It’s December, and to properly kick off our site’s festivities, we have prepared a few extra special pieces for our readers! This is Marta, one of the most well-known internationally local content creators. Through her Polish and English YouTube videos, very visible passion for The Sims, and also true ambassadorship of our local culture, she garnered a passionate community of fans and became a household name within her areas of expertise.
Q: Can you introduce yourself to the audience? Tell us more about yourself and your channels.
A: Hi! My name is Marta, and I’ve been making YouTube videos for a little over a decade, starting with a channel in English called Marticore and then expanding to Polish videos on my other channel, Merta. My main niche is The Sims, but I’ve made a variety of content. Outside of The Sims, I think it’s fair to say I’m a big music and TV series enjoyer.
Q: You are a person with a lot of content ideas – do you have a current favorite video, series, or concept of yours?
A: Recently, I think one of the most interesting videos I made was the one where, along with two other creators, I tried to breed the perfect dog mutt in The Sims using the actual game’s genetics. We wanted to make a stereotypical stray mutt you’d adopt from a dog shelter or see on a Polish farm. It was such a weird idea but turned into a pretty decent video!
Q: You started your journey related to online videos over 10 years ago. What has changed since your beginnings?
A: First of all, the topic of my content! Marticore started out as a variety channel, where the videos about Poland got the most views. I pretty quickly burned out from that, and now the channel is mainly about The Sims, more specifically The Sims 2. Second, my English. You hear about how people learn a foreign language most efficiently through just talking and using it, but I was still surprised at how much my English improved just from making videos.
Q: How did you get into The Sims?
A: I think it’s a pretty typical experience – through my older brother! He came home with The Sims: Livin’ Large and played it a little. He would mess around with the game sometimes, also played a tiny bit of The Sims 2… and then never touched the game again. Meanwhile, I’ve been obsessed with it since day one—around 2001, when I was about 8 or 9 years old.
Q: Off the top of your head, what is the funniest situation you have encountered in any of your gameplays?
A: Out of the ones I shared with my audience, I think the funniest was in The Sims 4. I threw a birthday party at a bar for my twin Sims, and at the same time, the game started a gathering of a club called “We Bad” that had fighting as one of their activities. The twins’ father was in that club. (…) It seems simple now, but I was so confused at the time and laughed so hard that the title and thumbnail of that video became iconic on the Polish channel.
Q: If The Sims 5 were to actually come out one day, what would you like to see? What would your dream release from the series be like?
A: Honestly, good simulation and Sims’ AI would be enough for me. I don’t really care that much about extra content, aside from the basics like weather, pets, university, family gameplay, etc. It would be nice to have at least some of these things in the base game, though!
Q: It has been 5 years since your final installment of “Tweets about Polish people.” Do you think the Internet’s opinion of Polish people has changed?
A: Wait, let me check… It looks like it was worse around Brexit, which is when most of the series was made. Now, I see a lot more comedic takes or just harmless opinions—not really that much hate! I think it might’ve gotten better with TikTok, as info about other nationalities is a lot more accessible through short videos.
Q: How would you describe Polish people yourself?
A: Way too LGBTQ-phobic and not alcohol-phobic enough, that’s for sure. But also welcoming, creative, and grateful.
Q: What is the most “Polish” thing (object, action, tendency, etc.) that you think would be interesting to people from outside our country?
A: John Paul II memes. There’s nothing else like it, and it’s so hard to explain to foreigners! Like, what do you mean 2137 is a funny number?
Q: You are someone whose music taste others are very interested in. What are some (Polish and non-Polish) artists, songs, or albums that you currently enjoy listening to?
A: I’m the person from the memes about listening to the same music over and over… But from newer releases, I have to say Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet album is really great! I’d never listened to her music before checking it out, so I was pleasantly surprised. Also, I’m all for the Linkin Park rebirth. I really like the new singer, and that the music still really sounds like them – I’ve been a fan for over two decades! As for Polish music, I think Dawid Podsiadło is an artist really worth listening to, but I have a soft spot for Kasia Kowalska as well. And Taco Hemingway, of course.
Q: What are your other favorite video games and/or series?
A: Heroes of Might & Magic III will always be a game I go back to, and it’s my second favorite right after The Sims 2. I’m quite excited for the new game that’s supposed to be very similar, but more modern! Love the idea. But I also like tycoon-type games (Two Point series, Pizza Connection, Zoo Tycoon, Cities: Skylines), some strategies, farm simulations like Stardew Valley, and I’ve played some GTA. These days I’m obsessed with Party Animals—it’s such a fun game! And my most nostalgic childhood game is Gruntz.
Q: Was there a defining moment or “spark” that set you on your current path in life?
A: I think my biggest “spark” was not wanting to work a typical full-time job… But I also remember watching a random vlog of PewDiePie and Marzia, a little late to the party in 2013, and realizing that people may actually watch whatever video someone posts on YouTube. Just a few months later, I started making videos myself.
Q: Is there something that inspires you in your work nowadays, or a dream you are working towards?
A: I plan about two months ahead, but I live week by week, really. I might have certain dreams, but I like to keep them to myself. I just want to be satisfied with what I do, which, quite frankly, isn’t always the case. And I want to support myself financially. For now, I’d like to go back to more vlog-like content not connected to The Sims, and that’s what the (Polish) Merta Ględzi channel is for. Inspiration for Sims content sometimes comes from other creators, but you’ll know exactly who and which video because I’ll credit them for giving me the idea. As for lifestyle-related topics, I think one of my biggest inspirations is Jenny Mustard! And Ally Sheehan for deep dives into music and pop culture.
Q: Do you have any advice for people (fans of your work or our readers) who are creatively inspired by your output on the Internet, your mindset, or your journey?
A: As I and many other creators say – don’t expect income right away. This can’t be your main motivation. Just do it out of passion and for fun first. Other than that, just keep going!
On that joyful note, we would like to extend a big thank you to our very special guest. Be sure to check out her English-language YouTube channel here – we hope her videos bring you plenty of laughter, positivity, and Sims-piration this holiday season.
(photos: Aleks Blach, Marticore / Merta)
