 want to quit writing science fiction because you could never think of something that weird." He put that together with a story idea he'd had for years about a young hacker who must deal with fallout when a virus he writes seriously inconveniences a very powerful person. Stephenson has dabbled in the world of massively multiplayer online games, saying he played some World of Warcraft on the elliptical trainer with his laptop, but had to stop when he hit the point where advancing meant having to dedicate serious time to the title.

As for whether his own books would lend themselves to game adaptations, Stephenson said there are action-focused moments in books that lend themselves well to games, but there's a lot of stuff that doesn't. He recalled playing a realistic World War II U-boat warfare simulation, and he noted that being on a U-boat was "very boring, most of the time." The trick then is to pick out the moments in the books that lend themselves to gaming and then figure out what to do with the rest of the material in there. Stephenson said there was some work on a Snow Crash game from Viacom in the early '90s, and there are discussions from time to time about projects like that, but there's been no serious effort to bring his work to games.

In a bit of audience Q&A convention crossover, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell said he loved Reamde, and he asked Stephenson about whether he'd travelled to many of the far-off locations depicted in the novel. Stephenson said some of it was seen with his own eyes, but he admitted other pieces were seen through pictures and Google. There's a calibration process involved in his research because he needs to see the place, but if he stays in one place too long, he feels compelled to put too much of the research into the story and, sometimes, at the expense of readability.

Quote: "I think we're coming out of an earlier phase of the writer's relationship to the game."--On the switch from having backstory fleshed out after the fact to having writers on staff building out the world of the game from the start.

"It's one of those 'Be careful what you wish for' things, with movies and with games."--On why he hasn't aggressively pursued adaptations of his work.

Takeaway: Neal Stephenson likes games and wants to see how their storytelling potential is fulfilled, but he's too successful writing
want to quit writing science fabrication because you could never remember of something that weird. " He put that in concert with a story estimate he'd had for year about a young hacker who must cover with fallout when a virus he writes badly inconveniences a very powerful person. Stephenson has dabbled in the world of massively multiplayer online game, saying he played some World of Warcraft on the elliptical trainer with his laptop, but had to discontinue when he hit the point where advancing intend having to dedicate serious time to the championship. 

 As for whether his own books would lend themselves to game adaptations, Stephenson said there are legal action - focused moments in books that lend themselves well to games, but there's a lot of stuff that doesn't. He recalled playing a realistic World War II U - boat warfare simulation, and he noted that being on a U - boat was " very boring, most of the clock time. " The trick then is to pick out the here and now in the koran that lend themselves to gaming and then figure out what to serve with the rest of the material in there. Stephenson said there was some workplace on a Snow Crash game from Viacom in the early' 90s, and there are discussions from time to time about project like that, but there's been no serious effort to bring his work to game. 

 In a snatch of audience Q&A convention crossover, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell said he love Reamde, and he asked Stephenson about whether he'd travelled to many of the far - off locations portray in the novel. Stephenson said some of it was seen with his own eyes, but he admitted early pieces were seen through pictures and Google. There's a calibration process involved in his inquiry because he needs to see the place, but if he stays in one position too long, he feels compel to put too much of the research into the story and, sometimes, at the expense of readability. 

 Quote: " I intend we're coming out of an earlier phase of the writer's relationship to the game. "--On the switch from having backstory fleshed out after the fact to having writers on staff construct out the world of the game from the starting signal. 

 " It's one of those' Be careful what you wish for' things, with movies and with game. "--On why he hasn't aggressively pursued adaptations of his work. 

 Takeaway: Neal Stephenson likes games and wants to see how their storytelling potential is fulfilled, but he's too successful writing
 wajt to quit writing scienge fiction because you rould nsver thivk of something that weird." Hx pur thau together with a sgory idea he'd had for tears abouv a younn hacicr whm must deal witm fallout wven a virus he wfices seriously inconveniences a very [owerfuk oerson. Stephenfon nws dzbbled in the world of massively mhltiplajer online games, xaying he played some Worlf of Warcraft on the epliptical ttzinqe with his lxptop, but had to stop shen he hit the point where advxnciny meant havunt tl dedicate sxrious time to the title.

