Smedley Answer from reddit

[opticalshadow]

Thread is being updated as i go, Note i will not be posting repeat questions, if he said once ps2 is not planned for linuix, i will nto post any other questions of teh same nature unless taht question gives more information. im also cutting any fluff that smedley doesnt respond to, things like "OMG i lux ps2 this one time i had a cat and his name was creig, anyways heres my question:" all that is cut, i am only putting in the Question section the actual portion of the questions that he answers, this is to keep this easy to read and to the point. i will not however edit anythign smedley says, no matter how irreleveant it becomes.

Someone in the other thread asked for this, if its a prob just delete it, ill keep it updated with the answers from teh reddit questions so its easier to read.

Q: Do you plan on working on bases in PS2 that outfits can deploy?
A hell yes. That's in a 3 year plan we have. By the end of year 1 is my goal.
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Q: How long do you think it will take (if everything goes as planned) for everyone who has twitter/PC gamer keys to get in the beta?
A maybe as long as 2-3 weeks but it depends on how smoothly things go
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Q: How did you start out in the gaming industry? What made you think "This is what I want to do as a career"
A I literally never wanted to do anything else. I quit college after 2 years at SDSU because I got a game programming job. My Dad bought an Apple II+ when I was in 8th grade and I learned Basic, then 6502. There was never anything else I wanted to do.
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Q: Will beta really start on monday?
A:Yes
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Q: Can you finally come clean about the decisions that were made regarding SWG? Mainly the CU and NGE?
A: sure. Stupid decisions. Complete and utter fail and I am very sorry.
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Q: are caves going to be in PS2? (Already in/Planning on it)
A: No
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Q: On a scale of 1-10, how sure are you about beta Monday?
A: 9.99999
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Q: I am currently subscribed to PS1 am I pretty much guarenteed on day 1?
A: you will be in day 1
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Q: Im an aspiring game designer, im currently getting my associates in game design, whats the best way to get into the industry as a mechanical designer?
A: apply over and over till you get a break. This industry is awesome. Once you're in you're in. My own son is interested in it and that's the same advice I give him
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Q: How money much do you make?
A: Enough to buy a lot of gadgets I don't need
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Q: What are good jobs in the games industry that doesn't require tons of math. Also any tips on getting started?
A: Design (although a lot of the best designers are good at match) - Art.
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Q: What is your most memorable moment working on Planetside 2
A: Most memorable moment had to be the start of the tech test and watching players reactions and listening to them in chat. I grouped up with a bunch of people I didn't know and hung out in chat. Holy shit that was fun.
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Q: I'm in Europe and already have a bunch of Station Cash sitting on my account ready for PlanetSide2. Europe players are now having to use Pro7, what happens to all our Station Cash? can we still use it for PlanetSide2?
A: no. Pro7 cash sorry.
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Q: So, the current ps1 subs/within last year subs is a pretty small pool right? So former subs will be invited pretty quickly then?
A: reasonably so yes.
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Q: Planetside 2 and EQ Next are what I understand to be your biggest projects currently. Any new IPs in development at SOE?
A: Yup
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Q: Are you mixing beta invites at all? What I mean by this, are you doing ONLY subscribed vets for the first waves, or are you peppering in some unsubscribed vets/keys?
A: some mixing but only for technical reasons. For example we already have a bunch of PS1 vets in
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Q: Will certifications be in Monday beta?
A: some yes. not sure yet how many. Note - this may change if we aren't happy with testing but that's our plan.
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Q: What would the recommended settings be for PS2?
A: we are working on the reccomended settings and aren't quite ready to release them. It's not a dodge - we are still gathering the data. We collect frame rate data from players.
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Q: As a president of a company mainly dealing with MMOs, what is it like when you realise one of your products is starting to lose customers, and what steps do you take to try and rectify this?
A: we do our best to listen to our players and give them what they want. If it starts to lose customers we try and make the game better or add features to give the players more of what they want.
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Q: You seem to share a view with other Industry Veterans (GabeN, Blizzard, Notch) that Windows8 is not going to be a good thing for the PC Gaming World.
A: I absolutely strongly share that view.
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Q: Are we going to see Planetside 2 Linux at some point if M$ doesn't get their act together?
A: No you aren't going to see PS2 on Linux. You will see it on Mac though.
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Q: What is the most exciting part about the entire game development process?
A: Personally I like it when the game is playable by early testers. We get great feedback that way. I play the game 3-4 hours a day now. It's rough but fun as hell.
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Q: What first got you into the games industry?
A: My Dad got me into this industry by patiently typing in games from some Apple magazine in basic (they literally had the lines of code in the magazine). At the time I was playing a lot of D&D and just decided to try and make it on the Apple II+. I ended up writing a lot of character generators after I realized making D&D might be hard
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Q: About how many people are registered for the beta?
A: We'll announce that at some point here. A very big number though!
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Q: is there any sort of schedule/idea on how long it will take before all beta key holders are in, and when people who registered get in?
A: 2-4 weeks probably.
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Q: Is the NC soldier in the Planetside 2 CG trailer supposed to look like Higby?
A: Higby is better looking
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Q: how far from completion is PS2?
A: hmm. That's a loaded question - for once I want us to release the game when it's ready. We'll release it when we're proud of it. I will say it's rough but fun as hell.
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Q: What is your preferred whiskey. 'None' is not a valid answer.
A: Dalmore 50
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Q: I had subscribed to PS1 about 10 days before you guys announced the free 30 days is that considered an active sub?
A: Yes
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Q: How would you describe your progression from whatever beginnings you had to the point of becoming president of SOE?
A: I started in the industry as a game programmer. I had a company that did contract work and gradually got into management. I miss it though. I miss it greatly.
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Q: will the beta test starting monday still be under NDA?
A: yes although honestly we want it to be down fairly soon. Let people judge it however they will. I'll still play it
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Q: How does SOE feel about SWGEmu?
A: well officially I have to say it's bad. but that's officially.
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Q: How soon will the Twitter keys be accepted in? Around two weeks or so?
A: good guesstimate. no guarantees
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Q: For the people that dont have keys when can they play?
A: if you've applied it will be after planetside 1 players and players that already have keys. If you haven't applied you should.
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Q: if I am currently subscribed to PS1 am I pretty much guarenteed on day 1?
A: Yes
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Q: How do you guys think about other games like Firefall or Defiance which are also coming on strong in the MMOFPS scene? Do you think that they're competition or do you think that they're catering to different audiences?
A: I've played Firefall. Good game. Good company. It will do well. Defiance - hmm. there are some excellent people on that Team and Trion knows what it's doing so I have high expectations. I like SciFi (fuck the name SyFy). I saw every episode of SG1. So I'm betting it's as great as Rift.
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Q: What's it like working for SOE? Do you guys have nice desk chairs?
A: yes. We have great desk chairs and good computers. Ok my computer is great too.
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Q: What was your favorite game to work on\oversee?
A: probably Planetside 2 by far. The team is a blast and we are having a lot of fun.
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Q: Where do you keep the second key to the beta button? We know Higby has the first.
A: actually we use it for the twitter whores in the company that want more followers
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Q: Are you happy with how it's developing? Do you feel you guys are on schedule with the development of the game?
A: we are doing great and relatively on schedule.. if the schedule is longer than it should have been
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Q: What is your favorite programming language? I saw you used to be a programmer at SOE.
A: I wasn't a programmer at SOE. But my favorite language is still assembly by far. I programmed x86, 6502 and 68k
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Q: Mr Smedley, Will we be able to pre-download the game via launcher pre beta launch and release launch?
A: unlikely for day 1 beta simply because it's day 1. After that.. not sure.
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Q: [–]mattmatrix 1 point 20 minutes ago

