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It's been a while, but we've finally found the time to post the full interview with Tony Zurovec, the master mind behind the [url=http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/crusader_no_remorse/]Crusader games. There were some very good questions from the community, and we've added a couple from our team, but the answers from Tony are just outstanding! We really encourage you to check the full Q&A session, even if you didn't like Crusader games (why wouldn't you?), as it gives a great insight at how the games industry looked like in the 90's and how games were made back in the days when Origin made some of the best titles ever.

Once again we'd like to thank Tony for his time and answering all those questions, and Vagabond for making this Q&A possible. Enjoy your read!
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wvpr: Apparently this is what happens if you play Doom every day for 18 years straight.
On the upside, it's less harmful to America's youth than PETA's upcoming porn site.
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Zabinatrix: Did you seriously think anyone here is unaware of how well it sold? :)
Based on your earlier post, I'd wager that there are people here, including you, who don't know much at all about DOOM. You can't seem to remember anything about it, so why should I suddenly think you're an expert on DOOM history?

The statistics ARE relevant because they highlight the fact that DOOM has merit not only as an FPS but also in the broader context of gaming in general. It amazes me that Zurovec would look at a hugely successful game and go "Well I certainly don't want to make MY game anything like DOOM, because it has "design flaws". He probably never played through the game, much like most of you people haven't(or perhaps you all suffer from selective memory), so he made himself look foolish for criticizing supposed "faults" which never existed.
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jefequeso: Jefequeso: Yeah. I'm a big Doom/Quake fanatic, but there's no denying that the game involved a ton of backtracking and keycard searching. And I've played through most of the levels several times.
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Stormwalker: So you've played through "MOST of the levels SEVERAL TIMES"...yet your a DOOM/Quake fanatic. Doubt it. Sounds pretty casual to me. How about you tell me a specific level from the commercial release where backtracking is a problem?
No, because that would be a waste of my precious time. If your memory of the game is so flawed that you honestly can't remember the many many Doom levels that require careful exploration and keycard searching (such as the entirety of the second half of Doom II for instance), I suggest you go replay the game.

To everyone else: Just ignore him. He's obviously gets off to starting flame wars, and you're just feeding his strange fetish. Trust me, I have extensive experience dealing with these sorts of people.
Stormwalker:

First of all: thank you for your magnanimous permission to not-read your posts! I think I can handle them, even though I am now desperately trying to establish whether I am a baby or a piece of shit (a baby-shit perhaps?) ;)

1. As to ‘meaningless words’… This is a bit embarrassing... A word is the basic message-carrying form in any language. Almost every word has a meaning. This is what distinguishes human languages from random sounds.

Or did you want to say that your words were not meant to be offensive to others and it’s our fault if we gave an offensive meaning to ‘fuck you’? Well, just as well, perhaps Tony did not mean to ‘offend’ Doom. Actually, it is only you who finds it offensive. ;)

2. Psychotic and neurotic are two different conditions. We're getting back to words and their meaning. You might want to check both terms.

3. No, sorry, you did not get this straight and therefore your interpretation is invalid. : )
I am not 'equating' you with a murderer, please don't abuse yourself with such a blatant hyperbole. I am merely pointing at the same mechanism at work here: a somewhat disturbed individual invests too much emotional commitment in an object or idea most people don't really care much about. Once this object is in any way threatened or offended that person then reacts in a way which to any observer seems clearly out of proportion. In your case, the response is a counter-attack consisting of insults. In the case of some people sympathizing with football clubs it’s often physical violence. I understand that ‘Doom is your life’ (as Man Utd or Arsenal might be someone’s life) but you must admit, it’s a bit silly for you to react so fiercely to a (perceived only by you!) insult.

In peace and love, your piece-of-shit baby bro. :)
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Zabinatrix: Did you seriously think anyone here is unaware of how well it sold? :)
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Stormwalker: Based on your earlier post, I'd wager that there are people here, including you, who don't know much at all about DOOM. You can't seem to remember anything about it, so why should I suddenly think you're an expert on DOOM history?

The statistics ARE relevant because they highlight the fact that DOOM has merit not only as an FPS but also in the broader context of gaming in general. It amazes me that Zurovec would look at a hugely successful game and go "Well I certainly don't want to make MY game anything like DOOM, because it has "design flaws". He probably never played through the game, much like most of you people haven't(or perhaps you all suffer from selective memory), so he made himself look foolish for criticizing supposed "faults" which never existed.
I was being honest about the fact that it's been a number of years since I played the game. How does that equate to me not knowing about the phenomena that is Doom? One has nothing to do with the other. For instance, I know how well World of Warcraft has sold and a lot about what awards it has won, but I have never even played that. As for Doom, I played that a lot back in the day. But memory isn't perfect, so I was just saying that maybe, maybe there is some great "multiple solutions"-thing that I've forgotten.

But you've stopped talking about your earlier claims about that - you're asking other people for examples of specific levels, but not giving any examples yourself. Instead you talk about units sold and awards awarded, as if there was any question about Doom's popularity.

