May 28 2012

Nordic Game Conference – Innogames interview

While attending the Viking madness that is Nordic Game Conference, I got the absolute pleasure to talk with Fabio Lo Zito from Innogames. A web based game developed that is based in Germany.  If you look at the picture, you ladies who are reading this probably agree with me that he is really cute ;) Let’s do a little FAQ session of Innogames.

With over 80 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the worldwide leading developers and publishers of online games. Currently, 180 people from 14 nations are working in the Hamburg-based headquarters. In our company, community management, development and system administration work seamlessly together. This, combined with close contact to our players, creates a strong foundation that promotes the continued improvement of our games. All of our online games are free to play without restrictions or time limits. Players have the option to purchase premium accounts that offer additional advantages in the games. We strive to make sure that all players, regardless of standard or premium account, have the opportunity to experience optimal gaming gratification. -Innogames website

That being said, we found a nice spot on a dirty vent in the cooling shade outside the conference center and he started to introduce me to their upcoming (being released today actually) game Forge of Empires. That is right now open for Beta testing.  If you are a fan of real time strategies like Ceasar, you’ll love this. You control an Empire where you expand, build, conquer and research new technologies. I am a bit of a pacifist in games like this. I usually prefer not to conquer. There is an option for that. I can through peaceful means play the game and be able to advance.

You lead your Empire to develop beautiful buildings, starting from the stone age and onward. The graphics team did a fantastic job with those, they really grabbed my attention with that one. As an graphics artist myself, I was really breath taken by them. I asked Fabio about fact that you can purchase a premium account, if it’s something that would give you an unfair boost. Many online companies collect their revenue by selling, let’s say “The glow worms on Hades” or “Heras hemorrhoid” which is only available to acquire while on a premium account. Fabio assured me that a all items in the game are acquirable, what a premium account does is more time based. It helps for instance, to complete a building construction faster etc.

Lead graphic artist

I always say that a game needs to have a solid single player campaign. Many games today to focus solely on the PvP- online player feature a lot more. So yes, I appreciate it when a game is released with a single player option. Especially when it is a real time strategy game. If you are one of those people who really like to mess things up for other players, you can always join the PVP fun. However, you wont see me there. I’ll be developing beautiful buildings while my unicorns run free across the plain. And if there are no unicorns, there will be hell to pay!

Fabio also pointed out the amazing teamwork that exist at Innogames. It is always nice to hear about the fun and creativity that reflects in the product. I think that some of the best games ever created are those where the developing team had fun with. 

What would a strategy game without war right? Well personally, for me, it would be etopia. But for many gamers it would be boring I guess. So there you go, an option for stilling that blood thirst of being the best.

A PvP option for the people who do not find satisfactory in creation and peace. Just because you are a warlord online, it doesn’t make you one in bed. Ok, I’ll give it a rest. I am actually ripping to hard onPvP people. I’ve found myself enjoying Pvp a lot lately. Not as much as gardening, but still..

So go ahead, join the fun! Thousands are playing already so you know there will not be a shortage of asswhoopin.

I also would like to note that the game will today also be available for Swedes. which means that I’ll be registered once I finish writing this.

You’ll also be able to find Fabio and Innogames at this years E3. Be sure to visit their booth and try out their games!

Article Originally posted on gamertagradio.com

Apr 23 2012

Who am I?

I’ve recently been asked to join Triolith as their community manager. I will assist in building their brand and a personal love-ability that only Anna-attention can provide. Here be the original post :http://www.triolith.com/2012/04/05/community-manager-of-triolith-entertainment-reporting-for-duty/

Actually, that is a rhetorical question, I know exactly who I am!
I am Anna! More known under my online persona Anjo Banjo.

I am the Community Manager of Triolith Entertainment!

I will be using my stellar customer service sense to tend to the growing Triolith community. Especially the one that will emerge once Megatroid is launched. As your community manager, I will do whatever I can to make you all feel as a part of the Triolith family. I also will be spreading awareness about Megatroid, Triolith Entertainment and upcoming games. You want to arrange a gaming tournament? I’ll do my best to make that happen! You want a Megatroid T-shirt? I’ll be the go to gal! We will hopefully soon be launching a forum where all Triolith Entertainment and game enthusiast will be able to come together and discuss games, current game industry events, anything that tickles your fancy really. I will be a face you’ll be seeing for a long time, and my face smells great!

