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[Zach]

Your meet the team this week features Sam Rucks, one of our Environment Artists. He brings you the fantastic scenery that you've been seeing in our screenshots. Want to know more about Sam? Then you should keep reading!

What do you do on Star Trek Online?
I make awesome. Awesome worlds, interiors, planet surfaces, buildings, and junk. You know, crafting a universe. All in a day's work!

How long have you worked in gaming, and what did you do before Star Trek Online?
Well, I'd have to say I'm pretty fresh in the industry. This is my first project, and I've been here for almost a year. Before my world was rocked by STO I went to school at the Art Institute of California - San Diego. Represent!

Who is your favorite Star Trek character and why?
This is a toughie. There are a lot of really great characters in the series, but I think I'm gonna have to go old school and say Captain James T. Kirk. There's something to be said about a captain that can manage a plan to go back to 1986 and rescue a whale, while at the same time keeping his love interests intact and finding time for the ladies.

What is an interesting fact about you that players would be surprised to know?
My hair has been, over the course of my life, every single color under the rainbow. Yes, even pink. Also, I named my cat after one of the drum machines from The Sisters of Mercy. I'll leave you to your own devices on figuring that one out.

If you could choose to be an alien on Star Trek, which species would you want to be?
Species #8472, of course! Shape-shifting abilities, telepathy, living in fluidic space, and great at stand-up comedy. How cool is that?

Which is cooler: monkeys, robots, pirates, or ninjas?
I, for one, welcome the robotic uprising. Monkeys, pirates, and ninjas become irrelevant.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to break into the gaming industry?
It's tough to say this without sounding trite, but it's true. All you have to do is work really really really hard, and don't give up. Always try to learn something new every week. Buy art books, take courses in drawing and traditional art, let your friends see your work a lot, and never get discouraged when you mess up... and believe me, you will mess up a lot.

What was your first favorite video game?
I've loved a lot of games in the past, but I don't think I can remember my first favorite [galaga?]. I can tell you right now that I have fallen in love with the God of War series, and am finishing that up at the moment.

Is there anything you would like to add?
Even though I've only been in the industry a short time, working with this team is one of the best experiences I've ever had. The bar for quality is set so high with Star Trek Online that I have no doubt that it'll go far. We're working around the clock to make sure this game is truly a unique experience, instead of some lame grindfest we've all seen a thousand times.

Thanks a lot Sam! Watch in the upcoming weeks for new Meet the Team profiles from our awesome Star Trek Online developers.

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