Some bloggers fall victim to quizzes ("Best Friend: uhh, gee, I don't wanna make any1 mad at me ::pout:: ::hair twirl::"), I fall victim to direct email. A quick punch on the virtual calc tells me that 42% of the viewers of this blog have emailed me directly. Hm. Feel the love. Seriously, though, most of the mail is really welcome. I *want* to be accessible. My email isn't a click away from this blog (on my website) by accident. I mean, we're supposed to be building a world here, right?
Not many game designers have ever turned to gamers and authors and said: "Okay, here's the framework. Let's go at this together!" I like that approach. Even if it does mean that I need to devote extra time every day to answering or redirecting email. I like to know that you're all out there. (And, seriously, I do feel lucky and even blessed that a lot of you weren't play testers and have never actually seen the CCG!)
So unlike those... interesting... questions I blogged about earlier, here are some questions I've gotten more than once and they warrant some good public share time:
1. "Where can I respond to your blog, Darling?"
Love this question. Respectfully, kinda sexy, kinda sweet. Smart, too. Starting today, you can go on over to http://mardigras3000.forumup.com/ and click "Your Lair." You'll find a thread just for you, a place to talk about my blogged rants and raves. I'd love to hear from you. The only reason I don't have the blog itself set up for responses is because it would be too time consuming to patrol (you know, keep free of ads, porn, rude and mean people). I need to carve out *some* time for game design, no?
2. "What games are next?"
I do touch on this answer over at http://www.windstormcreative.com/angel/develop.htm but I think gamers, in particular, want a little bit more, yes? So, okay, here goes:
I now have four games under contract with IDP (that includes MG3K). One is for pre-teens+ and has an anime feel. It's a science fiction game with a humorous bent. The goal of characters is primarily collecting with a secondary goal of battling "level" bosses. Second game is also SF and utilizes an anime style. It's for teens+. Main idea is to gain powers, build your team of characters, and then rumble. Third new game ties into the MG3K in that it is a prequel set before the life of Christ.
3. "Would you ever sell out to the corporate machine?"
Weighty question but I have actually thought about this. I think I've mentioned somewhere (blog or forum) before, that to me, loyalty is dominate to all else. My loyalty to the DiMarcos, the two women who've run Windstorm Creative for seventeen years, is prime, a real given. I want to help them get their gaming division (Immortal Day Publishing) off the ground because the had a great run for a lot of years and then opened their doors to a gamut of allies and the division bombed. This was during the time I interned with them and it was ugly. Back lash has been stupid from people fed half-truths. Now that IDP is only working directly with game designers again (like in their heyday), I want to be part of that rebirth. But here's the kicker: Jennifer is the O.S. designer for all my games, right? So, if I were to accept an offer for a mass-market version of one of my games, then it would be me and Jennifer together accepting that offer. So the sales from that mass-market edition would benefit her (read: Windstorm). That being the case, I'm totally game for whatever comes my way. I'm willing to consider anything. Is this "selling out" or just being sneaky?
4. "Are you single?"
Yes, to the question you're asking. No, to the question you aren't. ::kisses::
5. "Why do you think there aren't more women in (CCG) game design?"
Because they get asked question 4 more often than they get asked question 2. Also, because women who are both sexy and smart (which, hey, you absolutely have to be in any male-dominated market) tend to go on to work for Donald Trump (that is, until he fires them. Hey, Donald? Two words, sweetheart: Big. Mistake. Her brand was way sexier--and much smarter--than your brand. She added class and an honest amount of savvy sass to your org. What *were* you thinking?!)
6. "Will you help me break into the business?
Will you buy my game first? Yeah, I know, I'm a capitalist. Here's the deal. This is my job. You want a good word in at IDP for you? You want me to play test your game and critique it? Sure. I'll do that. But show me some love first. How do you know that my opinion is worth anything if you're never played one of my games? Do you want my help, or just *anyone's* help?
It's kind of like when Windstorm asks authors to actually read some of their books before submitting a manuscript. About twice in every hundred unsolicited authors write back and say, "My teacher at the community college creative course I took told me publishers like you--who force authors to pay to buy a book before getting published--are scams. You suck." Wow. Okay. No one said to buy the book--you can borrow it from a library. But here's the deal: Do you even know what Windstorm does if you've never read one of their books? Do you know if their editors are any good? That their layouts are smooth? Do you want *Windstorm* to publish your book or just *anyone* to publish your book? (Also, an average Windstorm book costs $12. Used $3. Starting marketing budget is $50,000. That's a pretty good return on your investment.)
7. "You have the patience of a saint, Ms. Angel. I couldn't do it."
This isn't a question, I know. But it is a repeat message. Am I patient because I'm cool with forum members dissecting my ideas? Am I patient because I get a lot of weighty and blunt questions in email? That I don't mind building a career in a difficult market? That I want perfection and am willing to wait for it? Who knows. Maybe I'm patient with life and the people in my life because I'm not a Terrapyre or a Celestial or any type of superhero. I'm human and I remember that the people around me--no matter how intelligent or driven--are only human as well.
E.J.
