Interview: Kimmich's Day One at Day1

It might be a melancholy day for Microsoft Game Studios, but the sun is apparently shining brightly this afternoon as Day1 Studios today announced that former MGS lead product planner Jon Kimmich has taken on the role of producer and director of Business Development at Day1 Studios, creators of MechAssault and MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (which, incidentally is due in Q1 2005).

Kimmich's role at Microsoft and MGS has been stellar with numerous peaks. Perhaps his most high-profile contribution to the workplace was his fundamental work in helping to create the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. But really cares about keyboards, right? Kimmich has been involved with games for more than 15 years; as a key player at Microsoft Game Studios, he's helped developers such as Big Huge Games and Gas-Powered Games set up their businesses and he was also responsible for spearheading the acquisition of FASA Interactive ( MechWarrior4, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge),and Bungie Studios (um, if you don't know who these guys are, just go home ). We had the chance to interview Jon on this

IGN: What's your experience at Microsoft Game Studios been?

Jon Kimmich: It was great. Pretty much everything that I learned about making games, and the business of making games, I learned while in MGS. The only reason that I was able to do some of the things I did while in MGS was because I was surrounded by smart people who were passionate both about games, and about the business of making games. And even before MGS, I was involved in games. For example:

My first contact with the games business, not as a hardcore player, but rather as somebody (inadvertently) impacting the industry, was as a development manager for a team within the Hardware group at MS called the New Products Development group. This was quite a while ago, back in the early/mid 90's. At the time the team was working on a concept for an ergonomic keyboard (which eventually became the Microsoft Natural Keyboard.) We wanted to differentiate the keyboard from other keyboards out there, as well as couple it closely to the larger Microsoft® Windows® brand. It was my not-totally-original-I'll-admit idea to add the two Windows® logo'd keys to the keyboard. So if you've ever pulled the Windows® keys off of your keyboard to prevent a wayward thumb press from flipping you back to the desktop just as you're in the midst of a frenetic multiplayer session of your favorite FPS, well, you can thank me for that. Sorry. My bad.

IGN: What kinds of talents do you think you can bring to Day 1, and what kinds of needs does Day 1 have for someone like yourself?

Jon: I think I have a pretty good eye for talent. I've brought a lot of great games and outstanding partners into the MGS family that have gone on to critical acclaim and financial success. I've been around the business for a while now, so not a lot that happens anymore surprises me. And I've been in the software/hardware development business for almost 16 years, so I have a pretty good idea of what's involved in bringing a product to market.

In terms of what kinds of needs Day1 has, in this instance, the goal was to hire someone to lead the production of their next game, as well as contribute to the management team of the company.