PVP:Yes | Distribution:Retail | Retail Price:$19.99 | Pay Type:SubscriptionBUY IT
Desktop Client | System Req:
Age of Conan: Developer Profile - Gaute Godager
Each month, MMORPG.com brings you a profile of one of the developers working on Funcom's Age of Conan. This month, it's the head honcho himself, Game Director Gaute Godager.
|
MMORPG.com:
|
Tell us a little about your childhood. How did school and where you live influence your choice to join the video game community? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
I believe it was my brother who was my greatest inspiration to “fall in love” with computers. I guess that sounds a bit silly, but his boundless enthusiasm for the Commodore VIC 20 owned by some neighbors (the “Førde Brothers” (Fred and John) across the road) and his consequently purchase of a spanking new Commodore 64 (omg that was one powerful and wonderful piece of machinery for its days) that really brought me into gaming, demo making and dreaming about even better computers. (He is 1,5 years my elder and has another weird Norwegian name – Tjalve). My brother and I are still at the same love for hardware, gadgets and tech as back then, now 25 years later. (Im 37). I’m the only one into gaming… |
|
 advertisement |
|
|
MMORPG.com:
|
Can you remember your first video game? How often did you play, what other games had an influence on you? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
I do remember my first video game. It was Gorf (Midway) on the Vic20 back in 1982. It was 2kb cartridge you plugged in the back of the box. I played it as often as I was down with our neighbors, but it was far from enough. It just left me wanting more and more! I guess my social gaming carrier kicked into overdrive with an excessive amount of Garrison 1 & 2 (Rainbow Arts) on the Commodore Amiga that I played with another Friend night after night (we Euros sure loved Commodore…) and my deep fascination and love of RPGs came from Bards Tale and the D&D games Pool of Radiance (Strategic Simulation). |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
Besides games what other influences brought you into your career? Whether it is books, movies, or artwork everyone has different tastes, tell us about yours. |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
I guess early the spark for many of my meanderings into gaming came from my love for The Lord of the Rings (read it 8 times) and classics in Sci-Fi like Asimov. It could be a yearning for travels to lands and worlds more majestic where the possibilities are endless – plain escapism - that also led me to become fascinated by making those worlds myself? ;)
I also enjoy books that are not Fantasy / Sci-Fi. A good mystery novel, poems or well written psychological stuff (I’m a psychologist after all) – Mitch Alboms “The five people you meet in heaven” or “Tuesdays with morrie” springs to mind. All different kinds of music has lined the walls in my office and home brought me inspiration. I looked at my CD and OGG collection and tried to classify my musical taste, but struggled – hm, Indy rock from the 80s and till today (love old REM, Smiths, Waterboys up til todays Frans Ferdinan) – soothing dreamy stuff from the 80s - David Sylvian (hm, Brilliant Trees!), Pop, but seldom top 20 stuff, classical music – happy or sad – like Mahler 5th, groovy dreamy Blues to Singer Songwriter (have 30 odd records with Van the-man Morrison (mmm, “Astral Weeks”)… When people sometimes ask what I like, I answer arrogantly “quality” – but it’s not really true, I don’t listen as much to quality hard core rock as I should for instance… I do think I get to use my interest in music at work, though - when working with the excellent composers at Funcom. Trying to inspire them is very inspirational (hehe). Working with composer Knut Haugen on Conan was exceptional. In High-school / College I studied and did some art (painting and photography), and grew to enjoy it more than I guessed I would. I do not spend enough time and effort on this these days, but my enjoyment and interest in art is something I get to exercise a lot in my time at work – especially in the beginning of the project when we concept new areas, gamemechanics or styles. I am not an artist but working with them for years and years makes me at least have the ability to know what I like, and to give trust and influence to the best people is at least something I can do. I think Didrik Tollefsen – art director on the Conan team – is a genius on creating visual moods and was given the ability to see Light and use it - directly from God himself ;) I must say though, that the thing that inspires me the most is the people I work with – beyond anything. Solid, talented, good-natured, smart people – professionals - working together is great! |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
What was your first job in games? What other games have you worked on? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
Hm, I made a game by myself in 1989-1992. My first paid job was that of Producer on a Funcom / Namco title in 1992 called “Hakon” – it was canned ;p Other than that, a mishmash of titles: http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,14734/ |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
What is your job at Funcom? How did you get your foot in the door? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
Game Director. I’m like a movie director – except don’t have a megaphone (I don’t need one, I’m naturally loudmouthed ;p). I founded Funcom with 4 others – it could be called a foot I guess. |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
Take us through a typical day of work on Funcom while working on Age of Conan, what is it like when you show up at the office? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
I basically sit in meetings all day, or answer questions as I walk down the halls – and write stuff like this at night. I plan, track, review, question, reorganize and play play play. What meetings I attend vary from day to day, but that I do is persistent. |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
