Interview With Video Game Designer Bill Roper
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In our continuing series on video game addiction, we talk to renowned video game designer Bill Roper. Currently, Roper is an executive at Cryptic Studios where he oversees MMORPG's like Champions Online and Star Trek Online. We get an insider's perspective on what goes into creating a successful game, including game mechanics, demographic considerations, and more. We specifically ask him his thoughts on video game addiction as well.
Roper has worked on tons of the most famous MMORPG's ever created. You can sample his current work at http://crypticstudios.com/.
t's interesting how gaming has transformed from being a social activity, where friends would physically meet up with each other to play the game, into an idle activity only interacting with friends via internet. It almost has the connotation of the lazy man's avocation. Some people become so engrossed in the pictures and puzzles on the monitor and with their "guild" that they form an addiction to it. One person's career of talent fosters another's addiction. Can we consider the game producers to be enablers?
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It's interesting how gaming has transformed from being a social activity, where friends would physically meet up with each other to play the game, into an idle activity only interacting with friends via internet. It almost has the connotation of the lazy man's avocation. Some people become so engrossed in the pictures and puzzles on the monitor and with their "guild" that they form an addiction to it. One person's career of talent fosters another's addiction. Can we consider the game producers to be enablers?
Roper talks about how producers create these games to be engaging, making people want to play everyday, but he mentions, "all things in moderation." Why stress all things in moderation, but create engaging, addictive games to feed to the population?