An Interview with Divergence's Ethan Casner

From RaidWarning.com

"We recently had the opportunity to interview Ethan Casner, the man behind the Indie-MMO, Divergence.

It’s an ambitious project to be sure, but that’s probably the reason why I’ve fallen for it so hard: I’ve been obsessing over the two videos Casner has released, signed up at the game newly released official forums, and I'm filled with dread thinking about the first time I’ll have to deal with a Vindicator or Verrator (Full disclosure, I’ve already pitched in some money in support of the indiegogo funding campaign). In interviewing Casner, I wanted to pick his brain to find out some of what lead him to his particular philosophy of “The MMO”, as well as delve deeper into the idea of an MMO with Perma-Death. He has an amazing sense of determination, incredible vision, and some very deeply held principles that could be a recipe for a truly incredible game. "

[xseven]

a Perma Death MMO?! Haters are gonna hate, but I think the genre could use it right now.

[Wormwood]

Yeah, there is definitely going to be a backlash, but there is against most innovative ideas. I agree with you: it is something the genre could use.

[Grayn]

Perma-death would be interesting with a heavy self-regulating system, like the associations he talks about. But, if you can just keep your "clone insurance" current, then I wonder if there will be enough of a deterrence with just the negative associations.

[caution4]

I get that in an open world pvp sort of setting that the idea of gangling another player could mean death for the initiator, but my worries lie with those hacking / exploiting. See DayZ for example.

[kefkah]

Only other perma-death mmo that I know of was that salem one. Interesting

[Wormwood]

For the interested: http://massively.joystiq.co...