WHOA!  I used to work with George every day when we were at SSI (Strategic Simulations) doing the AD&D Gold Box Games!  HI GEORGE!

Check out his game dev bio sometime on google, very impressive list of credits, both pen&paper as well as computer.

Trivia: though MacDonald is a Scottish name, every St. Patrick's Day George would come to work dressed in full Clan MacDonald kilt and related attire.  Don't  tease him about his chubby knees! 

I get no sound when playing this video interview.

Sound issues?  My entire internet connection disables when I click on the video.  Try having some real problems :P

I didnt have a problem, but it was left side speakers only.

Nevertheless... WOE unto me! I had Champions Online HIGH on my list, and I practically kicked it out. Why? He said Champions online will be an ACTION RPG, where you duck and cover, jump out of the way and block. Like in console fighting games. Geez. I am SO dissapointed. I had hoped it would be along the City of Heroes lines. I am fed up with everyone wanting to make a Conanesque game these days. :(

The GREAT revelation AoC was to me, as much as some things are fun, that the fast paced, action RPG combat takes away A LOT of strategical depth and character development depth. If combat is like piano playing, you cant give the characters many different attacks, like in a WOW or EQ2 or LOTRO style of skill based combat. It feels exciting at first and grows boring VERY fast, because essentially you do the VERY same from early levels to the end. Everything complex is entirely ruled out in such fast paced action combat.

A pity. Another game bites the dust, another big flop in the making. Sigh. :/

I for one think we need more action rpgs. I am growing a bit tired of every game being the same old same old with regards to combat. The titles that come out that on the surface look to offer strategic action, are actually not any different, they merely claim to be. I cite tabula rasa and conan as examples. Cover, countering powers with the right powers in your skill set, and flying/running/jumping around like a maniac all sound like fun to me. It doesn't half to dumb down the strategy, making the best use of your 4 or 5 powers can be very interesting choices, especially when position and direction play into it. Although it could easily be a stupid button masher. It can go either way.

I do hope they can pull this action thingy off, I haven't seen it before, and I'm not too sure they will be able to do it.

The RPG creator seems behind it, although he was a little "look at the pretty colors..." to really be a good source of information.

It's really early to judge this game, but I think everyone is spot on that it's not looking too hot yet. It's an mmo, it's bound to flop in some (or many) way(s) :)