|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Gaming Report Interview with AEG CEO John Zinser
Posted 2007-03-06 12:46:44 by jamesmishler |
|
James Mishler Reports: As reported previously in Gaming Report, Alderac Entertainment Group underwent a restructuring in October, 2005. In the more than year since then, AEG and the gaming industry have undergone numerous changes. We were able to catch up recently with John Zinser, CEO of AEG, to see how his company has adapted to the changing market, and how the changes made in late 2005 have served the company.
Gaming Report: Back in October of 2005, you said that you had implemented the changes to AEG in order to make it a “strong and healthy company.” Would you say you have been successful, and if so, how?
John Zinser: Wow, has it been over a year since that interview? We had to make some very tough decisions in late ’05. We had been growing AEG for a very long time in the hopes that we could jump from a medium-sized company to large company through force of will, customer service and a steady stream of good products. We did not account for the fact that we did not have a mega hit product to launch us to that size. I think we learned that you have to go where your products take you. So yes, the changes we’ve implemented have made AEG a much
stronger and healthier company than we were in late ’05.
GR: In what ways does AEG still need to improve and change in order to remain strong and healthy?
Zinser: I now sit my staff down on a regular basis and we talk about the things that will make us happy and keep the job of making games fun. I think it is important for us to remember why we started doing this in the first place. Once we did that in early ’06, things started to fall back into place very quickly. Everyone at the company is currently involved in some way in the creation, testing and fun part of making our games. I think we just have to keep an eye out and make sure we are having fun.
GR: Your strongest line is the Legend of the Five Rings Trading Card Game, for which AEG recently announced a new base set, Samurai Edition. What can you tell me about the new edition? How does it differ from previous editions, what are its strengths, what is your favorite clan, etc.?
Zinser: Where to start. Before we started working on Samurai Edition we filled a whiteboard with the things that we all personally loved about the game and the community of players associated with the game. L5R is an amazing product because it is a game designed to test every player’s skill and it has a very high level of competitive play. It also has a large fan base of players who love the game for what is happening in the story and in the world. We all agreed that we had focused pretty heavily on the competitive part of L5R for the last few base sets. Samurai re-opens the doors to the amazing interactive story that drew so many players to the game in the first place.
GR: What about your organized play plans? What changes and programs can fans expect to see?
Zinser: I think the biggest thing would have to be the Race for the Throne. Players are just now starting to see the beginnings of what we are calling the L5R Mega Game. L5R story arcs tend to last 2-3 years, and the new story arc is without a doubt the most interactive we have done in many years. It is so deep and detailed that I would need another entire interview to give you the details. I am sure I could twist the arm of the team to give you an exclusive behind the scenes look later this year. For now you can see the basics and get involved at http://www.l5r.com/race-for-the-throne.
GR: How about the Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game? You recently announced more support for Third Edition with the Emerald Empire sourcebook. How has the role-playing game done since the release of the new edition?
Zinser: The role-playing game is doing very well. Publishing books today is a much bigger deal than it was five years ago, with all of the full-color graphics and back-story material that we have out there. We have a number of new books on the schedule for this year.
Emerald Empire — This is a book I think L5R has needed for a very long time it is basically a toolbox of things you can use to play and GM the game with a deeper flavor and samurai style.
Masters of War — The first of our Third Edition Clan books that will focus on the Unicorn, Lion, and Crab clans.
L5R GM Screen We are also doing a reverse translation of a GM screen that was published in France last year. This item will actually only be for sale on our website. We have found that GM screen products don’t sell well for us in the states but they are a must for games in Europe. I actually agree with our European partners, I get a little freaked out when I see a game master running a game without a screen, it’s just not right.
GR: Warlord just got a new brand manager, Richard Carter. What are his plans for the line and for organized play going forward?
Zinser: FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS! Warlord hit the map because of our massive launch marketing promotion, but it survived because it’s a great game and because it had an identity outside the game in the form of the Overlord program. We have some exciting additions to the Overlord program and a great summer of events scheduled for Warlord players.
GR: What is the status of the Warlord Online game, announced by Go Games back in November?
Zinser: It is currently in test with the members of our Dragonlord program — I have been told that we will be able to announce a release date by the GAMA Trade Show in April. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
GR: How did the Warlords of the Accordlands role-playing game products do? Do you have any plans to support the line with more products, maybe 32-page adventure modules or region source books? Has there been any discussion of perhaps converting to a system related to the L5R RPG system and releasing a new line from the ground-up?
Zinser: Let’s see, how do I answer this question… I am going to go with it did not live up to my personal expectations. We learned quite a few lessons about biting off more than we could chew with this product. It was my idea to launch all 4 books at one time and it turned out to be more than we could handle. I think that after the amazing success with the World’s Largest Dungeon I felt invincible. Live and learn. So no, there will not be any source books and we do not have plans for a re-launch with our system. Note: It is an amazing product and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great d20 fantasy world.
GR: We’ve heard that the City of Heroes TCG line has been discontinued. Is this true? If so, what happened?
Zinser: Yes, it is true. I’m not really sure what happened. I don’t think you could point to any one thing. The game did not reach critical mass and so we could not continue to make expansions.
GR: Legend of the Five Rings and Warlord are currently your major lines. Do you have any plans to support older lines, such as 7th Sea or the d20 System line?
Zinser: The role-playing game business is tough right now. We are going to stick to what we are doing very well. There is a lot of love for 7th Sea out there, so I would guess that some day we will do a second edition — but only if we get the right team together to do it.
GR: We’ve heard whispers of a totally new TCG coming down the pike from Alderac. Care to elaborate?
Zinser: I would love to but it’s way too soon. I can say that if we pull it off it’s like nothing anyone has ever done before.
GR: Are there any other new gems in the works that you can hint at?
Zinser: The L5R Big Box Board game Emperor will be coming out later this year. It’s a beauty, but it is also a beast and getting through production is going to be fun. You should also see an announcement for a new board game called TOMB. I am very proud of it since I am heading up the design team for the first time in a very long time.
GR: What are AEG’s plans for the 2007 convention season?
Zinser: A very big focus on Gen Con this year. We raised the bar to a very high level at last year’s World Championships in Brussels and we have all agreed to bring an event of that magnitude back to the United States.
GR: You’ve often mentioned your love of gaming and the games industry. Still loving it? What are you playing these days?
Zinser: I can honestly say that I am enjoying what I do now as much or more than I have in the last seven or so years. I am playing a number of board games (My family loves Ticket to Ride). The Ultimate Gaming Table in the break room is covered right now by a massive Pirates game. I still love Warlord and play when I can but I am not as good as I used to be, and I am starting to prepare a new L5R Crab deck for summer. We are playing quite a few of the games we are planning to publish because we enjoy it not because we have to.
Now leave me alone. Mike Selinker just sent me a box of game prototypes to play with. Back to work!
|
| |
|
| "Gaming Report Interview with AEG CEO John Zinser" | Login/Create an account | 1 Comment |
|
| Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Unable to post a comment? Click here for details |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
