>> INTERVIEW!!: TNM BASEMENT INTERVIEW WITH MIKE STANZIONE (Mar '99)
{Taken from Issue #50}

In this interview: bAz stands for me
		   MS stands for Mike Stanzione

Thanks and enjoy the first of hopefully many interviews conducted
by the TNM Basement. I've got a couple of names in mind and I'll
keep you all informed when they agree. All of these interviews will
be posted onto the site, I'll post the URL on here when everything
is finalised. Enjoy everybody!!

bAz: How did you actually first find out about professional wrestling,
and who were your favourite wrestlers?

MS: Well, I remember when I was about 6 or 7, my stepfather would 
always be going to live events with my mother, and I'd be at a baby 
sitter while they went. I always wanted to see what it was all about. 
when I was 8, I went to my first live event. I saw guys like 
The Undertaker and Ultimate Warrior for the first time ever. It was 
great. I have been a die-hard fan since.

At first, my favorite wrestlers, like any kid, were Hulk Hogan and the
Ultimate Warrior. Soon, Bret Hart became my favorite. I also liked 
guys like The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and others.

bAz: What in your opinion is the best federation in the world?

MS: I don't have a true favorite right now. I watch whatever I can. 
Each fed has its strengths and weaknesses. I like how WWF is big on 
storylines and devolping them, but the sex they could do without. I 
like WCW because of a LOT of the wrestlers they have, plus they have 
some very good matches. But they are too heavy on the replays. ECW is 
probably my number one pick, however. They go all out to put on a good 
show. I also like Japan, because nothing is even close to it. Some of 
the things they do there are unbelieveable. Mexican wrestling is good 
because of the quickness of the matches.

bAz: Now onto TNM matters...How did you first find out about TNM?

MS: Well, I had been in a lot of e-wrestling feds, and I had heard a 
lot about WLS and TNM. But I had a Mac. When I finally got a PC, the 
first thing I did was download WLS. I liked it. But I heard TNM was 
better. So I found the TNM page and downloaded a copy. I met it with 
mixed feelings. It was a lot of fun, but some features ticked me off. 
Eventually, I had to delete it due to memory problems, and I got 
bored with it.

I heard a lot about TNM 7 back around October or November. So I 
downloaded a copy. It was 10 times better than my old version. Now, 
I am basically addicted to it.

bAz: What version did you download?

MS: 6.2
  
bAz: What version did you first register?

MS: TNM 7

bAz: What made TNM different from any wrestling simulators that
you'd seen?

MS: Well, I liked that you can use real wrestlers. WLS was good, 
because it was a game. But with TNM, the possibilites are endless. It 
is great.

bAz: What do you hope to see in TNM7 Gold?

MS: Less bugs, more kinds of matches. I would love to see an exploding 
ring match. Another thing that would be GREAT to put it would be a 
card rating, that rates your card according to match ratings.

bAz: What do you think of Zeus 3?

MS: Never tried it.

bAz: What do you think of the FCA Cubed series of plugins?

MS: Unbelievble. Unfortunatly, my FCA Cubed Match isn't working, so I 
can't run a match. So far, I have made a match, a Mosh Match, however 
I can't run it to test it out.

bAz: What do you think of the Interview Integrator?

MS: Well, I registered it, with hopes of it being great. I hate it. 
It's not that good. A LOT could be improved on.

bAz: Finally we come to the TNM Sites section.. What TNM sites do you 
frequent most often?

MS: The TNM Basement, of course. Not only is it the only one that is 
updated regularly, it is one of the best out there. And I am not 
saying that, I love that page. Jeff's TNMania and BOYCOTT soft COULD 
be good, but they are NEVER updated.

bAz: What do you think of the sites that post exports of wrestlers who
haven't even wrestled? e.g. Midian, "Titan" a.k.a Paul Wight

MS: Well, when that happens, and the exports suck, I think they feel 
stupid. I have downloaded Haks that were just the Sandman with a new 
name. Instead, I watched some Hak matches, and have made my own Hak 
export, which I feel is very accurate. 

bAz: What do you think of the TNM Basement site and newsletter?

MS: Like I said, I love the TNM Basement.
  
bAz: And the last question for today Mike...What do you hope to see 
in the future for TNM and Mike Stanzione?

MS: Well, a lot of you know of me as an export maker. I have many 
quality exports out there, including Supersonic, Frank Smith, 
Roadkill, Test, and more. Some are at the TNM Basement. I hope to 
continue making quality exports.

Right now, I have a TNM site in the works, which will have a lot of 
other things than TNM. On it will be some of my exports, which are 
updated versions from what I have on the web now. I have done serious 
work on my Paco Locos (if you think Super Crazzy and Blitzkrieg is nuts
,well, Paco is just INSANE) and Frank Smith (TRUE definition of a 
monster heel) exports, they will be on the page. I also have my Hak I 
will put up, along with my Bob Holly update, and updated versions of 
guys like Rey Mysterio, Kanyon, and Kane. I like to make somewhat 
humorous updates of existing wrestlers by changing their working the
crowd string-

"Kanyon asks what a Versace is."

Like that. But I also change the wrestlers drastically. I made a lot 
of changes to Rey, like his stats and the mask. I also will be making 
some fantasy teams which will be out soon.

I also have some exclusive exports up there. There is one that to my 
knowledge is not out there, and I'd like to keep it that way, by 
keeping it under wraps.

I also have made several weapons lately, including different Singapore 
canes, a hair dryer, a cheese grater, a shopping cart (alright, I 
watch too many Gangsta matches). I also have some well known matches. 
Anybody recognize the Jello match? I also have an Open Flame match, a 
takeoff of an inferno match, plus a Friendly Guppy Match, the lighter 
side of a Piranha match.

When I get my FCA cubed match up and running, I will make more matches 
than just my Moshing Match. When I finish that, I suggest all of you 
download it, and have some Spike Dudley matches, he is where I got the 
idea. I will also make a Sumo Match, a Fire Match (a Japan Death 
Match), some Japanese death matches, and several more things.

I just hope to continue making exports like I always have. Like I 
said, I have a LOT planned for the future, so my page will be very 
interesting.

I will also be taking a computer programming course next year. I 
wouldn't mind being a plugin developer either.

So all in all, things are looking good for me right now. I hope this 
continues right now.

bAz: Thanks very much Mike for taking the time to answer these 
questions. See ya later and hope to hear from you soon.