As for whrther his own nooks woyld lend themselves tm game adaptations, Stephensmn said there are axtuon-fowuseg moowntr ih uoois thah lxnd themselbes well to games, but there's a ljn of stuff thzt doefn'e. He recalled playing a realistic World Wad II U-boat warfare simuoation, and he noted tjat being on a U-boat was "very boring, most of the time." The drick gheu is tu plck out the moments in the books that lend thqjstlvvs to gaming and bhen figure out whst tp do with the test of ths material in therf. Stephgnson waid thert was some work on a Snow Crash tame from Viccon in the early '90s, aud there are disvussipns from time to time ayout pdojects likf that, buf there's been no rerpous effort uu bring his work eo games.

Ii a bnt of auaienve Q&A sonvention crossover, Atari founder Nolau Busvnell said he loved Reamde, and he asked Svxphenson abouj wvetver he'd cravelked to many os the far-off lpcationf depkcted in tge noven. Stephensog said some ox it was seen with hif owb eyws, but fd admitted othrr pieces were seen through pictures end Ekogle. There's a eclubration procesx ivvojvvd mn hif research bewausd hd needr to set tme olacr, but if he stays in one place too long, he fcels compglled to [ut too much pf the research inuo the stury amd, fometimes, at the expense of rezdability.

Euobe: "I think we'we ciming out of an earlier phase of the writer's relatiinship to the gamg."--On the switch from hcvlng backstorb flesred out axter the fact to havung writers on stsff building out the sorld mf thf game from the start.

"It's one of those 'Be careful what you wish for' things, with movies and wjth bames."--Mn chy he rasn'v eggressively pursled adaptations of his work.

Takeaxay: Neal Sde'henson likes games and wants tu see how thekr storytelling potentiam is fulgilled, but he's too successful wtiting
want to quit writing science fiction because never of something weird." He put idea had for years a young hacker must deal with fallout when a he writes seriously inconveniences a very powerful person. Stephenson has dabbled in the of massively multiplayer online games, saying he played some World of Warcraft on elliptical with laptop, had to stop when he hit the point where advancing meant having to dedicate serious time the title. As for whether his own books lend themselves to game Stephenson said there are action-focused in that lend well games, there's a lot stuff that doesn't. He recalled playing a realistic World War II U-boat warfare simulation, and he noted being on was "very most the The trick then pick out the moments in the themselves to gaming and then figure out what do with rest of the material in there. said there was some work on a Snow game from Viacom in the early '90s, and there are discussions from time to time like that, but there's no serious effort bring work games. a bit audience Q&A convention crossover, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell said he loved and he asked Stephenson about whether he'd travelled to many far-off depicted in the Stephenson said some of was with his own eyes, admitted pieces pictures Google. a calibration process involved his research because he needs see the place, but place too long, he feels compelled to put much of the research into the story sometimes, at the expense of readability. Quote: "I think we're coming out an earlier the writer's relationship to the game."--On the switch having backstory fleshed out the fact to having writers on staff building out world the game the start. "It's of those 'Be what you wish with movies with why pursued adaptations of his work. Takeaway: Stephenson games and wants to see their is fulfilled, but he's too successful writing
 want to quit writing science fIction becaUse yoU coUld NeVer tHink Of something thaT WeirD." He put that together with A storY iDEa he'D HaD for yEars aboUT a YOUng HaCkEr wHo MUsT deal WitH fallouT when a viruS he WrItes seriouslY InConveniencEs a Very powerful PerSon. StePhEnsON has dAbbLed in The worLD of masSively mulTiPLayer oNLine gamES, SaYing He played some World OF WARcraft on the ellIpticaL tRAiNER wiTh hIs laptop, buT hAd to sTOp when hE HiT THE poINt where advancIng meant havINg tO dedicAtE seRIous tiMe to tHe TItlE.

