The early computer-assisted-language-learning (CALL) programs were silent and mostly limited to screen or printer supported written text as the prevailing communication resource. The advent of powerful graphics, sound and video combined with AI-based parsers and sound recognition devices gradually turned the computer into a rather anthropomorphic partner, especially as far as language learning is concerned. This advance has revolutionized the role of the courseware developer in many respects, making it extremely complex. He or she must be a linguist as well as a language teaching specialist. Additionally, programming skills might be required as well as designer know-how, basic facts of screen ergonomics, and the metacommunicational and cognitive aspects of CALL. A little bit of an artist is a part of the role, too. If the program is to use knowledge representation, the CALLware developer has to be a knowledge engineer as well. If the program is to have integrated videos, the developer may have to do the job of a film director. The importance of the human factor behind the machine increases. Bremen Multimedia Initiative explores all these aspects of multimedia courseware development by gaining experience through the development of new applications. (Contains 10 references.) (Author/CK)