Zoid Kirsch

Zoid KirschKirsch, Zoid (ZoidCTF). "This week received my change of name docs. I’ve had many friends transition and I’ve respected their name/pronoun changes, but always wondered why they were very aggressive about their deadname not being used. Now I know why. They and I are now who we are. I am Zoid Kirsch. " 30 June 2022 9:39 p.m. Tweet. https://mobile.twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1542699504041750528 (formerly David Kirsch) is an American video game programmer. His career began when he created Threewave CTF, a highly successful Capture The Flag mod for Quake. He was then hired by id Software to design this mode for subsequent Quake games. In 2000, Kirsch departed id and joined Retro Studios as a Senior Engineer of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, alongside the late Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, who was the Player Control Camera Programmer.
Kirsch participated in an AGDQ stream of Metroid Prime in 2014,Games Done Quick (GamesDoneQuick). "Was quite the honour to have @ZoidCTF on the stream tonight, very enjoyable insight! Next up, 4-way Super Metroid race! #AGDQ2014" 11 January 2014 12:23 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/GamesDoneQuick/status/421874997322194944Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "I'm going to be interviewed live during the Metroid Prime Speedrun at #AGDQ2014 this evening around 8PM PST." 10 January 2014 6:53 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/421791951092846592Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Commenting on the Metroid Prime speed run was fun! Support #AGDQ2014 and donate!" 11 January 2014 12:27 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/421876119722131456 appeared on the Old Game Plus podcast in 2021,Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "I'm on a podcast talking about Metroid Prime! Some colleagues of mine recently played through it then asked me to come talk about it. It was a lot of fun talking about making it. Had to jog the ol' memory since it's being more than 18 years since the game came out." 8 February 2021 9:51 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1358971738885816320 and the Kiwi Talkz podcast in January 2022.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Watch me wave my hands and talk about making Metroid Prime and other games. This interview was a lot of fun and the first time I've been interviewed "on camera."" 22 January 2022 2:19 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1484969038631432193
==Metroid Prime series==
Kirsch was originally hired to work on Retro's Car Combat/Thunder Rally game, before it was canceled to free up development resources for Prime. Kirsch was responsible for the data streaming when traveling from area to area in Prime, the Parasite Queen's shield, implementing the doors and Portal transitions as hidden loading screens, and he built the Phazon Processing Center. Additionally, he worked with Frank Lafuente to develop the visual scripting system, and with Haigh-Hutchinson on the Morph Ball's camera system.
Enemies and objects damaged in Prime flash red when attacked. Because the GameCube had a texture environment unit (TEV) that could blend colors, Kirsch conceived of a consistent red color seen when an enemy or obstacle was damaged—as well as yellow, used for bosses (and some non-boss enemies in subsequent games) which must take sufficient damage to stun or break their guard before actual damage can be dealt to the enemy health barZoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Yup, that was the same process when we were choosing the color blends." (in response to a tweet asking if he pitched the yellow glow damage indication as well) 9 November 2022 11:50 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590386359407370242— to ensure players would know they were doing it right.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Metroid Prime Dev Stories #3: Red Means Dead. One of the design goals in Prime is to make sure the player immediately knows if they are doing damage or not. Objects and creatures are often only vulnerable to particular types of damage. How is that indicated? 1/4" 9 November 2022 11:35 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590382661474062337Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "The GameCube didn’t have shaders as we know them now, it has a TEV (TExture enVironment unit) that could blend colors. I realized we needed a consistent design for the color blends. 2/4" 9 November 2022 11:35 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590382663021785088Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "As you can see in the clip below as I’m fighting the Baby Sheegoth. My shots are reflected when I’m not doing any damage, but there’s a red glow on the Sheegoth when I’m hitting the right area to damage it. 3/4" 9 November 2022 11:36 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590382730168369157Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "I worked with senior design to pick the particular red color, whether hitting blocks, bosses or enemies in the game. The same red was used ensure it was clear when the player is doing damage. It's this consistency that helps players understand clearly what’s happening. 4/4" 9 November 2022 11:36 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590382734433988608