Can you make a 100% promises right here that i can later use later as incriminating evidence that you will NOT do anything to break PS2 like you have done to game in the past (BFR's for example)

A: this is game development. We introduce stuff that doesn't work. What I can promise you is we listen a lot better than we ever have.
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Q: What do you think about tie day friday?
A: it's awesome. We have a handsome team.
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Q: How likely will there be new weapons / classes in expansions?
A: we don't intend to do expansions in the classic sense. Our goal (and I say it's a goal) - is not to charge for future content. We want it to be like LoL.. where new continents (maps) are free.
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Q: Are weather patterns going to be in the game?(Rain, Lightning , Fog, Snowstorms, Sandstorms, Some wierd plasma storm) Is there going to be any wildlife to play with(shoot)?
A: yes but not for launch. I hope we have wildlife. I love the idea of shooting wildlife. I'm not what you would call a classic nature lover. I hate the outdoors actually. I'm pretty pale.
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Q: What are 1) your most frustrating and 2) most rewarding memories working on PS2 so far?
A: most frustrating -not having every single thing in the game exactly how I want. Most rewarding - not having every single thing in the game exactly how I want - it means the team cares and the team owns the game.
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Q: Will we see the return of the Phantasm?
A: hmmm.. you've got me on that one. no plans.
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Q: When does the narwhal bacon?
A: at midnight. is there some other time it's supposed to? No one tells me this stuff
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Q: What do you think about the announcement SWTOR is going free-to-play? You're choosing for Planetside 2 to have a f2p model, do you think f2p is really the only way for an MMO to be successful these days?
A: it is the only way to go for new games. It was the right decision for SWTOR (which is a fantastic game). Wait till you see our next round of games after PS2
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Q: How do you intend to deal with people with high pings? and what are the minimum specs for ps2 (right now and at launch)
A: we haven't announced this yet - we have servers already deployed in multiple locations around the world.. so we are trying to make it reasonable for everyone. Tomorrow we test east coast servers.
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Q: Are you going to be working again this weekend? At the office all weekend?
A: I want to be defending my outfit's base on a Planet where we own the mining rights for a rare metal that helps to build factories that spit out autonomous robots that can be deployed around the game MOBA style, we will be working this weekend.
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Q: What's your favorite type of Iguana and why?
A: The Dancing at the Blue kind. If I have to tell you why you need to see the movie.
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Q: How do you feel about the rise of phone app gaming? Do you think it's very disruptive to your plans/profitability that a lot of popular games cost < 10% what a flagship PlayStation or PC game gets sold for?
A: I do think it's disruptive but I think a mobile game is different than a flagship PC or PS3 game. I play all of them
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Q: What lessons have you learned over the many years you've been in the industry that you've applied towards making Planetside 2 a success?
A: work super hard with super smart people who want to make great games. simple lesson.
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Q:

