Developer Pop Quizis a weekly interview series in which we ask developers from around the industry the same 10 questions and post their responses.
For the past few years gamers have been looking forward to the release of"MLB: The Show"just as much as, if not more than, they've been looking forward to the beginning of the real baseball season, and that's partially due to SCEA San Diego Studio's Senior Designer, Kolbe Launchbaugh. This year's game, aptly named"MLB 11: The Show,"continues to push the bar for sports fans by adding new features, modes, and even Move support, and Launchbaugh helped make that come together. Find out more about this"Gran Turismo"loving designer in this week's Developer Pop Quiz.
Name:Kolbe Launchbaugh
Title:Sr. Designer
Company:SCEA San Diego Studio
Job Description:Design and manage various areas of"MLB 11 The Show,"as well as the development team.
First title worked on:Waaay back in 1996 I worked as a tester on"2Xtreme,"which was a sequel to"ESPN Extreme Games."My first title in a production role was in 1997 on"Rally Cross."
Most recent title worked on:"MLB 11 The Show"
What game has most influenced you, and why?
"Gran Turismo"for PS1. It was the first game to really give you that feeling of a career mode. You had to go through the license process, buy a car, upgrade your car, race and win to continue the cycle. That was a large departure from racing games back in 1997 when"Sega Rally"and"Daytona"were kings.
What are you playing right now?
I'm currently playing through a fairly extensive backlog of games. I just finished"God of War III"and am ~30% of the way through"Red Dead Redemption."
What was your first break in the games industry?
E3 in 1996 was my way into the industry. I met Mike Giam, who at the time was working on"Jet Moto."I beat him at his own game and we started a conversation. He introduced me to one of the San Diego Studio producers and the rest is history!
What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
Oddly enough, the best advice I've ever gotten was from my father. It was a line he told me after putting me"in charge"of his business for a day when I was 13 years old. I asked him what I was supposed to do and his answer was elegant."I don't care what you do so long as you make a decision... I'll never fault you for weighing your options and making an educated decision, the worst thing you can do when faced with a choice is nothing."That quote really hit me at the time and has really stuck with me.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Other games, television, phone aps, music, art, sports, society - all of it inspires in one way or another, it really depends on the topic for which you're seeking inspiration.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned about game development?
It's not nearly as easy as I assumed it was!
What has been the low point of your career?
I've had a very fun gaming industry career - I cant think of many"lows."
What do you think is the biggest problem current games suffer from?
This is a really tough question to answer... I've actually changed my mind 3 times already and am still not sure this is the"biggest problem"games have right now. That said, one of the largest issues we have as developers is finding a way to keep people interested.
What is the most important thing that has happened to gaming in the last 10 years?
Online competitive and co-op gameplay is absolutely the most important thing to enter the console world in the last 10 years. Before games became ways to socialize and enjoy your favorite pastime they were viewed as things for shut-ins, geeks, and other such unsavory labels.
Where do you see gaming in 5 years?
That's a great question - one which if I had the REAL answer to, it would make me a wealthy person! I think we've seen a huge boom in casual games ("Angry Birds,"etc.), casual gamers (my wife, etc.) and casual gaming platforms (Android, iWhatevers, etc.) lately. To capitalize, the traditional gaming industry needs to provide a method to introduce the full gaming experience that consoles provide with the ease of entry and fast access that casual gaming platforms provide.
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