RMN: So, you were talking earlier about how the technology has improved since the earlier Myst games, and so by Myst 3 you could do more.

JW: Yeah.

RMN: Do you think that technology is still improving in things like the Xbox 360 and PS3?

JW: Incrementally. I think it's more visual and gameplay-wise that the games are improving on those platforms, and audio-wise we're not really doing all that much different than we did in the last generation. Certainly when Myst first came out, that was in 1993, so it was a big leap between that and 2000 when I did Myst 3, and 2004 with Myst 4, but I think that now it's just a question of... there's more people working on the audio side of the game, so my job hasn't changed other than that I can rely on some other people to help me do it. Which, the teams are bigger.

RMN: So what are you working on these days besides Video Games Live?

JW: I'm working on Mass Effect right now. Finishing that up this month actually. That's been a real trip. That's going to be an amazing game when it's finished. It really has a lot of interesting role playing elements and action elements mixed together. But the role playing elements are amazing because the conversational engine, it's so realistic, it's like you're watching an interactive movie. You're a part of it, it's really amazing.

RMN: So is it something bigger than we've see before?

JW: Yeah, because you're on a new platform and what they're trying to do is ground-breaking. It's been a tough integration of all the assets for the game. I think it will be worth it in the end, it'll be a nice game. It'll be a really amazing testament to what games are going to be. Which is much more immersive and engaging.

RMN: So far with Video Games Live, where's been you're favorite place to perform?

JW: Oh, geez. I have a few places I didn't like to perform, but almost every one of them is good. And I won't say where that was. We've performed in Korea now, and New Zealand, and Brazil and places like that. I love to travel so it's really fun for me to play those places. Brazil is just a freak stand. They're just so excited, they're screaming and jumping and singing. They have tables, kind of like this one, a small table, you have dinner on it or whatever. And these people were up on the table standing and cheering. It was crazy.

RMN: We saw you guys got back from the big Blizzard thing that was going on. From here all we could see were little videos, and it sounded like that crowd, when StarCraft 2 was announced, that was nuts. What was that like, actually being there?

JW: Yeah, we were at this arena, where they held the gymnastic competitions for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It was just cool to be in Olympic Park. They were pretty enthusiastic about all the StarCraft and Blizzard stuff.

RMN: That music went over real well there and in Brazil. Recently you guys announced going back to Brazil for three more shows.

JW: Yeah, three shows, possibly more, we're going back in September.

RMN: It seems like all the U.S. dates are announced and scheduled. Is there any potential that there will be such a high demand in anyplace that you'll be going back there?

JW: Yeah, we're definitely building as we go. We did three shows in 2005, we did 11 last year in 2006. This year we're going to be up around 30-40 shows, which... That's a lot of shows.

RMN: So is it going to end after this year, or take a little break and then come back, or something else altogether?

JW: We have no plans to take a break. We have big plans in store that we're not talking about yet, in terms of expansion and what we're going to do.

RMN: So you can't tell me about that?

JW: We're not talking about that, yet. We're working on it and when we do announce it, it will be something special.

RMN: As far as a CD and DVD release, I've heard that it's getting close, do you have any idea how that's going?

JW: That's one of the things we're working on. I wouldn't want to announce a date yet. As you can imagine, it's complicated to do. You've got rights issues with all the different publishers, you've got rights issues with the symphonies we work with. So putting those puzzles together is lots of fun and we're getting closer.

RMN: Good to hear. Any moments from Video Games Live that are extremely memorable?

JW: There was guy in Toronto. It was the first time anyone ever did this. He held up a sign, it said "Pick Me" when we had [the audience participation] and that just cracked it up so much we brought him up on stage, it was just this crazy kid. And he was having so much fun. Stuff like that was great. Brazil was just wild to watch that. Traveling to New Zealand was a real treat. The first time we did the Houston Symphony was overwhelming for me, because, I mean, 150 people on stage or something like that. And it was just this massive, very very good experience because we sold out. That was our first sell out. People just came, wanting more tickets, we couldn't get them, that was exciting. We're getting more of those happening and it's really exciting when they do sell early and sell well, because we know that people are excited for the show, and we get that much more excited too. I never thought I'd be doing this but here I am.

RMN: We're sure it's going to be great, we're looking forward to seeing it tonight. It's going to be awesome from the little bit we heard at rehearsal. And that's not even with all the lights and stuff going on, right?

JW: Yeah, you haven't seen the show yet.

RMN: Well we're looking forward to it. Thank you very much for your time.