As for whethEr hiS own books Would lENd themsELves to gAme adaPtaTioNs, StEPhEnSon SaID thERe Are ACtiOn-focuseD mOmEnts iN booKS THAt leNd tHemsElves Well to games, buT thEre's A Lot Of stuFf thaT doeSn'T. He reCalled PlayiNg A realistic World war Ii U-boat warFarE sImuLaTion, aND he notEd tHat Being on A U-boat wAS "veRy BORInG, most of the time." The tRiCK ThEn is to piCk out tHE mOmENts in the BoOks That LENd theMselVEs To gaming And theN FiGuRe out whAt To do wiTh The ResT of thE MateRial in There. StePhensON said there was sOMe work on a Snow cRaSH GaME froM ViAcom in the eaRly '90s, ANd thEre aRE dIscUSsionS from TiME tO Time about projects liKe That, buT therE's been no serioUs effort to BRINg his worK to gAMeS.

in a bit of audienCe Q&A cOnvention cROssover, ATari fOunder NoLan BushneLL Said he loVed reaMde, And HE AsKed Stephenson ABOut wHeTher he'd TraVelled tO maNy oF thE faR-oFf locatioNs depictEd In ThE nOveL. StepHEnson saiD sOme Of It wAs seeN With hiS own eYes, bUt He ADmiTted othER pIECes wErE sEen tHroUgH pictUres ANd GOogle. ThEre's a caliBraTIon pRoCeSs involVed in his reseaRcH because he NeEds To see tHE Place, but If he stays in one place too lONg, he feeLs cOmpelLed tO put too muCh oF the reSeaRCh into The stoRy and, SoMetIMEs, at tHE ExPenSe Of readabilITY.

QuOte: "I tHiNk we'Re cominG out of an earlier phaSE of The writer's relAtiOnshIP To The GAmE."--on tHe SWitCH From having backsTory flesheD oUT aFter the facT To hAvIng writErs on stAff buILding ouT the world Of the game FrOm thE STarT.

"It's one of tHose 'Be caReful what YOu wisH FoR' thinGs, wIth movIeS anD with Games."--ON Why He hasN't aggrEsSively PursuEd AdaptatiOns of his work.

Takeaway: NeaL StephEnson LikEs games anD waNTs tO see how thEir sTorytellinG poTenTial iS fuLFilleD, but HE's Too SUccesSful WRiting
 want to quit writing scie nce fictio n bec aus e y ou  cou ld n ever think ofs omet hing that weird." He p ut th at toge t he r wit h a sto r yi d eahe 'd  ha df or  year s a bout ayoung hack erwh o must dealw it h falloutwhe n a virus he  wr ites s er iou s ly in con venie nces a very p owerful p er s on. St e phenson h as  dab bled in the world of massively mult iplaye ro nl i n e g ame s, sayinghe  play e d someW or l d ofW arcraft on th e elliptica l  tr ainerwi thh is lap top,bu t  ha d to stop w henhe hit th e poin t  wherea dvancin g mean t h avi ng t o  d ed ica te ser i ou s t i meto the t it le .

As  for w h e ther  hi s ow n boo ks would lend  th emse l ves  to g ame a dapt at ions,  Steph enson  s aid there are a ctio n-focused  mo me nts  i n boo k s that  le ndthemsel ves wel l  to  g a m e s,  but there's a lot  o f st uff that  doesn ' t.  H e  recalle dpla ying a  real isti c  W orld War  II U- b oa twarfare  s imulat io n,and  he n o tedthat b eing ona U-b o at was "very b o ring, most of th e ti m e."The  trick then  ist o pi ck o u tthe momen ts in  t h eb ooks that lend them se lves t o gam ing and thenfigure out w h at to do  wit h  t h e rest of themater ial in the r e. Steph enson  said th ere was s o m e work o n a  Sn owCra s h  g ame from Viac o m  inth e early  '9 0s, and  th ere  ar e d is cussionsfrom tim eto  t im e a boutp rojectsli keth at,  butt here's  been  nose ri o useffortt ob r inghi swork  to  g ames. 

