Harvey Smith on System Shock and Origin Systems | Deep Dive
276In this special Deep Dive bonus interview, Nightdive's Locke Vincent sits down with game designer and writer Harvey Smith to talk about how he got his start in the games industry at Origin Systems working on titles like System Shock and Ultima VIII: Pagan, along with topics including the insatiable drive to create, how immersive sims cater to player expression, and more!
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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
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0:00 - Intro
0:42 - How Harvey got started in the games industry
3:15 - From late-night gaming sessions to his first gig on Citadel
7:17 - Working with Warren Spector, origins of System Shock
8:38 - From no audio to a completely new sensation
12:38 - Game dev boot camp, learning from an amazing team
15:57 - Putting in extra hours because of excitement, not crunch
17:38 - The window of time to become what you want to become
21:00 - Figuring out a healthy work-life balance
24:11 - Finding "your people" at Origin (or anywhere)
27:00 - Divided culture and curated experiences
29:10 - The insatiable drive to create something
33:25 - Making monster manuals is important work
35:40 - Creating memorable experiences for people
38:03 - Institutional knowledge is the foundation
41:10 - Immersive sims, catering to player expression
43:48 - Pacing (roller coaster vs. haunted house)
48:07 - Games as intellectual narrative
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