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NOTE: If I add a new item to the list it will only
be added to senate.html page.

 Alan Emrich Interview
We appreciate Alan Emrich for taking some of his
time to answer our questions!

1.
What previous projects have you helped
design at quicksilver before MOO3?


Oh, man. I was the "Privy Counselor"
for Castles II, did a
lot of last-minute
stuff with Conquest of the
New World, and I got the whole
Star Trek: Starfleet Command project launched
(I'm the guy who put Interplay, Paramount,
and the Star Fleet Battles guy together --
and that was a year-and-a-half of patient diplomacy,
let me tell you!).
I've always had a special
interest in Quicksilver Software,
and I'm thrilled to be working here.

2. What game genres
do you like the most?


I like historical, science-fiction, and fantasy
games, particularly
at the strategic scale.
My favorite media for gaming is
board and card, but computer
gaming pays better. <g>
I'll play abstract, word, and family games, too,
particularly ones with some sort of
interesting "twist"
in their play mechanics.
My favorite games include Cosmic Encounter,
Totaler Kreig!,
Civ/MOO/MOM, and Up Front!
(There's more, but that's the short list.)

3. What do you do in your spare time
(if you have any)?


I love spending time with my children, Avalon (5)
and Archer (1),
and my wife, Petra.
My spare time,
though, is usually
devoted to gaming
(just like my work time).
I'm often busy working on some board game or
writing an article or doing some gaming
web site thing
on the internet.
I go to game conventions
(though play in few tournaments --
I just like to play "pick up"
games in the open gaming area)
and generally try to
do things to better my hobby.

4. Are you excited about
designing MOO3?


I'm way past "excited." Closer to "exhausted,"
I think. It's a
great honor
to put my 25+ years
working in this hobby
to the greatest challenge of all.
Better still, to be surrounded by the team
at Quicksilver.
I think we're a winning combination here,
but the proof will be
in the playing.

5. What kind of improvement can we
expect in MOO3 from other MOO's?


More than I can possibly answer here.
Every system:
economic, political, military,
ship design, espionage,
etc. has been given a spin.
I believe we're
improving ALL of it.
What I'm hoping people agree
is the biggest improvement
is the addition of the Fifth 'X,'
that element of the game
that provides the player a "more correct"
experience in relation to his
position in the galaxy.
By combining elements of story, character,
and plot with the traditional
4-X strategy elements,
we're shooting for a little more
"suspended disbilef" to make
the game that much
more compelling to play.
There's a lot of Fifth 'X' elements in the design
and presentation of MOO3.
I hope people recognize
them and approve
of the difference they make.

6. What can you tell us
about the Orion Senate?


It's one of the three rings in the
Political Circus in MOO3
(the others being
inter-civilization politics and domestic politics).
The Orion Senate does more than just
elect a president who wins the game.
It is constantly in session
and receives and votes upon
Bills that might become Laws
(Lex Galactica). In effect, players can
vote to change the very rules
of the game via the Orion Senate!
Now, it's a very plodding body, and deliberatly so.
Getting something passed is
no mean feat. And of course,
not every player is a member.
Some are, some aren't. Some want to join,
some get expelled -- you get the idea.
Like the American Express Card,
"Membership has its privilages."
Among them, being able
to get elected president or putting forward the
legitimate heir to the throne of Orion.
But those under its jurisdiction must obey
the Senate's rules,
lest they be punished.
The Orions can enforce
their will militarily as well as
politically. They have "teeth."
So though membership in the Senate gives
you more opportunties to win
(via Presidental election, for example),
operating outside of the Senate's
jurisdiction allows you to pursue other
ways of winning unfetterd by any Lex Galactica.

7. Do you think there will be some concept
art posted soon
from the "Alien 1"
or will we have to
wait until the game comes out?


I think we'll see Alien_1 when beta testing begins
in the Summer of 2001.
It will be hard to keep that
cat in the bag any longer than that.

8. What kind of special abilities will the
races have, or will it be the
same as MOO2?


The special "abilities," per se, won't be too
dramatically different from
those in MOO2.
However,
every race will have a LOT
more flavor than MOO2.
Government types,
religion, their views on social issues,
they types of planetary environments
they prefer to live (and fight) in, etc.
The races will be much more fleshed
out so that a player running a particular
civilization will know his
"people's" motivations. Why leading
them one way works
better than others,
and who their "natural"
friends and enemies are.
The details of race in MOO3 lay out the
framework for the entire galactic
epic story as the players unfold it.

9. I just have to ask this question...
why did you take
off the Mrrshans on MOO3?
Well, I always thought their
competition was fun,
plus I kinda like cats in real life too.


We didn't want any aliens that would be
animporphs of people
and looked like
they could be bred together.
(No "people" in cat or bear costumes.)
Each race in the
game is really unique now.
It will convey the story we're trying to tell
much better if you really draw the lines of racial
distinctions very clearly
(like we're doing).

10. Can you explain on how the heir to
the throne works in the Orion Senate?


Not in great detail at this time, I'm afraid.
It's another possible way to
win, but it takes a LOT of diplomacy.
After all, you need
to get others to recognize the legitimacy
of "your" heir. And the quid pro quo for that
could be... well, anything.

11. What games are you going
to design after MOO3?


A Pacific WW2 boardgame is next on my list.
After that, I don't know.
Maybe Master of Magic 2 will be
available when we're done with MOO3.
That would be a fun project.

© Drew Wilson Web Design 2000 ®
Use of TOS's content and/or graphics is strictly prohibited.
TOS is no way affiliated with Microprose.
Concept art, screen shots, game graphics
and other assets are provided
courtesy of Quicksilver Software, Inc.
and are used by permission.
Copyright (c) 2000 Quicksilver Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
Master of Orion is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc.

 
 

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