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LucasArts' Darrell Rodriguez

The Star Wars IP-holder's president talks Old Republic, the MMO genre, and humour in games

GamesIndustry.biz So when you're looking at the MMO space now, how do you forecast the business arc? Is it three years, five years, ten years? What are the indicators you make the decisions on?
Darrell Rodriguez

I think the indicators are subscriptions and ongoing interest, but just related to the IP in and of itself. So it's a 30 year old IP and we anticipate that the IP and the quality game that we're making here is going to continue on for a very long time.

We talk about the business curves of subscriptions, interest and investment it takes to make these games, but at the end of the day it's about making a compelling offering for our consumers.

GamesIndustry.biz There is a lot of talk about the business model for MMOs - subscription, free-to-play... nothing's been announced for Old Republic yet, so is everything still on the table in that respect?
Darrell Rodriguez

Yeah, we're considering it all, absolutely. You start looking at how different communities, territories such as Asia, actually play games, and we start to consider it all - especially if we want it to be a worldwide phenomenon.

GamesIndustry.biz Monkey Island was recently revived with digital downloads, and there are the LEGO games on console - how important is it to have that portfolio approach for LucasArts?
Darrell Rodriguez

Absolutely - different consumers take in IP in different ways. Some people want a deep and long experience, but those same people might want a chunkable or very social - or instantly accessible - experience as well. I think digital media offers that clearly.

We haven't done it in the past, but June was a big month for us relating to the first XBLA game, with Steam, with iPhone, with Direct2Drive as well - so we're definitely getting our feet wet there, and we're going to continue to do that.

GamesIndustry.biz And how do you look at older IPs? For something like Monkey Island do you ever talk about an MMO or PS3game - do you think that IP has those kind of legs?
Darrell Rodriguez

Yes, I do, and I think that's a long partnership that we're building with Telltale - taking the Monkey storyline and characters forward. I do think there's an opportunity, just because the foundation transfers extremely well.

There's always that opportunity.

GamesIndustry.biz Humour in general doesn't really feature highly in most games, but Monkey Island definitely had that - as does Schafer's latest, Brutal Legend. Why is that?
Darrell Rodriguez

Monkey Island definitely has it, but look at the LEGO products as well, which transcend age, really. I play the LEGO games, I know a lot of core guys that play them - kids do as well, or core guys with their kids.

They're very tongue-in-cheek, and so is Lego Indiana Jones, which I think will be the best LEGO product to-date, so we're very excited about that.

But Tim Schafer's brilliant, I've had the opportunity to meet him a couple of times, and next time I do I'll get his autograph [smiles]

Darrell Rodriguez is president of LucasArts. Interview by Phil Elliott.

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