In a b it of a udience Q &Ac onve nt io n cross over, Atari f ou nder Nolan  B ush nell s a i d he lov ed Reamde, and he asked Stephen son  abou t wh ether he' d t ravell edt o many  of th e far -o ffl o catio n s  d epi ct ed in then o vel . Ste ph enso n saidsome of it was see n  wi th his own ey es,  but h eadm i tt e d o th e r p i e ces were seen t hrough pic tu r es  and Googl e . T he re's acalibra tionp rocessinvolvedin his re se arch b eca use he nee ds to se e the pla c e, bu t  i f hesta ys inon e p lacetoo lo n g,he fe els co mp elledto pu ttoo much  of the research into t he sto ry an d,sometimes , a t  th e expense  ofreadabilit y.
Qu ote:"It hinkwe'r e  c omi n g out  ofa n earlier ph ase o fthe writer' s r ela tions hip to the  gam e."--On the switc h  from having b acks t o ryfle s hedou t after the fa ctto h aving wr it ers on staf f buildi ng out t he wor ld ofthe gam e fr o m thestar t.
"It's on e o ft hose 'B eca r eful w hatyo u wish  for't hing s ,  with movies and  with g ames. " --O n why  h e hasn' t  agg ressivelypursued ada ptatio ns o f his  work.
T akeawa y:Ne al Stephen s on likesgames  and wa nt s to  se e howthei r story tell in g p otentiali s  f u lf il l ed,  but  he's  t oo s uccessful writing
 want_to quit_writing science fiction because_you could_never_think of_something_that weird." He_put that together_with a story idea_he'd had for_years_about a young hacker who must deal with fallout when a virus he writes_seriously_inconveniences a_very_powerful_person. Stephenson has dabbled in_the world of massively multiplayer_online games,_saying he played some World of Warcraft on_the_elliptical trainer with_his laptop, but had to stop when he hit_the point where advancing meant having_to dedicate serious_time_to_the title.

As for whether_his own books would lend themselves_to game adaptations, Stephenson said there_are action-focused moments in books that lend_themselves well to games, but there's_a lot of stuff that_doesn't. He_recalled playing a realistic World_War II U-boat_warfare simulation,_and he noted_that being on a U-boat was_"very boring, most_of the time." The trick then_is_to pick out_the_moments_in the_books that lend_themselves_to gaming_and_then figure out what to do_with_the rest of the material in there._Stephenson said there was_some_work on a Snow_Crash game from Viacom in_the early '90s, and there are_discussions from_time to_time about projects like that, but there's been no serious effort_to bring his work to games.

In_a bit of audience_Q&A convention_crossover,_Atari founder Nolan_Bushnell_said he_loved Reamde, and he asked Stephenson about_whether he'd_travelled to many of the far-off_locations depicted in the_novel._Stephenson said some of it was_seen with his own eyes, but_he admitted other pieces were_seen_through_pictures and Google. There's a_calibration process involved in his research_because he needs_to see the place, but if he_stays_in one place too long, he_feels_compelled to put too much of_the_research_into the story and, sometimes,_at the expense of readability.

Quote: "I_think we're coming out of an earlier phase of_the writer's relationship_to the game."--On the switch_from_having_backstory fleshed out after the fact to having writers on_staff building_out the world_of the game from the start.

"It's one of those 'Be_careful what you wish for' things, with_movies and with games."--On why he hasn't aggressively pursued adaptations of_his work.

Takeaway: Neal Stephenson likes games and wants_to see how their storytelling potential is_fulfilled, but he's too_successful_writing