During the final stretch of development on the original Prime, Kirsch worked 100 hour weeks.Kiwi Talkz. "#121 - Zoid Interview (Metroid Prime, Cameras, Scripting, Sequence Breaking , Programming etc.)" YouTube. January 22, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022. In total, he was part of the project for eighteen months, working 10 hours a day for the first six months. At one point, he was hospitalized with an intestinal infection, and returned to work only two days later.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Metroid Prime was 18 months for me. First six was 10 hours a day, the remaining 12 was 12-16 hours a day, six days a week. Ended up going to the hospital in an ambulance during that with an intestinal infection. Back at work two days later." 10 September 2021 2:51 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1436401919996485637
Shigeru Miyamoto called him "Zoid-o-san" during a video conference where they were discussing his design for the Incinerator Drone.Kirsch, Zoid (ZoidCTF). "While at Retro Studios working on Metroid Prime, we had a video conference with Nintendo design including Miyamoto. We were going over one of my miniboss designs and Miyamoto had a few questions for me and he called me Zoid-o-san which I thought was amazing." 1 July 2021 5:14 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1410708341278474241
Kirsch had built Super Metroid into Prime as an unlockable extra through connecting with Metroid Fusion, but he had used a third-party emulator to do it. Nintendo ordered the game's removal because of it, leading to the original Metroid being used instead, with a custom Nintendo emulator.Liam Robertson. "Nintendo Removed Super Metroid From Metroid Prime (Exclusive)". YouTube. May 25, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of Prime in 2022, Kirsch began to share development stories on Twitter.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "The response to yesterday's Metroid Prime dev story was amazing. Inspired by that, I've been working on many more stories and hope to share at least two a day over the next ten days until the 20th anniversary on Nov 18th. Today's is coming shortly!" 8 November 2022 10:47 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590008210916012032
Following the release of Metroid Prime Remastered, Kirsch praised it on Twitter, although he criticized the new appearance of doors in the game.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "They fucked up the doors in the re-mastered Metroid Prime! They have the wrong alpha level on the door shields. Left is original, second is re-mastered. I tend to be a bet picky about this since I literally spent months working on the doors. This should be fixed." 8 February 2023 7:23 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1623477699942686720Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Following up--the re-master is amazingly well done. The improvements to Samus and the boss models are awesome. I just noticed this particular change that stood out from the original. It's still a wonderful re-master and should be played and enjoyed. #MetroidPrimeRemastered" 8 February 2023 9:38 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1623511541336391680 He was also displeased to see the original credits left out of the remaster.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "While many studios did amazing work on the remaster, I'm let down Metroid Prime's Remaster does not include the full original game credits. I worked with so many amazing people on the game and everyone's name should be included in the remaster, not just a single card like this." 11 February 2023 2:15 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1624487320132136960
===Memorabilia collection===
Kirsch kept a box of memorabilia from development and opened it in an unboxing video he uploaded to YouTube on the 20th anniversary, November 18, 2022.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Today is the 20th anniversary of Metroid Prime’s release in North America. I think very often of all the amazing people I had the opportunity to work with in making it. Here’s a time capsule of some of the memorabilia I saved from its release." 18 November 2022 10:25 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1593626541585760256 The box included a bag with the Prime logo, the Samus action figure from JoyRide Studios (the packaging for which had yellowed), the August 2002 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, two copies of the Winter 2002 Nintendo GameCube guide, a PlayStation bag (which surprised him), a sealed Japanese copy of Prime, the Nintendo Power guides for Metroid Fusion and Metroid Prime, two Metroid lanyards, the December 2002 issue of Play magazine, the January 2002 issue of Edge magazine, Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide, a Metroid Prime window cling, stickers of the logo, three copies of the Nintendo GameCube Preview DVD (one of them being a disc only), Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide, green sunglasses with the Prime logo, a champagne glass with the logo, which Kirsch drank out of when the game went gold, his exhibitor badge from E3 2002, with a Samus pin, and a light-up necklace with Samus's image.
==Subsequent career==
Kirsch left Retro Studios in August 2005 as development of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was commencing, due to burnout. He later worked at Carbine Studios, Valve Software and Blizzard Entertainment (on World of Warcraft Classic). Kirsch announced his retirement on July 1, 2021,Kirsch, Zoid (ZoidCTF). "After thirty-two years of making games, I'm retiring from the game industry and from Blizzard. Tomorrow is my last day. ¶ I'm looking forward to retiring and being able to spend time focused on myself and family. Some highlights from my career:" 1 July 2021 5:14 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1410708339302887428 and later legally changed his name to Zoid.
