CHIPY: So first of all, how you got into the indie web and the whole "make your own website thing"?

Maddy: i've had my own personal website for years now due to the nature of my discipline, but i only recently delved into the indie web! i recently stumbled upon a youtube rabbit hole of people exploring various personal sites on neocities and nekoweb and was super inspired to make my site more fun. i've always tried to add a bit more of my personality to my site, and even learned html/css/js since i found web builders to be a bit too constrained for what i wanted, but i never felt that motivated to go all out until finding this community.

CHIPY: This is so neat! I think YouTube was a big startpoint for a lot of new webmasters! It was the same for me! I also share from the same feelings towards web builders. I remember learning WordPress when I was a kid and looking back now it was so constraining! Of course, at the time I felt like the TOP HACKER YO, even though I was just messing up with pre-made themes.

While making your website, did you have some major inspiration? I ask that because, when I was making CHEAPCORE, I had like, these 3 websites I just wish my site could be as cool as TvT (Videlicet: Software Angel, Dokodemo and BMH Online).

Maddy:yes definitely!! i really loved the vibe of these personal sites: ribo.zone, DOG-HOUSE, the human finny, ita.toys. i really wanted my site to feel unique but still cohesive, and i think each of these established that really well.

CHIPY:Making a website can be hella hard! How was the process to make yours? Do you have any tip for people who are just getting into webcrafting?

Maddy:it's definitely an extremely daunting process, especially for new people! i went through a lot of trial and error to get the functionality of my site just right, especially since it wasn't like anything i've ever coded before.
honestly, i think what was the most helpful to me was to just jump through a bunch of different sites that i found inspiring! not only did it give me so many ideas for potential layouts and styling, but so many webmasters share resources to help with learning the basics or implementing specific features in a way that is very beginner friendly.

CHIPY:Still remember the first time opening a ABSOLUTELY BLANK html file, it was terryfing! Even though I didn't use Neocities, the comunnity there was such a big help to begin coding! The amount of good tutorials and cool people out there is nothing but fantastic! (God bless SadGirl.online).

As with a hella ton of websites linked in my page, I found yours through a post on MelonLand Forum (your post, specifically). How you got there, and what are your first impressions of it?

Maddy:actually, one of the main reasons i wanted to engage in the community and really personalize my site was because i became obsessed with tamanotchis! i found melon and melonland through there, and was really drawn to the forum experience. i used to participate in gaiaonline forums when i was a kid and actually made a lot of long-lasting friendships through it, so i felt very at home. i've only been a member for a little bit, but i already feel as though i'm able to make strong, genuine connections that i was having trouble with using social media.

CHIPY: That's lovely to hear! I'm also new there, but I'm loving the experience so much! I didn't catch the forum era that much. As a kid I'd spend all my time in Facebook back when it was THE SHIT. It's a really different experience. Way quieter, I guess, which I learned to like!

I was really impressed by your website, SPECIALLY your art style! How long have you been drawing, and what are some of your influences?

Maddy:thank you so much!! it feels like i've been drawing for my whole life, i bought my first drawing tablet over a decade ago and used to be really active on deviantart, tumblr, etc. back in the day. throughout my life, video games have been extremely influential on a lot of aspects of my life including my art. some games of the top of my head that i feel had a big impact on my creative development would be katamari damacy, animal crossing, rhythm heaven, pokemon, and professor layton.

Here are some of my favourites.

CHIPY:Outside of the online life, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobby?

Maddy:i'm really into video games, fashion, tattoos, animation, and blind boxes/toy collecting! i hate to admit that i am a consumer at heart... i collect a ton of blindbox series such as sonny angels, smiskis, molintas, skullpandas, etc. and love displaying them all over my room! i also like collecting art books, illustration references, and plushies as well. i also have two cats (bunny and pigeon) that i love spending time with.

CHIPY:What are the plans for future? Any cool projects you're working on?

Maddy:in the long-term, i've always wanted to get into game design & development! there's so much that goes into creating a game though, that i really haven't done much at all besides research (including playing games of course). there are so many skills i want to learn and get into, i've been experimenting with pixel art recently, and want to learn gamemakerstudio as well. i eventually want to find ways to document this journey on my site, but i tend to get distracted easily so we shall see if i go anywhere with this...

CHIPY:Wow that's HELLA COOL! Making games is my dream since I was a little little clown! It's even older than drawing! Over the course of time I've been developing the skills needed to make it, but I still feel far from being able to do such a thing...

I'm curious now! Do you have a specific thing in mind? Maybe some dream game? Usually the game-making dream comes with some sort of big game-life changing experience(or at least that was my case), some game you played and then "DAMN! I want to make something as cool as this!". I always like to read devlogs, as you can get insights on how those great folks approach the game crafting experience. Looking foward to see what you can do!! I just wish you the best of lucks!

Maddy: i'm not sure yet! i really love rpgs, puzzle games, and rhythm games, so maybe some combination of them all? i just know i'd want to make a story-rich/narrative-first game, but my writing skills are a bit subpar at the moment... i'm sure this is the same as a lot of people, but i think i really fell in love with the idea of making a game after playing undertale when it first came out! i want to be able to make a game where people can really fall in love with the characters and relate to the story no matter what background.

CHIPY: Talking about pixel-art, you new button is really cool! How is going your pixel art journey? It sure can be difficult! (I still suffer with animations).

Maddy:thank you so much! i'm definitely still a loooong ways away from feeling comfortable with it, but i'm getting there! i think the hardest thing rn is getting familiar with the software and shortcuts. i feel like i have to search up how to do such simple tasks still... but it's such a rewarding process!

EXTRA SPECIAL QUESTION: I saw on your website you're REALLY into Balatro. To all the people who didn't play it yet(including me lol), why is it so good? Should we play it?

Maddy:oh my gosh i absolutely LOOOVE balatro!! big numbers go brr.... i think it's so satisfying to have a strategy in mind and slowly building up to the perfect joker combination throughout the game! it's so fun seeing the different synergies between all the jokers and the art style and design choices made by localthunk really perfect the whole experience. people are not joking when they say it takes over your life though, so i would only play it if you have time to spare!

Thank you so much, Maddy! Go play Balatro, folks, but not before checking out Maddy's awesome website!