Interview Matt Chat 171: Josh Sawyer on Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights

[Crooked Bee]

Tags: Aliens: Crucible; Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound; Black Isle Studios; Icewind Dale 2; J.E. Sawyer; Matt Barton; Neverwinter Nights 2; Obsidian Entertainment

Matt Barton has put up the second part of his interview with Obsidian's Josh Sawyer. This part focuses not on Project Eternity, but on some of the past games that Josh was involved with, namely, the Icewind Dale and the Neverwinter Nights series, as well as the canceled Project Jefferson and Aliens RPG:

This is the second part of my interview with Josh Sawyer. We chat about Josh's key influences, his time at Black Isle and Midway, then talk about his first jobs at Obsidian. We also cover the issue of party vs. single-character CRPGs and his mixed feelings about adapting his favorite genre for console play. We also cover the cancelled Project Jefferson and Aliens RPG games.​

 

[Mrowak]

Excellent stuff, all the way. I like his enthusiastic, yet sombre attitude. I am glad I finally got to learn Josh's background. He has quite a piece of history behind him...

Which also strengthens my belief he cannot into planning.

 

[Primordial Soup Nazi]

I like how, in spite of how tactfully he described the Gauntlet situation, the "Midway = morons" message comes through loud-and-clear.

The Alien RPG definitely would have been one to watch, but I'm not sure how you could make a game for a franchise like that wouldn't be linear and railroady.

 

[villain of the story]

Pfff, 26 minutes. Why so long? Here we go.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

I like how, in spite of how tactfully he described the Gauntlet situation, the "Midway = morons" message comes through loud-and-clear.

The Alien RPG definitely would have been one to watch, but I'm not sure how you could make a game for a franchise like that wouldn't be linear and railroady.

Alien screams survival horror to me.

 

[GreatPretender]

Thanks JC Matt

 

[mikaelis]

I like how, in spite of how tactfully he described the Gauntlet situation, the "Midway = morons" message comes through loud-and-clear.

The Alien RPG definitely would have been one to watch, but I'm not sure how you could make a game for a franchise like that wouldn't be linear and railroady.

Alien screams survival horror to me.

I could certainly imagine a game in the vein of System Shock 2, with a bit more emphasis on cRPG design.

Wonder what was the first unnanounced and cancelled game that he was so hesitant to discuss...

 

[Volourn]

This Matt guy sounds ignorant on some of the more 'obvious stuff'. he prtends to be a 'fan'. Fuck him.

 

[villain of the story]

I like how, in spite of how tactfully he described the Gauntlet situation, the "Midway = morons" message comes through loud-and-clear.

The Alien RPG definitely would have been one to watch, but I'm not sure how you could make a game for a franchise like that wouldn't be linear and railroady.

Alien screams survival horror to me.

If only you knew.

I am extremely glad Alien RPG was cancelled.

 

[Roguey]

What the hell, Matt. I just listened to episode 2 of your podcast and there you said Icewind Dale II is even more boring that the first one. And in this video you said it's one of your favourite games! Way to asskiss this guy.

Wonder what was the first unnanounced and cancelled game that he was so hesitant to discuss...

Seven Dwarves, the Grimms' fairy tales-inspired action RPG more than likely.

Delaware - The Sith Lords
Pennsylvania - NWN2
New Jersey - Seven Dwarves
Georgia - Alpha Protocol
Connecticut - Aliens

 

[Bluebottle]

I could have seen the aliens RPG working in a similar way to Dead State. Relative safe area, bunch of NPCs, limited resources and a bunch of objectives to meet. Head out from safe area to replenish resources or achieve objectives and spend the rest of the time dealing with the characters as they all fall apart and turn on one another. Doesn't seem like a crazy stretch.

 

[sea]

Great interview as usual, nice to hear about his origins and the early days at Interplay.

 

[mikaelis]

Seven Dwarves, the Grimms' fairy tales-inspired action RPG more than likely.

Delaware - The Sith Lords
Pennsylvania - NWN2
New Jersey - Seven Dwarves
Georgia - Alpha Protocol
Connecticut - Aliens

Hohoho, that would be a joy. Especially gangbang bromance scene in Dwarves cottage.

 

[LeStryfe79]

Matt cut his hair...

 

[Irxy]

Anything interesting on Alien RPG out there?
Always wondered what really happened to it.

 

[Kane]

josh is like madonna. everytime i see him, he looks different.