Good question regarding backups. Everyone is responsible for their own local backup plan, tailored to their needs.

For example, I use my laptop for all “communications” — email, IM, etc — and for writing, web stuff, etc, and my desktop for most actual production. It gets backed hourly with Time Machine. On the desktop, I manually back up projects that I’m working on daily, or at convenient other points [IE, if I finish working on a book for the day, I back it up then.] I have an Apple Time Capsule for backups, and another external LaCie drive as well. I’m about to convert the backups on the desktop to an automated system, probably using SuperDuper! — I don’t run Leopard on it, so I don’t have Time Machine.

Plus, when projects are complete, they get archived multiple times — to DVD, and to a consolidated offsite backup, which, in turn, gets backed up. And a bunch of material [drafts, artwork] does end up on Basecamp as well, so it would be recoverable.

Staffers who doesn’t have to deal with as many huge files can get away with a smaller backup infrastructure. We’ve started working on some books using Google Docs, as well, so some manuscripts are “in the cloud” for their entire existence.

It all comes down to the people involved, some work better under home working while others need to be ridden by supervisors etc in order to work well. CGL seems to all be people who can handle home working, more power to you! However, a single office type environment will continue to exist for a LONG time…

Until telecommuting is more viable, which would be awesome! :o)

Less stress, work at my leisure type of thing…

If I need to chill or do time out, I just close the computer and read a book, spend time with my cat or sleep which is just in the next room. And also while working on the computer, I like to play my favorite music or watch my favorite movie or TV show(currently watching Wizards by Ralph Bakshi while I’m typing this). All this helps the creative juices flowing.

I personally think that most of the hobby is now home office based especially with the advent of the internet has made communications between publisher and designer faster and more convenient.(supplemented of course by some meetings face to face and the occasional phone call).

Good thing I don’t have any housemates(my pet cat keeps me company and relieves stress) to make me go crazy.

My only enemy is writers block and commitment to real life and my career.

But anyways besides wargames, I also love RPGs and CCGs.

I play the following:

Shadowrun
Earthdawn
New World of Darkness
Call of Cthulhu(Delta Green in particular)
GURPS(alternate earths)
The new Runequest from Mongoose
Conan
Godlike
Wild Talents
D&D 4th ed.

Personally I think Catalyst has done a great job with Shadowrun…in fact, far better than what FASA did. Keep up the good work and keep writing….

Maybe after I get bored designing wargames I’ll get into RPG writing.

I worked well from home in a reactionary sense, handling phone calls. I could see working on Shadowrun as a good motivator to keep on task with. It’s gotta be frustrating though, you guys must be driven pretty hard to make a situation like that work as well as you do. Your dedication and professionalism shows in your product though. Keep up the good work, it seems like your have the best job in the world.

As said before, I myself started designing board wargames(my other hobby) and all my work is virtual and contact with my publisher is all virtual, in fact the publisher does not have an office for his company, his office is in his computer….Also plyatesting is handled by the designer too…

I think the internet has given a full kick up to all the hobbies.

I also have a career which takes up most of my time and hopefully I can retire soon and devote my full attention to the hobby.

I think that the only company(maybe) that has a full office devoted to its games is Wizards of the Coast or maybe White Wolf.

Anyways, I’m really happy that Catalyst is running supplement PDFs for Shadowrun…great idea!!!!