A Message from our President & Chief Creative Officer:

MY DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR CONNECTED GAMES

Broadband connections allow for so much more than current online games take advantage of—current games are built using parameters and guidelines established ten years ago and dogmatically obeyed in the face of new, available technology present in other industries. In addition to technology, many of the standards and practices that were established in the stand-alone gaming world have been ignored in the online game space. I started off in the industry as a result of a belief that there was more you could do with computer games than what was being presented, and I founded Trion with that same belief for online games. It is time for games to evolve into a globally connected world.

As both a game-maker and game-player, I feel it is important to focus our development on a core set of principles to ensure that we provide high-quality experiences for our customers. Some of these maxims are my desires as a player, some are learned from my experience as a business owner, and some are just plain common sense.

The Customer is King

1. Our games are built for our players; your entertainment is our primary concern.
2. As such, players need to have means to develop a persistent presence in our games.
3. This presence extends to the player's influence on a dynamic, changing world where the players impact future storylines and content.
4. Everything should be available to players to experience with the fewest irrevocable decisions possible. Define your experience as you play, not before you play.

We Value Your Time

5. Our games must be fun from the first minute and onward.
6. To keep things interesting, new content must be added continuously, including both regularly scheduled and spontaneous events.
7. Game access needs to be permitted from other connected devices to maintain your connection to the game when you're not at home.
8. You should feel that your time spent playing always leads to progression, never regression. You should never end a session 'behind' where you started.

Connected Games Mean Connecting with People

9. Encourage grouping and guilds, but not at the expense of solo play. Allow players to make social connections without forcing them to.
10. Encourage large numbers of players to congregate and play together.
11. Provide for cooperative and competitive play with other players.
12. Remove barriers to playing together and allow for easier gathering and meeting.

We are pioneering an approach to connected games and entertainment that enables us to constantly improve and evolve. I can tell you from personal experience that there's nothing more exciting than being a part of a team that's truly pushing the envelope. I'd like to invite you to get in touch with us and experience that kind of inspiration for yourself.

-Jon Van Caneghem
President and Chief Creative Officer
designblog@trionworld.com