Shiny Entertainment founder Dave Perry has returned to high profile game development with an intriguing new project for Acclaim, the rejuventated US publisher. Top Secret is an MMORPG which will be designed in a collaborative venture with its own fanbase. It's not clear yet how this will work, but Acclaim has announced that one winner will be selected from the community to go on and produce the entire game with Perry acting as an Executive Producer:
"This is the only chance I know of to jumpstart a directorship career in the video game industry," says Perry. "Everyone wins. They get to learn how to make professional games, and if they get anything in, they get a real professional credit on their resume. But, if they win, well then they get their life changed."
A press release quote from Acclaim CEO Howard Marks (no relation to the ex-drug dealer) is more telling:
"Top Secret is like 'The Apprentice' meets 'American Idol' meets The Video Game Industry. We're giving our players a chance to work on an online game that we will actually develop and publish. Our community really loves these games and knows what it takes to make a hit. And it will be a dream come true for one lucky star that shines the most throughout the project."
Cynics, of course, could point out that this is just a cheap way to get game ideas - the same way as public beta testing is essentially free QA. But the idea is innovative and interesting - two words you wouldn't have associated with Acclaim a few years ago when it went down the pan churning out the likes of BMX XXX.
More info here
