Bill Roper is no newbie to the industry. He has under his belt big titles, big companies, and a whole lot of experience that Champions Online and Cryptic Studios can only benefit from. So how is he settling in with his new gig? Allakhazam's Tamat gets a chance to talk with him about Cryptic and Champions Online.

Tamat : You've been in the gaming industry for more than 14 years. How do you keep the creativity flowing and maintain a high level of excitement for both yourself and the players?

Bill Roper : I have a true, deep-seated love of games, and that keeps me motivated to make the best games I can. I've been playing games literally for as long as I can remember, so they've always been a part of my life. And at Cryptic, I've been given the opportunity to get back solidly into design which has me excited and driven!

Togikagi : You worked with Blizzard for years, so you have some added insight into the MMO dominance of World of Warcraft. Do you feel that Champions Online can compete with WoW? And if that’s not your target, how will Champions stand out against other comic games such as City of Heroes and DC Universe Online?

Bill Roper : In a heads-up comparison it would be almost impossible for any MMO to compete with WoW based on the sheer amount of resources Blizzard can put into the game. With Champions Online, we're creating a game that specifically doesn't go head-to-head, but focuses on the huge number of gamers who want exciting action, enjoy MMOs, and love four-color comics. World of Warcraft has done an incredible job of opening up the Western markets to MMOs and has made the genre accessible and known to the masses. We’re building on that appeal and recognition and folding in the incredible popularity of superheroes. And while it's been done before by the key members of this team, we've got some incredible new twists that should excite gamers of all levels.

Tamat : You playtested the Champions RPG in the back room of a game store. What can fans of the pen-and-paper game expect from the MMORPG? What are some similarities and differences they'll see? Any Easter eggs for die-hard fans?

Bill Roper : We've been spending a lot of time lately looking at what translates the best from the paper and pencil game and making sure it's represented in Champions Online. First and foremost are the incredible amounts of freedom and customizability found in both character creation and growth. We’re including the core concepts of talents, perks, and even exposing the stats system to a degree. We've streamlined some of the concepts of the game to make it more accessible to a broader range of players, but without losing the beauty of what makes Champions the great game and IP it is.

Bill Roper goes on to share more of his time on Champions Online and some details about gameplay fundamentals. If you would like to read more, please visit Allakhazam.com!