Interview with Zei, owner of Legends of Terram

[cpvr]

Zei is the owner of Legends of Terram, and below is her responses to our questions that we sent her:


Hi CPVR, thanks for taking the time to interview me today. I am in fact developing Legends of Terram and until this point it has been extremely hush hush. The word "Terram" means world or land, so the actual name is Legends of the World and/or Legends of the Land. The reason behind this name was that the theme of the game is adventure, and when you adventure you explore the land! Seems obvious enough? Our staff is very small at the moment, but it consists of myself as the owner and pixel artist, Lutcikaur as the game programmer, @Icy as the website programmer, Simpling as our head writer, and we're currently without a site artist. (So we're currently looking for one.)

As far as features go, we have a lot planned. I'd like to open up fully functioning with the website and the game. This means the site will be completely in tact: Forums, Messaging, Markets, Pet Profiles, User Profiles, Mini Games, Dailies, Credit Shop, Contests, etc. As for the game: It will run on single player, one season, one land, main home. Until the next update.

1. What made you start your own game? Were you inspired by any sites?
Being completely honest the start of the game just happened upon me like this: Hey.. I really want to own a game. Simple as that. I was inspired by sim sites like Furry-Paws, Vis-Servo and the like.

2. How long have you been involved with pet games? How about SIM games?
Neopets was the first game I ever played back when I was 6 or 7. Being 19 now I've been involved with games like this for well over 10 years. This also includes sim games as I picked them up off of neopets when I was about 8.

3. Do you consider yourself a die-hard fan of both genres? Which one do you prefer the most?
I used to be only for Neopets, and the sites like it. Recently I've looked fonder upon sim sites, as pet sites (at least to me) grow repetitive and lack originality. But that doesn't hold true for all of them. I am a pretty die-hard fan of all sites being built, as I love to watch them grow and succeed because any new site has the potential to boom!

4. How old were you when you first starting playing pet/sim games? What was the first game that you played?
See Question 2.

5. Currently your site is going through some updates, could you tell us about these things? A recode?
The site layout is being recoded, and the game has been completely scrapped in hopes of making a better and more efficient product. We're hoping to find an artist by the end of October so things will flow a lot smoother. However, the main pet art is completed.

6. What are some unique things that your game will have? Could you tell us anything?
Have you ever played pokemon? I'm sure most of us have. My site will not only include features that keep you engaged text-based, but now you will be able to play as your selected character and roam different areas, through different seasons, different events, battle, collect items, and become the greatest Legend of Terram.

7. You were recently hired to work as moderator for KingdomSky, do you still work there? How did the opportunity come about?
Indeed I was, unfortunately I had to hault the process of LoT while working there, and along with my job in the outside world as well as school I couldn't dedicate the amount of time needed for the site. The opportunity simply came about by noticing a call for moderators for the site on their facebook page! I'm sad I couldn't continue working w

8: Tell us about yourself though - what do you do for fun?
My real name is Ashley, I'm 19 and currently taking up Management and Finance at a local college. During the day I work at a bank as a bank teller. I mostly enjoy spending time with my family, and boyfriend, as well as drawing. Playing all sorts of sims, pet sites, and gaming on my xbox the things I do most when I find myself with free time. (I recently picked up the addiction of pokemon on my nintendo DS again!)

9: What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Like stated above some of my favorite hobbies are drawing, and xbox-ing. But I do enjoy the occasional camping and movie nights. I absolutely love nature, despite how much time I spend indoors. XD

10: Where do you see the "pet site/sim game" scene going in the next year or two? How about 5 years?
It's in it's very early stages, so I hope it will be completed in a year. Here's to hoping though! I'll need a lot of help, and dedication from staff, friends, etc to see this site grows strong. My long-term goals with Legends of Terram will be an MMO meets pet site mashup. I really want it to be ever changing with events, holidays, etc.

11: How many pets will your site have? What's your art style like?
Currently we have 5 pets, or legends, to choose from. I'm hoping to expand it to really get a unique feeling with each character you have. Our art style is undetermined, but the legendary @Kiku made our pets!


