George R.R. Martin: Disruptor Beam on working with the author

Game of Thrones Ascent will draw on not just the popular TV series, but it will also leverage the best selling novels A Song of Fire and Ice. Jon Radoff, CEO of Disruptor Beam, has gotten to collaborate with George R.R. Martin personally and he reflected on that experience.

"We've been working with George R.R. Martin for a while now," said Radoff. "Initially it was just the license for the books for sometime and then we worked on it with HBO after the success of the TV series. We have an agreement with both now. Visually, we're following pretty close to the TV series, like the way the Iron Throne is depicted. We were originally going to work on this regardless of the TV series, and it's great that HBO has brought the following of their show to our game."

"He's an interesting guy, he likes games but hasn't played a lot of games and isn't on Facebook or Twitter, but he still gets it," he added. "He's a genius - he doesn't have to use it to understand the experience. He gets the use of the web-based experience and he gets what makes it memorable. He wants the content of the books, with the adventure and treachery, and likes the idea that we're going to bring those actions to life in the game."

Licenses aside, Radoff says that company has one goal. "Really, it's about making the game good. I consider us to be fans of George R.R. Martin's work and the HBO show," noted Radoff. "I think some social games have been rushed out, especially for licensed stuff, but for us, we want to make something exciting and new. We're a business, and we're looking to create something that people are engaging in. The best game businesses are building teams that are truly passionate about what they do, and you see that around the whole tech industry. Whether it's Apple making iPad or Valve making what they make, you have to have passion."

Read the full interview on [a]list.