Let’s get this show on the road!

I am an avid gamer, playing anything and everything. I try to keep myself up to date with the more expanding gaming market but let’s face it, it’s hard. I like to believe that I am an artist of sorts. Oil, pixel, vector, sketch, you name it. I usually write about other people, so this is a strange experience for me. What would you like to know?

This is where telepathy would’ve come in handy!
First impressions are so important and I can’t even figure out a good title. As a rule I am very shy, but there are times, like today (oh lucky you!!) where I am feeling absolutely fabulous!

I guess the logical place to start is from the start. As a child, I had an older brother, a very nerdy older brother that finally gave up on ever having a baby brother. Someone had to fill those shoes! Unfortunately I have really small feet, but a big heart and batman glasses that my brother picked out, which got me teased for years. Hanging with my brother and doing what he did made more sense to me then make-up/fashion and boys. He sometimes let me actually touch his Amiga! It’s safe to assume that the best time growing up was when he was playing a game and let me watch, or even better, when we played games together.

His interests became my own. I started to play any game I could get my hands on and spent as much time as I could by a computer. I was content with the life I’ve chosen, not a popular one, but at least, a happy one.
I had friends too who played videogames/PC games, so finding someone to replace the void he left once my brother moved out was simple. The love of gaming ruled my life for a bit, then I discovered the nightlife. That was the least productive year I’ve ever had, ever. Once I stopped partying I took my first step into one of my passions, which was artistry. I pursued that path through education and practice. The market in Sweden, however, was very rough. Since I wasn’t really out partying anymore I decided it was a good opportunity to say hello to an old friend. I picked up an xbox and, with that, a subscription to Xbox-live.
A whole new world opened up. I got to play with people from all over the world! Sure, there was a lot of profanity but to have people I could actually communicate with was just amazing!

One day after getting fired from Burger King, don’t ask, I packed my bags, sold everything I owned and took the first plane to America.
When I landed the cultural difference was striking. I started to work on my artistic portfolio and continued getting to know the online community. The rest is pretty much history, isn’t it? I’ve had the opportunity to create a community of my own, I’ve met some of the best friends I could ever ask for. I’ve had the incredible joy of working for GamertagRadio for a long time, and of course, many others as well. I’ve been to various gaming conventions that I never in my life thought I’d be able to attend! I’ve also worked as a game designer for several girl sites. The biggest moment in my life was being able to see my work on CNN and MSNBC. That was a close second was releasing a PC game I helped design.

So, who am I? I am the girl from Sweden, who vanished and came back richer with experience. That is the experience I will hope to share with Triolith Entertainment.

It’s a pleasure to meet all of you!

If you have any questions you’d like to know, just ask me by commenting on this blog post and I’ll give you an answer as soon as I’ve rid the world of Halo! Actually, I am feeling very generous, so I’ll answer it even without destroying Halo! Congrats, you just cost the world the cure for Halo!

Love

- Anna

Apr 23 2012

Come one, come all! Retrospelsmässan 2012

Image

If you are like me, you probably sit on your wrinkly arse thinking about how much better gaming was when we were mere spring chickens.

The gaming culture has developed so much, so quickly, that we sometimes forget to give homage to the games that opened the doors to the miracles we see today.

I was supposed to attend that certain homage that is taking place in Gothenburg this weekend. Unfortunately, something happened that prevents me to bask in the nostalgia of the old days. If you do not know yet, then let me inform you that the Retro Spelmässan is coming up and coming up quickly, April 28th to be more precise. They will have consoles there from the early 1970′s to 2000.

This would be good experience for you young whippersnappers! Learn a bit about gaming history, so when I tell you boring stories about good old days, you’ll at least know that the era of awesome gaming existed! I am also hoping to attend next year, where the present will be even further in the past. I am getting older by each passing sentence, so by next year, I’ll be even more disappointed at the gaming culture of today and remember the glory of the good ol days!

For more information Visit: http://www.retrospelsmassan.se/

- When?

Saturday 28 april kl 10.00 – 18.00.

- When?

Gamlestadens Medborgarhus, Brahegatan 11, Göteborg.

Have fun and appreciate the advancements of today, as they have their roots in the great developments of the past.