June 2009 CE United presents: 20 questions with Kete from The Running Riot Pod cast get to know the man inside the Spartan armor as well as in front of the camera.
Welcome to CE United presents 20 questions with “insert name”get to know the person inside the Spartan armor.
This is a new thing we are doing on our site. I hope to make this a monthly thing interviewing members from the Halo Community. Check out our about page to find out more about this decision.
So with out further delay I give you the interview I had with Kete from The Running Riot.
Question 1:
Besides being in the Bungie Weekly Update on 5/9/2008, by the way even though it was a year ago congratulations on that. Has anyone else interviewed you or given you a spotlight?
Kete: This will be my first interview/spotlight. I am very honored.
My response: I’m glad you could take the time to answer my questions.
Question 2:
I noticed in the Bungie Weekly Update they asked you what are your favorite maps, and you said Ghost Town was one of them. First of all I would just like to say WOO thank you for liking Ghost Town as well, it is my Favorite Halo 3 map. I just wish more people liked it.
Kete: Ghost Town visually is great. A lot of detail. It is not good for every gametype though.
My response: I agree with ya Ghost town does not working for all gametypes.
Question 3:
What’s the story behind the name The Running Riot, do you get a lot of running riots or something while playing Halo?
My friends and I would always call Running Riots in Halo 2 a Running Randy.
We don’t say it as much anymore now that they change the Running Riot in Halo 3 to 15 kills in a row.
Kete: I just liked the sound of it. It was first going to be just Running Riot but that domain was taken. I still haven’t achieved a Running Riot in Halo 3 yet. I came close with 14 on Lone Wolves on Snowbound. 13 of those kills were with a Ghost. You will see a Running Riot in my Career Stats but that came from my younger brother SpartanWolf19 who played one time on my account. He is very good. I am not.
My response: That’s cool I think it’s a good name; I have only gotten a few Running Riots myself.
Question 4:
What’s the story behind using the retarded batman song, I love that song my friends used to always play it and laugh hysterically.
Kete: Ever since hearing it in this ytmnd, I’ve had a love affair with the song ever since. I have it as my ringtone also.
My response: Sweet, nice ringtone.
Question 5:
In episode 16 with Bryan Simon the video of you singing the retarded batman song, how many beers did it take you to finally sing that song?
Kete: Alcohol is not necessary for me to just get up and sing that song. That day I only had one beer.
Question 6:
I noticed in one of your Pod casts you said you have been on Xbox LIVE since the beta, Wow how did you pull that off?
Kete: I just signed up when they announced that the public can be a beta tester and I got lucky I guess. It was very exciting to be among the first. Oh the days of MotoGP and Whacked!
My response: Cool, ya I sort of know the feeling I got picked to test out The New Xbox dashboard last year about a week before it was released. I even did a little write up on it.
http://ceunited.com/WWUNXE.html
Question 7:
You seem to know a lot about gaming, what’s your gaming History and your Halo History, how long have you been playing Halo and what got you into Halo.
Kete: I do read a lot about the gaming business but I am no authority whatsoever. You will see in my blog on predictions that I am wrong most of the time. I started playing Halo in early 2002 when I bought an Xbox. One day just sitting on my couch I saw a commercial for Halo. Though it looked cool and always loved a good FPS. So I ran out and bought an Xbox/Halo and 7 years later I am totally hooked.
My response: I think it so interesting to find out everyone’s Halo story on what got them into Halo. Yours is pretty funny, it just goes to show how effective commercials are. Here is my gaming History if you care to read it. http://ceunited.phpbbclan.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=77
Question 8:
Where did you come up with the idea to conduct the pod cast over Xbox LIVE?
Kete: Back in the Halo 2 days I was with a clan called the Reetardz. I was in charge of the website and Podcast and we needed a way to record the show. XBL was a great way to invite guests in without much setup on their part. I try to make it easy as possible for others to come on the show
My response: Cool, I think it is a great way to conduct a Pod cast, I have always wanted to do a Pod cast but I don’t think I have a good voice for audio lol. If I could just be on camera and not talk I would totally do a Pod cast. I have even thought about conducting a Pod cast using the Xbox LIVE vision camera.
