“It’s hard to believe that I’m actually going to work,” Josh Stefanski says of his job at NetDevil – a Colorado-based online game studio responsible for the popular massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) such as Jumpgate Evolution series and upcoming LEGO Universe . “We’ve got a nice small team, constantly joke around, and all play Call of Duty death matches at the end of the day. It’s just really laid back, and kind of feels like I’m back in class.”

Adding to that sense of déjà vu: Josh is one of five Full Sail Game Development graduates who have joined NetDevil this past year. The team now includes Kris Jordan, Joe Laird, and classmates Alex Gaudette and Ohm Unmongkolthavong, who are working as Programmers at the studio to craft the latest title in their flagship MMOG, Jumpgate Evolution.

“I sit right next to Joe, and any little thing I get stuck on he’s always willing to help,” Ohm offers about the unique collaboration. “It’s cool because you get to apply all the stuff you learned in Full Sail.”

“It’s actually kind of funny, because when we were working on our final project at school Ohm showed me a preview of Jumpgate, and I was like ‘That looks really neat,’” Alex adds. “It’s funny to think I’m actually here now and working with all of these guys.”

Jumpgate Evolution follows up 2001’s JumpgateClassic, and offers fans a new sci-fi world that expands far beyond the first game in size and presentation. Its epic scope gives players the opportunity to band together with friends and explore the untouched regions of space as they battle against enemies and opposing nations.

“It’s a space combat MMO where you command your own ship and it has a heavy focus on action,” Alex explains. “We’re really trying to add just as much gameplay as the social aspect to the game – not just focusing on one area to draw people in, but trying to have a good balance of both. We’re going for more of a player’s universe, rather than just levelingthrough and finishing off big bosses.”

Games like Everquest and World of Warcraft have blown the MMO market wide open since their launch earlier this decade, and Jumpgate Evolution’s unique approach to the genre already has it hailed as “the definitive space combat MMO.” Speaking about the title’s open-ended experience, Ohm offered his thoughts on what has attracted players to these online gaming communities.

“People like to play them for the social aspect,” he shares. “With a single player game, you go through each mission on your own and then it’s over. In an MMO you’re not the only one playing it. You can team up and share strategies in real time when you’re playing the game, which adds a whole new dimension. I think we’re capitalizing on a really good market with a space shooter, because there’s really no one else out there doing what we’re doing in this genre.”

The ambitious Jumpgate Evolution is currently scheduled for a Spring 2009 release date, and with the team at NetDevil in their final months of a long development cycle they’re getting excited to finally get the latest entry out to excited fans. “It’s cool to read the reviews and see that people can’t wait to play the game,” Ohm shares. “People are so hungry for another space shooter, and for this to be set in an MMO scene is really going to set us apart.”

“We’ve had a couple of the Jumpgate Classic players come to the studio to visit, and it feels pretty amazing when they check out the new incarnation of a title they’ve been playing for so many years,” Josh adds. “You can see directly from the community the feedback, and it’s nice to see their anticipation for everything. It kind of makes you feel like a rock star.”

** NetDevil is constantly seeking for fresh talent for upcoming projects. For more information, check out www.netdevil.com.