Stührmann, Arend (CCP Games)

Thema: "Reconciling Development Needs and Customer Demands in a MMORPG"

Arend Stührmann is the Associate Producer for the project bringing EVE Online to the Peoples' Republic of China and the development of EVE Online for the Apple Macintosh and Linux operating systems in partnership with Transgaming Technologies.

He also manages the EVE Voice project providing in-game voice communication to EVE Online players in partnership with Vivox, as well as the EVE API data export project. In addition he assists in the management of the Reykjavik game design and content development departments. Arend moved to Iceland to join CCP as an intern in 2006 and became an Associate Producer in July 2007.

Summary of presentation:
This talk will examine how CCP has developed and adapted feedback mechanisms to more effectively develop features and improvements in EVE Online based on input from players of the game. Examples will be given from the five year history of EVE Online to illustrate how input from the game’s players has shaped features and implementation priorities. We will examine the process leading to the creation of a democratically elected council of players, the Council of Stellar Management. In particular we will consider how CCP addressed the concerns raised about the degree of influence players could have on the development process.

Arend Stührmann
www.ccpgames.com