BTSC reporter: And I'm curious - in many countries there're local version of vans, what's your favorite van and can you tell us how many versions were created?
Ethan: I have several that enjoy quite a bit. Mostly it's cities that I fall in love with. My favorite city is Prague. A few the follow close behind are Lviv, Valencia, Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Luxembourg.
Behind The Scanner Chinese
BTSC reporter: And I'm curious - in many countries there're local version of vans, what's your favorite van and can you tell us how many versions were created?
Ethan: Well to be honest the truest NL van is obviously the big one in America. Then we have several temporary versions for Asian countries and Europe.
Ethan: I don't know the exact number of versions created but I think it's about 10
BTSC reporter: Speaking of US van, when Niantic was spinned off from Google I heard the van was MIA for a while, was it a hard time for you? After all, the event revolves around the iconic van. And how did you get a new one?
Ethan: Well it was a hard time. I think the future of the NL project was in serious jeopardy. There where a lot of unkowns for everyone at that time. Through a little bit of due diligence and convincing we were able to get funding and allowed to keep the van. NL was on a short leash at the time. But as we rebounded from the spin-off we felt more comfortable expanding the NL project.
BTSC reporter: Must be a big accomplishment to not only bring it back and even expanding it!
BTSC reporter: With the expansions around the world you are in some serious, maybe even insane - I'd say - schedules.
Like last March you were in Taiwan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka then Thailand, how did you juggle the schedules?
Like last March you were in Taiwan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka then Thailand, how did you juggle the schedules?
Ethan: It's difficult and those didn't happen mistake free. They first ones are always a learning experience. Such as customs and lead times to produce country specific merch. But I had a lot of help from local pocs. This can be said for all countries. If it wasn't for the help of local agents we probably wouldn't be able to do a lot of what we do.
BTSC reporter: Very true, all events happen with both dedicated Niantic staff, and local agents I'd say. It seems many of them love to be your traffic victim! Wanna say how do you feel about them? Haha.
Ethan: Hahahahah one of my most favorite things to post was the agent pictures of them being run over by the van. Sadly legal says I can't post those anymore. Lol
BTSC reporter: Ugh spoilers! And there's the famous (or infamous) #NL1331 cover portal image, where and when did it happen? Is that your only accident in driving the van?
Ethan: I actually wasn't driving the van at the time but no matter how many times I say that nobody believes me. The cover photo is from Interitus Gettysburg.
BTSC reporter: Care to share with us more fun stories and anecdotes about the van and events?
Ethan: You know to be honest I don't have a lot of fun stories regarding riding in the van most of my experiences really happen outside the van interacting with the community. Many of nights have I spent too many hours drinking at the bar with agents.
Ethan: I have met a lot of amazing people all over and many of those people I now consider very real friends
BTSC reporter: Socialzing is always the best part…… Do I count as one, too? 😜
BTSC reporter: Glad knowing your agent side - as a serious RES agent before joining NIA, how do you balance your role between being agent and being staff? Do you feel being an active agent sometimes dragging you in fulfilling your job?