#138 - Paul Tozour Interview (Metroid Prime 2 & 3, Boss Design, A.I., Leadership, Four Swords etc.)

Paul Tozour is a former engineer and video game developer with
over 25 years of experience. He is most well known for his work
on Metroid Prime 2 & 3. He is currently in the process of
finishing his book The Four Swords: A Parable of Leadership,
Video Games, and Dead Dragons which is due for release at the end
of 2022.


SOCIAL MEDIA


TWITTER - @fourswordsbook


 


TIMESTAMPS


00:00 - Intro


00:50 - What His Role Was At Retro Studios


02:30 - Challenges Between Retro & Nintendo/Dark Samus Fight
In Prime 3


06:16 - Working With Tanabe/Western Vs Eastern Design


09:02 - Adapting To Nintendos Design Philosophies


10:55 - Project X And How It Fell Apart


17:17 - Michael Kelbaugh’s Influence On Retros Culture/How Paul
Got Into Leadership 


21:00 - No Evidence To Show Crunch Is Productive/Cultural Norms


24:58 - Leadership Is Building Culture Intentionally


25:55 - Paul’s Crunch Stories/Underlying Problems Of Leadership


28:44 - Game Studio Values/Fear Of Conflict


31:35 - Leadership Is Leaving Your Ego On The Table


32:20 - Activision’s Scandal A Symptom Of A Deeper Problem


33:20 - Day Courses For Studios/Devs Having 100% Ownership Of
Studios/Unions


35:50 - Andy O’Neills Saying/Mark Heigh- Hutchinson


37:15 - Michael Kelbaugh’s Leadership


38:25 - Different Disciplines 


41:40 - Pauls Book THE FOUR SWORDS And How It Came About


47:34 - Aven Colony/Helios Boss In Prime 3


50:15 - Pauls Frustration With A.I. In Gaming


53:31 - A.I. Gaming Evolution Is Very Slow/Flowchart Of Boss A.I.
While Working On Prime 2 


57:01 - Idol State Of Dark Samus Battle In Prime 2


59:40 - Tanabe Didnt Like The Original Design Of The Pirate
Homeward


1:01:44 - In Nintendo Meetings You Never Reference Another Game
In Design Pitches


1:03:30 - The Game Is The Design Document With Nintendo


1:06:20 - Massive Design Documents Never Get Read


1:07:29 - Retro Devs Were Halo Fans And So It Influenced Prime
3/East & West Design Meet In Metroid Prime Trilogy


1:08:50 - You Gain New Perspectives From Working With Nintendo


1:10:30 - Wrap Up/FOUR Swords Book Promotion


1:11:45 - Where To Follow Paul Tozour