Ray Muzyka Interview, Part One

CVG has kicked up the first portion of a multi-part interview they did with BioWare’s Ray Muzyka during last week’s GamesCom in Cologne, Germany. The original Mass Effect, digital distribution, and Natal are the primary topics for this installment:

Moving on then, Lionhead announced that it would be re-releasing Fable II episodically via 360’s new Games on Demand service. Does the service provide any similar new opportunities for developers like BioWare?

Muzyka: Yeah. Just like when you consider new platforms or new business models, distribution and ways to reach your consumers. It’s like how we committed to deliver Mass Effect on 360 – we’re making sure the fans on that platform get the experience with the continuity they expect. And we’re excited by that.

But if you broaden out the distribution you’re going to open the possibility to bring in new fans that may not have considered the purchase before. And that’s often a healthy thing to do.

Plus, I like the idea of episodic delivery. I think micro transactions are interesting. It’s not a ‘one size fits all’, so I wouldn’t say every game would be improved by being delivered digitally or episodically but some would. It’s just a different business model, and we always plan from a consumers’ perspective, we review the audience and as if it’s what they’re looking for.