Ad Personam: Guido Henkel, G3 Studios
Sia 'Garrett' Manzari, 2003-06-20

Ad Personam is dedicated to the people behind the games: programmers, artists, musicians, directors, producers and many other professions involved in creating the stuff that fills our harddisks, lets us sleep less and eat more junk food. In each Ad Personam, we want to introduce one of these fine folks to you - and this time it is Guido Henkel, legendary designer of Planescape: Torment and now with his own company G3 Studios.

Guido Henkel: My name is Guido Henkel, and I am the CEO of G3 Studios, a developer and publisher of mobile games. Given the fact that G3 Studios is a very small organization, I end up doing everything here, like I did in the good old days - programming, graphics, design, testing, publicity, business matters and so forth.

I started in this industry 18 year ago and have since been part of a great number of games, including the "Realms of Arkania" series (Das Schwarze Auge, in Germany) "Fallout II," "Planescape: Torment" and many others. These days I'm mostly focusing on games for phones and handheld devices.

RPGDot: Your favourite game, both electronical and board?

Guido Henkel: My favorite computer game is still "Dungeon Master," and no other game has been able to hold a candle to it. It is followed by "Warcraft II," "Chrono Trigger" and "Gauntlet: Dark Legacy."

In terms of board games, any old jigsaw puzzle game will do… and chess.

RPGDot: Your favourite movie and favourite actor & actress?

Guido Henkel: "Gods And Monsters" is an incredible movie, as is "Bram Stoker's Dracula." Of course, Peter Jackson's marvelous "The Lord of the Rings" adaptation is without a doubt one of the greatest achievements of modern cinema.

In terms of actors and actresses, I am a big admirer of Gary Oldman and Johnny Depp, as well as Michelle Yeoh.

RPGDot: Your favourite singer/band and record?

Guido Henkel: Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime" is, in my mind, the best rock album ever created. I'm not very hip, I suppose, as I have no use for any of today's airplay music. I'd rather go for something like Robben Ford, Dream Theater, John Hyatt, or Kiss.

RPGDot: If you could do any game, regardless of money and developing time, what would it be?

Guido Henkel: I have a few projects that I want to bring to fruition some day, but I do not want to jinx them by talking about them. Ideally it would be an exotic massively-multiplayer RPG that makes good on many of the evils found in today's MMORPGs.

RPGDot: If you'd be able to choose anyone from within the game industry to work on your dream project, who'd you put in your team?

Guido Henkel: I am working with the people I chose to work with. What else can I ask for? Everyone else is just an ICQ message away...

RPGDot: What character from a game or role-playing setting best describes you?

Guido Henkel: Boring nerds like me don't make it into computer games, typically, so I couldn't really think of any. Mickey Mouse, maybe…

RPGDot: Your non-gaming hobbies?

Guido Henkel: I love to make music, and to watch movies.

RPGDot: Your favourite author and favourite book?

Guido Henkel: "The Lord Of The Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien.

RPGDot: What historical person would you like to meet and why?

Guido Henkel: Leonardo DaVinci. Because he was a genius in the truest sense of the word.

Charlie Chaplin. Because he was the most wonderful person that has ever graced this planet.

RPGDot: Thanks for your time!