Fireside Chat with Warren Spector & John Romero

John Romero and Warren Spector call some modern game mechanics "actively evil." Hear their unfiltered take on the state of the industry.

#1about 3 minutes

Why indie developers should focus on innovation

Indie games are the primary source of innovation in the industry, so developers should create original experiences they are passionate about.

#2about 2 minutes

The challenge of non-gamer executive interference

The worst part of game development can be interference from executives who prioritize quarterly profits over creative vision.

#3about 3 minutes

How to create a cult classic game

Creating a cult classic requires focusing on your own vision and passion for the game rather than trying to please a broad audience.

#4about 3 minutes

Why game-to-movie adaptations are finally improving

Film adaptations of games are getting better because the current generation of filmmakers grew up as gamers and understand the source material.

#5about 5 minutes

The debate over shutting down online-only games

While companies shut down unprofitable online games, providing offline modes or allowing community-run servers can preserve the player experience.

#6about 2 minutes

How players created co-op experiences before the internet

Before online multiplayer, passionate players found creative ways to play games together, such as coordinating over long-distance phone calls.

#7about 3 minutes

Taking an ethical stance on loot boxes

While some monetization mechanics like card packs are accepted, developers should be willing to say no to publishers when asked to implement inappropriate systems.

#8about 3 minutes

Why developers should embrace speedrunners breaking games

When players find exploits to speedrun a game, it should be seen as a creative expression of emergent gameplay, not just a bug.

#9about 1 minute

The performance cost and futility of game DRM

Digital rights management (DRM) is an endless cat-and-mouse game that ultimately hurts performance for legitimate players.

#10about 5 minutes

How games can explore complex real-world issues

Games can be a powerful medium for prompting players to think about complex topics like global conflict and ethics by presenting different ideologies through gameplay.