Rare Q&A With Rockstar Games Head Sam Houser

Paul Williams writes "Develop Magazine has posted a fascinating multi-part interview with Sam Houser, president and founder of Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games. Houser is rarely quoted outside of press releases, and almost never does interviews. So, reading his frank views on things like Rockstar's critics, the creative secrets that make games like GTA IV a success, and how the developer rejects things like focus testing — a common practice at the likes of EA but an 'anathema to creativity' according to Houser — is very interesting. Houser has even written a mini biography of his career with some fun references to the Hot Coffee scandal: 'July 2005: Residue code found in San Andreas. Hackers modify it and it turns into scandal known as "Hot Coffee." Get dragged into legal nightmare, ending in trip to Washington in February 2006 to sit in front of federal trade commission staff — for nine hours.'"

Comments

Oh, is GTA IV being considered a success?

[Uniquitous]

I thought it sucked balls, personally. San Andreas was the much stronger title.

Re:Drop the script

[4D6963]

Thank you! At last someone who understood the idea instead of drivelling blithering nonsense about strong AI.

Re:Drop the script

[morari]

I certainly wouldn't expect anything of the like from Rockstar Games. They do nothing but release buggy, unpolished titles. It's kind of sad really, that all of those "tardcore gamers" buy the stuff up just because it has sexual references and (im)mature language.