2. Do you think the gaming industry is underestimating one aspect of interactive entertainment that will take us all by surprise in the early 21st century?

Doug: Without a doubt, we are underestimating many aspects or our industry. You only have to look at the history of this business to know that. Who foresaw Deer Hunter? If I knew what we were all underestimating, I could retire right now and live in the lap of luxury for the rest of my life, but I'm not.

Rather than pick one specific thing, I suggest a number of areas that may suddenly leap to the fore... Probably the easiest is cross-platform multiplayer gaming. That's a no brainer. I don't think that anybody is in any doubt that this will happen. The big question is when? Don't forget that since 1994, every year has been pronounced to be the year when multiplayer gaming will really take off! Soap operas are the biggest draw for entertainment on TV and movies. Will they transfer to the gaming community in a few years' time? I don't know, but they might. Reference libraries, music, and movies are already here and will all get bigger. There may be an increase in the retro movement. Many industries revisit key moments from the past.

We may also be overestimating. Contrary to some beliefs in the industry, not everyone wants to be interactive. People still prefer, despite what some cleverly targeted polls will tell you, to be entertained passively - hence TV, movies, and books. I do not believe that our market is limitless. It is certainly bigger today, but it is finite. One of the challenges for Red Storm has been to attract Tom Clancy's huge readership and convince them that they can get more out of his stories by playing a game about and beyond them as well. We have made only small inroads, and it will be interesting to see if we can achieve more in that area through Anne McCaffrey's readership when we publish our Freedom game based on that trilogy next fall.

Next: Doug Littlejohns (cont.)