By Allan Maurer
April 8, 2009
http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=7234
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC-Dr. Michael Capps, president of hugely successful Epic Games, developer of Games of War and the Unreal game engine, plans to tell the North Carolina Technology Association CEO conference about the unique culture among game developers. "Like the way I have to throw people out of here at 2 a.m. and tell them to go home," he says.
Other speakers at the annual event include Dr. Jim Goodnight CEO of SAS Institute and Ed Nusbaum, CEO of Grant Thornton. The event's theme is "Game Changers: Leaders Making a Difference."
Capps tells TechJournal South the NCTA members "Are not my normal audience, but I thought they would get a kick out of hearing about game development culture." Capps says he's pleased to see games getting the attention of the mainstream technology community.
"Games have always been the stepchild of the technology business," he says, "because they're not serious." Now, of course, he notes, "They include simulation software, medical applications, military training and education."
The Research Triangle area has not only become a hub for game developers with a dozen companies in the sector and 1,000 employees, it's a leader in the development of serious games, Capps says.
"We're also the game engine capital of the world," Capps says. "So it's a match made in heaven." Game engines provide a software system for the development of video games, including visual development tools, 3D rendering, and reusable software components. Epic Games' Unreal Engine is one of the most popular, used by dozens of other companies. At least three other local companies also license game engines.
The growing game development sector in the Triangle is a good thing for a number of reasons, Capps adds. "People like to come where they know there are a lot of jobs." It also allows them to "poach" talent from each other, he says. Epic currently has a notice on its job board seeking developers.
Capps attributes much of Epic's success to its ability to look at what's coming in game technology and stay ahead of the curve.
Founded as Potomac Computer Systems in 1991 by Tim Sweeney, its founder and CEO, it released a series of incredibly popular "Unreal" games in 1998 and moved its headquarters to Cary, NC in 1999, changing its name to Epic Games. Sweeney, says Capps, "made good guesses" about where to take the company technologically.
In 2006 it released its Xbox 360 and PC game "Gears of War." In 2007 it released "Gears of War II," also hugely popular.
The company also takes good care of its game-buyer fans, Capps says. "Games have a life beyond the day we sell them. If you buy a game from Epic, you'll get a year of more new stuff." Epic just released a gigabyte of new content for its Unreal Tournament 3 package, free to owners of the game.
Right now, Capps says, Epic is again looking ahead. "We're guessing what's next and getting ready for it," he says.
Capps will also keynote the upcoming Triangle Game Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center and Marriott City Center April 29.
"Ten years ago," Capps says, "if we held a games conference here, there would probably only have been a handful of people from Red Storm and Epic Games. Now we're expecting 500 people for this event.
The conference includes a lineup of speakers and tracks covering game technology, serious games, game design and production, games and media and the business of games.
In addition to lectures and panels, TGC will feature an Expo, Career Lounge and Game Development University, a student-oriented exhibition to help aspiring game developers tap into educational resources and make connections with industry leaders.
Online: www.epicgames.com; www.nctechnology.org; www.trianglegameconfernece.com
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