Question 9:
Also what was the decision to change formats from a gaming podcast to interviewing people from the Halo Community??
Kete: Before TRR focused on just the Podcast I was collecting Film Clips and Screenshots for display on the site and also running a tournament called the Riot Tourney. The Podcast during that time(Episode 1-13) was just talking about Halo with a co-host. The co-host would change a lot but was mostly my brother InsaneFREAKBOY and Eliteosx. I enjoyed recording the show more than anything else I was doing with TRR and it became a lot of work to manage everything else. So I decided to trim the fat and just focus on the Podcast. That focus also meant changing the format of the show to interview prominent active members of the Halo community. Plus at that time I was introduced to Livestream by Halo Community Live which would really alter the format of the show. We went LIVE!!!
My response: That makes since I completely understand, before I changed the direction of CE United I was updating CE United every week with updates after awhile it got to be a little too much as well as managing a clan.
Question 10:
Seeing how episode 17 was the first pod cast you used a studio like setting where did you come up with that idea? I think it is really cool.
Kete: Ah my favorite part of the show right now! At one point I discovered that through my recording equipment I can input my Xbox screen directly into the Livestream player. Before that I would just have another webcam pointed at my TV. So once that happened I started to think how I could really take advantage of it during the show. We were already playing a “Quick Match” at the end of the show but I wanted something to be on the screen most of the time so you wouldn’t have to just look at me talking. Thus the in game studio was born.
My response: I think it is a great idea as well, it is very unique
Question 11:
I saw you did a mini video tour of your pod cast room, it seems like a rectangular room. Could you send me pictures of the room that you conduct the pod cast from? So we could see the room in all its glory?
Kete: Here is a pic from my studio in my basement before the recording of Episode 19
My response: Thanks for the picture; it gives us a better insight to The Running Riot
Question 12:
So Predator 5791 came up with the idea to play a match during the podcast, did you just roll with that idea of was that planned all a long to make that part of every pod cast?
Kete:
I just rolled with it. I actually did not realize the possibilities of the second webcam when I hooked it up for the first time an hour before that episode. Not part of the plan at all. Now it is a BIG part of the plan.
My response: Pretty cool, it’s another unique idea for the show that makes it fun to watch.
Question 13:
Freakboy seemed to non existent in the first video podcast how did you decide to give him more responsibility and make him your on air sidekick?
Would you say he is your Andy Richter and you are like Conan O’Brien?
Kete: InsaneFREAKBOY my bro!! We did not know what to expect from the first live show and the chat room had us BOTH distracted. After that, his job was to monitor the chat room so I could focus on the guest. His other job is to be himself and to kill our guests in the studio. If you saw Freakboy you would not think of Andy Richter. I actually cannot think of anyone who is a similar sidekick in television or radio. He is unique.
My response: I would have to agree I think in the future, people who make Studios for your show they may need to build something that will keep Freakboy busy, I know you mentioned about putting him in a cage that would be a funny show
Question 14:
You seem to keep The Running Riot all in the family, will we ever see your younger brother who made the rap song for your show in a Running Riot podcast or is he not cool enough like Insane Freakboy?
Kete: SpartanWolf19 mentioned above is cool and loves Halo but he is into the more competitive side of it. Not to say that he isn’t a clown himself and that rap proves it. Thanks for the rap bro!! Give me a Vahalla!!
My response: I think it would be cool to see your other brother in at least 1 show. Stick both your brothers in a small box that would be funny.
Question 15:
I noticed your cat made a brief appearance in episode 15 with BS Angel.
What is your cat’s name?
Kete: I have two cats. Max and Crush. Crush’s is the feline you saw in 15. She likes to sit on top of my TV as do all cats.
Question 16:
I love your use of the teabag prop. What flavor is your teabag?
Kete: It is Jasmine Green Tea from Trader Joe’s. I haven’t used that prop in a few episodes. Time to bring that back.
My response: I’ll be watching to see when you bring it back.
