CES 2008: Interview with 38 Studios
If you’re wondering what Curt Schilling and 38 Studios are doing lately, well, wonder no more. They are doing what they’ve been involved in for the last several months.
Keeping quiet…
Earlier this week, we met with Curt Schilling and Mary Kirchoff, the Chief Marketing Officer of 38 Studios, in an intimate gathering at The Venetian here in Las Vegas. They are taking the time to sit and answer as many questions as possible… without revealing too much. This makes it difficult for us who are anxious to hear what is under the covers, but I must say Curt was quite excited to share with us - and then rather disappointed at the slight shake of the head Mary gave him when he asked if he could give us just a small peek at the product.
We still love you, Curt. Thanks for trying!
Regardless, we did discuss the development team, the current status of their development stage, and what their goals are overall. It was an enlightening experience to listen to them share their direction and vision, even while they were unable to give us details.
Yes, I’m still harping on the lack of details. I’m very anxious to see what they’ve come up, with the great minds involved in this project. Beginning with R.A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane, this title is bound to be full of lore, detail, and art that will blow even the most discerning players away. Throw into the mix the down-to-earth attitude of Curt Schilling, who is more interested in providing an enticing experience for the players who are bored with the same ol’ thing with each new title.
Yet another unique fact is that not only is 38 Studios building an MMO - but they are building an entire empire with this world they are creating. From movies, to comics, to music… they are incorporating the whole shebang of the industry into one title from the outset. So what does this mean in terms of the commercial aspect? Just that you can expect to have the entire might of the entertainment industry behind this title. At least, that’s the feeling I got from the conversation.
Basically, at this point there really is no telling what to expect. We have no firm idea of the genre of the game, although we can assume with Mr. Salvatore and Mr. McFarlane involved that it will be a fantasy setting. It has been given a wink and a smile in previous interviews with other individuals but, as of yet, no confirmation. We also have no idea of the story. Will it be based on fantasies such as EverQuest, or a more futuristic cause, such as EVE Online… or will it forge a new path in the telling of lore for us to enjoy? Personally, I hope it’s the latter. The same old stories being told in new and exciting ways become rather boring in the end. And with the great minds behind this endeavor, I have high hopes for their success.
Some facts we can share with you are that 38 Studios is still planning for a 2010 launch, and they hope to have at least some amount of concept art to share at Comic-Con 2008 - so be sure to attend that event if you can. While we realize that this is six months away, that at least gives us hope that once we do get to see something it will be well worth the wait. I can also tell you that Curt Schilling is a very relaxed individual with a love for the game - the MMO game - that shows on his face when he speaks of the titles he has played, and is currently playing. For the EQII fans out there - while he did quit the game after Kingdom of Sky, he has returned (if only briefly) to check out Rise of Kunark. And yes, he did create a Sarnak. For the WoW fans, Hellgate community, and Tabula Rasa population... somewhere out there you have a character eyeballing you with a keen eye for ranged targeting.
Overall, I think that 38 Studios is playing it safe which, in the long run, is smart considering the troubles of Vanguard and the unexpected cancellation of Gods & Heroes. There is so much pressure in today’s MMO world to build the biggest and the best, that to announce too soon what they’re working on could definitely create a hype they may not quite be ready to live up to. It would be a shame if, after all they’ve done to build the fantastic and creative team they have assembled, the title is doomed before it starts because of a rumor of expectations that were not intended by the developer.
At this point in time, 38 Studios is now viewed internally... and probably externally as well... as a company, rather than a start-up. They're feeling successful enough and strong enough in their progress to make this distinction, which is uplifting to say the least. While there is still the possibility that this title will go the way of Wish© , this group of people are holding firm to their belief that what they're doing behind those tightly closed doors is going to blow our minds. I personally say "Bring it on!", as I am far past prime for a mind-blowing after the rinse and repeat of constant grind in my current gaming experience.
In the end I was disappointed but understood the lack of details, however I appreciate the need to maintain the integrity of their goal. And we thank you, 38 Studios, for the time you took with us to attempt to answer our questions as best as you were able.
Thank you, Mary and Curt, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at Comic-Con!