Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2001)
Press Time What goes on behind the scenes in game development is as interesting as the games themselves. Byz,,,to Behind the develop ment of every game is a story. The stress of the indus try— sandwiched between devoted fans and money-focused publishers forced to guess what the next popular trend will be—is not for the faint of heart. It’s no wonder these developers and the companies seem larger than life. Take John Romero of Ion Storm, who loves media attention even though his recent games hav^ failed to deliver. Or the fancy car loving John Carmack of Quake fame (id Software). Or Developers realize they need the press to reach their audience, which is both hyper critical of new releases and staunchly loyal and devoted to their favorite games. the heartbreak felt at Looking Class Studios, where award-winning products like Thief 1 & 2 failed to save them from financial ruin. Or the frustration experi enced at brilliant strat egy-maker Mindscape, after Mattel bought them and then was forced to sell off all its gaming due to ineffec tual management. Most developers have a love affair with the media. They realize they need the press to reach their audience, which is both hyper critical of new releases and staunchly loyal and devoted to its favorite games. Few developers are press shy; Blizzard Entertainment, makers of Diablo II, is the only one to come to mind. The rapid expansion of the gaming industry has generated a wealth of stories about intrigues, mismanage ment, betrayals, tragedies and heroics. If you’ve ever wanted to know how your favorite game was really made, explore sites like Gamespot’s Behind the Games series by Geoffrey Keighley, Gamespy’s (gamespy.com) and RPGVault’s Developers' Diaries (rpgvault.ign.com), _ rpgheaven.de/artikel/interview. hp?id=3&seite=l Interview with Chris Avellone of Black Isle, the man behind the characters in Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment. 3dgameforce.com/interviews/bf1942 Interview with Niklas Persson of Sweden-based Digital Illusions, makers of the upcoming Battlefield 1942, a first-person WWII game. gamespot.com/features/bt | index.html Behind the Games: Index of older planetquake.com/poiycount/skins/ gbu/kenneth-scott/interview.shtmi escapemi.com/interview110900.htmi . "" ' i * ■ Dominic Armato, voice-actor for Guybrush Threepwood in the Monkey Island series, talks about how voice-act ing is done. - Rumors and gossip and numerous interviews found listed daily at Blue’s News (bluesnews.com) and Daily Radar (dailyradar.com). These sites are must-reads for gaming enthusiasts. • AP Photo/Long Photography, Greg Harbaugh Alternative .Somp rnllenPS vnil nrohablv won't hpar ahnut from a guidance counselor Bv Michelle Silver When someone asks, “What's your major?” did you ever wish you could say, “Hamburgers,” or “Contortionism” or maybe even “Truck Maintenance”? Here's some collegiate destinations for the real “nontraditional student." San Francisco School of Circus Arts www.sfcircus.org Dream about wearing a sequined bodysuit? Juggling bowling balls? Consider SFSCA, the only full-time circus school in America. Master Trainer Lu Yi used to be the star of the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, and is considered the leading authority on Chinese acro batics. Courses here include contortion, trapeze, trampoline, aerial hoop and “Professional Clowning.” SFSCA recently bought the New Pickle Circus, so graduates can go directly into the workforce. College of the Redwoods www.redwoods.cc.ca.us This is the place if you fantasize about driv ing a rig or using lumberjack equipment. Courses are offered in Diesel Engine Performance and Truck Maintenance and Compliance. There are also classes in archi tectural millwork and cabinetmaking, and other construction-technology courses. Cow College www.ca.uky.edu If you’ve ever wondered (who hasn't?) how to diagnose a cow for pregnancy, or cas trate a bull, the Cow College at Kentucky University could be for you. Says Les Anderson, beef-cattle specialist, “The thing that sets Cow College apart is the hands-on aspect.” The program teaches students how to improve profits in beef construction and offers classes in herd health, cattle psychol ogy(!) and corral design. McDonald’s Hamburger University mcdonalds.com/corporate/careers/ hambuniv/index.html There is far more to working at Micky D’s than being able to ask, “What size fries would you like with that?” This worldwide management-training center in Oak Brook, III., instructs personnel on various aspects of restaurant operation, from paper costs to crew scheduling and oil filtering. There are 10 international training centers as well, so you could go to England or japan to learn the burger-flipping biz. • Photo courtesy San Francisco School of Circus Arts