Are there any friends or family who had a major impact on your career or chasing dreams that you’d like to talk about, do they play games? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
In addition to my brother, as I mentioned, old buddies from way back that believed in me and that I discussed gaming with included Jonny Larsen and Steve Reberg. I got support from my parents too, but they also always discreetly wondered when I would grow up. I question that too, sometimes… These days my wife gives me wonderful support and like many spouses deserves more thanks and mention than they get. Here it is though, thank you Anja! ;) |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
The video game industry continues to grow very quickly. What are your hopes for games in the future? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
I guess that gaming will be the interest of a wider and wider type of audience and that we shall see more and more types of games. I wish there was some way to more easily create gaming titles with a smaller budgets and succeed than there seems to be – leaving the gamers also with “arty or underground” video games to inspire and push us professionals. Indi-games basically. I also hope, but more and less take for granted, that all gaming in the future will be online. This is the future not only for the PC gaming but for consoles. |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
How have things been progressing with Age of Conan? Have you enjoyed working on such a strong IP as Conan? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
I am very happy with the result of the Age of Conan. I was surprised with how much we gained from working with the Conan license. Not only in terms of marketing and positioning (everyone understands what a Conan game should be all abouty) but also creatively. Hyboria, the Conan world, is very well suited for MMOs. A deep, flexible and massive world is better than anything. |
|
MMORPG.com:
|
Is there anything you would like to write to the readers of MMORPG.com that we have not spoken about? |
|
Gaute Godager:
|
No. I don’t know if it was interesting, but if it was, thanks a lot ;) |
I was surprised he mentioned Mitch Albom (and like how his name is Wiki linked to that old game instead of maybe to something about him). An amazing writer whether it is the books Gaute mentioned or covering sports, personalities, and social issues in Detroit or affecting our nation/world. Great writer definitely worth checking out
Who even gives a crap? AOC failed miserably and I could care less where that guy came from. What ya gonna do guys? Make a 30 foot tall gold statue of him and sacrifice virgins?
Come on guys, cut him some slack. After all, he's just the director. Not like anything he says or does actually affects the game.
Besides, AoC is a beautiful game, filled with pretty bugs and gorgeous incomplete zones. Oh ya, what would we do with a fully implemented PvP system anyway? It's not like we can get to 80 in a week just from the enormous amount of PvE content.
Hmm - I wonder if MMORPG.COM is gonna be deleting this post cause of flaming
This is the first complete content this dev has done ever I guess.... Finish this interview....
Now he can go back to his lies and crappy PR and hope for more money for false promises.
I wonder if he's reading these forums right now...
thanks for the interview Jon!
reported to trollers and flamers here..
"A deep, flexible and massive world is better than anything"
It's a pity that Age of Conan is none of these.
Well, despite my feelings towards AoC, Gaute seems a decent guy. He probably works hard, its not his fault the shareholders got impatient, its not like hes going to personallyadmit how bad AoC really is.
I imagine if AoC released polished and with complete content the community here would be much more positive towards him.
But I cant help but feel annoyed how MMORPG.com failed to ask questions at the heart of the MMO community. He doesnt have to answer, but the questions should atleast be asked.
This game is not a complete product, there are major content defficiencys that start in the middle of the game and continue until the end. Funcom and its employees need to get practical about this problem, communication is key, ignoring the problem is in essence, ignoring your player base and they WILL go away. Indefinately.
Nice interview, but thats all it is, nice, another opportunity wasted though imo.
Having listened to Gaute for more than 5 years, and seeing the results he produces, the man has ZER0 credibility.
"There will be no camping in Shadowlands!" ~Gaute Godager. i
Gaute needs to bury himself in the sand and let the water roll in. Washed up that is right. Ya he'll give you a vision he'll take your game and send it straight to hell.
People would have been willing to cut the guy a little slack if he knew how to be honest with gamers. Sadly hes not. He no different than Brad McQuaid in reality. He can talk and spin as well as hype people up for his games and when they dont deliver he wont own up nor apologise. Instead he just keeps the spin going.
Quoted for Truth.
A lot of the old AO players consider him the one that ruined the game with Shadowlands. They had somethign original and fun and decided they wanted to try to be a bad clone of EQ. Too bad, so sad.
Of course i'm happy with AOC.... lol yeah, i'm surprised here. Ever heard a dev says the game he made sucks ?
I dont get what is so bad about AOC? - I'm L40 now so maybe I cant talk as I've not see a lot of it, and also all the 'terrible stuff' people mention I have never witnessed myself in the game, all my friends who play like it to..maybe we are all just retarded or have very bad taste in games!?!?...I have purchased pretty much every fantasy MMO that has come out in the last 3-4 years and it's way better than all of those....maybe it's just that people had all these inflated expectations and so they enjoy picking things apart when they did'nt get exactly what they dreamed?
