Staff Interview: sirDonovan
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It's 10 AM, Monday morning. If I'm to interview sirDonovan, I need to show up early or it's not going to happen. After all, clearing the massive amount of red tape to contact the guy has been and is going to continue to be a pain. But, being the young CEO of Donovan Technologies, inc—his very own computer firm—I expect no less.
I arrive around 10:30, thanks to the awful traffic as well as generally pissy drivers, but I'm not letting that put a damper on my day. I'm greeted by security at the front gate, and I inform them that I am here for the interview with sirDonovan.
The security guard looks as if he's communicating with someone on the inside using some sort of hidden microphone, but a few seconds later he states, "You're allowed in. sirDonovan has been looking forward to meeting with you."
These guys should really loosen up a bit; they look seriously stone-faced. At any rate, I rush inside the clever-looking building and take the nearest elevator to the top floor.
Oh, and I can't forget to mention that I'm being escorted there by numerous "guards" in suits. How much more uptight can these guys get, seriously?
I make it to the top floor and see a young gentleman wearing the suave, primp, professional attire of a businessman (what is essentially a blue suit and white vest), sitting at the helm of a rather large desk. What surprises me the most, though, is that every stack of his paperwork is neatly organized. He greets me with a big smile—it's about time this interview is started!
Hey, Dono. Are you free atm? :]
np, yeah I'm free now ^^
Alrighty, then let's start off with you telling me a bit about yourself—what do you do, from what coder's lair do you hail, the works.
I'm currently in my second year of college, majoring in computer software development. Outside of classes, I spend a good deal of time online either working on code or browsing websites (including PS!, Smogon, and various video game/technology news sites).
With a warm smile, he shows me his laptop, which has various technology news sites such as CNET, Ubergizmo, Slashgear, and far more open... wow, he has a serious passion for technology, needless to say.
I feel like computer software development was totally predictable. Speaking of computer software and working on code, how exactly did you first get into coding?
Computers have always interested me and during high school I had the opportunity to take a few basic coding classes, mostly building 1- or 3-page websites. In my senior year, I discovered PS! and I was instantly fascinated with how it all worked. Starting that summer, I began learning about coding languages other than HTML and the following January I made my first contribution to PS! code. I guess things have naturally taken off from there.
Not surprised in the slightest.
Oh, neat, so you were kind of naturally brought to PS! in the end. Do you remember what your first contribution was? And what exactly is your favorite thing that you've coded?
My first contribution was making links clickable when broadcasting a room's description. Back then, Room Owners were freely able to change room descriptions and many of them contained links to either a room's website or a current event. My favorite thing that I've coded for PS! would have to be room aliases. They make it much easier to join rooms, especially if one has a long title or is easy to misspell.
Yeah room aliases are hella cool, I'll definitely give you that! So on the broad topic of PS!: you were promoted to Leader in recent months. How has working through the ranks been for you and how are you enjoying your promotion?
Donovan chuckles and leans back comfortably on his seat, preparing to tell his story.
Moving up through the ranks has been a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. I started out with Voice from a combination of my work as a Room Owner of the Tournaments room and my presence in the Lobby. I began to focus more on helping newer users and steering the Lobby chat in the right direction whenever it began to go off course, eventually leading to my promotion to Driver. From that point on, I've learned a lot about interacting with other people and problem solving, skills that will definitely stick with me far after my days on PS! are done. My recent promotion to Leader has been great! It was a bit unexpected and I'm glad that I'm now able to help users in even more situations and serve as one of the top staff members that people across the site look up to.
Ah, you've been RO of Tournaments for a long time—what keeps you around?
The environment, the users that I've become friends with over time, and the feeling from running the room and watching it grow encourage me to stick around. When I first joined PS!, it was the first room where I felt comfortable chatting with others and also the first place where I was promoted, so I treat it as my "home."
Aye, it is a pretty homey room despite its size and the occasional kid that just doesn't get it, eh?
We Tournaments staff know all too well.
Yeah aha, overall it's a great place to visit. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a new room to frequent.
I'll let your shameless plug slide... this time ;]
As far as Smogon is concerned, you haven't really spread your roots there. Any future plans to do so, or are you satisfied with just PS! perhaps?
In the past I've attempted to get involved around Smogon, but the areas I chose either had deadlines or other activity requirements that didn't fit well with my IRL schedule. Once that opens up, I'll look into ways to contribute coding and/or artwork, but for now my main focus is PS.
I feel you; not everything on Smogon is easy to integrate oneself into. You mention that you would want to contribute artwork—do you draw regularly? What inspires you to draw?
I draw every now and again, usually whenever an idea comes to me. Ever since I was younger and started playing Pokémon, I would think of new evolutions or entirely new Pokémon in my head, which inspired me to draw. Nowadays, I'm more inspired by things I see in my everyday life to draw more realistic images, such as environments and still-life portraits.
That's really cool; embrace that forever. Artistic talent is such a gem, and I can't wait to see more from you in the future.
Time to get into the real meat of the matter: the man behind the name. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
So, about "sirDonovan." What exactly are the origins of your name, and who had the honor of knighting you?
Dono clears his throat, this twinkle glinting in his eye, clearly beginning to reminisce.
Around the time I discovered PS!, I was a member of a Dungeons & Dragons group where most of our characters were knighted by a queen named Lilith (who also happened to be the group's sorceress). While creating a username, I couldn't think of anything but this group, so I took the "Sir" and combined it with one of my favorite names, Donovan. A few months later is when I started learning more about coding and began stylizing my name as "sirDonovan" after the camelcase that is often used in JavaScript.
Ahh, and I don't imagine Donovan has anything to do with your real name, as is fabled?
Contrary to popular belief, no, my name is not actually Donovan. This has confused a good number of people in the past when they have seen my real name on the PS! credits page.
Shocker. The credits page's viewcount is about to temporarily spike...
By the way, do you have much of a competitive Pokémon history? I don't see you play much nowadays!
I used to play often in gens IV and V, looking for online matches in Pokémon IRC rooms and eventually on PS. Since the start of gen 6, I've focused more on PS! rooms and other hobbies like coding, though occasionally I play a randbat or two when I have some free time.
Lots of the more seasoned vets are turning to randbats nowadays, so I gotcha.
Anything obvious of a favorite Pokémon?
Togetic, my favorite since playing Pokémon Crystal.
Oh, so that explains your 'mon in Staff Bros. Why Togetic in particular? MVP in Crystal?
Yeah, Crystal was the first main series game that I played and it was a huge help on my team, especially its Metronome.
reppin' GSC itc :]
Any last comments or shoutouts?
Donovan adjusts his monocle—he's so young, why does he need one of those? It only just now occurred to me that he's been wearing it the whole time, too...—as he prepares his next response.
I'd like to thank everyone who voted for this interview to happen and everyone I've worked with over the past few years; I probably wouldn't be where I am today without you all :)
what a sweetie pie
Thanks for your time, Dono!
You're welcome, and thanks for having me!
I shake hands with sirDonovan and wave him goodbye, leaving him to his various PS! coding projects. Of course, as expected, his security guards have to escort me back down to the first floor, where I make my exit out of the building.
One thing I wish I could've had the opportunity to ask sirDono is exactly what it's like being the CEO of a company this massive. Oh well, there's always next time, though by the time that day comes around he'll probably have created a real life version of Lucy.
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