General Discussion

A new game company named Heatwave Interactive forms under Anthony Castoro and Donn Clendenon.

Veteran online Designer/Producer Anthony Castoro and accomplished entrepreneur Donn Clendenon announced today the formation of Heatwave Interactive, Inc.

The newly formed company combines its passion for original games with the rigorous discipline needed to get products to market profitably. With a library of original IP in pre-production, the company is preparing to discuss its future with investors at the upcoming Game Developers Conference.

Heatwave promises a new take on gaming. "This is not 'just another MMO' company," states Mr. Castoro. "The current crop of 'massively multiplayer' games only provides a glimpse into the power of connected gaming. Heatwave Interactive's mission is to create original games that unite the power of online gaming with the excitement of traditional single-player video games." Mr. Castoro is well known in the industry for his work as a game designer and Producer at Electronic Arts and most recently as Director of MMO Games at Codemasters.

With a solid financial background, Mr. Clendenon brings his experience and initiative in founding and managing gaming and technology companies. Founder of World Gaming Corporation, which was sold in December of 1999 to Women.com, Mr. Clendenon is glad to be back in the gaming environment. "This is the most exciting time to be in the gaming business in the past ten years. With much of the industry rehashing the same formula hoping to realize the success experienced by a select few, a vast opportunity exists for Heatwave which is dedicated to creating innovative character-based experiences."

Read more here.

Heatwave Interactive's mission is to create original games that unite the power of online gaming with the excitement of traditional single-player video games

Seriously more MMO with singleplayer feature's, i was hoping they stood up and made a end to this MMO single player generation and make a real MMO(RPG) if they can, i think most game developcompany's that have been producing singleplayer games are focussing on MMO games and bringing that style into the online world. I would rather see a company devoted to MMO and totaly forget this single player idea as MMO are supose to not be anything like a single player game, or is it this generation that really wants single player exp. into the MMO world.

I know it's always difficult to speculate on these kinds of press releases.  Allow me to expand...

The point isn't that if we're making an MMORPG, we'll try to make it solo like a single player game.  The point is that I'd like the pacing of the action and the density of activity to reflect that of a single player games.  Not to take out of consideration the down time and multiplayer aspects inherent in online games, but to ensure that when you're adventuring, the quality of the experience is just as good as high quality traditional games.  I agree the MMORPGs need to maintain their social, multiplayer aspects.  But I also believe there's room for more in the online space than pure MMORPGs.

So this quote also pays homage to non-mmorpg games that have begun to experiement with persistence and better multiplayer.  Thinking of games like Battlefield 2, 2142, and the up-coming Fury.  Those are all examples of games that are doing or trying to do some of the things we're interested in.

Does that make sense?

Originally posted by SunSword

I know it's always difficult to speculate on these kinds of press releases.  Allow me to expand...

The point isn't that if we're making an MMORPG, we'll try to make it solo like a single player game.  The point is that I'd like the pacing of the action and the density of activity to reflect that of a single player games.  Not to take out of consideration the down time and multiplayer aspects inherent in online games, but to ensure that when you're adventuring, the quality of the experience is just as good as high quality traditional games.  I agree the MMORPGs need to maintain their social, multiplayer aspects.  But I also believe there's room for more in the online space than pure MMORPGs.

So this quote also pays homage to non-mmorpg games that have begun to experiement with persistence and better multiplayer.  Thinking of games like Battlefield 2, 2142, and the up-coming Fury.  Those are all examples of games that are doing or trying to do some of the things we're interested in.

Does that make sense?

things a vet like me would like to see. 1) level and class replaced by skills.  2) Unlimited choice of races. 3) body targeting. 4) perma-death untill a certain level when ressurection possible (by money, power or influence) 5) end game to achieve demi-god status - the whole game based around religions not guilds.... Look !just make Runequest online will you - bored of D&D online. And it is about time the WoW generation had a wake up call.