Community Spotlight - Captain Falcore

This is it, our last Community Spotlight of the year before the team at Rare collectively waves goodbye to an amazing 2018, in preparation for what will no doubt be an equally amazing 2019. Throughout the year we've spoken to an array of different people from across the Sea of Thieves community who have been making names for themselves in a host of different ways.

From achievement hunting to talk show hosting, fans have been doing their utmost to show their imagination and dedication to the world. So to close out 2018's Community Spotlights, we're talking to Captain Falcore, (in)famous for his creative Sea of Thieves videos which have also seen him score highly in some of our Creator Contests. Over to you, Falcore!

[Q]: Tell us a little about what got you into gaming?

[A]: It all started back in the '80s when my Dad brought home a damaged Commodore 64. It was a quick fix job and I was able to experience my first home entertainment system. Up until that point, my gaming was mostly experienced in public arcades where I spent the majority of my pocket money playing Golden Axe or Double Dragon. It was amazing being able to play games at home. However, with only one TV in the house, it was also the cause of most arguments.

[Q]: Were you a Rare fan before Sea of Thieves and do you have any favourite Rare games?

[A]: Oh yes indeed! I think the first Rare game I played was Wizards & Warriors on the NES, followed by the Donkey Kong Country series on the SNES. And of course not forgetting Banjo-Kazooie on the N64. I always loved the graphical style in all of these games, they always felt hand-sculpted rather than generated. It's something that still shines through in Sea of Thieves and is one of the main reasons I love it so much!

[Q]: What games are you playing currently? Any favourites?

[A]: I've always loved sandbox games and my gaming library is often full of them. Planet Coaster, Kerbal Space Program, the Fallout series and Subnautica to name a few. But I also really enjoy a good story-driven game. The latest God of War was a particular favourite!

[Q]: What was it that first drew you towards Sea of Thieves and its community?

[A]: One word, PIRATES! I think it's something we've all fantasised about at some point in our childhood and adulthood. I spent most of my life living in coastal towns, watching fishing boats coming in early in the morning and wondering what life must be like at sea. Sea of Thieves lets you act out these fantasies, and I think it's the game that simulates this feeling the best!

[Q]: You did a great mockumentary for our #SharkWeek contest! Can you tell us a bit more about how you come up with it?

[A]: Thanks! Well, truth be told I can't take all the credit for this. I have a fantastic person in my life who supports me in everything I do, and that person is my wife. We often talk about ideas for my videos and she came up with the idea of monkeys living in sharks, much like the parasites that infect ants and change their thought processes. It was a fantastic idea and incredibly silly and really fit the comical nature of Sea of Thieves, so I went with it. Needless to say, when I won the competition, I allowed her to have The Hungering Deep T-shirt.

[Q]: Aside from the mockumentary, you generally make a lot of great Sea of Thieves content covering different styles. How do you decide what video to create next?

[A]: It all depends on my mood. I don't like to keep my content linear and dull, I like to surprise my viewers and constantly make them wonder what is next. You could say my videos are an extension of how I'm feeling that day. If I'm feeling bored I'll work on a lore video to entertain myself. If I'm feeling glum I'll work on a comical video to give myself and my viewers a good laugh. I like to make people think and laugh with the content I make.

[Q]: What inspired you to start making YouTube videos and set up a channel?

[A]: For me it was a way to combine the two things I love in life: being creative and games! It started off very slowly and at times I almost gave up, but when you have a love for something it never feels like a chore. I just needed to find my niche. And here I am now answering these questions for a Community Spotlight on a game that I adore! Funny how things work out, ain't it?

[Q]: What kind of videos do you enjoy making the most, and why?

[A]: Hmmm, that's a hard one! I love making my "Secrets of" series. I love to delve into the lore of different isles and the game itself. I can spend hours upon hours looking into the history of the game and putting everything together, it brings out my inner Christopher Columbus and Agent Mulder. That said though, I love to sit down and make a comical video too. I love to make people laugh, and I often have a good laugh making them also.

[Q]: Do you have any standout Sea of Thieves moments?

[A]: Me and my crew often use our speaking trumpets to make farmyard animal noises at any ships that we pursue. We continue to make these noises all the way through battle. We never sink the enemy vessel, instead we take all their loot and go on our merry way continuing to make farmyard animal noises. It often results in some hilarious interactions with other crew members as they have no idea what just happened! I really should record this one time...

[Q]: What are you looking forward to most in Sea of Thieves’ future?

[A]: New lands, more ships, and more customisation for the ships! With Forsaken Shores we have seen volcanic areas. I would love to see different biomes in the future, maybe arid desert isles, or even an Arctic area. I'd also love to name my ship in the future, that is something I have been wishing for since release!

I'd also love to see new ship types that offer different features to the current fleet. For example, a four-person ship that has fewer cannons but comes armed with a battering ram. Or a two-person ship with no weapons at all, but incredible speed. "Catch me if you can!"

[Q]: What is your greatest achievement in a game, Sea of Thieves or otherwise?

[A]: It would have to be in Sea of Thieves. Never in my life have I played a game and had random people recognise me. Most of the time it's friendly encounters but sometimes it can be vicious: "Hey, you're Captain Falcore!! FIRE THE CANNONS!!" But every time it's a pleasure. To be famous/notorious in an online game breathes new life into it every day I play.

[Q]: If you had to choose a pirate name, what would it be?

[A]: Captain Fishpants.

[Q]: What kind of hobbies do you enjoy outside of gaming?

[A]: I come from an artistic family, and I guess you could say it's rubbed off on me as I love photography, art and ballet. Okay, the last one was a lie. But I'd rock a tutu. I also play the guitar. Let me rephrase that... I also try to play the guitar.

[Q]: Share a fun fact about yourself. Anything is fair game!

[A]: I have an adorable dog named Moya. She's named after the ship from the sci-fi series Farscape.

And there you have it, the sun has set on our last Community Spotlight of the year. Thank you to Captain Falcore for telling us more about himself, and for supporting us through his video content! You can head on over to his YouTube channel to watch some of this aforementioned #GreatContent. We'll be back with more Spotlights in the new year, but until then keep your eyes primed on our official Sea of Thieves social channels for the latest from the team.