Waukster Online

If you guys haven’t noticed, I changed the header and some themes of the website. To make this change more special, I’m going to publish today an interview with a very important person in the online gaming industry - the Chief Executive Officer and President of Level Up Games, Ms. Jane Walker! I’ve been asking Ms. Jane for this interview for several months now and I’m really thankful she accomodated my request.

Wauks: Hi Ms. Jane! Thanks for accomodating this interview. To start off, how did you end up working for Level up Games?

Jane: Through ePLDT. it’s an industry that was alien to me and I was up for the challenge. My background is fast moving consumer goods or what we all call FMCG, from Dairy products to personal care. I’ve never been in entertainment so I thought how much fun it would be working for a gaming company. Another thing that attracted me back then was seeing the global landscape and how the likes of the U.S. and Korea have evolved, and how the Philippines could one day be a significant player.

Wauks: Are you a gamer? If so, what games do you play?

Jane: i’m a casual gamer and i have preference for simple or what we call mini games. i guess my lifestyle doesn’t allow for too much involvement so i go for games i can play and finish in 15-20 minutes. i like strategy games that are challenging yet entertaining. I didn’t have any preference for any platform but since my exposure to online games, it opened my eyes to another aspect of gaming — interaction. the same feeling i get when playing boardgames at home with friends and family. So I’m really looking forward to BE THERE.

Wauks: What’s your main motivation for working in an online gaming company?

Jane: What facinates me the most is innovation amidst endless possibilities of the online space. One can easily get lost but what arms Level Up is that intimate knowledge of the gamers.

Wauks: Can you give a clue on what are the new games that Level up will bring to the Philippines for 2008?

Jane: There are many games on our radar but we are very careful with our content selection so you can expect only the best. We are looking at acquiring at least 2. Nothing official as of yet. Suspense…

Wauks: Any update on Ragnarok 2?

Jane: We have no exact dates yet but all efforts and resources are being invested behind this game. it will be worth the wait I assure you.

Wauks: What will happen to Ragnarok 1 when Ragnarok 2 is released?

Jane: As mentioned before, Gravity and Level Up will continue to support RO1 and will be treated as an independent game with its own community. So much resources still awaits RO1. the players can expect more contents.

Wauks: What’s your reaction to the claims of your competitors about them being the number 1 online gaming company in the Philippines?

Jane: The adboard has spoken. The Adboard allows you to prove your case but as we all know, the claims could not be substantiated by our competitor. LU is very responsible in making claims. We have the most extensive monthly survey covering 9,000 cafes and more than 120,000 seats which is the closest you can get to a full blown audit. However, we know our limits so we use it for internal purposes.

Wauks: What’s your opinon about the sudden resurgence of Ragnarok Online? It’s 5 years old already but it’s still kicking!

Jane: Of course it was not a surprise given its loyal and huge fanbase. it’s phenomenal and no game has ever replicated what Ragnarok has achieved. It remains to be strong as it has the perfect combination of strong content, solid community and a very driven team behind the game!

Wauks: Do you have any message to all Level up gamers reading this interview?

Jane: Thank you for always being a part of the Level up! Community. You rock!

Wauks: Do you have any message to all Level up employees reading this interview?

Jane: To the Level Up! Family, you’re the best!

Again, I’d like to thank Ms. Jane for taking the time to answer my questions for this special interview. On a side note, let me just say that Jane is one of the best things that happened to not just Level Up, but to the industry. I look forward going to work everyday because of good bosses like her.

That’s a wrap! More updates, especially on Perfect World, later.