Is it just me or does any ones ear bleed when you hear the guy speak? No offence to the guy but his accent is like nails on a chalk board to me.
personally I like to see mmorpg NOT even speak with him anymore he has no credibility you folks ought to spend the time on the promises that FUNCOM has made even with AOC and AO over the years just to prove it.
Please no more interviews!!
The good thing about McQuaid was that he disappeared soon after the vanguard-desaster. I'm afraid Gaute will stick around for a while.
Any serious mmo-page should boycott this liar and his false propaganda. Neither the gaming industry nor the gamers do need guys like these.
Satisfied with his own game? Thats a big surprice.
How is this different than most of the MMO's released lately? Hard to blame him for following in the footsteps of his peers. Unfortunately the investors get anxious and insist on pushing an incomplete game out the door. While it looks wonderful in the beginning once people get to play it for it bit most realize that the later levels are pretty much empty of content at the moment. The only bad thing about this game was that they allowed people to level far too fast and discover it way before the first month was up.
You do realize that Gaute was the idiot in charge of developing/launching Anarchy Online, right? Remember how that went? Anarchy Online didn't start to improve until Gaute went to make AoC and Craig Morrison became AOs' Game Director. Of course, Gaute took all the customer service people from AO for AoC now, so the improvements to AO are now a moot point, seeing as how people are having their billing screwed every way to Sunday, chat servers going down constantly, and NO customer service ( and when you do get a response from FC concerning your Anarchy Online account, the address will say support@ageofconan.com :P ).
The guy is a damn joke and is going to kill two games at once.
I remember saying the exact same thing 3 weeks after DAoC came out.
Oh and love your post, especially when compared to the 40 hours you've put into AoC this week. :p I know bashing AoC is the 'fad' on these forums. But damn, if you don't want to look like a follower, don't link your Xfire details in your sig.
Actually Gaute was AO's game director for AO and continued to be for several years, even after Shadowlands. He was also behind the AI expansion, I know because I was discussing his ideas about it with him a good two years before it came out.
Cut the guy some slack people. His games certainly dont come out 'finished' or in pristine condition but they are always innovative and push the genre in some way and have a very different style and 'feel' then any other MMOG.
And as much as people bash this game right now, it's no different then any other MMOG at this point. Lacking high end content, myriad of small bugs, no real meaning to PvP. Join the club for just-released MMOGs.
He was the Game Director and everything he was personally involved in turned to Rubbish. He has the anti-Midas touch of turning Gold to Rubbish.
Plus we're not going to come him some slack because producing buggy, rubbish games is not acceptable now like it was back in the EQ days. If you expect to be successful and respected in the age of MMOs like WoW then you need to have quality and polish (Because face it, WoW was not successful because it was "innovative" or "pushed the genre"). So yes players expect and should expect Quality first and "Innovation" second.
Do they recycle these guys? Frankly they need to work these guys 8 hrs a day and then send them out to have some family or REAL life.
Actually Gaute was AO's game director for AO and continued to be for several years, even after Shadowlands. He was also behind the AI expansion, I know because I was discussing his ideas about it with him a good two years before it came out.
Cut the guy some slack people. His games certainly dont come out 'finished' or in pristine condition but they are always innovative and push the genre in some way and have a very different style and 'feel' then any other MMOG.
And as much as people bash this game right now, it's no different then any other MMOG at this point. Lacking high end content, myriad of small bugs, no real meaning to PvP. Join the club for just-released MMOGs.
LOL! Even Vanguard had the core elements of the game at least working. Classes worked, stats worked, skills worked.
A month after release, stats are still borked, skills are still borked and half of the feats are borked! We talking about Core Gameplay elements that after a month into release are still not working properly!
People have all reason to pissed at this guy and his lies. How can he even keep his head up straight and saying to the MMO community how pleased he is with this game.
If he was at least honest and dont push out even more lies, he would gained back some of the lost credibility.
That guy lied up to the last minute before launch right into our faces! Hyping features that are working ingame, while he damn well knew there weren't ingame yet!! And now in his latest Q&A on the website he now even contradicts his own Hyping by saying they dissabled a meriad of features just before launch!
This is Brad McQuad all over again.
He was the Game Director and everything he was personally involved in turned to Rubbish. He has the anti-Midas touch of turning Gold to Rubbish.
Plus we're not going to come him some slack because producing buggy, rubbish games is not acceptable now like it was back in the EQ days. If you expect to be successful and respected in the age of MMOs like WoW then you need to have quality and polish (Because face it, WoW was not successful because it was "innovative" or "pushed the genre"). So yes players expect and should expect Quality first and "Innovation" second.
LOTRO was polished to a shine, and it has 115k subs.
So no polish doesnt mean people will buy, your 100% wrong here.
Another thing look at EvE it was released and it wasnt half the game is is now, now people love it, and is has the best sub base of an indy game out there.
-Jive
Ugh I just simply cannot stand that Gaute guy.