Sharky Extreme: Game developers are known for working lots of over-time. How do you manage to cope with the hours and still maintain a healthy happy life? Is it a lot of trade-offs or just a general acceptance of the job?

Kenn Hoekstra: Raven isn't like most developers in the sense that we have core hours early in the day. I do my best to come in between 7:30am and 8:30am so I can be done by 6:30 or 7:30pm at night. It's a lot easier to lead a "normal" life if you're not coming in at noon and staying until midnight or 2am. That's how I make the job work for me. There's still some adjustments that have to be made to accommodate my significant other, her family and my family, but not as big a tradeoff as most would think. I love my job and I'm willing to make sacrifices for it.

Sharky Extreme: I've often wondered what it was like for a developer to announce a game as 'gone gold' and to start seeing the media and press flood that follows? What are those few days after the announcement like for you?

Kenn Hoekstra: A lot of the time is spent in a daze. I'm so used to working the long hours that it's nice to be able to leave at 5pm again and not feel like I'm walking out on the team. Seeing the reviews and the sales numbers and new servers go up...it's the greatest feeling in the world. Knowing that people are getting enjoyment from your hard work makes it all worth it. The prevailing feeling overall, in those days, is relief.

Sharky Extreme: I'm sure you take note of the most current games on the market. Seeing the difference in the games we have now, even compared to what was being released five years ago, where do you see the gaming technology headed?

Kenn Hoekstra: Upward and onward! Everything is getting bigger, better, faster and more stunning with each passing year. Every game tries to "one up" the competition and that makes it a great market for gamers. The games get cooler every year and I don't see that trend letting up at all in the coming years.