Were you surprised by the huge response to "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"?

I don't think anyone expected "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" to break all of the box-office records it has. We've seen a truly phenomenal response to these characters and their adventures from fans of all ages around the world.

As a seasoned Studio executive, when you were working on "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and then "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," did you have any indications that these films would end up being so immensely popular?

We knew the ride was very popular in the Parks, and then once work began on the first film, we realized these were very compelling characters. It was great to see Jack Sparrow come to life through Johnny Depp's work. Also, we were working with talented professionals like Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski, and they created this amazingly detailed and immersive new world that fans obviously responded to.

Will the adventures featured in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" also be included in-game?

Yes, the game will extend the world and legends introduced in both the first and second films. Players will experience firsthand what it is like to exist in the same world as Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swann. The game doesn't mimic the exact storylines, but it will include some of the films' epic battles and evil antagonists, such as encounters with the relentless Kraken and Davy Jones.

How can we expect to see Pirates of the Caribbean Online grow with future film titles? What can you tell us about the third movie?

Since the MMO genre is an expansive, ever-growing world, new game elements can be added regularly, so there are no real limits to the size of the universe or the extent of adventure. Fans of the films will feel like they're stepping into a world they know and love as they partake in a wide variety of adventures, driven in part by a narrative that will unfold from the characters they know.

How involved is the cast of the film in the game's development?

The characters from the films are one of the biggest parts of the franchise's appeal, so the game will incorporate the main actors' likenesses wherever possible. For example, Jack Sparrow walks players through the basic tenets of the Pirate's code in the beginning of the game. Will Turner teaches players sword fighting, and Elizabeth Swann helps players master the subtle art of manipulation.

How involved is the film Studio in the game's development?

We have a great team at the Studio that guides the overall Pirates franchise and they've worked closely with the game developers to ensure it reflects the quality, action, and excitement associated with the films.

What are some of the themes from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise that will carry over into the game?

Adventure is the most prominent theme which makes Pirates perfect for the MMO game genre. Players can immediately jump in and battle other Pirates at sea. And there will be magic and voodoo elements similar to those seen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." Like the films, the game will also be a lot of fun. For example, when players visit local pubs to play parlor games, cheating will be encouraged which is very Jack Sparrow-like.

What role will Pirates of the Caribbean Online play in the Pirates universe?

This game will expand the Pirates of the Caribbean universe and allow fans of the films to interact with the elements they love most about the adventures of Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. It's the first and only MMO based on the Pirates franchise and will be an ongoing, ever-changing experience that will engage fans during, between, and beyond the movie and DVD releases.

Why is "Pirates of the Caribbean" such a good fit for an MMO game?

An MMO format allows fans a chance to experience for themselves what it's like to exist in the same world as Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and the other characters made famous in the films. Players can forge their own identities, join up with others, sail the seven seas, and battle the undead almost without limit. As an MMO, the game becomes a totally immersive and social experience that allows players to grasp that sense of vastness and freedom that is different from non-MMO games.

What is a normal day for a VR Studio developer? How much time spent in meetings? Brainstorms? Coding? Is it true you live on soda and pizza?

Thankfully, we don't have too many meetings... but we do spend a lot of time debating in the hallways! Since most people in our group work in an open space, we tend to "prairie-dog" a lot. For example, if a discussion is going on, someone might hear and pop their head up to chime in with suggestions.

How we spend our time also depends on where we are in the development cycle. Early stages are dominated by brainstorming and coming up with concepts and art. Later the focus is on prototyping and trying things out to see if they are fun. Eventually we build systems and start hooking things together. Finally, it's polishing, performance tuning, and bug-fixing. Occasionally, someone will eat a salad in addition to soda and pizza.

What is the most fun thing about developing THIS game? What are some of the challenges?

We really enjoy being able to mine the richness of the world of Pirates of the Caribbean. There's a ton of great material, history, and humor to draw from.

The huge success of the first film (Curse of the Black Pearl) makes it a real challenge to live up to people's expectations of what the game experience should be, but it's a challenge we are excited to take on. We know when to break the rules for fun's sake. For example, while developing the Pirates of the Caribbean virtual reality ride for DisneyQuest (Battle for Buccaneer Gold), we discovered that the real-world physics involved with steering a large ship doesn't exactly produce fun game play. As a solution, we amped up the physics to make the boats move and turn like high-speed yachts. When challenged with the need for thousands of Toontown players to interact together in the same world, we developed a new shard system that allows players to switch from one server to another on the fly - which I don't think anyone else was doing at the time. Because of our Imagineering background, we always look for creative solutions to any challenge.

What differentiates this game from other MMOs and pirate games?

The biggest difference between this game and other MMOs is that the pirate-themed world we are designing will feature some supernatural elements that are unique to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise: defending your ship from sea monsters, fighting skeleton pirates, and casting voodoo spells. We will also include the classic pirate activities: epic sea battles, searching for buried treasure, playing dice and cards, and carousing in towns.

What do you think fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will like most about the virtual world?

I think they'll really enjoy the chance to become a pirate and live out their own adventures in an expanded version of the world from the films. Casting voodoo spells is a lot of fun, too.

Are there any special inside jokes that fans might look forward to?

Would any Pirates of the Caribbean game be complete without an appearance by the infamous prison dog?

How will people play together? How will community form around this property/game? Tell me about some of the social systems.

Many of the game activities are designed to be played as a group, from playing cards in a tavern to battling ships at sea. We will support multiple types of groups from temporary "crews" to more permanent guild-like "bands" of pirates.

What is the process of creating "virtual" Jack Sparrow?

We start by trying to create a likeness of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the form of a computer model. Then we hand-animate the model to match his performance and mannerisms. Finally, we write and record dialog that captures the personality of the character. In order to do all this successfully, we have to spend some time "getting to know" the character by watching the film, reading the script, working with the theatrical team, and thinking about how he would react in a variety of new situations.

How much game play will be on land? How much at sea?

The breakdown will depend on the player. We think being at sea is fun and different and captures the essence of what the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is about, so we're trying to have a lot of seafaring game play as well as numerous land-based adventures.

What do you like most about the game?

I have a new favorite thing each week, but this week it's definitely battling the Kraken.

Who is your favorite character from the franchise?

Captain Jack, of course!

Does the game start where the movies leave off? How does the story work?

The game takes place in the same world as the movies, but is not locked to a particular point in time. Many characters, settings, and events from the movie will be featured and expanded upon. We will also introduce completely new characters, enemies, locales, and monsters.

Many games based on movies are slaves to the original story and thus are creatively constrained. Fortunately, we were given the freedom to use the movie world as a setting and did not have a specific storyline forced upon us. The story unfolds as a unique experience for each player - your character has the freedom to go wherever, whenever, while staying immersed in the broader story arc. Players themselves help evolve the story of what happens to Jack Sparrow and the other characters in completely new adventures beyond what is depicted in the films.

What will playing this game be like? What are the enemies like? The environments?

This is not a simulation of real life during the historical time period of pirates. This is not a confined recreation of the film. This game is about becoming and living as a pirate in a stylized Pirates of the Caribbean world. We are trying to capture the fun, excitement, humor, and sense of adventure that the movies convey but give the players full control as to how they participate. We will certainly feature some of the movie elements and locations, including Port Royal and Tortuga. We will also integrate components from the theme park attraction and even introduce some new characters to the franchise.

What makes someone a legend? Are you a legend?

A legend is someone who has mastered something so completely that people tell stories about their ability, whether it be sword-fighting, captaining, card playing, or all of the above. As far as being a legend myself, I've got quite a way to go yet.