12: What did you think when Viacom bought Neopets? Do you think they change the game for the better, or worse?
Personally, I haven't been a part of Neopets for some time now, but since Viacom bought them out I can't say I really like them. The site itself is run a lot better, but they've really sold out. Everything is perked up for users who pay, and it hardly focuses on the neopets anymore. I feel like it's gone to the petpets and everything else. Absolutely insane! Not to mention, with a larger number of users playing you can't help but feel like just a number now.

13: If you could meet any site owner, who would you like to meet? What would you discuss?
That's a really good question. The reason it's a good question is because I've met most owners. The only owner I haven't really personally spoke with is @Keith. If I could speak with him, I'd have way too many questions for him and probably bore him to death. xD But I'd be curious how he came about Subeta, what motivated him, what his initial funds were, etc.

14: In terms of advertising and marketing, how will you promote your new game? Do you plan on lauching advertising campaigns?
I'm hoping I'll have completed my Marketing college course by then. But I really want to have a unique campaign. I'll of course do the typical facebook ads, VPL ads, and the like but I really want to find something that will make people say "Wow. I really want to play that game!" Although, most sites now gather members through word of mouth.

15: You're a fan of Apple right? Or do you prefer Microsoft? What are your favorite Apple products?
I love Apple. I was personally, and utterly shaken when Steve Jobs died. I stayed home from work and school that day. A large idol in my life passed, and I'm so afraid Apple isn't going to be the same now. But I trust their products. It's not the brand name, it's the fact that I've used their products and they're extremely reliable for an artist, for a mathematician, for anyone!
Currently, I own an iPhone 4S, and a Macbook Pro. If they come out with a TV, and / or camera COUNT ME IN!

16: Do you work outside the web? If yes, what do you do? How long have you been working there?
I do work outside the web. I'm currently a bank teller for Bank of America. I've only been with them for a few weeks, but prior I was a produce clerk, pharmacy technician, and cashier for Hannaford Bros. Supermarkets!

17: What's more important in a game, the art, community, features, or all of them?
Like with any site the art needs to be stunning. People typically leave if the site's art isn't consistent or isn't nice to look at. But I always would love a community, a strong community. Full of people who make everyone feel a part of it! But what I really am going to bring to the table is the features. I want to start challenging pet and sim sites to really start jumping from just text based, to full fledged games!

18: What do you think helps make a pet site become a "Success", in terms of, having a lot of users online, and cash being generated all the time?
To me, success is only achieved when the users are happy. When all users are happy. So you might be thinking, "Well then there won't ever be success for Zei!" You may be right, but at least I'll always be working hard to make sure my site is up to date, functioning, and ever improving!

19: Will your site have a cash shop? What type of things will it offer?
I do intend to have a cash shop. At the moment, the only determined item will be upgrades, as far as what they do will be determined at a later date.

20: How many pets will your site open up with? How can we obtain pets? Is it via exploring, or can we create them? Can you show us any pets that are currently on the site, and will be available when the site opens?
There are 5 pets available, and that will be available upon site opening. (There may be more.) Pets (or legends) will actually be made once you've signed up. You'll have a character creation option, with several empty slots. You can choose from the five, and customize them further from there.


21: What upcoming games are you excited for?
I'm 100000% excited for Flight Rising. @Undel has done an extraordinary job organizing everything, and I'm floored by the artwork. It's completely enticing and I'm following them everywhere possible.

So I believe that sums up the interview. I want to thank CPVR for asking all these questions! It was a fun way to start giving a bit of information about my site. ~ @Zei

[SpunkiSpirou]

I like the Hyena-type pet

I think Keith made Subeta after he saw it in a dream or something, I either read that or I was told it.

[Undel]

The pets are gorgeous! Kiku does amazing work. I love the little bandanas. Can you say if we'll be able to choose our bandana color?

Best of luck to you with this. It sounds great. :-)

[Zei]

@Undel
I'm hoping to get her to color a few different bandanas for them, that way they are a little more unique to each user.

[Ajax]

This was a very good interview. I specifically like part 17 about the features. That is exactly how I feel on that situation.