Lunch with David Luehmann

[Myll Erik]

Hello All,

I’d like to help everyone get to know David Luehmann, the new addition to the End of Nations team. Some of you might know Dave already from his time at Microsoft Game Studios where he was the General Manager of studios such as Ensemble, FASA, ACES, and Turn 10! Dave also spent time working with FASA as the Executive Producer of MechWarrior 4. Dave was also one of the original guys behind Earthworm Jim 1 & 2! Here is Dave’s full list of projects;

• Age of Empires Online (2011), Microsoft Game Studios
• Halo Wars (2009), Microsoft Game Studios
• Forza Motorsport 3 (2009), Microsoft Game Studios
• Forza Motorsport 2 (2007), Microsoft Game Studios
• Mass Effect (2007), Microsoft Game Studios
• Project Gotham Racing 4 (2007), Microsoft Game Studios
• Shadowrun (2007), Microsoft Game Studios
• Viva Piñata: Party Animals (2007), Microsoft Game Studios
• Microsoft Flight Simulator X (2006), Microsoft Game Studios
• Age of Empires III (2005), Microsoft Game Studios
• MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (2004), Microsoft Game Studios
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (2003), Microsoft Game Studios
• MechAssault (2002), Microsoft Game Studios
• MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries (2002), Microsoft Game Studios
• MechWarrior 4: Black Knight (2001), Microsoft Corporation
• MechWarrior 4: Vengeance (2000), Microsoft Corporation
• Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private **** (1997), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• MDK (1997), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Battle Arena Toshinden (1996), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Burning Road (1996), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Powerslave (1996), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Skeleton Warriors (1996), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.Doom Troopers: Mutant Chronicles (1995), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Earthworm Jim 2 (1995), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Exo Squad (1995), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams (1995), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Crossroads of Time (1995), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• The 11th Hour (1995), Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd.
• BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat (1994), Extreme Entertainment Group, Inc.
• Choplifter III (1993), Extreme Entertainment Group, Inc.
• Earthworm Jim (1994), Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
• The 7th Guest (1993), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Global Gladiators (1993), Virgin Games, Inc.
• The Terminator (1993), Virgin Games, Ltd.
• Dune (1992), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992), Virgin Games, Inc.
• KGB (1992), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Monopoly Deluxe (1992), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Shuttle: The Space Flight Simulator (1992), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Risk, (1991), Virgin Interactive, Inc.
• Conan: The Cimmerian (1991), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Vengeance of Excalibur (1991), Virgin Games, Inc.
• Overlord (1990), Virgin Mastertronic, Ltd.
• Corporation (1990), Virgin Interactive, Inc.
• Ivan “Iron Man” Stewart’s Super Off Road (1990), Virgin Mastertronic, Inc.
• Wonderland (1990), Virgin Mastertronic, Inc.
• Spirit of Excalibur (1990), Virgin Mastertronic, Ltd.
• Clue: Master Detective (1989) Virgin Mastertronic, Inc.
• Spot: The Video Games (1990), Virgin Interactive Inc.
• Jimmy White’s Whirlwind Snooker (1991), Virgin Games, Inc.
• New York Warriors (1990), Arcadia Systems, Inc.
• Silver Surfer (1990), Arcadia Systems, Inc.
• Spot (1990), Virgin Mastertronic, Ltd.


I know his background, but I don’t know what makes Dave tick. I don’t even know Dave’s favorite color! I invited Dave to lunch in order for me to get to know him better and I got to thinking; I bet a bunch of you guys would like to know certain things about him as well. That got me thinking some more, why don’t I make this in to a fun experience for us that involves all of you.

If you were going to lunch with Dave, what would you ask him? What would you want to discuss? Let me know and I will ask him for you!

Keep in mind, we won't be able to reveal specific game info that hasn't been released yet and there may be limits to what he can discuss as far as End of Nations is concerned. That being said, I’m sure he would be happy to answer anything about his background in the industry or maybe even about the games he plays now.

Post your questions below and when I’m out to lunch with Dave I will ask away!

[Sunsp0t]

pssssst Dave ... when they are not looking , can you sneak in a shadow cat and uziel into the game please ... They'll NEVER know it's in there ... !!!!

Glad to have you onboard and thanks for the mechwarrior 4 games in the past !!!

You can tell him that from me

[OozeDeNoodles]

I see Dave worked on alot of Battletech games (including my favorite, MW 4). As a huge Battletech fan, my question would be:


Is he a Battletech Fan and will he try to bring Elements of the Battletech Universe to EON?

As a side question to you Lance, what's Dave position going to be on the EON-team? I'm guessing something "high-up"?

[Ice_Hole]

That is a LOT of single player games. Or games with a much different multiplayer experience than what I would imagine EoN to be. (Minus AoE Online, which quite honestly I am not too up to snuff on).

Also, you didn't tell us what job he got. I would assume he is working in another management role, or did he step back into a Producer's position? Either way, be sure to welcome David to the team.

- Ice_Hole of OMG Im Drunk

[Draegan]

7th Guest was a great game. What did do on that project?

[Myll Erik]

A few questions I'll be asking -

Where did you grow up? (Where are you from?)
What do you like to do aside from gaming?
All time favorite game?


Let's get some more questions! Ask away!

[Sunsp0t]

You spent 11 years with MS. Thats quite a long investment in a company. Why the career change ?

[Psycodic]

Question: Would you rather play a oversimplified yet super popular game like world of warcraft or a more complicated yet much less popular game like EVE? Ive played both games since launch but left WOW after it became clear that the devs decided that almost everything should be freely available to everyone. Vanillaville USA.
Eve always has been and always will be: http://flic.kr/p/4ykyXS
Question 2: Assumeing you are still working on this game ten years from now, what specific area of development would you prefer to be doing, new content, bugs and patches, interface, or in the cockpit of a no-dachi omnimech dareing other team members to disrespect you?

[Species8472NL]

Question: When Dune was created you must have felt that it would be a change in RTS gaming. Do you feel the same with EoN? What kind of aspect is this change different that Dune ?

[Myll Erik]

Your chance to ask Dave Luehmann questions will end on Wednesday at 3pm PST.