"We want to give rewards even in that tutorial where you can do nothing wrong because that is what society has led American kids to expect."- industry veteran Don Daglow on how American society is different, and how many differences lead to games performing differently than in Europe. In this free GDC Europe 2012 lecture, Daglow - co-creator of the '90s online game Neverwinter Nights, one of the first graphical MMORPGs, offers up 5 tips for designing for American online players, including advice on user interface, the amount of text in-game, and the craving for recognition as an individual. The intriguingly titled '5 Things About American Online Gamers that Surprise European Developers' is now available for free on GDC Vault, and is embedded above. Daglow will present again at GDC Europe 2013, this time on the 'Treasures and Traps in the Next Gen Transition,' which is likely to be just as riveting. Passes for GDC Europe 2013 are available now.
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Video: Don Daglow's 5 design tips to cater to American online gamers
Don Daglow, creator of the first graphical MMORPG Neverwinter Nights, shares his observations of why online European games fail to appeal to American players, in this free GDC Europe 2012 video.