July 7, 2008
WarCry: Please introduce yourself and your role at Nemesis Studios. (If more than one person, introduce all!)
Justin J. Gaughan: I am the president of Nemesis Studios Entertainment, and
the original visionary behind Goon World: Organized Crime Online. My duties include, but are not limited to, marketing, business relations, business development, and overlooking the entire project from every angle necessary.
Bart Wiltenburg: I'm the lead character artist for Goon World: Organized
Crime Online. Justin came into contact with me after seeing my previous work on the MMO: The Chronicles of Spellborn. Being familiar with a cartoon style and bringing in experience, it's my duty to make sure the character team makes the characters of Goon World come to life and fit into the style envisioned by Justin.
Ibrahim S. Amin: I'm the lead creative writer for Goon World. Writing for a
successful videogame project has been a goal of mine for a long time. Goon World immediately caught my attention with its unique style and lavish concept art.
I'm also the lead game designer, though the entire company contributes to that side of things. One of the great strengths of indie projects like ours is that everyone's input is valued, and the game benefits from the best ideas each of us can come up with.
Jaap Visser: I am the lead audio designer for Goon World. This project is a composer and sound designer's dream come true. The concept of the game provides a lot of variety, allowing me to work in a range covering old style jazz to heavy orchestral epic scores. I am also working with my audio team on developing a great adaptive system for our music and sound, so that all the sound and music that you hear in Goon World will add a lot of value to the player's perspective.
Shawn Gaughan: I am the vice president of Nemesis Studios Entertainment. Justin and I often work side by side in determining the goals and requirements for Goon World. My primary duty is to work with the lead programmers to ensure that a quality product is created for all to enjoy.
Denis Koronchik: I am the lead engine developer for Goon World. Justin contacted me one day when he saw me helping out beginners in an IRC channel. I've been working on the team for a year now. The concept of the game requires a lot of effort for the developer team to create a well balanced and optimized engine with a large list of features. I'm considering engine features with the lead artists, to make the game match the style of the concept art. I'm also working on engine development with the server developers.
Chris Zdana: I am the lead environment artist for Goon World. I learned about Goon World through a random chat with Justin one day. I had originally intended on recommending a friend for an artist position, only to find out that this was my dream project. The appeal of Goon World, for me, stems from its extremely stylized and well realized environments. Much like the characters of Goon World, the world has its own unique personality.
WC: When was Nemesis Studios founded and where is it located?
JJG: Nemesis Studios started in late 2004, and was registered as a limited liability company in 2006 under the name Nemesis Studios Entertainment, LLC. A select group of us are located in the Greater Pittsburgh Area of Pennsylvania. The rest work remotely, but effectively.
WC: How many developers are working on Goon World? Have the team members worked on any other MMOs/games?
JJG: We have over thirty developers. Although this is our first game as a collective group, several of our staff have industry experience - including work on popular MMO titles.
WC: Please give a brief overview of the backstory for Goon World.
ISA: Empire City is in the grip of the depression. Many rich men have been left broke, and poor men broken. Factory workers brawl for jobs, and those who don't belong to the powerful unions are left bleeding in the dirt. Politicians and gangsters sip cocktails together as money is passed from hand to hand, carving up the city like a maggot-infested pie. And here you are - a lone goon trying to survive and triumph in this broken world.
Perhaps you will join one of the powerful families who dominate the criminal underworld, and seek your future in their ranks. Or maybe you will form your own gang, and wage war against them. The choice is yours. But one way or another, you are going to leave a mark on this city...
