Back To Meet The Devs

1. What is your name and/or nickname?

Sean Huxter (I have survived 36 years without being shackled with a nick-name. Ever!) Lead Artist - Asheron's Call

2. How did you come to work at Turbine?

I answered a poorly spelled ad in the Lightwave newsgroup, and sent a demo tape. I got a call from a very loud person, yelling over Phish music, with a hoarse voice, asking me if I was the guy who sent the tape, and if I'd like to fly down for an interview. I saw a very very very early demo, and was blown away. I liked what they were offering, and I was currently being very very very underpaid as a Lightwave animator, so I accepted. I also had just had a child, and I saw opportunities I'd never have had back home.

3. What other jobs have you had?

Several, mostly having to do with art. (Except for a two year stint at a Radio Shack.) My last job I spent 7 years doing art, film and photography work, and other work for slide presentations and other PR-related stuff, including corporate video and TV commercials. I learned to animate in Lightwave to supply elements for our work, and soon was doing fully 3D-animated TV ads with ridiculously short deadlines, and hardly any rendering power.

4. Do you work on anything else besides AC (and can you tell us about it)?

At the moment, I live, work, breathe, and sleep AC. Probably to the point where my health is beginning to fail...

5. If you could add or change one thing in AC, what would that be?

Allegiance Wars. Something to give players conflict with each other other than "Hey d00D, you st0L3 mY K|77!"

6. What's the most amusing or embarrassing death you've had or witnessed in AC?

My most amusing and embarrassing death happened early in Beta. Some new content had been added, and I saw a tower just south of Tou Tou. Tou Tou had just recently been added, and I liked it. So I saw a whole bunch of archers up in the tower, and thought, hey, I should go join them. Then I saw the golem, and went for it. Then I realized all the archers were NOT perching the golem... they were Liches. TOO LATE! I ran for it, but died. I went back for my corpse twice, then gave up, realizing it was futile. I think I was level 8.

7. Are you in an allegiance and do your allegiance members know you're at Turbine?

I am in an Allegiance. A handful of trusted players, including my patron and my vassal know who I am. The boss knows, as well as a few others. Mostly, though, no. I keep my identity very carefully guarded.

8. Have you played any other MMORPGs and are you looking forward to any upcoming ones?

No. No.

9. What's the current in-office LAN game?

Counter Strike. Though I don't have time to play.

10. Favourites:

R.E.M (unwavering quality over many years!) Barenaked Ladies (wow!) Tom Waits (Best concert I ever saw!)
Blade Runner, The Iron Giant, Toy Story 2, Toy Story, Fight Club, The Sixth Sense, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Alien, Aliens (Director's Cut)
Chocolate, Big R Fish'n'Chips (Newfoundland's finest!), Ches' Fisn'n'Chips Newfoundland's second finest!)
Curling (I have a bunch of trophies!)
Planetfall, by Infocom (Steve Meretzky's my hero!); Raid over Bungelling Bay; Lode Runner; Impossible Mission; Spy vs. Spy (Most of my favorites came from the Commodore 64 era)

11. What was the first computer game you played?

If you don't count arcade games: Infidel, by Infocom

If you do count arcade games: Space War!

12. What would you like appreciative fans to send as gifts?

Chocolate. And computer parts! :-)

13. Did you get your pre-patch Greater Shadow Armour in time?

Nope. I was level 20, and as a social player, and not a power-leveller, I didn't bother. Hell, I'm now level 28, and don't even have an Atlan weapon.

14. Fasten and then zip or zip and then fasten?

Fasten and zip. Easier on the zipper.

15. Because of the lead- and asbestos-lined walls at Turbine's offices, you all survive the apocalypse - who'd get voted Supreme Leader?

Don't look at me... I voted for Kodos!