What is it you do on a daily basis?
I wake up, take a shower, eat lunch, drink coffee..... Oh, at work?
I am the RvR Strike Team Lead, that means I do a lot! I am in a lot of meetings, and I do a lot of running around. But seriously, I am constantly absorbing feedback and looking for ways to make RvR more engaging and fun. I look at what people are doing in the game and I try to glean what is working and what is not. It's my job to make sure RvR is all that it can be.
What is your background? Where did you go to college and what did you study? Has it helped you with this job?
My background is in Art, but that feels like ages ago. I got my BA in Art from Lehigh University and then continued on to get my MA in Computer Animation from William Paterson University. Though I don't use my art background in my day to day duties, it is imperative that a manager understand as much about the different disciplines and processes that are used to get things done. Otherwise the team can end up being forced to do 10 days worth of work in 3 days. We try to keep that to a minimum around here.
What other titles have you worked on in the past? In what capacity?
I have worked on Outlaw Golf, Outlaw Golf 2, and Outlaw Volleyball as an artist at first, assistant producer towards the end. After that I moved to the MMO industry where I worked in various producer roles on Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach, and Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. I am sure I am missing a bunch, but these are the games that really have a place in my heart.
What was your "welcome to the game industry" moment when it hit you that you were really making games for a living?
I remember one night I was on a bus headed in to New York. On the way in, I started hearing a conversation across the isle about a great new game this guy was playing. I listened for about 5 minutes thinking how similar this game sounded to one I had been working on. Then I realized he was talking about that exact game! It's always great to hear when people enjoy something you worked on.
What was your "welcome to the game industry" moment when it hit you that you were really making games for a living?
Is there an echo in the house... house... house
What excites you about the Warhammer property? What makes it perfect for an MMO?
The aspect I like most about the Warhammer IP is that it is about constant conflict. Armies bloodying themselves on the battlefield all to claim victory over the battle but continuously fighting the war. I think that is also what makes it perfect for this kind of MMO. RvR is the pinnacle of conflict in an MMO (not that I am biased or anything) and Warhammer is a great backdrop for RvR.
Now that WAR has launched, what aspect of the whole experience are you most proud of?
This may sound corny, but I am actually most proud of the whole Mythic team. All of us worked hard to put together a game that people wanted to play. Many times we moved not only offices but responsibilities and teams as well, and each time the project kept moving forward with the momentum of a juggernaut. I believe there is a statistic floating around that says the developers here moved offices an average of 3.4 times over the course of development. It's amazing how adaptable and talented Mythic employees are.
Do you collect Warhammer figures? What army do you play?
No, unfortunately, small figurines and a two year old boy are not a good combination (my son is two, not me). That, and I have no where to put them all. But when I did play back when I was younger, I was a big fan of the Eldar army. Warp Spiders are just too cool!
What are your hopes/goals for the game?
I hope that this game will bring about world peace, since everyone can just fight it out in RvR instead! But seriously, I hope that WAR ends up being the game that players compare other games to, and in the end say, "Yeah, but they just nailed it with RvR and scenarios in WAR."
What are your key influences when making the game? Anything besides Warhammer?
Of course, the IP is a big influence, but I also look to other games as well to see what works and what doesn't. Not just MMOs, but RTS, FPS, and CCG as well. Basically anything that is competitive in nature can have something to add to the RvR experience, even sports. Oh and if you don't know all the abbreviations above, don't feel bad you should see the way my wife looks at me when I talk like this.
What is the biggest problem with current MMOs you hope to fix with WAR?
Many MMOs may put you on one side or another of a conflict, but they don't necessarily make you feel like part of a team. If you look at life, just about everything is us vs. them: Sports, War, Politics, Driving in traffic, I could go on. Most MMOs throw you into a world but forget that it's human nature to want to be part of something. WAR gives you the opportunity to work together competitively whether it's taking a keep, winning a scenario, controlling the campaign, or sacking the enemy's city. You can't do these things alone, and when successful, your victory benefits your team, not just yourself.
What are your favorite video/computer games of all time? What games are you playing right now? What game should the reader be playing if he's not?
Wow, I have been sitting here trying to come up with a good answer. All time? If you could see my grey hair, you would know there is a lot of time in "all time" for me. So here we go, my favorite games of all time are Dark Castle (it's a board game that had a computer chip in it, does that count?), Phantasy Star II (loved the ending), Master of Monsters for the Sega Genesis, and Dragon Force for Sega Saturn. Of course, those might be highly weighted due to nostalgia. As for what game should people be playing now? Well WAR of course!
What music are you listening to right now?
None actually. I am never at my desk enough to listen to anything, and my drive to work is short enough that I just turn on the radio and listen to whatever is on.
Is there a recent movie you've seen or book/comic you read that you'd recommend to others?
I have to say, I recently saw Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and I really enjoyed it. It also helps that it is based on a book written by good childhood friend of mine (I believe we already establish that I am a very biased individual). It's always great seeing your friends make it in the real world, and having a book made into a major motion picture is pretty much the definition of "making it".
