20 replies to this topic

[ApolloArtemis]

Greetings my fellow MoOers! 

 

So it seems that lately our staff keeps growing and growing, a week and a half ago I had the pleasure of introducing our Lead Community Manager: Nyx. This week it is my pleasure to introduce to you all our highly creative and talented Loremaster: Calitexa! She is our official Loremaster and will be joining us on the forums  so let's all give her a warm welcome. I asked her a couple of questions so we could get to know her a bit better, please feel free to ask her any questions you may have in regards to backstories or lore! 

---

 

How long have you been in the video game industry?

I’m new – only about 2 years. I was hired a few months after my graduation from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. I have a degree in English Writing and Rhetoric with a focus in creative fiction.  

 

What was your first video game industry job? 

I started as a Research Assistant with Wargaming Austin. I’ve helped do military research for World of Tanks, World of Warships, and other Wargaming prototype games. 

 

How long have you been with Wargaming?
I’m about to hit my two year anniversary. 

 

What do you do at Wargaming?
I am a Creative Writer, primarily on the Master of Orion IP. I started over year ago writing the background document called the Story Bible – it’s an ongoing and ever adapting document that fleshes out the races and worlds of Master of Orion. I’ve researched and played the original games to work on creating new lore and information that stays true to the original material. I do a lot of other writing for Master of Orion as well, but I don’t want to bore you all to tears or give up any secrets now, haha. It’s basically my dream job and I love every minute of it! 

 

What is your favorite Wargaming memory?

I went through the interview process for my job in late 2013. It was a long process that took many weeks and I was a nervous wreck the entire time. I got the call for an official job offer the day after Christmas, which was the best gift in the world for any new grad! 

 

Hometown?
I’ve lived in Austin for a few years now, but I mostly grew up a few hours away in Fredericksburg, TX. 

 

What is your favorite Sci-Fi Franchise (movie, game, or literature)?
What an unfair question! I’ll have to say it’s a tie between Mass Effect and BioShock. Both franchises have been hugely inspirational and influential to me. I’ve played them multiple times through different phases of my life and they’re always great. Even as I’m typing this I want to say a hundred other things though, so let’s move on. Haha. 

 

What was the first video game you ever played?
The first game I remember playing by myself and truly getting obsessed over was Legend of Dragoon. It was the first game that I didn’t have to share with my many siblings and I remember playing it for days straight. I think that game probably solidified my love for RPGs and video game narratives (even if the plot was insane).  

 

What current games are you playing?
 I’m currently hundreds of hours deep into Fallout 4 and see no need to ever emerge. Seriously, do not engage in conversation with me about Fallout 4 unless you are prepared for the consequences. I’ve also been playing Neko Atsume on my phone and have no shame about that. 

[calitexa]

EmP64213, on 08 December 2015 - 11:05 AM, said:

Welcome Calitexa!

 

A question, what do you think about MoO 1&2 lore quality?

 

I think the lore of the previous games was a really fantastic jumping off point for a lot of fans to craft their own stories and fiction. WG Austin is doing the same thing now! The previous lore was/is rich for expansion and we are really taken the time to make sure we are making the original lore proud. So, to actually answer your question... I think the quality of the original lore is sturdy enough to stay relevant through the decades and support expansion!  

[Gaea]

My turn. How many cats have you collected in Neko Atsume? Will we ever incorporate cats (as pets) in MoO?

Edited by Gaea, 08 December 2015 - 07:42 PM.

[calitexa]

Also, HELLO! Sorry for my delayed greetings, whoops. I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks about the universe and to answer any questions you might have. Honestly... I'm just excited to finally talk to people as obsessed about the universe as I am.  

[calitexa]

Gaea, on 08 December 2015 - 01:42 PM, said:

My turn. How many cats have you collected in Neko Atsume? Will we ever incorporate cats (as pets) in MoO?

 

I got the Billy the Kitten and Senor Don Gato, so I would say things are pretty serious. And who needs cats for pets when you can finally live the dream of any cat I've ever met - total military dominance. (AKA cats are evil and I am a dog person, haha.) 

[Vahouth]

Welcome Calitexa!

I have a question posted in the Sakkra section about their origins.

[calitexa]

Vahouth, on 08 December 2015 - 02:09 PM, said:

Welcome Calitexa!

I have a question posted in the Sakkra section about their origins.

 

On it! I'm still new to dealing with forums so it'll take me a bit of time to get my eyes on all the threads. :P 

[JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg]

Gaea, on 08 December 2015 - 07:42 PM, said:

My turn. How many cats have you collected in Neko Atsume? Will we ever incorporate cats (as pets) in MoO?

Neko Atsume cats influence is definitely dangerous for MOO cats...

Vahouth, on 08 December 2015 - 08:09 PM, said:

 

I have a question posted in the Sakkra section about their origins.

It's much easier to find info if it's possible to post links on it.

 

 

Edited by JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg, 08 December 2015 - 08:30 PM.

[Gaea]

JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg, on 08 December 2015 - 08:25 PM, said:

Neko Atsume cats influence is definitely dangerous for MOO cats...

