not. But I would agree certain things need to be present, as mentioned earlier.

- Chrono : That may just be the best answer I've ever heard, lol. Lets huh, talk a little about the current state of the Zelda community. Do you think its fine the way it is or should it be improved? Or would you rather see the style and fanbase of the old community (around OoT days) make a return?
- TSA : Zelda fansites are starting to evolve, which is a good thing. The community is beginning to realize that even though we want to stay Zelda fans, inevidably we are part of a bigger gaming community and because of the internet's rapidly developing social networking and spread of information, everyone's getting caught up in it. Fansites are no longer about just putting up the basic info; in the old days, it was all about who had the best official artwork, who had the best information, who had the best design...

Now, it is about who has the latest story first, who has the coolect exclusive content, who has the most active community and members. The gap between the "better" sites and the "average" sites is closing, meaning the age of the "super-fan site" is over. Behemoths like Zelda Headquarters will never be again. There's easily at least 10 Zelda fan sites right now who offer something very unique and are very good with content and design; there's not really an outright "best" Zelda fansite anymore, or even 2 or 3.

While it was easier back them to communicate with more of the fanbase due to us being consolidated in fewer places, today we have far superior sites, content, and communities. While the transistion from the days of ZHQ to where we are now, the past 5-6 years, haven't been exactly pleasant and easy, we're approaching a time where I think many are "getting" it, and we're seeing much better quality Zelda fan sites. Though, the same old problems are still plaguing us, but these problems will never cease and are not mutually exclusive to the Zelda community.

- Chrono : Quite an in-depth answer. When talk about the community comes to place, everyone has their own strong argument about the issue. I agree we are evolving as a community, but then there are sites out there that only create a Zelda site due to a new Zelda game coming out, then close their doors rather quickly. Anyways, lets get into your site, The Hylia. When you first brought up ZHQ2, you almost immediatly created the Hylia, what exactly was your motive for this change?
- TSA : That's not exactly true. ZHQ2 was started officially on March 5th, 2003. The Hylia opened on October 1st, 2005.
- Chrono : Oh must have missed out on that year, lol. So actually The Hylia has only be open about as long a ZHQ2.
- TSA : Yeah, basically ZHQ2 really wasn't going anywhere. I didn't have the motivation to work on it, and too many people were associating it with the old ZHQ, which is something I wanted at first, but later regretted. So after really spending most of my time doing speedruns and arguing on forums about the timeline, I decided maybe I should try making a more serious site. Aftter talking with a friend about it, we came up with The Hylia and got it rolling.

- Chrono : The Hylia has been a great success for you, what are your future plans with the site?
- TSA : Well, in a few months it is going to revert back into a dedicated Zelda fansite. I'm starting up another site primarily for Nintendo gaming news, which will be my primary focus. A lot of unique things we've been doing have been spun off on other sites, in particular the concept of a video guide. While we by no means invented it, and in fact, I had been doing them for several years n the form of speedruns, I think we've struck a chord with casual versions. When we began putting up our Twilight Princess guide, soon after major gaming sites like GameTrailers and GameVideos began putting their own versions. We also got numerous requests to reuse the guide. Since then, some other sites have decided to go this way.

We're also one of the first sites to attempt the cross-over to a more mainstream site. We began updating on non-Zelda news and then in the past few months, I've noticed nearly every other Zelda fansite is emulating this. Which is funny, when many sites moved over to a CMS like CuteNews, Joomla, Mambo or Wordpress, I was hesistant and reluctant. The Hylia in its previous version sufferred as a result of the lack of an ability to update quickly and from multiple locations, as well as allowing multiple staff ease of updating. As soon as we adopted this, our popularity exploded, combined with our media coverage and non-Zelda news coverage.

Thus, I think now with so many blogs and sites trying to emulate this, I feel it's time to go to the next step. I have a lot of ideas for The Hylia as a strict, Zelda-only site that I hope will once again spark others to follow in its footsteps. As for our other site, I want it to be more than just another "enthusiast' site. I hope to make it much more respectable and professional than anything else before.

- Chrono : Sounds great, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for The Hylia. This will be my last question...
Where do you see the future of the Zelda series?
- TSA : I am hoping that Aonuma will be a bit bolder and try to innovate the series, at the very least. When he was turned loose, he created Majora's Mask, which imo is in many regards the best 3D Zelda ever made; at the very least superior to Ocarina of Time. It focused more on the world than just Link's solo adventure. While the "style" and "story" may have been a bit oddball, the concept was golden. Applying that to a traditional setting for a Zelda game is a good first step. In more sweeping changes, I'd like to see them attempt the impossible; a very non-linear game with a very story-intensive backdrop. So many fans and gaming journalist alike claim this is impossible every time I bring it up. I'd like to see them try.

Ultimately, if the next two or three Zelda games don't shape up that well and aren't that well received, I think it may be time to start over with the series, which is something I wrote about in greath length awhile ago. I would like to see them try more online aspects; whether it be co-op or versus play, user generated content or downloadable expansions. Why couldn't something like the original Zelda 64 DD be possible now with WiiConnect24? Could something like Zelda Classic be put online in the Wii Shop Channel, and players could submit custom quests? Will additional content, like artwork and soundtracks be downloadable? There's a lot more to the world of Hyrule, and I think fans want to be let in.

- Chrono : I highly agree that the original Zelda64 DD should be playable :), Iam a big Beta Zelda64 fanatic. Well, I appreciate your time TSA to conduct this interview and good luck with the Hylia!
- TSA : Thanks.