Licensing: Live With It :

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Of course, Spector acknowledges not every property can make a good game - though in many cases this is simply because the hardware isn't there yet. "Suppose you were running a film company in 1925 [the silent era]. Irving Berlin writes a terrific Broadway musical. Making a movie of that show would be a terrible idea, because what makes it great isn't the 'boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl' story - it's Irving Berlin's music! That's where we are in the game industry." He means current game tech hasn't yet matured even to the talking-picture stage. "For every project, we have to invent the camera all over again. And then we have to invent lighting and sound and all the characters ..."

Spector thinks a lot in film terms, which is one reason the Hollywood executives like him. Another reason may possibly be his current openness to a licensing deal. He's not saying anything about that right now. Yet as he wrote to Greg Costikyan, "A game concept occasionally crosses over to the other side of the media divide, but [...] it's far more common for content to travel the other way. With costs and schedules and risks going up, I think we're stuck in that world for the foreseeable future, so we have to make the most of it."

Allen Varney is a freelance writer and game designer based in Austin, Texas. His published work includes six books, three board games, and nearly two dozen role-playing game supplements.

We asked a few personal questions of Warren Spector and he obliged. Read on to learn more about what makes him tick - or at least busy.

Where are you from?
New York City, then Chicago, now (and for the last 27 years, barring a two year diaspora in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin) Austin, Texas. Next stop, the grave!

Age?
49

Do you have a family?
I have a lovely and talented writer-wife, Caroline Spector (whose latest novel is available for preorder), a crazy dog named Maggie and four cats (Beezil, Dave, Floyd and George Frankenkitty).

What's your favorite game to play?
Big question! I have way too many boardgame favorites to list (most of them German); on the electronic side I'm currently Nintendo DS-obsessed (Elecktroplankton... WarioWare... mmm....). I recently started playing Half Life 2 again and love it. But if you want my favorite videogame ever, it'd have to be Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past for the SNES (or GBA).

What's the last movie you went to see?
Stealth. Laura Ziskin, who produced it, optioned the film rights to Deus Ex and she let me read the Stealth script like three years ago, so I had to see the finished film!

What's your alcoholic beverage of choice, if any?
Slivovitz. Google it! One site says, "Slivovitz is a gift from God, and must be treated with respect," to which I can only say, "Amen!"

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Man, I hate to be boring but is there anything better than vanilla, with chocolate sauce? If only I weren't lactose intolerant - thank god for frozen yogurt!

What is your favorite vacation spot?
A place in the Texas Hill Country that I won't name publicly. I want it all to myself!

Who is the person you most respect in the industry?
Can I have two? First, Doug Church, a great friend and incredible collaborator - a true, unsung hero in the game business. Second, Will Wright. I mean, how can you not love a guy who's THAT nice and creative and not a raving ego-maniac? And it's inspirational to see innovative games selling as well as Will's do these days! Go, Will!

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Did you know?

Grand Theft Adaptation
Licensing: Live With It

Did you know?

Grand Theft AdaptationLicensing: Live With It

Grand Theft Adaptation
Licensing: Live With It