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DEVELOPER SPOTLIGHT: AARON RIGBY
Meet Soul of the Ultimate Nation's Senior Producer
Writing about MMO games rules, but we came to a startling realization a ways back. The people who make these things are often every bit as interesting and unique as the wondrous and magical characters/worlds they create. Case in point: Webzen America senior producer Aaron Rigby, who spent time in the trenches at NCSoft, Take Two Interactive and even Rockstar Games before turning his talents to Soul of the Ultimate Nation.
Previously a producer on Lineage II and contributor to several popular PC/console titles including Phantagram's cult favorites Phantom Crash and Kingdom Under Fire: War of Heroes, he's no stranger to fantasy and sci-fi role-playing. All of which should, naturally, serve the chap well in his latest assignment, unlike, say, his past experience on Mafia, Grand Theft Auto 3 and Max Payne. (Unless, of course, one of the junior artists or programmers decides to go postal, at which point those head-shot skills might just come in handy.)
As part of our ongoing developer spotlight, lqgaming.com is proud to present an interview with the man himself, who sheds some light into his background and impending plans for world domination:
LQGaming Services:: You've got quite a history with gaming. how'd this come to pass?
Rigby: I've been in the game industry for just over eight years now. I started in quality assurance when I answered a classified ad in the Pittsburgh-Press that opened with "Like to play games?" My answer: "Yes, when can I schedule an interview?"
LQGaming Services:: Gotcha. You've worked at quite a few A-grade software publishers, though. What's the secret to your success?
Rigby: I'm still as excited about games today as I was when I first started in the business, so I have a lot of motivation. I also have to give a lot of credit to the publishers themselves. The guys at Take-Two and NCsoft are committed to success, which is also what drew me to Webzen.
LQGaming Services:: Oh, and what's with you and all the Korean companies - have an Asian fetish, do we?
"I remember watching an in-game event in Korea where the players were following every order the QA guys were giving. We tried the same event here in the U.S and it was a bloodbath!"
Rigby: Yikes - is it really that obvious?
LQGaming Services:: How hard is it for these firms to understand the American market, how do you help break it down for them, and what's the most hilarious case of culture shock you've ever experienced in working with such outfits?
Rigby: Oh, it can be tricky. I remember watching an in-game event in Korea for Lineage 2 where the players were following every order the QA guys were giving. We tried the same event here in the US and it turned into a bloodbath. Sometimes it's tough to predict how the different cultures will react to the exact same environment. That is why we localize and culturalize games when we bring them from market to market.
Another thing that really separates America from Korea is how people get their hands on games. In Korea, there is no box. They do everything with a direct download and give away the client for free. They suck you in with the open beta then start charging you for the game after a couple of months. Here in the States, you pretty much need to hit up your local Best Buy or EB Games to buy the box. We need to rethink box and retail software distribution, which changes the mechanics on getting people into the game and sticking with it for the first 30 days of free play.
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