 

Um, Methinks you are wrong. Neko Atsume cats are adorable and playful and will bring peace to the world. You can still play MoO when you're in peace.

[calitexa]

Gaea, on 08 December 2015 - 02:29 PM, said:

 

Um, Methinks you are wrong. Neko Atsume cats are adorable and playful and will bring peace to the world. You can still play MoO when you're in peace.

 

JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg, on 08 December 2015 - 02:25 PM, said:

Neko Atsume cats influence is definitely dangerous for MOO cats...

 

Haaaaha. Don't worry, I can keep my love for Neko Atsume out of my professional work. Neko Atsume cats = cute. Real life cats = allergen bombs with claws. Mrrshan = elegant and ruthless space pirates with LOTS of guns. 

[JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg]

Is it still possible to separate an idea of a cat and a cat as a sample ? It's such a pity that Tigers are not space pirates, isn't ? Tigers are cute, aren't they ?

Edited by JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg, 08 December 2015 - 08:50 PM.

[Vahouth]

calitexa, on 08 December 2015 - 08:22 PM, said:

 

On it! I'm still new to dealing with forums so it'll take me a bit of time to get my eyes on all the threads. :P 

 

Thanks.

Also now that I found a loremaster ... What is the explanation behind the starlanes in the lore? If there is any I mean.

I always thought of them as a network constructed by the Elder races in their prime, that the fledgling empires, simply stumbled upon. Am I close?

Edited by Vahouth, 08 December 2015 - 08:55 PM.

[calitexa]

Vahouth, on 08 December 2015 - 02:54 PM, said:

 

Thanks.

Also now that I found a loremaster ... What is the explanation behind the starlanes in the lore? If there is any I mean.

I always thought of them as a network constructed by the Elder races in their prime, that the fledgling empires, simply stumbled upon. Am I close?

 

There is no new lore regarding the existence of starlanes. Most of the creative work so far has been on worlds, locations, and races. We are working on expanding our lore documents to technology and technical aspects of the universe... but that is still in the very early phases. I personally love your theory! 

[Joshuashalo]

Welcome calitexa  to the MASTER OF ORION CONQUER THE STAR  FORUMS. 

[Varadhon]

Welcome to the party, Calitexa! I'm really glad to see some additional WG interaction on the site.

[lockphase]

Welcome, maybe a summary of each faction lore from MoO1 to date would give everyone a good primer. Cheers !

[JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg]

Does anyone can share info about Marvel universe and Star Lords 1988 related to MOO4 ?

[Mikko_M]

ElPozoleOlmeca, on 08 December 2015 - 12:28 AM, said:

 

What do you do at Wargaming?
I am a Creative Writer, primarily on the Master of Orion IP. I started over year ago writing the background document called the Story Bible – it’s an ongoing and ever adapting document that fleshes out the races and worlds of Master of Orion. I’ve researched and played the original games to work on creating new lore and information that stays true to the original material. I do a lot of other writing for Master of Orion as well, but I don’t want to bore you all to tears or give up any secrets now, haha. It’s basically my dream job and I love every minute of it! 

 

Were the endless Mrrshan cat jokes on one of the developer videos and the weak and childish sounding Sakkra advisor part of your story plans? And if so why do you insist on taking a Walt Disney like approach to this game, which will appeal to little children mostly who most likely aren`t the biggest audience for a space 4X strategy game?  Also you don`t have to try and be super funny on every part of the game. I mean MOO2 wasn`t overly humorous and it still rules this genre even today.

Edited by Mikko_M, 19 December 2015 - 02:16 PM.

[Birdie_Sparrow]

Mikko_M, on 19 December 2015 - 02:13 PM, said:

 

Were the endless Mrrshan cat jokes on one of the developer videos and the weak and childish sounding Sakkra advisor part of your story plans? And if so why do you insist on taking a Walt Disney like approach to this game, which will appeal to little children mostly who most likely aren`t the biggest audience for a space 4X strategy game?  Also you don`t have to try and be super funny on every part of the game. I mean MOO2 wasn`t overly humorous and it still rules this genre even today

 

​Cat jokes did not come from the lore team and will never come from the lore team. We may not be purrrfect but we try out best.... sorry sorry I just had to do that...

[Mikko_M]

Birdie_Sparrow, on 21 December 2015 - 04:13 AM, said:

 

​Cat jokes did not come from the lore team and will never come from the lore team. We may not be purrrfect but we try out best.... sorry sorry I just had to do that...

 

Good. Still there seems to be rather mixed ideas among the developer team on which way the project should be going at least as far as the races are concerned. And this can probably be seen most clearly on this developer video:

 

 

where one of the original MOO developers talks about how he wanted to make the alien races so that they aren`t just Earth animals in space but unique alien species, after which we see the Mrrshan representative telling cat jokes and Earth based cat stories. Now personally if you ask me you should follow the design path set by that original MOO developer rather than try to be "super funny" with endless Earth based animal jokes/stories, slow speaking sci-fi robots from the 60s, or advisors that look and sound like they were stolen straight from some Disney program.