Inside the Vault with Josh Sawyer

Post by **King of Creation** » Thu May 06, 2010 6:25 am

[ Person -> Interview ] - More info on <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Inside the Vault">Community: Inside the Vault</a> | More info on <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Josh Sawyer">Person: Josh Sawyer</a>

This weeks <a href="http://bethblog.com/index.php/2010/05/0 ... 33">Inside the Vault</a> is with none other than Fallout: New Vegas project director Josh Sawyer. Since it's Josh, I've posted the whole thing:
Let’s meet another member of Obsidian’s team — currently hard at work on Fallout: New Vegas. Today we’ve got Josh Sawyer, the game’s Project Director. Learn about his responsibilities on the project (they’re pretty important), highlights of his career, and and some of his passions outside of the office.
<img src="http://static.bethsoft.com/blog/josh_sawyerITV.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="480" />

What’s your job at Obsidian?
I’m the project director and lead designer on Fallout: New Vegas. I am responsible for the overall vision of the game, high-level content design, and all of the system design. I help coordinate the production and lead team and generally just help people stay on track with the project as a whole.
What games have you worked on?
I started off in the industry working on the Icewind Dale series. I also worked on Neverwinter Nights 2 and contributed a bit to the upcoming Alpha Protocol.
What is the best part about your job? The worst part?
I really enjoy seeing people create great things. Few things make me happier than going around and showing people a cool new feature, critter, animation, icon, loading screen, or effect in the game. The worst part is definitely dealing with project cancellations.
Any fun facts you’d like to share about Obsidian?
In December, 2008, we moved from Santa Ana to Irvine. The owners put a huge amount of time and effort into coordinating the development of a new studio, and it’s fantastic. It’s a very open office environment and it looks great.
How did you get into the industry? Do you have any tips for breaking in?
In college, I taught myself HTML and Flash. I did a bit of contract web development work but never thought it would get me into the game industry. A friend of mine told me that Black Isle Studios was hiring a web developer for an unannounced project. I applied and wrote a rambling cover letter that, in retrospect, I’m surprised made it past the first round. Luckily I was one of three out of 59 applicants who knew Flash. The project turned out to be Planescape: Torment and I got the job. I eventually became the webmaster for all Black Isle sites. After pestering Feargus for a while, he let me come on as a junior designer on the original Icewind Dale.
As far as breaking in, I always tell people to do two things: make mods and apply for QA (Quality Assurance). Making mods helps you understand how games work under the hood and it shows that you are willing to put in the time to get something done. You don’t have to make a big mod. Almost any mod will do if it’s an interesting concept and well-executed. QA makes you an integral part of the development process, refines your critical thinking skills, and puts you in contact with the developers.
Thus far, what’s been the highlight of your career?
Growing up, Brian Fargo was one of my heroes. Working for Black Isle was amazing for me because Interplay made Bard’s Tale, the first CRPG I ever played. After Icewind Dale shipped, Brian sent an e-mail to Feargus telling him he played through the whole game and really enjoyed it. So even though the highlight came only a year into my development career, I think it will be hard to top that.
What would you say is your personal favorite game of all time?
I have three all-time favorites: the original Pool of Radiance, Darklands, and the original Fallout. All have their own flaws and idiosyncrasies, but those are the three that have drawn me in more than any others. They’re also the ones that I can go back to without feeling like they’ve aged badly.
What games are you looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to Alpha Protocol finally being released and I really want to play Splinter Cell: Conviction. I’m also looking forward to Brink because I’ve been a huge fan of Splash Damage ever since Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, my favorite team-based multiplayer FPS. I probably won’t be able to play them for a while because I’ve got a backlog of about twelve games from 2009 and early 2010 I still need to get through.
What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
It changes over time, but ever since I got into the game industry, I’ve wanted to work on a Fallout game. It’s only taken eleven years, but better late than never.
Worst job you’ve ever had?
In college I worked a temp job for a single night at an onion ring factory. It was terrible. I sweated onion juice for a month after that single night of work.
As a Wisconsin native, how do you feel about Brett Favre?
I’m a Packers fan even though I don’t watch football and will instinctively swear at people who defame the Pack (such as Frank Kowalkowski, F:NV’s lead programmer). That said, other than my general shock that Favre would go to the Vikings, I don’t have a strong opinion. But hey, at least he didn’t go to the Bears.
Any other hobbies and interests? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy learning about things, but don’t spend a lot of time on any given hobby. I like restoring older (60s and 70s) motorcycles, going on motorcycle trips, and generally just leaving the city whenever I get a few days off.

Stainless · Post by **Stainless** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:14 am

am I the only one more interested in the tatts then any of the questions, etc?

jetbaby · Post by **jetbaby** » Thu May 06, 2010 10:02 am

I would like the know what the fuck is going on there as well.

