(Not) The End Of The World was a a videogame developer panel discussion jointly produced by International Game Developers Association-Austin and KLRU on January 4, 2013 in KLRU’s Studio 6A. The featured videos consist of the 12 main questions asked of the panel that evening.

The discussion both played with the idea of the predicted end of the world in 2012 and the state of the gaming industry while highlighting the work done in Austin on five very high-profile games DARKSIDERS 2, DISHONORED, PIRATE101, HALO 4 and STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC. Seven panelists from the five studios with a base in Austin representing these games answered questions meant to provide basic understanding about how they were able to enjoy success in a year marked by difficulty, and their foresight into the future in a world that has yet to end.

Thanks to IGDA-Austin, our panelists and moderator, our volunteer staff and our studio audience!

Moderator
Jennifer Bullard, chair IGDA-Austin

Panelists (from left to right)
Arkane Studios
Harvey Smith, co-creative director, DISHONORED
Raphael Colantonio, co-creative director, DISHONORED

Certain Affinity
Max Hoberman, president/creative director, HALO 4 (Co-development. multiplayer, Forge mode)

KingsIsle Entertainment*
Todd Coleman, creative director, PIRATE101

Vigil Games**
Colin Bonstead, technical director, DARKSIDERS 2
Ryan Stefanelli, producer, DARKSIDERS 2

Bioware Austin
Damion Schubert, lead designer, STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC

Show credits:
Producers – John Henderson, JJ Weber
Director – JJ Weber
Technical Director – Pat Kondelis
Video Engineer – Chris Ostertag
Camera – Michael Emery, Robert Moorhead, Steve Maedl
Jib Camera – Jerin Crandell
Floor Manager – Steve Maedl
Audio – Kevin Cochran, Seph Price
Graphics – Paul Russel
Event Volunteers – Kalu Victor Ude, James Cousar, Lee VanWallene

IGDA-Austin:
Jennifer Bullard, chair
Billy Joe Cain, vice chair
Bryon Lloyd, treasurer
John Henderson, secretary
Mary Rose Monkowski, visual officer

*Todd Coleman has announced his departure from KingsIsle and the development team he helped found to pursue “a new company, a new game, a new story.”

** Vigil Games’ parent company THQ sold its assets as part of their bankruptcy, though Vigil itself was not purchased. Colin Bonstead and Ryan Stefanelli were part of the team that became Crytek USA, led by former Vigil general manager Dave Adams.