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CRITICAL///PATH Project
Type of site
Interview Archive
Available inEnglish
HeadquartersLos Angeles, CA
OwnerArtifact
Created byDavid Grabias
URLcriticalpathproject.com
RegistrationOptional

The CRITICAL///PATH Project is a video archive of interviews with "some of the most influential designers and visionaries" in video games.[1]

Launched on July 23, 2012, CRITICAL///PATH contains interviews with 37 developers conducted between 2010 and 2011.[2] The site currently includes 121 videos and intends to include more clips from different developers in the future.[3] According to director David Grabias, the project has a few goals:[4]

  • To provide a documentary-based venue for critical discussion about the art of making video games.[5]
  • To provide developers with a place where they can come for inspiration.
  • To provide players with insight into their game experience.
  • To make gamers aware of the great minds behind the great games.[6]
  • To document the current state of game development for future generations.


Topics covered in the interviews include violence in games,[7] methods of storytelling,[8] game mechanics,[9] player interaction, psychology behind playing games,[10] commercialism in the industry,[11] and the future of video games, among others.[12]

All clips on the site are available for free viewing online, and there are plans to release a full-length documentary in the future.[13]

Interview Subjects

Currently the site features interview clips with the following developers, listed in alphabetical order by last name.[14]

Discussion

A few quotes from the site have raised some interesting discussions between critics and fans alike. For example, Metal Gear Solid Director Hideo Kojima (famous for his cinematic narrative scenes) mentions that he's "not trying to tell a story."[15][16][17] Sid Meier says he's "failed as a designer" when players use cheats,[9][18] causing some stir with gamers when they discovered an all-powerful Sid Meier character[19] in the latest Firaxis release, X-COM: Enemy Unknown.

One of the more interesting takeaways from the archive is the juxtaposition of differing opinions from the developers. For example, Cliff Bleszinski speaks about creating empowerment fantasies for players,[20] while Warren Spector condemns the practice.[21] Sid Meier says that "micromanagement is not fun"[22] and other developers, like Fable's Peter Molyneux, Ultima's Richard Garriott, and others attempt to create games that give the player as much freedom and decision-making as possible.

References

  1. ^ CRITICAL///PATH Splash Page
  2. ^ Tipps, Seth "Games industry luminaries to feature in new documentary", Develop-Online.net. July 23, 2012.
  3. ^ Gilmore, Dave "Critical Path project provides introspection and institutional memory to game design", The Baltimore Sun. July 25, 2012.
  4. ^ Conditt, Jessica "Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs", Joystiq.com. July 23, 2012.
  5. ^ Cocke, Taylor "Developers Talk Games in Critical Path", GameSpy.com. July 23, 2012.
  6. ^ Duryee, Tricia "Game Gurus Finally Get Some Screen Time in Documentary Interviews", AllThingsD.com. July 23, 2012.
  7. ^ Plunkett, Luke "Gamers “Really Loved Killing” Lara Croft, Because She Was a “Strong” Character" Kotaku.com. July 25, 2012.
  8. ^ "Creators of 'The Sims,' 'Monkey Island,' 'Halo,' 'Gears' speak in Critical Path interviews" Yahoo.com. July 24, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Cifaldo, Frank "Have game designers failed when players are cheating?", Gamasutra.com. July 23, 2012.
  10. ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray [1] TheVerge.com. July 23, 2012.
  11. ^ Cifaldo, Frank "How to know when your game idea is good enough to make", Gamasutra.com. July 24, 2012.
  12. ^ Rigney, Ryan "Video Game Auteurs Define Their Industry In Critical Path" Wired. July 23, 2012.
  13. ^ Kuchera, Ben "Critical Path shares insight from the industry’s leading minds, tackles “wall of white dudes”", Penny-Arcade.com. July 27, 2012.
  14. ^ Corriea, Alexa Ray TheVerge.com. July 23, 2012.
  15. ^ Kojima, Hideo "Story vs. Interactivity" CRITICAL///PATH Project.
  16. ^ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin "Man behind Metal Gear thinks "games shouldn't try to tell stories" : Probably the maddest thing Hideo Kojima's ever said" July 24, 2012.
  17. ^ Rosenberg, Adam "Hideo Kojima Argues Against Storytelling In Games", G4TV.com. July 25, 2012.
  18. ^ Meier, Sid "Game Breaking" CRITICAL///PATH Project.
  19. ^ [2] GiantBomb.com.
  20. ^ Bleszinski, Cliff "Empowerment Fantasy" CRITICAL///PATH Project.
  21. ^ Spector, Warren "Adolescent Power Fantasies" CRITICAL///PATH Project.
  22. ^ Meier, Sid "Is it Work or Fun?" CRITICAL///PATH Project.
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