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BIZ: Your focus is on web-based PC only or are you branching out to consoles as well?

AP: Meteor Games is creating a PC MMO as well as web-based gaming. The two experiences are inter-related and affect the same game environment, as noted in my examples above.

I think our IP and target demographic would make a great fit with the latest consoles, especially with all of the success downloadable casual games have had on Xbox 360, for example. We haven't approached anybody yet, but it's certainly an option.

BIZ: What kind of business model will you employ? Free-to-play, ad supported, micro-transactions, subscriptions?

AP: We're going to do a lot of focus testing and market analysis before we determine the exact mix of payment methods for the site. Right now, we're leaning towards a monthly subscription and additional micro-payments for aesthetic virtual items (not items that unbalance the game in any way).

BIZ: Although Neopets was obviously a huge success, was there something it didn't do right, something that you learned from that experience that you can now address at Meteor Games on your new project?

AP: I think the main thing we did wrong was a lack of multi-player experiences. We were pushing hard for multiplayer PHP and Flash games, but never really had the resources to create them. More content, more customization and more interactivity are really our aims for Meteor Games.

We're also steering clear of advertising-based revenue streams. Although they certainly worked for Neopets' business model, they just became more and more intrusive as the months went by, and detracted from the fantasy world that we were trying to create.

BIZ: You say: "We want gamers to play on their terms – when, where and how they want." Does this mean you're tying the experience to mobile as well?

AP: Being able to play our game on a cell phone is still in development, but absolutely integral to our overall business model. As I mentioned before, we intend for you to be able to experience this MMO using multiple devices, no matter where you are. This might involve completely unique experiences and accessibility on different platforms.

Imagine, for example, being able to arrange the furniture in your in-game house while on the bus home from school; or being able to trade with or even attack other players. We just don't see why MMOs should be limited to the desktop. When there is a deep, persistent world full of amazing content and tons of things to do, we believe you should be able to access that content whether at home on your PC, on your internet-enabled cell phone, or through web-based games on your grandmother's computer.

BIZ: Thanks and good luck with Meteor.