Question 17:
Seems like every episode you change the pictures behind you what’s the deal with that?
You said in the Mixed Bag-Reach Falls Edition post on your site.
“In last weeks WU, another new feature to enhance our Community Files experience was added by Bungie and went live immediately. You can turn your screenshots into fine art over at haloscreenshots.com and hang em on your wall. I am in the process of persuading my wife to buy me one for Fathers Day and put it in the background in the next LIVE show!”
I think I might have something that you would love to put on your wall for a show, just scroll down and see.
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.
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Sadly I would never part with my Halo boxes, I wouldn’t even let anyone borrow them. I’m afraid the boxes would get damaged if I shipped them or oven moved them again. I just thought you would like to see them.
Kete: I just keep finding better things to hang up but now I think the picture from haloscreenshots.com from Episode 19 will be there from now on. I do like those boxes though. If you ever change your mind and send them to me they WILL be in the background in the next show.
My response: lol, well I’ll keep that in mind, but I think for now I will keep the boxes on the wall for now.
Question 18:
I noticed on your site when you type in therunningriot.com it changes to this.
http://therunningriot.com/The_Running_Riot/The_Running_Riot/The_Running_Riot.html
WOW! That’s a lot of running riots, did you mean for your site URL to be that long, I always thought it was better to keep things short.
Kete: Nope, that is not on purpose but I have been asked that before! That is just the way the directory was made at first with the software I am using. To be honest, I don’t want to screw around with it so links are not broken. therunningriot.com points to that crazy long shit so I think we are cool.
My response: Ya I totally understand about breaking websites and links. I have had my fair share of problems with my website as well.
Question 19:
What is the process you go through deciding on who you want to contact to see if they would like to be on your show? I mean being a part of the Halo community is 1 requirement I can see, but what makes people stand out in your mind as you got to interview them. What makes them TRR worthy, don’t get me wrong the people you have interviewed so far the names alone have been very enjoyable to watch.
I noticed on your site you have about a total of 26 Halo related website. I got to give you some credit there, that’s a lot of site to keep up with.
Kete: That process is inside my head and will remain there. I am not trying to be rude or secretive but if I were to reveal that, then my fly would be unzipped. There are A LOT of prominent active members of the Halo Community out there. I will just say that.
My response: I understand, you can’t give away all your secrets. I respect that.
Question 20:
As for question 20 well I could only come up with 19 questions but how about for question 20 I give you a suggestion for your show.
I was wondering if maybe the backstage pass guest could ask the guest on your show a question during the Q&A section of your show.
Kete did take my suggestion into consideration and used it on episode 19 and he gave me a name drop which was nice.
If you would like to see that episode with me as a backstage pass guest check it out at http://therunningriot.com/TRR_Podcast_Ep_19.html
You can also watch me in Episode 18 of The Running Riot Pod cast with Louis Wu as his guest.
http://therunningriot.com/TRR_Podcast_Ep_18.html
I had to leave that Pod cast because Marty O’Donnell was a surprise guest. I did not mind leaving, it did get me a FREE backstage pass into the next show which was very nice of Kete.
Well that is all the questions I had to Kete from The Running Riot Pod cast. If you would like to get to know more about him and what he does for the Halo Community drop by his site TheRunningRiot.com. Who knows maybe you could be a backstage pass guest on one of his shows all you have to do is watch a live airing of his podcast to find out. Or you could design a studio for him to use in one of his Pod casts check out his Forge the Studio contest to get a guaranteed backstage pass invite.
Thanks so much again for your time Kete. Oh and Kete one more thing I hope to set a record for most backstage pass wins to your Pod cast, because I can honestly say I am a big fan now of The Running Riot.
I hope you guys enjoyed reading CE United presents: 20 questions with Kete from The Running Riot Pod cast get to know the man inside the Spartan armor
If you guys liked it I am hoping this is a start to an on going thing here at CE United. I would like to make this a once a month thing, I do have another interview that I would love to do. so stay tuned to find out if I get that interview.
Long live CE United.
-Willy-