Don Daglow, creator of the first graphical MMORPG Neverwinter Nights, shares his observations of why online European games fail to appeal to American players, in this free GDC Europe 2012 video.
July 12, 2013
"We want to give rewards even in that tutorial where you can do nothing wrong because that is what society has led American kids to expect."
- industry veteran Don Daglow on how American society is different, and how many differences lead to games performing differently than in Europe. In this free GDC Europe 2012 lecture, Daglow - co-creator of the '90s online game Neverwinter Nights, one of the first graphical MMORPGs, offers up 5 tips for designing for American online players, including advice on user interface, the amount of text in-game, and the craving for recognition as an individual. The intriguingly titled '5 Things About American Online Gamers that Surprise European Developers' is now available for free on GDC Vault, and is embedded above. Daglow will present again at GDC Europe 2013, this time on the 'Treasures and Traps in the Next Gen Transition,' which is likely to be just as riveting. Passes for GDC Europe 2013 are available now.
In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent GDC events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers. Those who purchased All Access passes to events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC China already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscriptions via a GDC Vault inquiry form. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company. More information on this option is available via an online demonstration, and interested parties can find out more here. In addition, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault admins. Be sure to keep an eye on GDC Vault for even more new content, as GDC organizers will also archive videos, audio, and slides from other events like GDC China and GDC 2013. To stay abreast of all the latest updates to GDC Vault, be sure to check out the news feed on the official GDC website, or subscribe to updates via Twitter, Facebook, or RSS. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.
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