Freeworld: Lightning and Liz—Lady Devs at FreeWorld – an exclusive interview by Arwen

Arwen, the free-spirited roving reporter for FreeWorld Warcry, stopped in to chat with the two female devs working on the FreeWorld team. The conversation was both lively and informative, as Maria Willingham (also known as Lightning) and Liz Andrews (one half of the husband-and-wife dev team of Liz and Cap) share some of their thoughts on what it was like to be an integral part of a development team, working to bring out a new game to its already-adoring public. (And note - in honor of the interview and the occasion, at the bottom of this report is an exclusive present from head FreeWorld dev, Clyde Bielss.)

Arwen: I would like to introduce our readers and gamers to Maria Willingham (Lightning) and Liz Andrews, the two women on the FreeWorld team. Welcome, gals, and let me throw out the first question here. You are the only two women on the talented dev team of FreeWorld Online. How does it feel to be a woman working in a man's world, i.e. online gaming?

Maria: No different from any other job I had in the past. I'm used to working with men and working on net.

Liz: It can be a little intimidating, but I don't really consider my input from a woman's perspective, because I am also a new gamer. I am inexperienced in these areas, so I like to observe and consult my husband, who is also a dev.

Arwen: Did you realize you would be a pioneer of sorts?

Maria: No not really. I never thought about it.

Liz: No, and I don't think I knew that until just now when you asked the questions.

Arwen: Do you feel you have added any strictly female touches to your work?

Maria: No I haven't added anything like that. Even though I'm female, I tend to think online games more of a man's world. I know that women players in online games have increased a lot over the past few years, so I may add a few touches later, if Drac doesn't catch me :D.

Liz: I decline to comment. Trade secrets, you know.

Arwen: How did you get on the FreeWorld team?

Maria: I was looking to make another fansite and was looking for another game in alpha phase. I couldn't find one that caught my eye. A friend told me about FreeWorld and so I went to check it out. I started a fan site for FreeWorld and then another friend who was already in the team talked me into applying to team. I was a little shy and it took me about week before I got the courage up to join, but I never regretted it :)

Liz: My husband is an avid player. I got involved in some fan site development, just as you are doing. Maria and the other scripters felt we clicked. Here I am.

Arwen: What do you both do on FreeWorld?

Maria: I run the scripting team. I try and plan ahead on quests for players. We currently working on a big project for users called the tablet quest. The tablet quest is broken up into smaller quests and some will require teamwork to complete. Also try and make it so no npcs after a quest is dead to a user. Normally they will either go onto another quest or may buy something from you or sell you rare items

Liz: I assist with storyline, minor scripting, weapons and other items, including the data aspect of the game. I'm really a secretary, I think.

Arwen: What does a writer/scripter do?

Maria: Liz does the story writing and the scripting team scripts them and tests them before they uploaded to game.

Liz: Quite simple, really. I work with ideas that the scripters and other developers have. I take the ideas, write them into more workable material, brainstorm a little more, edit, proofread, and submit them to the rest of the scripting team, as it is usually something I cannot script myself. And, I follow orders from the art director, Clyde Bielss.

Arwen: What does a coder do?

Maria: Well coding to me is more on the programming side of things, something I do not do at Freeworld.

Arwen: How long have you been working in the gaming world.

Liz: Just nine months.

Maria: Ah I forget now. I been with FreeWorld two years this October and I think I joined the team about six months after.

Arwen: From the female perspective, what is the most enjoyable thing you have found about your work?

Liz: Hmm, should I tell? Ok, why not. I found a common bond with my husband that has taken our relationship to a deeper level. 'Nuff said.

Arwen: So tell me, Lightning and Liz, how does it feel to be the only two women on the FreeWorld team?

Maria: The guys are great there, as well as the testers. It's just so nice to work with a team that's so open-minded.

Liz: Great, when I get PMS, I know who I can vent to. From previous conversations, I would say that Maria feels the same way. :) Cross culturally, it is also a learning experience, etc. Since we are both on the scripting side, it helps a bond in that area as well. Our relationship would be different if one of us was an artist, one was a scripter. In fact, had Maria not been on the scripting team, I probably would have never been a part of the FW team. I really owe my involvement in this project to her, my team leader.

And here's the present from Clyde, as promised: A brand-new screenshot, never-before released, given to Raya especially to add to the interview story...the new look of portals in FreeWorld.