Rob Pardo learns from his daughter
by Mike Schramm 
Jun 13th 2007 at 4:50PM
Gamasutra has a few Father's Day week tidbits up about game designers who are also fathers, and how that affects their work. One of their interviews today is with Rob Pardo, who is VP of Game Design with Blizzard. He talks about how he plays with his daughter, who apparently plays a mean 54 warlock. Maybe that's why they're overpowered? I'm joking, I'm joking!Seriously, he says that watching his 5-year-old daughter play lets him in on what's "fundamentally fun" about the game-- he and his team may be working hard to tune raid encounters, but when he sees that his daughter is jumping around buildings or trying on outfits, he's inspired to put a little more flavor into those seemingly mundane experiences as well (I'm a huge fan of putting on items in the dressing room, so I know right where she's coming from on that one). WoW has always been a game that balances the hardcore with the casual very well (in the early and mid-game, if not in the endgame), and apparently the way Rob Pardo makes that happen is by playing with his daughter. Neat.
[ via Wonderland ]
Filed under: Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Birthmark Jun 13th 2007 5:06PM
Dude, it probably IS why warlocks get so much special treatment. lol
Akks Jun 13th 2007 5:45PM
I too am a WoW dad and my 4 year old son loves to play. One of his favorite things is to make new charcters. He spends a lot of time and attention to making them look just right and very cool. My main an orc warrior looks so dorky - I wish I would have had my son make him for me, but he was only 2 then and couldn't handle the keyboard yet, lol. But to carry that one step further I think Blizz should make the charcter generation tools more flexiable and fun.
mystery Jun 13th 2007 5:48PM
My 4 year old daughter's warlock just hit level 37 the other night. I run most of the adventuring for her, just so she'll have another place to take her little girl gnome (who looks just like her, ponytails and all) and bounce her around. Seriously, her favorite thing about WoW is the space bar.
enkafiles Jun 13th 2007 6:21PM
4-year-olds playing WoW?
Is there no age limit in the US?
My three-year-old watches me play sometimes -
she can tell apart nightelves and blood elves,
likes gnomes best and knows what Tauren are...
But still, there's content in the game I really wouldn't want her to see. Not even next year. ^^
uncaringbear Jun 13th 2007 6:42PM
It's a bit freaky knowing that there are 4 year olds play WoW, and that the belf you just grouped with is young enough to be your grand daughter. Having helped two very young kids play WoW, I wish more players took this into consideration, the next time they flip off or act abusive towards another player.
Rich Jun 13th 2007 6:36PM
When I go PvP in the Battlegrounds or during a city defense, I'll let my gf's 6yo press the buttons. He sits next to me with my speedpad in his lap and I'll yell out numbers for my key bindings. He's gotten to the point of not even listening anymore and pressing the buttons he thinks are the right ones. He's not too shabby at all. He wants to play a character but his mom isn't too keen on me playing WoW even less so about her kid playing.
He doesn't like doing it for PvE, I think its knowing he's "killing" another person that excites him. LOL
qqmore Jun 13th 2007 7:00PM
I'm sorry I have to say this: get your kids off the computer, get them away from WoW. Take your kids to the park, do arts and crafts with them, take them to a petting zoo. Get them away from the computer, and especially, get them away from MMPRPGs.
I work in the software development industry--the most depressed adults I know are those who began using computers early.
Magma Jun 13th 2007 8:13PM
I have to agree with number 7 but for different reasons, NO ONE that young should be playing WoW for any reason whatsoever, and I have to actually agree with the Teen rating for once. If you're not a teen, you have no business playing. This is mainly because of how a lot of people tend act and things they say are highly innapropriate for younger ones.
BloodySkull Jun 13th 2007 9:54PM
"I'm a huge fan of putting on items in the dressing room"
LMFAO!! Bet you are Mike...
Isobelle Jun 13th 2007 11:00PM
WOW THAT'S SO COOL THAT HIS 5 YEAR OLD DAUHTER IS ATTUNED FOR HYJAL, AND RUNS BLACK TEMPLE
oh wait... no, that just rob giving handjobs to 25 people in europe. nevermind.
cynmoon Jun 13th 2007 11:01PM
Think about this... do you really want to expose your 4yo to Barrens Chat?
Come to think of it, don't most 4 year olds not know how to read? How are they playing this game? It seems like button mashing wouldn't get you very far.
Unregistered Jun 13th 2007 11:15PM
my kid's 10 and he's got a level 70 warrior, pvp ranking, tons of honor points. all by himself, while only playing weekends basically.
but please, if the designers start to consider the game experience from 5 year olds, i quit! dont want to see king dino turn into barney.
Savok Jun 13th 2007 11:31PM
Why is a 5 year old playing WoW? They can barely read.
obo Jun 14th 2007 3:06AM
And some people say WoW is hard.
Futura Jun 14th 2007 11:28AM
I figure every Blood Elf Paladin is between the age of 4-10. Easy mode class with attractive soft skin.
Please prove me otherwise.
Bresh Jun 14th 2007 1:15PM
@15...
When TBC first came out, I rolled a Belf pally since every single other character I had at the time was Horde. I'm 25. Proof enough?
(Although I don't play him anymore since I've switched servers, and now play Alliance... damn friends)
squishy Jun 14th 2007 4:34PM
he should have his daughter play a mage so we can stop getting nerfs.
a nerfed Mage
Simon Sep 16th 2007 7:16AM
"17. he should have his daughter play a mage so we can stop getting nerfs.
a nerfed Mage"
QFT!!!
joeboto Aug 24th 2007 4:51AM
his daughter should play healing priest, so that priests get MOAR love than locks.