The original EQ has given players 10 years (oh how they have passed so very quickly) of enjoyment for many players, but the game has angered some long time players since the Luclin expansion with how Sony Online Entertainment has taken the series such as the book travel, new expansions making all previous equipment almost obsolete, ogres are not tubby any more, etc... but there are still a good number of servers with busy guilds raiding and even the anti-social soloer/grinder who still love the game. What do you contribute to this amazing amount of time people have spent on Norrath, the Planes and else where in Everquest even with the issues mentioned above?

I think it’s simply that EQ is at it’s most basic just a great game. Being the first of it’s kind has definitely contributed to it’s longevity, but I think the stickiest aspect is the social glue. People play because they’ve made friends over the last 10 years and they just enjoy having fun and talking to them. It’s like Cheers, sometimes you want to go where every body knows your name. We’re just trying to keep the experience fresh and to continue to give players ways to have fun playing together.

Fifteen expansions, over 10 years and the latest expansion was one of my favourite (4th in my top 5) and you have taken players to new continents, planes of existence, other dimensions and more. Are you guys running out of places and ideas yet?

Well we’re not out of ideas yet, but I will admit it does get harder to keep coming up with new expansion ideas. I think the thing that makes it possibly is the rich backstory that EverQuest had in the original release. There’s so many different characters and stories to explore that we often don’t have to come up with a completely new idea, we just have to finish the story that’s already there.

Many people are still asking for a Classic EQ server with just Everquest, Kunark and Velious and no other expansions. The progression servers worked well to a point but people rushed them and they became not very fun for many people. Has SOE considered a classic server or three in an attempt to bring back those Everquest fans who miss the original adventure of running from Qeynos, to EC tunnel to find that new weapon, then hop a boat to Overthere?

We’ve talked about the possibility of a classic server, and it’s something we might do in the future, but don’t have any plans to in the short term. One big hurdle we have is that at some point you start running out of stuff to do on a server like that. Not to mention that a lot of the aspects of a “classic” server that players are asking for just flat out don’t exist anymore. The code base has been updated, the UI redone several times, and zone populations updated. It’s not as simple as reverting to a previous version.

What was your first memory of a videogame?

The first game I remember playing was “Stampede” on the Atari. I had a Colecovision right around the same time, but I don’t really remember any of the games we had for it.

There’s always something that makes you say: “this is what I want to do for the rest of my life”. What made you realize that?

I don’t know that I had a moment where I thought quite that. I think games were always something I wanted to do, so it’s hard to pin down a specific moment. I think I always WANTED to do it, but the moment I realized I actually could do this and be successful at it was when I saw my name in the Shadows of Luclin Credits. Up until then it wasn’t quite real I guess, like it was still just a hobby.

Do you think videogames are necessary? Can we live without them?

That’s a bold question. I don’t know that I’d say they’re strictly necessary. I mean, people survived for years before computers and video games came along. But I think that games are an art form and art is definitely necessary.

If you had to create “the ultimate game” what would it be?

Oh I’ve got a few ideas floating around, but I’m won’t be talking about them till I’m working on them. ;)

You’re leaving for a space trip and you have to bring only one game and one videogame character with you, it would be…

Well, if you assume that there won’t be any internet connection out in deep space I’d have to go with either Final Fantasy 7 or Fallout 3. It’s pretty much a toss up between them. As far as the character, is that even a question? Samus Aran.

If you had one tip to give to someone who wants to start working in the industry, what would it be?

It’s all about getting your foot in the door and being willing to work hard at it. Testing and Customer Service are good starting positions to look at. Of course, there’s a whole lot more in the way of formal education available now then there was when I was in school, and from what I’ve seen those seem like great ways to get moving in the right direction.

If you had one wish for the gaming industry this year, what would it be?

I’m sure the industry will come up with something better then I can think to wish for. There’s already at least a dozen games that I’m anxiously awaiting as it is.