Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

TTH: What's been the most exciting part of this project for you thus far? I know there's a lot of work in your future, but often the beginning of any project is often the most exciting. What's been the best part for you?

Bob: The best part for me is the feeling that I'm standing on the edge of this gigantic wave that will change the world profoundly. I truly believe that in ten years more people will be gaming than watching television. Gaming is already a bigger industry in yearly revenues than movie-making and music combined!

I expect that I feel the same way those early pioneers in movies felt in the first couple of decades of the 20th century. For many years now, I've wondered where the author might fit in with this new medium. Now I'm getting the chance to affect that, to help create some of the ground rules. Wow, just wow.

TTH: How have the folks at Wizards of the Coast reacted to the formation of 38 Studios and the idea that you'll be creating a new MMO? They've already got a pretty solid in the general marketplace right now in Dungeons & Dragons Online. Are they comfortable with your new project?

Although highly into D&D and MMOs, Bob isn't as "nerdy" as Curt Schilling.

Bob: The folks at Wizards of the Coast are more my friends than my employers. They wouldn't want to hold me back on anything I do anymore than I would want to limit their choices. They know what to expect from me, professionally speaking, and I try to never disappoint them. When DelRey asked me to do the Star Wars' novel for New Jedi Order, the only way I could accomplish it was if Wizards pushed back my due date on a Drizzt novel. They did, without hesitation, and were thrilled that I was getting a chance to work with Lucasfilm. They're not stupid; they understand that added exposure for me is good for them. I mean, hey, if I wind up on Oprah with Curt and Todd, do you think the sales force selling the next Drizzt book will be upset? It all works together.

According to Salvatore, Todd isn't a nerd. He just sees things from the point of view of an artist.

Besides, Wizards and I have such a history, almost all of it positive. They know that I'm there for them, now and in the future. If people still want Drizzt, we're all more than thrilled and privileged to provide it. I count on them, they count on me, and we're all in a fine mood when we can get together and just have a great dinner, better wine and even better conversation.

TTH: Really, who's the biggest nerd: Curt, Todd, or yourself? I use the term "nerd" as a positive thing here, as I understand that you guys could probably beat most other men into bloody pulps.

Bob: Curt, by a country mile. A diehard gamer, if ever I've met one (and I have). He's also one of the most decent and caring human beings I've ever had the privilege to meet. Even if this game wasn't between us, even if he wasn't a baseball player and I wasn't a fan, I'm glad he came into my life. When we talk, we quickly understand that we both want the same things for our families, for the world. We can have differences of opinion (and politically we certainly do). But instead of just forming defensive responses while the other guy is babbling, we actually listen to each other and learn from each other.

I wouldn't call Todd a nerd at all, but he just sees things so differently from any person I've ever known. We went to a baseball game in Kansas City and instead of watching the game, he went searching through the ballpark to study the architecture. When I sit in a room with Todd, I recognize immediately that I'm with someone who really does present a different perspective, someone who can turn the mundane into art. Very few people have ever given me that impression. George Lucas did. No doubt about it, Todd is in his league.

For myself, I'll wear the mantle of geek or nerd proudly, thank you very much.