Shroud of the Avatar - Interview @ MMORPG

MMORPG has the latest interview for Shroud of the Avatar with Executive Producer Starr Long. As usual it covers only the online side of the game.

MMORPG.com: Shroud is a very different approach to a fantasy online game. Tell us how you approach development, what is your process when looking at a new world?

Starr Long: I believe in establishing a core vision and then getting to a playable version of that vision as quickly as possible. From there you iterate until it is the best it can be. Now with our incredibly tight communication loop with the community they can have direct input on those iterations.

MMORPG.com: What elements of the game will you be working on directly? Do you have your team in place already?

Starr Long: I will be managing the entire project including milestones, budgets, etc. I will also be heavily involved with all aspects of game design. There is already a very strong team on Shroud, which is part of why I was so attracted to the project. We have a very small, tight team that works great together and we hope to stay very lean.

MMORPG.com: Where do you see the MMO genre going over the next few years? How does Shroud fit into this future?

Starr Long: I feel like we are seeing the MMO genre diversify and disperse itself amongst what were more traditionally multiplayer games. I think we are seeing the boundaries of what an MMO like experience can be. Games like Shroud and Destiny are great examples of taking MMOs in new directions where you can have a “massive” experience while still having the opportunity to enjoy a more intimate gameplay experience.