Again - it isn't about if Doom was popular or not. It's about design choices. He even said that Doom is a great shooter - he just didn't like a particular design choice. This is a personal preference that isn't (and shouldn't) be affected by how many other people have played the game.

Doom is great at what it does, but he wanted to make a different thing. But you just go right ahead and keep reading "I hate Doom!" and "Doom doesn't deserve recognition!" into that. It's rather funny.

@jefequeso Aw, I'm sorry, I'll try to stop replying - but Stormwalker just amuses me so :)
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jefequeso: If your memory of the game is so flawed that you honestly can't remember the many many Doom levels that require careful exploration and keycard searching (such as the entirety of the second half of Doom II for instance), I suggest you go replay the game.
I know every level in and out, bud. And there's no point at which "careful exploration" or "keycard searching" ever comes up. DOOM was designed to be fast-paced action, and a cursory look at youtube videos showing the myriad of speedruns done in DOOM proves that. You proved my point, though. You talk shit but you can't back it up with a single specific instance or fact, so that makes anything you have to say empty. Some "fanatic" you are, just a big mouth with nothing behind it on a forum. Sweet.
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jefequeso: If your memory of the game is so flawed that you honestly can't remember the many many Doom levels that require careful exploration and keycard searching (such as the entirety of the second half of Doom II for instance), I suggest you go replay the game.
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Stormwalker: I know every level in and out, bud. And there's no point at which "careful exploration" or "keycard searching" ever comes up. DOOM was designed to be fast-paced action, and a cursory look at youtube videos showing the myriad of speedruns done in DOOM proves that. You proved my point, though. You talk shit but you can't back it up with a single specific instance or fact, so that makes anything you have to say empty. Some "fanatic" you are, just a big mouth with nothing behind it on a forum. Sweet.
Try this site:

www.4chan.com

I think it has what you're looking for.
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Stormwalker: Based on your earlier post, I'd wager that there are people here, including you, who don't know much at all about DOOM. You can't seem to remember anything about it, so why should I suddenly think you're an expert on DOOM history?

The statistics ARE relevant because they highlight the fact that DOOM has merit not only as an FPS but also in the broader context of gaming in general. It amazes me that Zurovec would look at a hugely successful game and go "Well I certainly don't want to make MY game anything like DOOM, because it has "design flaws". He probably never played through the game, much like most of you people haven't(or perhaps you all suffer from selective memory), so he made himself look foolish for criticizing supposed "faults" which never existed.
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Zabinatrix: I was being honest about the fact that it's been a number of years since I played the game. How does that equate to me not knowing about the phenomena that is Doom? One has nothing to do with the other. For instance, I know how well World of Warcraft has sold and a lot about what awards it has won, but I have never even played that. As for Doom, I played that a lot back in the day. But memory isn't perfect, so I was just saying that maybe, maybe there is some great "multiple solutions"-thing that I've forgotten.

But you've stopped talking about your earlier claims about that - you're asking other people for examples of specific levels, but not giving any examples yourself. Instead you talk about units sold and awards awarded, as if there was any question about Doom's popularity.

Again - it isn't about if Doom was popular or not. It's about design choices. He even said that Doom is a great shooter - he just didn't like a particular design choice. This is a personal preference that isn't (and shouldn't) be affected by how many other people have played the game.

Doom is great at what it does, but he wanted to make a different thing. But you just go right ahead and keep reading "I hate Doom!" and "Doom doesn't deserve recognition!" into that. It's rather funny.

@jefequeso Aw, I'm sorry, I'll try to stop replying - but Stormwalker just amuses me so :)
well, if you're enjoying yourself, what's the harm ;)
Post edited September 21, 2011 by jefequeso
Anyway, OT: I'm still thinking about getting Crusader... I've just bought so many GoG games lately, and I hate to shell out more money from my already dwindling supply. Plus, if I keep up like this GoG will run out of games that interest me, and THAT would be a tragedy!
Their red armor made them stand out in a dreary Orwellian future…and that was the point.

Fancy it up all you want, but the main thought to the red colour was "it looks bad-ass!"
O HAI SPAMBOT :D


-_-
Surprised no one has yet commented on the fact most of the screenshots in the article come from No Regret.
Finished reading the interview. Damn, making a game takes alot of work and dedication. I used to think it would be fun, but if you work for a company with deadlines and constant crunch time requiring 12-18 hour days for 7 days/wk for months on end, sounds like its very easy to get burned out on gaming and basically having no life outside of the game you are working on. I don't think that I have that kind of dedication, so I better just enjoy the games as a hobby and not a job.
Heartwarming interview. Never played his games but maybe I'll check them out.
Great interview, interesting info - long live Crusader.
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Vagabond: It was on my list, along with Crusader. Jumped the gun there, boy-o.
enjoyed your list, brought back some great memories. wish Deus Ex would get released on GOG...