TenTonHammer.com - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Have you ever wondered what developers of your favorite MMOGs did when they're not creating your games? The Champions Online PR team has been hard at work to give you those answers with their string of easy to read Q&As with their development team. Their latest exploited worker goes by the name of Danny Southard and works as an animator for the super hero MMOG makers. Take a moment to check out this interview, because apparently he likes to eat cereal. Lots of cereal.

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Q: What do you do in Champions Online?
A: I animate. Lately I've been working on player powers. I just finished working on a bunch of powers for the 'roid rage in all of us, and I'm currently working on a set for the Chuck Norris fans out there. I also work on powers for NPCs with all sorts of limb combinations … four arms, four legs, no arms or legs …

Danny Southard

Q: How long have you worked in gaming, and what did you do before Champions Online?
A: I'm brand spankin' new to the industry. I've been at Cryptic for more than a year. Before that, I was working as a researcher at a biotech company developing drugs for various types of cancer. It sounds pretty cool – but it isn't. For the better part of two years, I spent most of my nights and weekends going through the AnimationMentor.com program.

Q: What is your typical workday like?
A: In the morning I pick an animation from my list and find a deserted part of the building to film reference. That's getting harder to do, because Cryptic is growing like crazy. After filming reference, I pick the best version and block out the movement using the Cryptic AR. After getting a critique from my lead, I refine the animation and put it in the game. Once it's in the game, it is critiqued and polished a couple more times before it's shown to the art director for final approval.

Q: What do you draw inspiration from?
A: Definitely animated shorts and feature films. I also enjoy watching people. I know it sounds really creepy, but it's amazing to see that everyone walks a little bit differently and they have their own mannerisms and ways of interacting with others. My favorite type of interaction is when two people are having a conversation and one of them is really uncomfortable. It's amazing how people act when they're uncomfortable. I guess that's why I like watching The Office.

Q: Who is your favorite Champions Online character?
A: I can't reveal his name, but he's the biggest flaming gorilla in the history of videogames.

Q: What superpower would you want and why?
A: The ability to grow a beard at superhuman speeds. I want to win the 2008 Cryptic Beard-On. The winner gets a candlelit dinner with Shayne.

Q: Who are your favorite artists?
A: Glenn Keane, Doug Sweetland and Dave Burgess.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Well, free time is a relatively new concept for me, because I recently graduated from animation school. So far I like to go on hikes and watch movies. Lately I've been watching a lot of TV. I absolutely love Dexter and Lost and I can't wait for the return of Heroes and Chuck.

Q: If you had to live on one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: Cereal. There's nothing wrong with having it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I love it so much that I've been known to improvise when I run out of milk. I've had it in water, orange juice, apple juice and my least favorite … 7Up.

Q: What is on your iPod?
A: G Love & Special Sauce, Massive Attack and The Shins. Lately I've been listening to a lot of Tears for Fears and Violent Femmes.

Q: Do you have any advice for someone who wants to be an animator?
A: Go to animation school. Books can only teach you so much. You really need a talented animator to guide you along the way. I highly recommend AnimationMentor.com.