INTERVIEW: Faunasphere

As part of MMO month, Casual spoke with Toby Ragaini, director of game development at Big Fish Games, about the company’s latest contribution to bridging the gap between hardcore and casual audiences.

CG.biz: Considering the virtual world building elements of Faunasphere, the game seems far from typical for an MMO. For our readers who know nothing about the game, what is it that distinguishes it from more traditional examples?

TR: Faunasphere is indeed far from typical. As a Fauna Caretaker, you’re not only taking care of your Fauna, you’re also creating a world for them and your friends to inhabit. Everything about the characters and environments was designed with accessibility in mind.

To that end, we’ve included all the great social gameplay of an MMO without the conflict and grief that some of these games engender. And all this is presented in an accessible and charming manner that we’re confident casual gamers will find appealing.

CG.biz: What are the advantages of the game’s microtransaction and premium subscription model?

TR: Faunasphere allows people to play for free, and without ads. I’d say that’s the most important advantage. Should players, at some point, decide that they want the ability to care for more Fauna, or just want to spruce up their Faunasphere in a special way, then we’re happy to provide those services to them.

CG.biz: How do you plan to engage and maintain the player community that builds up around Faunasphere?

TR: Faunasphere has been developed from the ground up as a service. For us, the launch date is just the beginning. We will be constantly updating the game, and engaging with our customers through forums and blog updates to determine how to best serve the Faunasphere community. For me, having that direct line to the customer is the best part of operating an MMO.

CG.biz: As the casual audience expands, which area are you aiming at with the cuteness of the visuals and the non-violent gameplay?

TR: Faunasphere appeals to a very wide range of people, but we’re seeing the most interest from women who socialise on the web. Faunasphere provides a comfortable environment where old friends can mingle, and new friends can be introduced. It also happens to be a fun, compelling game.

CG.biz: And what inspired Faunasphere’s world, as it defies conventions about MMOs?

TR: We saw the powerful way in which MMOs bring people together, but were disappointed in that most seemed to limit their appeal to either children, or young men. For Faunasphere, we envisioned an MMO that our mums and wives would not only find accessible, but would actually want to play.

CG.biz: What are the advantages that the browser based model offers players and those who host MMO?

TR: Accessibility and security. Increasingly, people are unwilling to download and install programs on their computer and for many reasons. Not only is the browser a convenient and ubiquitous platform, it also provides an increased sense of security for users.

CG.biz: Until relatively recently, to consider an MMO as anything related to casual gaming might be deemed as slightly unreasonable. However, as the remit of what ‘casual’ encapsulates, it seems the boundaries of the two are finally overlapping. Is that process something Faunasphere has managed to take advantage of?

TR: We’re absolutely convinced that there is an enormous opportunity at the intersection of casual games and MMOs. Faunasphere was designed to overlap these two historically distinct audiences, and based on our beta feedback, I believe we are succeeding.

faunasphere.com