3D Realms Interview (con'd)

FiringSquad: Microsoft is set to launch Windows Vista late this year and they claim to want to start a new interest in PC games with the OS and with DirectX10. In your opinion do you think Windows Vista will be a boost for PC gaming or are other things needed for the platform?

Scott Miller: I really have no idea. It would be really nice to have some stability, though. I really hate my Windows-based PC crashing all the time, and being such an easy target for unwanted spyware and whatnot.

FiringSquad: We frequently hear about the lack of game innovation but sometimes games come out that are truly original and are ignored by consumers. In your opinion what is more important; innovation in games or simply good game design?

Scott Miller: It's hard to say one is more important. Innovation is clearly important, yet if innovation is within a poorly designed game, no one cares. At 3D Realms we realize that revolutionary innovation is a tough sell to both our publisher and to consumers. For example, we all thought the Segway was going to be the Next Big Thing until we tried it, and realized it has its uses, but it certainly wasn't going to force cities to redesign themselves like much of the early hype proclaimed. So, what we put our efforts towards is evolutionary innovation. This merely refers to innovations that aren't so far removed from what we've already experienced. With Max Payne, nothing much was innovative about the game except bullet-time, which we stole from John Woo movies, and that's easy to communicate. With Prey, we have several innovations, like gravity flipping, that don't change the paradigm of shooters, it just tosses in a new element that's not too difficult to understand for players.
And regardless of innovation, the game still needs superb execution. This is where so many games trip themselves -- they could've used an extra two or three months spit and shine. We are spitting all over Prey currently!

FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about 3D Realms and its plans for the future?

Scott Miller: We're looking to hire lead game designers and level designers! Oh, and best of luck at your new position, John.

We’d like to thank 3D Realms Scott Miller for conducting this interview with us. We wish 3D Realms the best of luck with Prey, Duke Nukem Forever, and any other future projects they’re working on in the future!