Harald Iken
(Harry „El Zocko“ Iken)
Occupation at Piranha Bytes:
Story-/Gamedesign
Birthday:
09.09.1981
Vocational training:
Several things: administrative clerk, soldier, forklift driver, business administration (BA), donut eater and of course writer.
Worked on the following games so far:
Risen 2, Risen 3, ELEX
Favorite Music:
Tool, NIN, generally more things from the Gothic direction, just as many gaming soundtracks (in particular by Inon Zur, Garry Schyman, Jason Graves, Marcin Przybylowicz, Pawel Blaszczak, Frank Klepacki, Sonic Mayhem etc.)
Favorite game(s):
When I go inside and listen deeply, the following titles emerge: Chrono Trigger, Terranigma, Gothic Serie, Witcher 3, Battlefield 3, Far Cry 3, Dark Souls Series (over 1000h Soulsborne, proud of it!), Fallout Serie, Mass Effect Serie, Bioshock Serie, Dragon Age Origins, Dying Light, God of War, Last of Us, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines and many more. In general, I prefer games that grab me emotionally.
What are your strengths?
PvP in Dark Souls 3! Furthermore, getting people excited about video games.
Also (I guess) I'm reliable, loyal and conscientious. In addition, I can bake a decent American cheesecake.
What can't you stand?
Loosing. It's a no-go. I have to work on it, I know.
What are you enthusiastic about, what are your hobbies?
Video games? I mean come on. I'm in my prime and I'm still doing the same thing as my pimply alter ego 20 years ago. I also have a thing for American cuisine.
Sweet Potato Fries, Donuts, you name it. America itself is often the destination of my travels, which is why my heart beats for the country and its people.
What do you prefer when gaming: PC or console?
PC (I have a mega killer PC with an ultrawide monitor and big balls!)
But I also prefer the console if the title fits. God of War, Heavy Rain, Last of Us ... whoever refuses these pearls should be beaten with the first Xbox controller (guess the warning has arrived).
What kind of films or series do you particularly like to watch or do you watch often?
Lord of the Rings, every year since release between Christmas and New Year's Eve! Otherwise gladly classics from the 80s (Arnie and Sly are the greatest after all).
I could now list a whole battery of classics, but you know what is meant, so only an excerpt:
Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Terminator 2, Predator, Rambo, blablabla.
What kind of feature would you like to see in a game?
Most of the features I would see in a game are already there. But what I really want is the chip in my head. VR is all well and good, but physically doing the jumping jack is exhausting.
Ergo: Chip in your head and immerse yourself forever in the digital world. Reality? Count me out!
Are you afraid that you might run out of ideas for a game at some point?
We all have ideas, the implementation is a different matter;). Nobody has to fear that they run out.
When the low tide is in your head, just seek the conversation. Then it slips like a suppository!
Where do you find the inspiration for your work?
Movies, other video games, everyday life. A little tip for those who are really empty in their turnips: Just take a shower or go to the toilet, and the ideas will bubble up (don't forget to flush if it's crap!)
Which game from other studios are you eagerly awaiting and would like to play through?
The listing will probably be out of date pretty soon, but what the heck: Cyberpunk 2077 (it's going to be such a party friends!), Dying Light 2, Vampire Bloodlines 2 (could still go on, but that I want sequels to the Fallout, Bioshock, and Dark Souls series should be clear).
If you weren't working in the game industry today, what would you have done otherwise?
Did you originally have a different career goal?
I would have become a teacher. A strict one! Notebooks out, class work!
You can find more about me here:
https://twitter.com/HaraldIken
© 2020 Photos by Piranha Bytes / Pluto 13 GmbH
© 2020 Interview by World of Elex + russian provision by Elind & PontifEx +
+introduction & english provision by Ravenhearth + image processing and german provision ArthusoKD +
