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SOE snags Project Copernicus lead dev for Vanguard
Former 38 Studios Lead Developer Steve Danuser is back in SOE's fold, this time working on Vanguard as a Creative Director. Danuser was originally a community manager for EverQuest II, but left SOE in 2006 to work on Project Copernicus. SOE recently announced his return and posted a developer spotlight on his history with MMOs and the company. Danuser is seemingly delighted with his new post: "I must say it's great to be back. Seeing so many old friends and colleagues again, it feels like coming home!" He mentions that some of the video game influences in his life that led him to development included Atari 2600 games and the Ultima series. In fact, one of the reasons he states that he enjoys Vanguard is that it captures "the qualities of classic RPGs." The biggest priority for Danuser and the rest of the Vanguard team is to improve the overall experience across the board, including bug fixes, hardware performance, and to revamp older content. [Thanks to John for the tip!]
Vanguard welcomes the return of Brad McQuaid
If you're a fan of Vanguard, you know full well who Brad McQuaid is. If you're a fan of EverQuest, you're probably also familiar with the name. And now, the man behind both games has returned to Vanguard after a lengthy hiatus to rejoin the development team. Considering the game is heading toward a free-to-play conversion in the not-too-distant future, it can certainly be seen as an auspicious event. McQuaid is the focus of the game's newest Developer Spotlight, where he discusses his role in starting the game and in its early development. He confesses that he took a long break from playing the game, but he seems quite happy with how it's developed in his absence. Looking to the future, McQuaid also talks about making loot drops and quest rewards more viable throughout the game, encouraging players to explore a variety of zones instead of just a few old standards. The interview is remarkably low-key considering that the man in question was one of the driving forces behind the game's original launch. Players can draw their own conclusions about what McQuaid's return will mean for the game in the long run. [Thanks to Ryan for the tip!]
SOE developer spotlight: Bill Yeatts
SOE wants you to "Get to know a developer", and have sat Art Director and Character Lead for EverQuest II Bill Yeatts -- a.k.a. Bruinen the Insane -- in the interview chair and grilled him for the fans. We learn that his role in the art team is mostly managing and keeping the wheels greased these days, but he still gets to flex his own artistic muscle occasionally. A typical day for Yeatts could include working with his team on any of the steps involved in bringing a new asset to EQII, from concept art, to 3D models, animation, and then the final technical steps in translating the asset to the game.He may break a few hearts along the way with this question and answer: People have a misconception that when you become a video game designer or artist you play games all day. Is that ever true? No, this is software development. The product we develop just happens to be a game.However, he brings his own thoughts on the evolution of graphics technology detracting designers from remembering what makes a game fun at its core, and even has some tips for those looking to start out as an artist for a game company. Follow the link below to read everything that Yeatts has to say.
Developer spotlight falls on Brandan McDonald at EQ2Players
EQ2Players has continued their developer spotlight series, this time interviewing Brandan McDonald. McDonald works on modeling the environments and buildings in EverQuest II, and you can see examples of his work in zones like the Fens of Nathsar, Greater and Lesser Faydarks, and the Emerald Halls.The interview sees McDonald answer questions about how he joined the EQII team, what he is currently working on at SOE, what he does outside of work, and he even tells the story behind his cushy executive chair. On the important "pirates or ninjas?" query, he sides with the scurvy sea-dogs, but that's not surprising considering this week's launch of SOE MMO Pirates of the Burning Sea. Check out the full interview at EQ2Players.