Although Planetside 1 still has a dedicated following, we all know that a lot of players left the game shortly following Aftershock's release. As I'm sure you know, not everybody was a fan of the addition of BFRs, turning Auraxis from several continents to planets, etc. This also happened to be around the same time that World of Warcraft launched. Would you consider a negative reaction to Aftershock, WoW's release, both, or something else altogether to be the main reason for the mass exodus?

Despite losing a large number of players, how do you explain the cult following that Planetside 1 has?

What are a some of the mistakes from the Planetside 1, as well as other SOE games, that you were able to learn from to make Planetside 2 the game that everybody is eagerly awaiting?

What are some of the things that you really wanted to be included with Planetside 2, but you know are never going to happen (i.e. something way to ambitious considering today's technology, etc.)

Finally, my current rig is going to struggle with Planetside 2. Help a brother out.

A: 1) Wow didn't help. But I think the real problem with PS1 is it wasn't the right game at the right time. 2) It's fun as hell. 3) Not to release stuff before it's ready. We're not perfect but we're better now. 4) We haven't ruled anything out just yet. 5) GL
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Q: will my gtx 560 be able to run ps2 on ultra or high settings
A: 560 works great. not on ultra. NO CARD works well on ultra. That's for cards next year or the year after.
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Q: In 2009 there was a survey that was emailed to people about the possible development of Planetside 2. What were you able to take away from that survey, and did it have an impact on what is being done now?
A: don't remember that survey honestly. So I'd have to go with no.
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Q: I like turtles, do you like turtles?
A: I'm not an outdoor guy, but I do scuba dive so yes I like Turtles.
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Q: Do you regret hiring Abashi and having him do "customer support" on the original EQ forums?
A: don't regret hiring him. Regret leaving him on the the front lines as long as we did.
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Q: Any news on EQnext? Is it on schedule? How are things coming along?
A: nothing to announce except Awesomeness is coming.
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Q: I've not played the game, yet, but it seems there's a lack of landing/repair pads for aircraft. There are 'air towers' but those seem to be spawn pads, which would cause issues when people land there. Plus there does not appear to be a way to get back to the pad if you jump off (if you, say want to land at a tower, switch your loadout, or fight off an intruder, then fly away). I'd feel kinda dirty having to land on the floor.

Is this because I've just not seen the game or is this actually the case?

A: we do have spawn pads. Need to talk to the team about making them repair craft. I think that's the plan but it's a good question.
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Q: What faction would you recommend for players with higher latency (eg. Aussies)?
A: hmm. We plan on having some lower latency options for Aussies (maybe even a server down there if there is demand).

now THAT's a ping!

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Q: Any chance we might get a Logitech Gamepanel applet for PS2? It looks like I won't be needing 3rd party VOIP, so that frees up my G510's LCD to display PS2 goodness.
A: I have one of those myself! no current plans but we do plan to open a lot of UI stuff up for extension
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Q: What's your favourite game of all time, if you can't come up with that what's your favourite game currently?
A: My favorite game of all time. - Planetside (yes really). Playing PS2, Eve Online, League of Legends right now.
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Q: What PS Faction does the majority of the dev team prefer?
A: not sure of the answer on that one.
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Q: How many PS1 veteran subs are currently active? Wondering how many you have to invite for the first waves of beta.
A: we don't give out that number.
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Q: No question. Just wanted to say that despite it's flaws, I really enjoyed my time playing Star Wars Galaxies. I've yet to see an MMO or multiplayer-heavy game foster the kind of community that game did. Thanks.
A: thank you. If you liked the sandbox gameplay in SWG you will like where we are going with PS2.
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Q: How soon can we expect to see my most <3 thresher make an appearance hovering across the battlefield at 90kmh? Also will I be able to deploy sneaky minefields as an infiltrator like you could in PS1 with combat engineering+stealth wraith loaded with full ACE's in the trunk?
A: not sure on that.
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Q: how large of a risk is it that the servers will just shit themselves once you go into open beta or release?
A: we've been doing this a while. That's the reason for the tech test. hopefully they don't shit themselves.


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