Ion Storm
Ion Storm business and news from across the web.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
I picked out 31 must-play games going for $5 or less in the Steam Summer SaleThis article highlights 31 must-play games available for $5 or less during the Steam Summer Sale. The curated list includes a variety of genres such as RPGs and first-person shooters, with many titles developed by well-known studios like Larian and BioWare.
After seeing Thief Remastered, I'm calling it: That doomed Deux Ex remaster should get rebooted with Nightdive in…The upcoming remasters of Thief: The Dark Project by Nightdive Studios and Deus Ex by Aspyr present a stark contrast in approach and reception. While Nightdive's Thief remaster is praised for its faithful yet enhanced visuals, Aspyr's Deus Ex remaster has drawn criticism for a perceived dated graphical overhaul. The article suggests that Aspyr's project should be rebooted, ideally with Nightdive's involvement, given the positive reception to their work on System Shock 2 and Thief.
In 1997, Warren Spector told us the upcoming PC classic Deus Ex was inspired by Final Fantasy, Miyamoto, and 'the…A 1997 interview with legendary game designer Warren Spector reveals his early inspirations for the upcoming PC classic Deus Ex, including Final Fantasy VII and Shigeru Miyamoto's work. Spector discussed his move to Ion Storm and his vision for a first-person RPG that blended console accessibility with deep simulation, initially planning to use the Quake II engine before ultimately opting for Unreal.
Playing Deus Ex: Invisible War like it always should have beenThis article revisits Deus Ex: Invisible War, arguing that with the Visible Upgrade mod, the game can be played as it was originally intended. It highlights the game's strengths in its immersive sim elements, side stories, and surprisingly prescient commentary on AI and parasocial relationships, despite its initial criticisms regarding loading screens and simplified mechanics.
Doom co-designer still has the real chainsaw that inspired the OG FPS's iconic weapon, even though it leaks oil and…Doom co-designer Tom Hall still possesses the actual "Eager Beaver" chainsaw that inspired the iconic weapon in the original first-person shooter. The chainsaw, which leaked oil and was kept in a bowl at id Software offices, was modeled after Hall's personal tool. Hall, who also co-founded Ion Storm and contributed to Deus Ex, was a key figure in Doom's development.
Deus Ex's maligned sequel was the most 2026 game of 2003: It clocked the 21st century even harder than Metal…This article argues that Deus Ex: Invisible War, despite its critical reception, was a prophetic game that accurately reflected the socio-political landscape of the early 21st century. It draws parallels between the game's narrative of societal collapse and inequality with real-world events and political figures, suggesting the game's themes resonate more strongly now than at its release.
Deus Ex: Invisible War wasn't what it should have been because the studio moved to an engine that was really built for Thief: 'A super-boneheaded call, very bad decision… it really tanked development'Former Ion Storm director Harvey Smith discusses the development challenges of Deus Ex: Invisible War, citing the decision to move the studio to an engine built for Thief: Deadly Shadows as a major setback. Pressure from Eidos to make the game a console title for the original Xbox also exacerbated technical issues, leading to a product that fell short of the original Deus Ex's ambition and disappointed fans.- The devs on Deus Ex: Invisible War knew its most-hated part was a 'terrible idea,' and they give the director…Developer Harvey Smith discusses the universally disliked universal ammo system in Deus Ex: Invisible War, admitting it was a 'terrible idea' that stemmed from a flawed attempt to incorporate nanotechnology. Despite this and other criticisms, Smith defends the game's core immersive sim elements and expresses his ability to now discuss the title openly.
Meet the man who stuffed as much Deus Ex into Fallout 3 as was "humanly possible"Emil Pagliarulo, lead designer and writer for Fallout 3, discusses the significant influence of Deus Ex on his design philosophy for the game. He aimed to incorporate as much immersive sim gameplay as possible, particularly focusing on enhancing stealth mechanics and emergent consequences, drawing parallels to his work on earlier titles like Thief II: The Metal Age.