The Fourth Curtain

Warren Spector Gets the Keys to the Kingdom

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Episode notes

Our guest Warren Spector is the creative producer behind vastly influential games like Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Deus Ex and many others. Now working on (working title) Argos, he joins us to talk about the birth of the immersive sim, having amazing mentors and ways to start a game, this week!

The conversation dives deep into Warren's career, discussing his design philosophy around player agency and choice, the history behind some of the most influential immersive sim games, and his experiences working at companies like Origin Systems, Ion Storm, and Disney. Warren shares behind-the-scenes stories about the development of Deus Ex, his transition from tabletop gaming to video games, and his collaborations with industry legends like Doug Church and John Romero. The episode also touches on Warren’s current work with OtherSide Entertainment and his ambitious, upcoming project, Argos.

Timestamped Highlights:

  • [00:01:00] Warren discusses his design philosophy: player choice and agency.
  • [00:02:30] Alex recalls working with Warren at Junction Point on Epic Mickey.
  • [00:03:50] Aaron shares a humorous story about flubbing an interview with Warren during his early career.
  • [00:10:00] Warren talks about his early work with TSR and Steve Jackson Games in the tabletop space.
  • [00:12:00] Working on System Shock and the role of Looking Glass Studios.
  • [00:18:00] Warren’s transition from tabletop to video games and his early days at Origin Systems.
  • [00:20:00] The creative process behind Deus Ex and Warren’s work with Ion Storm.
  • [00:24:00] Story of how John Romero offered Warren creative freedom at Ion Storm to make Deus Ex.
  • [00:31:00] Warren shares his love for board games and his extensive library of books and car magazines.
  • [00:39:00] Growing up in New York and his passion for film, leading to his career shift.
  • [00:46:00] Warren’s first exposure to Dungeons & Dragons in 1978, which profoundly influenced his game design philosophy.
  • [00:53:00] His critique of games that lack meaningful player choice and why he strives to offer alternative solutions in his games.
  • [01:00:00] A sneak peek into his new project at OtherSide Entertainment, Argos, though much remains under wraps.
  • [01:05:00] Discussion about working with Disney and the creative challenges of designing Epic Mickey.
  • [01:09:00] Alex and Warren reflect on their experiences working within Disney and the corporate dynamics.

This episode is packed with gems on game design, industry insights, and entertaining stories from one of gaming's most celebrated designers.

Thank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!
Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron Marroquin
Find us at www.thefourthcurtain.com
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Edited and mastered at https://noise-floor.com
Featuring the music track Liberation by 505