Editorial Warren Spector on "The Deus Ex Rules of Roleplaying"

[dnf]

It's sad that this one:

The overall mood and tone will be clear and consistent - Fear, Paranoia, Tension, Release (through combat and/or reaching a predetermined goal or NPC conversation)

is easily as rare these days as any of the mechanics-oriented rules.

but at the same time, if Deus Ex didn't have a music volume control, I couldn't play it. I'm not even sure people who played it with the music enabled were playing the same game as I was. the title screen music alone readies me for death. once you turn the music off, though, you encounter these magnificently rich ambient soundscapes almost everywhere. THAT is what I think a lot of modern games are missing. I regularly turn off music as intrusive, but the void it leaves behind often totes fails to engage me. even a little step like developing an immersive soundscape could go a long way to rectifying some of the tone problems AAA games have. of course next they'll have to stop having their tech support people write their dialogue but let's be real baby steps

also, is Spector just the most wonderful human or what? he always seems so positive in his interviews. maybe it's because he grew up being called Warren Spector and so knows he's the coolest dude?

How can you turn off the amazing music of Deus Ex?

 

[Humanity has risen!]

Warren Spector is a total no-talent hack who takes credit for other people and who is obsessed with telling other people what to do.

 

[DraQ]

It's sad that this one:

The overall mood and tone will be clear and consistent - Fear, Paranoia, Tension, Release (through combat and/or reaching a predetermined goal or NPC conversation)

is easily as rare these days as any of the mechanics-oriented rules.

but at the same time, if Deus Ex didn't have a music volume control, I couldn't play it. I'm not even sure people who played it with the music enabled were playing the same game as I was. the title screen music alone readies me for death. once you turn the music off, though, you encounter these magnificently rich ambient soundscapes almost everywhere. THAT is what I think a lot of modern games are missing. I regularly turn off music as intrusive, but the void it leaves behind often totes fails to engage me. even a little step like developing an immersive soundscape could go a long way to rectifying some of the tone problems AAA games have. of course next they'll have to stop having their tech support people write their dialogue but let's be real baby steps

also, is Spector just the most wonderful human or what? he always seems so positive in his interviews. maybe it's because he grew up being called Warren Spector and so knows he's the coolest dude?

How can you turn off the amazing music of Deus Ex?

Rarely am I in such full agreement with dnf or most other bearers of the "dumbfuck !!!" tag.

 

[Joni Odin von Hassenstein]

Warren Spector is a total no-talent hack who takes credit for other people and who is obsessed with telling other people what to do.

You know him?

 

[Azazel]

Warren Spector is a total no-talent hack who takes credit for other people and who is obsessed with telling other people what to do.

You know him?

His track record since he parted ways with the Looking Glass crew speaks for itself. Loudly.

 

[taxalot]

So if he does good game, it's because the team is good, and if he does a bad game, it's because Warren Spector sucks. Wow, that logic is flawless.

 

[Metro]

So... when's this guy going to be relevant again?

 

[DraQ]

So if he does good game, it's because the team is good, and if he does a bad game, it's because Warren Spector sucks. Wow, that logic is flawless.

Well, DX:IW did feature a large number of completely moronic high level decisions.

Unlike things like general quality, AI, art design, level design or more elusive qualities like atmosphere it's not something you can blame on the team.
DX:IW is in large part either Spector's fault, Smith's fault or fault of them both.

 

[taxalot]

But then , didn't Deus Ex 1 have tons of GOOD high level decisions?