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Thu May 06, 2010 1:43 pm

Ugh, sleeve tattoos. Lemme guess, he's got some stars near his shoulder too.

TwinkieGorilla · Post by **TwinkieGorilla** » Thu May 06, 2010 1:53 pm

King of Creation wrote:Iâ€™m a Packers fan even though I donâ€™t watch football

*back-handed slap to the head*

you're no longer invited over for cheese and PBR, asshole.

Yonmanc wrote:Ugh, sleeve tattoos. Lemme guess, he's got some stars near his shoulder too.

don't be one of those fucking internet-nerd-purists who are so insecure about their own appearance they play the "everybody but me is a hipster because i'm so ugly and lame" game, please. i hate your kind with a passion.

Post by **King of Creation** » Thu May 06, 2010 1:57 pm

I sent a question into his formspring about his tattoos

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Thu May 06, 2010 3:18 pm

Yonmanc wrote:Ugh, sleeve tattoos. Lemme guess, he's got some stars near his shoulder too.
don't be one of those fucking internet-nerd-purists who are so insecure about their own appearance they play the "everybody but me is a hipster because i'm so ugly and lame" game, please. i hate your kind with a passion.

I'm not insecure about my looks, I just hate how certain tattoos are becoming a staple. Do really want an over commercialised fashion statement on your skin? Forever?

I like tattoos, just not gay ones

TwinkieGorilla · Post by **TwinkieGorilla** » Thu May 06, 2010 3:26 pm

Yonmanc wrote: I like tattoos, just not gay ones

not that i can see them brilliantly, but they look pretty interesting to me. there's noting inherently wrong with sleeves, man. some people wear'em better than others for sure, but it's pretty "whatevs" to judge somebody for having tattoo sleeves.

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Thu May 06, 2010 3:30 pm

Meh, they're not the worst sleeves I've seen, it just seems weird to me. Tattoos are permanent, surely you'd want yours to be unique.

Saying that my friend is covered in unique tattoos and his suck balls.

Frater Perdurabo · Post by **Frater Perdurabo** » Thu May 06, 2010 3:49 pm

Has anybody asked him the question of what's been the biggest issue with F:NV development thus far? The shitty engine? The limited time span? Gogo send this question of KoC.

Cimmerian Nights · Post by **Cimmerian Nights** » Thu May 06, 2010 4:10 pm

TwinkieGorilla wrote:but it's pretty "whatevs" to judge somebody for having tattoo sleeves.

Says the quintessential non-judgmental model of restraint himself.

TwinkieGorilla · Post by **TwinkieGorilla** » Thu May 06, 2010 4:30 pm

Cimmerian Nights wrote: Says the quintessential non-judgmental model of restraint himself.

i judge people on their appearances regularly? what?

Cimmerian Nights · Post by **Cimmerian Nights** » Thu May 06, 2010 5:12 pm

I still haven't gotten over the time you ragged on my shirt-tuck.

TwinkieGorilla · Post by **TwinkieGorilla** » Thu May 06, 2010 5:25 pm

Cimmerian Nights wrote:I still haven't gotten over the time you ragged on my shirt-tuck.

Kickstand27 · Post by **Kickstand27** » Thu May 06, 2010 7:12 pm

who says his arent unique sleeve tattoos?
i should think youd be hard pressed to sleeve yourself out with the same sleevings that someone else had... in fact youd prolly ahve to have the greatest tattoo artist on the planet to make that work.

Post by **King of Creation** » Thu May 06, 2010 7:18 pm

Frater Perdurabo wrote:Has anybody asked him the question of what's been the biggest issue with F:NV development thus far? The shitty engine? The limited time span? Gogo send this question of KoC.

He won't answer any questions that have anything to do with any of the Fallouts or with Bethesda. Pete Hines has his balls in a vice

Wolfman Walt · Post by **Wolfman Walt** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:00 pm

I personally support the half-tuck.

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:00 pm

Kickstand27 wrote:who says his arent unique sleeve tattoos?
i should think youd be hard pressed to sleeve yourself out with the same sleevings that someone else had... in fact youd prolly ahve to have the greatest tattoo artist on the planet to make that work.

Imeant in general. Sleeve tattoos in general are not unique if everyone has them.

Gimp Mask · Post by **Gimp Mask** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:40 pm

Yonmanc wrote:Sleeve tattoos in general are not unique if everyone has them.

wow, really?

Yonmanc · Post by **Yonmanc** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:44 pm

Gimp Mask wrote:
Yonmanc wrote:Sleeve tattoos in general are not unique if everyone has them.
wow, really?

Well,not according to Kickstand they're not, then again, in another topic he's trying to convince people that all Fallout really needs to be truly awesome is vehicles.

I think he's been doing some of this:

Although, knowing him, he probably got it wrong:

Duck and Cover

Inside the Vault with Josh Sawyer

Inside the Vault with Josh Sawyer

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