Feargus Chats With HomeLan

Mad Max RW · Post by **Mad Max RW** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:52 pm

[ -> N/A]

The lovable Feargus Urquhart, of former <A HREF=http://blackisle.com/ target=_blank>Black Isle Studios</A> fame, answered some questions for <A HREF=http://www.homelanfed.com/index.php?id=17168 target=_blank>HomeLan Fed</A> concerning his latest business ventures. Here’s a couple highlights from the interview:<blockquote>HomeLAN - First, we have to ask why you decided to depart Black Isle and Interplay?

Feargus Urquhart - The best way I can explain the reason for me leaving Interplay is really that it was time. Interplay has a direction that it wants to pursue concerning projects and I have a direction that I want to go. Neither way is the right or wrong way, they are just different. I'm sure there will be people that will think that answer is very politically correct and they are right. However, I am thankful to Interplay to for my start in the industry and for allowing me the chance to make Black Isle, so I don't think it's necessary to make all the other reasons public.

…

HomeLAN - Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Obsidian Entertainment and your plans for the company?

Feargus Urquhart - It has been a real rollercoaster ride getting Obsidian going, but it looks like things are going to work out great. Running your own company is really something you have to get used to, the "no safety net" thing that I mentioned above is something that can scare the shit out of you, but also help you focus on what is important as well. I think people would be very under-impressed with our office right now, since we are all using plastic banquet tables for desks - $44.95 at your local Costco. :) But they work. However, we've spent a lot on our network infrastructure, since that is what is important when it comes to making games efficiently (it's fun how fast gigabit is). Hey it would be cool to buy a big conference table, but better yet, why don't we buy comfortable chairs for people to sit in at their desks - since people are actually going to be using those all day long.

At some point as we get more disposable income, we will probably flesh out the office with things like conference tables and a refrigerator bigger than .5 cubic feet. But for now, the lack of a safety net helps us really see what we should be spending our money on and what we should be doing on our game. We want to innovate, but we need to make our next milestone. Some people could see that as limiting our creativity, which it can - but I find that it helps you come up with your options and pick between them much more efficiently. I've found that we've almost always done better work when we've made decisions quickly rather than letting them drag out. Some of the things that people have commented on games we've worked on in the past are all things that we should have made a decision on more quickly.

As for the future plans, I'd like to have the company expand to between two and three development teams and see us develop our own internal technology. We don't want to become a huge developer, but we don't want to be just a "boutique" developer either. But pretty much, we all want to keep on making games - it's what's fun about this industry.</blockquote>At least he has goals. There’s more about Feargus and <A HREF=http://www.obsidianent.com/ target=_blank>Obsidian Entertainment</A> in the <A HREF=http://www.homelanfed.com/index.php?id=17168 target=_blank>rest of the interview</A>. Thanks to senornacho for the tip.</body></html>

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 1:09 am

They're going to be Biowares bitch.

Franz Schubert · Post by **Franz Schubert** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 2:38 am

Feargus wrote:We don't want to become a huge developer, but we don't want to be just a "boutique" developer either.

Um... I hope that isn't a part of your mission statement. It sounds kind of wishy-washy.

Feargus wrote:I think people would be very under-impressed with our office right now, since we are all using plastic banquet tables for desks - $44.95 at your local Costco.

You gotta start somewhere, I guess. Good luck with the company, Feargus.

Killzig · Post by **Killzig** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:03 am

lol.. that's feargus for you -- wishy washy.

Saint_Proverbius · Post by **Saint_Proverbius** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 4:43 am

He hopes to have at least three dev teams, but doesn't want to be a big developer?

Hop on the scales, Feargus! You're already a BIG developer! Hah hah hah!

Killzig · Post by **Killzig** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:07 am

GET IN ME BELLY!

4too · Post by **4too** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:54 pm

Moment oF Silence

Dear Lord we gather here today to bless this grid and data infrastructure.

Please anoint and gird the high tension that feeds this humble consumer of Your electromagnetic magnificence, the most reverend and righteous Feargus Urquhart, and his coconspirators in fruitful commerce.

Protect his power and communication umbilical from brown outs, grey outs, and the out and out, black out.

May his voltage rarely spike and his filters never fail. May his low voltage never cross talk, and his data remain pure and uncorruptable.

May his 3 phase weave waves of majesty in perfect sine-s and a power factor of "1" for ever balance his load.

May Your electromotive grace forever inspire bounteous and virtuous exploitation, and accelerated rates of profit: A screaming arc of prosperity high above the bottom line............All say.....Amen..."Amen".

4too

S4ur0n27 · Post by **S4ur0n27** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:45 pm

stfu it's 8 am

Zetura Dracos · Post by **Zetura Dracos** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 10:10 pm

Just out of complete ignorance, whats with the new poll? What did WotC do this time? Also, I wish Feargus luck with his new company, may he produce many kickass games.

atoga · Post by **atoga** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 10:17 pm

It seems WOTC removed all the kiddies from TOEE and forced Troika to change things up so that the game could get a 'Teen' rating. Hypocritical bastards want all d20 products (aside from theirs) clean.

Zetura Dracos · Post by **Zetura Dracos** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 12:20 pm

Damn, now theyre fucking with ToEE, thats just going to far. I opt for giving them all the plauge and locking them within their building and then burning it aftr all the good and sellable things are removed.

S4ur0n27 · Post by **S4ur0n27** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 2:34 pm

Let's do that. Where are their office?

Zetura Dracos · Post by **Zetura Dracos** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:29 pm

Somewhere in Southern California I think, I sent them a novel submission a few months agofor no reason past that I was bored and decided it would be interesting to try and sell a non-existant novel. I should still have the address.

Carib · Post by **Carib** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 6:19 pm

4too is a Damn Brotherhood of steel techno zealot... and as for Feargus... Well, he is a big name already, why he so wishy-washy?

Duck and Cover

Feargus Chats With HomeLan

Feargus Chats With HomeLan

Re: Feargus Chats With HomeLan

Moment oF Silence