http://download.gamevideos.com/Podcasts/CGW/022208_01.mp3American McGee sounds like a really nice person. The reason I think Cobra and just about everyone else here will love this, is that much of the interview is about McGee developing games for a studio in China for the past year or so. And the interview quickly goes from gaming to life in China.
Awesome interview.
* McGee talks about how his name got stuck on games despite his wishes. It started with Alice, as the publishers wanted fans to know it was a game from the guy from id, and not some fairy tale game. Then it stuck, and it was what the publishers demanded every time. At one point, when a publisher told him he had changed his mind about sticking his name on the box, McGee went back to his office elated, to tell his team. He also talks about being hurt every time he reads the comments section on any article on his game, and sees readers calling him arrogant without knowing why he has to stick his name there.
*He talks about China, and how it isn't as bad when people are used to the "chaos". He talks about Chinese subordinate developers so unused to being creative, and being afraid to make mistakes or share ideas with him.
*He says Bad Day LA was a big mistake. He talks about being able to make a game in America that pokes fun at an American tragedy, but probably not having the same freedom in China to poke fun at the Tiananmen square tragedy. Then he pauses and says,"But really, why would I want to make a game about that?"
*He talks about publishers in China who suddenly went cheap and pulled money on projects, and how it was frustrating.
It has a lot of funny bits as well.
