Consorting with the Competition

Last week the gang at 38 Studios was visited by none other than Paul Barnett, creative director of the upcoming Warhammer Online MMO, and Kate Flack, the game’s deputy content director. This goodwill tour came about in part because Paul is an old friend of my boss, Scott Cuthbertson, and also due to the fact that Paul has pals at other Boston-area game studios such as Iron Lore and Turbine. (Look, ma! Boston’s a real game dev town after all!)

Paul is iconic in the MMO business thanks to his video blog, in which the excitable Brit has been known to overwhelm the viewer with his mile-a-minute delivery. It’s a bit like watching Robin Williams as a guest on a talk show, giving such a barrage of sensory overload that you barely have time to relish his last bit before he moves on to something else that enthralls you.

In normal conversation, Paul is much less manic but no less engaging. He is charming and funny, full of keen observations on the subtle differences between American and British cultures. But when the topic shifts to game design, his focus becomes crystal clear.

Barnett is a true creative, with all the blessings and burdens that title carries. He has clear visions and goals intertwined with dogma and directness. There’s no question he knows what he wants and approaches his craft with a confidence shaped by years of practical experience. Yet he’s savvy enough to know that he’s been hired to oversee a Mythic game crafted by an entire team, not produce something bound solely to a single set of opinions.

The 38 crew was lucky enough to play audience for a presentation in which Barnett touched on a number of thoughtful topics, ranging from seeing MMOs as a hobby rather than just a game to how we can learn lessons from the way shampoo is marketed (I’m won’t go into specifics on the speech, in case Paul has something else in mind for it). As you’d expect, his delivery was both engaging and entertaining, appealing to everyone from designers up to our company execs. Keeping him on point and interjecting her own observations was the lovely Kate Flack, who possesses a rationality and focus that serves as the perfect counterpoint to Barnett’s enthusiasm.

It might seem odd that someone in a position of authority on a highly anticipated game would come and talk to another team that, a few years down the road, will (hopefully) be his competition. You might assume that, at the very least, Barnett would be nosing around for information on what we’re up to. But in truth, Paul couldn’t care less about the particulars of our project. That’s not based on overconfidence or hubris, but serves as a testament to his focus and drive. He knows exactly what WAR is, and he’s not about to change that based on what any other studio is up to. At the same time, he’s generous with advice when asked and genuinely believes that there’s enough success to go around.

On a personal note, I’d been looking forward to meeting Paul after having exchanged occasional emails for some time. I’m happy to say that I like him even more now, mostly because I’m taller than he is, a fact he conceded upon shaking hands. As if that wasn’t enough, he was kind enough to leave me with a tiny hand-painted toy soldier (a reminder that we need to put put our hearts into the smallest details on these projects) as well as a pair of his famous white sunglasses, illustrated in the picture above. I’ve promised to use them only for good, to don them and speak in an excited British accent when my coworkers need inspiration.

Hopefully I’m half as successful at that as Paul is.