Whether you’re looking for someone to share fun new construction ideas with or just want some general tips about the ever-changing world of Lot 2, our latest Community Focus is here to bring the attention and their help to any Guardian trying to up their game. That’s right folks, we finally have Aztecross here for what many of its community members have said is a “long-awaited” highlight. What… honestly, but there’s always more than enough love to go around, right?
Right.
But for now? We put that love in the spotlight on the man himself to share a little more about his Bungie journey and his path to becoming the creator he is today. So, without further ado, let’s get it in there.
One thing to note is that in the coming months we will be playing with how we write these Community Focus blogs, trying different styles as seen in today’s post. Let us know what you think as we experiment!
Aztecross started his journey into the world of video games at a young age, inspired to dive into digital at the behest of his aunt, who was kind enough to share her Super Nintendo with him to get some good band time. “She sometimes came home late at night, but she always made sure to come to the room where I was staying to play Mario Kart with me for hours,” says the streamer, looking back at simpler times. “That was really when I fell in love with gaming.”
Unfortunately, that 8-bit love affair faded because his family didn’t want to become a “gaming household” when he was growing up. Fortunately, as time went by, he got closer and closer to what would later become an incredible community. When he thought about finding his way back into the game world, he fondly recalled the influence of Xbox. “I was And last but not least not long after I turned 20, I was able to jump back into it,” he recalls excitedly. “I remember stopping into a GameStop after just starting a new job in construction and it was an insta buy for me when it came to crashing an Xbox 360. It went downhill from there [laughs]. And by downhill I mean that obsession hit hard and there was no turning back. I was in it to win, and the rest is history.”
From there, he began to delve into streaming and content creation, eventually finding his niche within the Lot 2 community. From streaming gameplay and chatting with fellow Guardians to putting his own comedic spin on our weekly TWABs, it wasn’t long before he showed the rest of us who he is: a passionate player who is understanding but also unafraid. to be respectfully critical. Because of that balance, his community trusts him. The funny jokes and Lot 2 puns – those are just an added bonus.
Because we’ve spent so much time in the game with other Guardians, we’re excited to dig a little deeper into the moments that matter most to him. That, and it’s our duty as Bungie to bring up Taniks again (and again), so there’s that. According to the young content creator, one particular spacewalk has his allegiance when it comes to a most loved in-game experience: “I will always love a game for its atmosphere and immersion,” he tells me. “Bungie nails this a lot I feel, but it’s something that always makes me want to dive back into it. As for details, the space station portion of the Deep Stone Crypt attack is what really makes me fall in love with the Destiny universe over and over. I don’t know, Hippy, there’s just something jumping around the room with that music (the chef’s kiss, by the way) that just hits different.”
More seriously, he adds: “As far as the story goes, I live for the season content. I wasn’t going to lie, I was hoping Crow would go bad and just be Uldren 2.0, but I think I like this version of him even more.” find.”
As an unabashed Crow fan, it’s hard not to see the logic of that, and Deep Stone Crypt had a lo-fi-esque vibe that it’s pretty safe to say we were all captivated by it.
Whether he’s doing raids or watching seasonal content, there’s only a question that matters: What is his favorite lesson? As a Titan head, the joy of hearing his proud proclamation for our stout and beefy Guardians is real. But what’s a class chosen without the right build, right? “Before my build, I loved banging hammers with Solar 3.0, but after the recent changes, it didn’t feel quite familiar to me,” he confesses. He jokes and adds: “Only haters will say the sun hammers were too strong after all [laughs]. Now I’m experimenting a bit with different styles to find out what suits me well.”
Fair enough, but what about his favorite build of? always? “My favorite build all over Destiny’s however, history must be when Energy Accelerant worked with the heavy attack on Crown Splitter, giving birth to Crown Spitta. We would become champions in Grandmaster Nightfalls, which allowed us to kick in PvE all season long. Felt powerful… almost at powerful.”
Speaking of Destiny’s history, it’s no secret that this Bungie universe is constantly evolving with ever-changing metas, new content, and fresh, enjoyable ways to play. An essential pillar of that evolution is never straying from the creative rush of imagining the future! For Aztecross’s future wishes and dreams, he explains the blank: “Honestly? When it comes to developing the player experience, I think Bungie is already doing really well with Destiny 2. Sure there are some bugs, but with a game of this magnitude? That’s to be expected. At this stage in Destiny’s life, social and MMO features are a must. This game has grown tremendously and that means the vision needs to grow as well, which I think we’re seeing glimpses of now.”
You can’t talk about wishlist wishes without fantasizing about a new subclass. When he tried to think about what kind of new subclass he would create if he could, he instead found a philosophical conundrum: what is ‘perfect’ in constructing a ‘perfect subclass’. He also admits that this loaded topic weighs a bit more if you try to be realistic: “You see, this is a difficult one for me. I’ve seen Stasis, I’ve also played with the 3.0 subclasses, but what Bungie has done is beyond anything I could have ever imagined on my own. Perfection is impossible, especially when you consider all the different ideas about what perfect means. For me, even as a joke, this question is a bit above my paycheck. I shoot stuff, I play with the new features as you drop them, and I last a lifetime when we get subclasses like Stasis. Anyway, I like it when Bungie gets big. Even if it doesn’t always land, it’s always good to try and then go from there. “
The same kind of fearlessness he describes with how we approach new content also applies to the craft of content creation. Challenging yourself, making a positive impact and sharing your joy with the world can be exciting, but it can also be quite intimidating. Doubly so for newcomers. As we’ve seen with Aztecross’s journey, everyone has to start at some point, so why not now? For all content creators looking for inspiration from the man himself, he offers one simple piece of advice: “Keep it simple. Real talk: just have fun,” he insists. “That’s it. Let’s face it, having fun is what gaming is all about. If it’s not fun anymore, why would you do it? If you lose that sense of fun, you’ve lost the whole reason you started your journey. So don’t lose that, cherish it instead.”
Thank you so much for tuning in to the latest in this series. If you have someone you think should be getting that glorious Focus spotlight, feel free to let us know on the Bungie forums and by tagging us on social media. In the meantime, stay nice, don’t forget to drink that water and take care of God’s love for yourself. Your body and mind will thank you, trust me.
“I have to go,”
hippie
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