Blue Mars' Lead Designer Trent Ward on Making the World Work for Game Developers

The Blue Mars blog has a long interview with designer Trent Ward, veteran of Electronic Arts and Ubisoft and design head of world creator Avatar Reality. (Not by me, but Avatar's Jasmine Spearing.) When I (FULL DISCLOSURE) announced that I'd joined Avatar Reality as a consultant recently, one of the main reasons I cited was its emphasis on game industry vets with a proven track record on creating fun experiences. I know many New World Notes readers are skeptical about Blue Mars, and Trent acknowledges what it's lacking now, and where he wants it to go as a game development platform. And yes: Dude's avatar is an angel with bunny slippers, a good omen by my lights.

Comments

[Little Lost Linden]

I dunno.

That guy looks kinda scary to be honest. I would hate to run into that guy in some dark alley. Very much resembles a serial killer in some ways. It's that evil grin on his face. To quote a previous poster, "Looks like something out of Uncanny Valley."

[Loraan Fierrens]

It's the bunny slippers, LLL... serial killers always wear inappropriate footwear. It is their "tell."

[Arcadia Codesmith]

What's the income model for a game developer in Blue Mars?

I see a golden opportunity to sink a hell of a lot of capital into monthly fees for the honor of creating a strong draw for Blue Mars. Double win for them -- they've got my money and my players.

But to be perfectly mercenary about it, where's my cut? A quality MMO takes many thousands (or more usually, millions) of dollars worth of labor to develop. With no retail box sales, no subscriptions, no cut of Blue Mars revenues, how am I going to recoup my investment? Virtual T-shirts in the virtual gift shop?

I grant you that there are many talented amateurs out there that will pay for the opportunity to create. And there are no shortage of opportunistic barracudas to take advantage of them.

Blue Mars: Vanity Publishing for a New Millenium.

[c3]

lol.... right question. but too late for this decade or 3 of virtual worlds...\

maybe next time.