We chat with Mark Darrah about his career at BioWare, including his work on Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Baldur's Gate, and more. Join the veteran game devs as they discuss the art of storytelling in an open world, and highlight the influence of The Ur-Quan Masters on the Mass Effect series.
Check out Mark Darrah's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qabZM40_bN4
0:00 - Theme music
0:14 - Introductions
1:54 - Ur-Quan Masters and Mass Effect
4:14 - Exploring open worlds
10:25 - Storytelling in open worlds
12:18 - Multiplayer storytelling
23:27 - Main content vs side content
25:14 - What do fandoms like
30:30 - Storytelling techniques
34:18 - Making games in teams
43:25 - Conflicting visions and Dragon Age: Inquisition
53:23 - Making a satisfying sequel
1:10:56 - Mark and UQM
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.