Dev Box: MySims Kingdom’s Lead Designer Hunter Howe

It usually takes a small army to create the video games that we play, and, most of the time, all of the focus gets put on the game itself, and not on the people that came together to make it. Our Dev Box feature takes a look at some of the unsung heroes that have committed their lives to entertaining all of us, and gives them a chance to answer some of our burning questions.

Name: Hunter Howe
Title: Lead Designer
Most recent game worked on: MySims Kingdom

1. What game has most influenced you, and why?

Hard question to answer! Nonetheless, I’ll have to go with “Final Fantasy IV” back on the SNES. Not only was it a game that really showed the legitimacy of videogames as a means for storytelling, it proved to me that game characters could be as compelling, charming, and memorable as counterparts in other media – even if they were simple, early 16-bit generation sprites. Seeing 5 little guys nod at each other in unison before journeying into the center of the moon had never felt so epic! I just remember being so psyched to be adventuring with such cool characters.

Anyway, despite “MySims Kingdom” being a very different game in a million ways, I hope we were able to recreate some of that feeling. As a player, I love spending my gameplay time hanging out with a bunch of characters that are engaging, iconic, and, ultimately, memorable. [Continue Reading]