==Trivia==
*Prime was the first game Kirsch programmed using C++.Kirsch, Zoid (ZoidCTF). "I wonder how well my twenty year old code holds up. ¶ Metroid Prime was my first C++ game. The previous Quake games I worked on were in regular C." 27 June 2022 6:26 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1541548436691902464
*Kirsch believes that Metroid: Other M was poorly received because players want to "be" Samus Aran rather than "see" her.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "He's sort of right in a roundabout way. One of the strengths of Metroid games is that the story is subtle and told through the world. Other M went cut scene centric right from the start and didn't jump into the game. Players don't want to see Samus, they want to *be* Samus." [in response to comments from Reggie Fils-Aimé about the poor reception of Other M] 8 May 2022 4:24 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1523398374992465922
*Kirsch was a professional Street Fighter II player in the 1990s. He had never played Super Metroid for himself until he was assigned to the Prime team. He favors saving the animals, referring to rescuing the Dachoras and Etecoons at the end.SpeedDemosArchiveSDA. Metroid Prime :: Speed Run in 1:24:31 by Miles #AGDQ 2014. YouTube. March 20, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_yaHHofJIo (starts at 39:48)
*In the final days before Prime went gold, Kirsch completed a speedrun, achieving a completion time of three and a half hours. Additionally, he brought a poster of Samus to work for the development team to sign, and they all signed around Samus and not on top of her.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "When working on Metroid Prime, everyone treated Samus with absolute respect. The best example I have is when we went gold I took a poster of Samus for everyone the team to sign--everyone careful signed around her and never overtop of her. We cared that much about respecting her." 17 July 2020 11:25 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1284328412048314371Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "The poster is hanging above my desk at work. Hopefully some day soon we'll get back to the office so we can see it again." 17 July 2020 11:26 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1284328689199484929
*The early name of PFC P. Wills in Echoes, D. Zoid, is a reference to Kirsch.
*The doors in Returnal reminded Kirsch of those he created in the Prime series.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Five minutes into Returnal and it shows its Metroid influence pretty heavily. Those doors remind me of the ones I scripted in Prime twenty years ago! ¶ Still exploring and learning, I've heard its pretty challenging so I'm excited." 7 May 2022 11:14 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1390686499323015174
==Gallery==
Zoid at E3 2001.jpg|Kirsch with Prime at E3 2001.Metroid Database (MetroidDatabase). "This photo of @ZoidCTF was taken over 20 years ago by the MDb founder, TJ (@RGSuperHyper) at E3 2002, when Nintendo was demoing Prime at their booth. Check out that ancient Panasonic CRT! #metroid #metroidprime #metroidprime20th" 18 November 2022 12:07 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/MetroidDatabase/status/1593652175988834305 (It should be noted that TJ denied taking the photograph in response to this tweet.)
IGN Unplugged Issue 15 2002-08 IGN.com US 0014.jpg|Kirsch's efforts for Prime mentioned in the August 2002 issue of IGN Unplugged.
Zoid Kirsch Retro shotglass.jpg|A Retro Studios shot glass Kirsch received at the company's 2001 holiday party.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "As we get ready we head to Canada this week we stopped to celebrate with a shot of Fernet Blanca in my old Retro Studios shotglasses--the first job I had in the US." 12 September 2020 10:51 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1304975856738037760Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "I believe we got these shot glasses at the Retro Studios holiday party in 2001, a year before Metroid Prime shipped." 12 September 2020 10:52 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1304976149424955392
Zoid F4F Samus Helmet.jpg|Kirsch's First 4 Figures Samus Helmet statue.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "https://first4figures.com/metroid-prime-samus-helmet-exclusive-edition.html YOUR ORDER HAS BEEN RECEIVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE! ¶ I couldn't resist, since I already have the Gunship, https://first4figures.com/metroid-prime-gunship.html ¶ It's amazing to think I started working on Metroid Prime over 20 years ago now." 5 March 2022 2:19 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1484969038631432193Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "When I saw First 4 Figures announce the life sized Samus helmet from Metroid Prime last year, I knew I had to pre-order. Over a year later it finally arrived and its huge (20 lbs!) and amazing. https://www.first4figures.com/metroid-prime-samus-helmet-exclusive-edition.html" 7 July 2022 7:17 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1545185348073836546
Zoid Kirsch MP1 poster signed by Retro.jpg|Kirsch's signed Prime poster. His signature is in the top center.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "On the day we went gold I took a magazine poster and got everyone’s signature to commemorate that day. The poster is still on my wall today. You may notice no one signed on top of Samus--that’s how much respect we had for the character. My signature is top center, it's my poster!" 9 November 2022 6:57 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590493891903770624
==External links==
*Kirsch on LinkedIn
*Kirsch on MobyGames
*Kirsch on Twitter
*Kirsch on YouTube
*AGDQ 2014 stream of Metroid Prime
*Old Game Plus podcast
*Interview with Kiwi Talkz
==References==
Category:Retro Studios employees
Category:Programmers