This is a really good question conquestt!

Before working in this industry I had always thought that developing (or testing) a game would really ruin my enjoyment of it for pretty much the same reasons you have allready stated. I would know everything about the game and thus the excitement factor of playing it for the first time would be non-existent.

Now, having worked on Vanguard for over a year now, I can tell you that that 'first time excitement' is definetly not the same, but it has been replaced by something much more. Rather than getting excited about 'what new camp I'm going to find over that hill' or 'what new quests I'm going to come across', I get excited because 'I designed the camp over that hill' and 'I wrote those new quests'.

There is a certain different excitement that comes from seeing your hard work and creative ideas come to life in a game. Much like how a chef would take satisfaction in seeing people enjoy his hard-prepared meals, I enjoy watching people play through and have fun with the content that I have created.

Also, because the game is still in development, things are always changing/being added, so there somewhat is still a sense of 'first time excitement' quite often.

So to answer your question in short:

Is the 'first time excitement' of playing VG still as strong as it was since the first time I played the game? Obviously not.

But it has been replaced with the fact that I can take pride in lpaying the game because I have worked hard on it; and believe me when I say that we at Sigil have a lot to take pride in.


-Derek

Sobe runs like blood through my veins, do not insult it!

Also, reagrding working at Sigil specifically, you must be prepared to suffer multiple embarassing defeats against me in ping pong matches. Just kidding, of course, well, kinda.

Great post Mike! /agree


-Derek

drum corps

(somone's gotta get this!)

If you're intersted in 'creepy' places you should check out the Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach California.

For those of you who don't know, the Queen Mary is an old cruise liner with a very interesting history...it was even used during WWII as a transport ship.

There are many rumors of the ship being haunted by ghosts, which I suppose may make sense seeing some of the ship's history (also assuming that you believe in that sort of thing ).

Anyhow, I stayed there recently, and while I didn't have any otherworldly encounters I did get the chills every once in awhile (usually while walking by the old theater or while walking down the long empty halls to my room). Some of the hallways had their lights out and were pitch black..talk about scary!

The ship is huge and rich with history, definitely worth checking out for multiple reasons IMO! There's also a Russian submarine docked next to it that has been turned into a museum for the public!

Anyhow, that's about it from me!


-Derek