David Perry Has a Secret

February 26, 2007 10:10 AM

Designer David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment and currently working on the MMOs 2Moons and Dance!, is offering gamers the chance to become a lead designer on an upcoming MMO from publisher Acclaim. Through a content called Project: Top Secret, Perry will select a team of gamers to join development on the MMO in progress, and will then choose one to fill the role of lead designer. Perry will hold the title of executive producer on the project. It appears that the lead designer will receive royalties on the game, while all team members will be listed in the credits. In choosing team members, Perry will not be looking at resume content, preferring instead to evaluate candidates based on their drive and ideas.

"I've always loved the idea that someone, from their bedroom, reveals their passion and talent, then suddenly can have an absolutely stunning career explosion, becoming a famous Game Director with a pre-built fan base, said Perry. "We're going to make it happen!"

"Top Secret is like 'The Apprentice' meets 'American Idol' meets 'The Video Game Industry,'" said Acclaim CEO Howard Marks, presumably referring to the actual video game industry and not a reality show simulating it. "We're giving our players a chance to work on an online game that we will actually develop and publish. Our community really loves these games and knows what it takes to make a hit. And it will be a dream come true for one lucky star that shines the most throughout the project."

Like Acclaim's other planned MMOs, the Top Secret project will be funded by in-game advertising and item sales. The company was founded using the Acclaim name after the assets of now defunct publisher Acclaim were put up for auction following bankruptcy.