We talked with CIP (yes, your CIP Team!) about Tibia and since I know you are eager to read the outcome, here it is without further comments! :-)

Q. Long time has passed since Tibia was first released. When you see your loved child today, do you find what you thought it would be in the beginning?

A. Absolutly not! In the beginning Tibia was just a hobby to tinker with some ideas about programing and the internet. We enjoyed computer games in our spare time and so we mixed both interests. Moreover it was also a training for our studies at university and we
learned to work in a team. In other words it was an experiment. Luckily we stayed together, did good progress and could finally offer the first version on a free server at our university. Time went by and many things changed since then. We never thought that so many player would like our game, above all because we never did any real advertising. Your support and our confidence to manage such a project are the main reason why we have founded a company to continue the development after university.

Q. What about the 'Good Old Days'? Many high-levels remember the old days. Were them so different? Do you miss something of those days?

A. The main difference between Tibia now and some years ago is that there are much more players now. Imagine a little community, everyone knows the others, all want to have some fun in a little online game, and mainly everyone respects the others. But Tibia grew and more and more players wanted to join the game. The community splitted into several groups and they started to rival.

That's why Tibia is now different but this is absolutely normal.

Another view point is that we had to decide whether we want to offer Tibia for all or for the small community of the first days. We have chosen the first and got many new problems to solve like lag or bug abuse. At the beginning it was easy to work on Tibia and the ambience was kind. Now we have to consist a great challenge and to realize new goals.

Q. What do you think about PKing and thieving? Are you for or against it?

A. One of the basic elements in Tibia is combat. We think that the possibility to fight each other is very important. It gives the game an extra thrill, you can challenge real opponents, and you can act against characters if they bother you in any way. Unfortunately many players act like barbarians and forget that they are in an enviroment where they also have to respect other players. We want to improve the social structures in Tibia and some little changes in the combat system will remove some unfair situations. One part of the improvements is for example the new guild system. The problem about thieving will be solved with a safe-trade soon.

Q. How is the feedback coming from players considered by you? Graphics, proposals, suggestions, players wishes and dreams, do you take them into mind?

A. Of course we consider the feedback of our players. It is a good way to find the weeknesses of our game. Moreover we want to add features the players like. On the other hand many players complain that we wouldn't listen to them. But can you talk to hundreds of persons within a short time and grant them all their little wishes?

We collect ideas and suggestions as good as possible. Then we consider what can be done in a realist period but often many details have to be omitted. If we wouldn't act so we would never finish something because we just dissipate our energies.

Q. Are you happy with your current array of gamemasters? What do you think about the accusations to some gamemasters about being corrupt?

A. In general we are very content with our gamemasters. Of course we have some little disputes from time to time but we could manage them all so far. All gamemasters have a difficult job and sometimes mistakes can happen. Often it is hard to serperate one's personal attitude and the neutral job of a gamemaster. We are confident that they are skilled enough to perform their job.

Q. An interesting question: Does CIP play secretly behind hidden characters sometimes?

A. Sure! We don't have much time to do that so we don't have any 'uncheated' high levels, but we do our own experience in Tibia. I can't tell you more about that because we want to play in peace and unrecognised.

Q. Is our favourite game save for now? We mean is CIP making money of it, or is it in danger of disappear if it doesn't attract more players?

A. Our company is still in buildup. We are making good progress but we have to grow a lot more until we really work sucessfully.

You can trust in us, Tibia will have a future.

Q. Do you have any funny or interesting story you can relate us from 'behind-the-scenes'?

A. Nothing really special but there are many little situations we enjoy. Sometimes we get really cute emails or someone writes something absolutly funny we can't resist to laugh about. The top hit is the comment function of the client. Maybe we should collect the funniest statements and publish them at our homepage (of course anonymous).

Q. If, all of a sudden, you would receive a massive chunk of money, how would you invest it in the game?

A. A very good investment would be new graphics. We would stay at the current style but we could need many replacements of bad graphics, much more animations, and by far much more different items and creatures. Another good investment would be more powerful servers but the current situation is good enough.

Q. Where is Tibia going to? Can you reveal us Tibia as you see it in the close future?

A. The very next steps are some little changes like new boards for our homepage but mainly the completely new designed client. Of course new game worlds will follow soon.

We hope that you will like our little game in the future as well as now.

Enjoy Tibia!
Your CIP Team