Schilling talks Green Monster Games

by Justin Murray { Jan 2nd 2007 at 12:00PM }

Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox ace pitcher and warrior-nerd (term applied to us nerds who happen to be physically fit), is a well-known MMO fan. In fact, he is such a fan he decided to start his own company -- Green Monster Games -- just to make one of his own. Now, he is giving us a little more details.

In an interview with the Escapist, Schilling explained the inner workings of his company and a little bit of his vision. In an indirect crack at EA, Schilling explained he is building his company with the employee in mind; he is offering 100% insurance and matching 401k, a pair of oddities in many businesses. He states that even with Todd McFarlane and R.A. Salvatore on the team, he won't simply bank on their names and wants to make a game that appeals to everyone.

Schilling is certainly on the right track. A major key to making a great game is making sure your employees are happy. Building a Mordor-style slave camp doesn't help the quality of games, or the bottom line. Hopefully Schilling's employment strategies pay off with a good game; we'd be more than willing to support it.

Tags: 100% insurance, 100%Insurance, 401k, Boston Red Sox, BostonRedSox, Curt Schilling, CurtSchilling, EA, EA employment practice, EA sweat shop, EaEmploymentPractice, EaSweatShop, Green Monster Games, GreenMonsterGames, MMO, Red Sox, RedSox, sweat shop, SweatShop

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

thumbs @ Jan 10th 2007 2:24PM

Not sure if the mordor comment is directed at EA, but that is definitly not their type of work enviroment. I work a few doors down from their building in chicago, and their whole first floor is recreation. ping pong, air hockey, and a lounge with bean bags and flatscreens. maybe, they keep the whips and chains up stairs, but the people hanging out on the first floor look to be having a pretty good time.

Kevin @ Jan 2nd 2007 1:00PM

As a Sox fan, one thing I can say is Curt Schilling is not "fit" as you say. He's got a beer gut that makes David Wells look svelte. If Gabe Kapler was a gamer, then I could relate to what you're saying!

umm... @ Jan 2nd 2007 1:06PM

#2

Try to keep that in mind as you're dodging one of his fastballs.

Kevin @ Jan 2nd 2007 1:27PM

@#3
Wouldn't even step into the batters box!! Haha!
Actually, I had the priviledge of being at game 2 of the 2004 World Series and seeing Mr. Schilling pitch a masterpiece on a bloody ankle.
I'll never forget that game.

Geoff @ Jan 2nd 2007 2:14PM

@#1 thumbs:

They are speaking in reference to the harsh overtime hours forced upon programmers by EA without overtime pay. It really is a tough job, but EA continually does it to push games out faster and faster, when all it does is push games out with more and more bugs.

Also I'd be tempted to buy a game from this company just because it has good business ethics.

Billyok @ Jan 2nd 2007 5:48PM

Yes, but will any New Yorkers play his game once it's released? If the 2001 Series and the 2004 ALCS are any indication, Schilling might want to pour some marketing money into Queens instead of Manhattan.

Curt Schilling @ Jan 3rd 2007 1:29AM

The Mordor comment about EA was not mine. I have never worked there (hell I've never worked anywhere really) so it would not be my place to make a comment like that in the first place.
I do appreciate the fact that this was a very clean interview, my comments we're not cut and paste, and his responses were opinions and stated as such. That's not a common occurence in the sports world.
As far as New York gamers go, I know this much, hard core gamers play good games:)