TEDxOU speaker and CEO of GoldFire Studios James Simpson is a video game developer. Specifically, Simpson is a developer with a focus on social games, but not the games like “FarmVille” and “Mafia Wars” that plague Facebook timelines and notifications.
“We see other social games out there from companies like Zynga, and games like “FarmVille” which is obviously social, and we see those as games that aren’t actually social,” said Simpson.
While “FarmVille” can be played on Facebook and link players with their friends, there’s no real conversation going on in the game, Simpson said. He said he believes one of the best examples of a social game is “World of Warcraft” because of the level of interaction that occurs within the game.
After graduating from OU in 2011 with an entrepreneurship and venture management degree, Simpson went on to create GoldFire Studios in Oklahoma City with a plan to develop his own version of social games.
“We’re focusing on truly social games, which focus on building communities around the games and providing real-time, interactive experiences,” Simpson said.
GoldFire Studios’ newest game, “Casino RPG,” is Simpson’s prime example of a truly social game. “Casino RPG” is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, or MMORPG. Though players won’t find themselves hacking through enemies like in “World of Warcraft,” they can hit the slots, play poker and blackjack and build their own casinos — and, of course, interact with other players.
Right now, “Casino RPG” is still in beta, meaning it is still changing and receiving updates, but is currently free and playable, Simpson said. Even once they’ve finalized the game, Simpson said they plan on continuing to develop the game and hope people continue to play, not just for the gameplay, but for the community aspects as well.
Through these types of games, Simpson believes they have the power to transcend cultural boundaries and make a positive impact.
“My [TEDxOU] talk is about how video games are able to enact pretty much sweeping social changes throughout the world,” Simpson said.
Furthermore, Simpson said he wants to bring attention to how the perception of games doesn’t properly reflect the reality of games, especially when it comes to the mainstream view of games.
Though there are plenty of incorrect stereotypes about video games, Simpson said he will be sure to explain the difference between truly social games and those that are not.
