GameDAILY Interview:

Geometry Wars Champion Scott Smith

I've been a Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved addict ever since I downloaded the game last November, and after spending more than 60 hours with it, I have a decent score of 2.8 million. That's not bad, especially since there are thousands of people behind me, but compared to Scott Smith, a.k.a. K4RN4GE, I am a mere mortal.

The number one Geometry Wars player in the world, Scott's sitting on a very healthy 33,713,130 points, which is more than double the score of player number two! I ran into K4RN4GE at the recent Xbox® Spring Preview Event, and he was kind enough to reveal strategies for mastering the game. Okay, so it's pretty much impossible to master Geometry Wars, but it is possible to kick its ass for a really long time.

GameDAILY: So how did you get 33 million points?

Scott Smith: Basically, I practiced a lot. I play this game more than any Xbox 360™ game. I just played Geometry Wars more than the retail and Xbox Live® Arcade games.

The enemies just keep coming in Geometry Wars .

GameDAILY: Did you specifically purchase the console for Geometry Wars?

Scott: No, I had seen previews of Geometry Wars and screenshots and I knew that I had to have it, but I purchased the machine for other reasons, particularly for the next Halo game as well as other games. I just had to have a next generation console.

GameDAILY: Do you play Geometry Wars every day, and if so, for how long?

Scott: I used to before I got my high score. I'd play it for about two hours a day. It's still a lot of fun to play even if I don't beat my 33 million. It's just fun blasting those shapes.

You actually have to listen to the sounds because
each enemy has a spawn sound, and when you
hear it you know it's coming your way.

GameDAILY: Did the game come easy to you right away, or did you have to practice at it?

Scott: I had to practice at it like everything else. Very few people are natural at a game at first. The first week I couldn't break a million, so I encourage all of the other players to learn strategies and watch videos. You may not get it the first week, but keep at it. After a few weeks you'll get all of the achievements, especially the one where you have to survive to a million. I thought that was impossible at first. I thought getting to a million was really insane.

Recently, I did something else that I didn't think that I was going to do. I actually got a ten times multiplier without using any bombs. I actually posted a video of that. If you check the Xbox forums for Geometry Wars you'll find it.

GameDAILY: So what is your strategy?

Scott: I've posted some of my videos on sites like the Xbox.com forums and if you search the Internet you can find my Geometry Wars videos, and those are good for observing strategies. I move counterclockwise, keep a distinct pattern, and keep my multiplier high so I get points faster. As your multiplier gets higher, you get your bombs and lives faster.

GameDAILY: Regarding black holes, do you blow them up right away or let them suck up enemies?

Scott: In the beginning I just destroy them because they're useless, but later on when there's tons of enemies on screen and there's a crazy mass of shapes everywhere, sometimes I let them go in. If you don't, the mass on the screen is going to be too hard to dodge.

Interstellar hi-def mayhem.

GameDAILY: Have you reached one million without dying?

Scott: The highest that I've gone without dying is actually 3.9 million.

GameDAILY: Damn! The most I made it to was 1.5 million.

Scott: 1.5 million's still pretty good. What's your high score?

GameDAILY: About 2.8 million.

Scott: That's good. You must have all of the achievements.

GameDAILY: Hmm … I have all of them except Pacifism.

Scott: Wait! You survived to a million but you still don't have Pacifism? That's interesting. You definitely have the skills. You just have to dodge some more.

GameDAILY: Had you played the original Geometry Wars?

Scott: I only played the original Geometry Wars when it came with the Xbox 360 version; I didn't have Project Gotham Racing® 2 so I couldn't play it.

GameDAILY: Ok, one last question. Do you have to play with the sound on or can you do without it?

Scott: The funny thing is, I was playing the game tonight and the sound was turned down and I was doing horribly. You actually have to listen to the sounds because each enemy has a spawn sound, and when you hear it you know it's coming your way, especially the little blue circles that come out of the black holes. They come at you very fast, and if you don't hear the sound they're just going to kill you. Sound is definitely a very important factor.

Article by Chris Buffa, GameDAILY Senior Editor