June 22, 2015June 24, 2015

Conversations with Creators with Wil Wheaton Premieres July 7th

Hello, PlayStation Nation! This summer I’m hosting “Conversation with Creators,” a series of roundtable discussions with some of the most incredible and talented game creators on the planet. (I know, it’s a little on the nose, but we all figured you should know exactly what you’re getting into, because we respect your time, and Dragon Age: Inquisition isn’t going to play itself while you try to figure out if you want to watch a new show)

The series is presented by PlayStation Store and the first episode premieres July 7th. Here’s a little preview of what you can expect:

We’ll release new episodes, every Tuesday in the US and Canada, on PlayStation Store. You’ll get them for the low, low price of FREE on your PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. What’s that? You loaned your device to your cousin and she went out of town, locked it in her house, and didn’t give you the key? Don’t worry. If you don’t want to try out those lock-picking skills just yet, we’re also going to make our episodes available on PlayStation’s YouTube channel.

So, I hope you’ll join me and some really interesting people as we talk about games like Destiny, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Uncharted, The Last of Us, God of War and more. I’ve already taped a couple of episodes, and I’ve had some really fascinating conversations about the similarities and differences between videogames and movies, the origins of Destiny, and exactly how The Last Of Us scared the hell out of us all, while simultaneously making us care about Joel and Ellie more than we care for actual people we work with in our real lives. Yes, Mark, I’m looking at you. You are never going to get a spot in my zombie survival compound, Mark.

If you’re interested in hearing about how the games we love were brought to life from ideas to actual worlds we can visit, you’re going to love this show. And if you’re not, that’s okay. I could probably use your help in some Destiny raids, anyway. Seriously, you should see me dance. I’m amazing.Here’s a list of our upcoming episodes and creators:

Episode 1: Bungie – July 7th

Jason Jones – Co-Founder

Ryan Ellis – Design Director

Luke Smith – Design Director

Jason Sussman – Senior Environment

Episode 2: Naughty Dog – July 14th

Evan Wells – Co-President

Neil Druckmann – Creative Director

Bruce Straley – Game Director

Anthony Newman – Co-Lead Game Designer

Episode 3: Treyarch – July 21st

Mark Lamia – Studio Head

Dan Bunting – Game Director, Multiplayer

David Vonderhaar – Studio Design Director

Jason Blundell – Campaign Director & Sr. Executive Producer

Episode 4: Santa Monica Studio – July 28th

Shannon Studstill – Studio Head

Cory Barlog – Creative Director

Nathan Gary – Creative Director

Jason McDonald – Lead Combat Designer

Oh, and one more thing! Beginning today, through June 23rd at noon Pacific Time, I’m giving two PlayStation fans an amazing opportunity. Submit that question you’ve been dying to ask of the Treyarch and/or Santa Monica Studio teams in the comments section below and I will select the top question for each studio and ask it during our taping on June 23rd.

Play more games, visit playstationstore.com/creators for more info and I’ll see you on the Internets!

Your pal, Wil Wheaton

Comments are closed.

155 Comments

ZeeGeeEmm
June 22, 2015 at 7:07 pm PDT

Here’s my question – it’s a two-parter, but just using the first half is fine.

“What is the one feature, character, plot, or mechanic that you agonized over cutting in your last project? How did that cut affect your vision for the game?”
brolol07
June 22, 2015 at 7:25 pm PDT

Interesting videos that your doing Will! Especially for somebody who goes to college for game design like I do! Can’t wait for you to pick their brains!
FiranfordB
June 22, 2015 at 8:22 pm PDT

I like the idea, we need more content like this. Good luck.
liminfini
June 22, 2015 at 9:39 pm PDT

To either Treyarch/Santa Monica:

In a time when games are on constant display on the Internet, getting premature feedback, critique, etc.— How do you manage creating something that ‘aligns’ with your vision vs listening to what the Internet says? Is it that vision constantly changing? And is there a way you select stuff that is useful to you, or not if you don’t want to be distracted by too much feedback?

Also, similarly, how do each of you deal with/filter all the apparent industry cynicism :p?
NotCarolKaye
June 22, 2015 at 10:57 pm PDT

Great idea for a show. I’m looking forward to it.
SephTiger
June 23, 2015 at 2:22 am PDT

Hey Wil, thanks for being here. However, I don’t appreciate the fact that you have openly despised and mocked the audience this is intended for. Thanks again.
- ronnieronb73
  July 8, 2015 at 3:48 am PDT
  
  So true!
ParadoX444
June 23, 2015 at 6:39 am PDT

I love this idea! cant wait to check it out.
Khumasha17
June 23, 2015 at 7:09 am PDT

That going a be cool
n_i_g_e_
June 23, 2015 at 7:30 am PDT

I have a few ideas for question for this and I might even watch all of the episodes. Here is my first of a few question submissions.

1) With the advent of indie games and the very creative art work involved in popular titles such as Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, L.A. Cops, Super Time Force Ultra, w/ Yoshida and Sony Headquarters, and others that are already released or due out have you got any new creative ideas from the new IPs that Sony Computer Entertainment has been developing?
n_i_g_e_
June 23, 2015 at 7:34 am PDT

Question Number 2)

This one is for Bungie: After the creation of Destiny and the somewhat expected or unexpected success of the acclaimed new franchise do you think that your teams development of the Halo games will benefit greatly from the development of Destiny and Bungies’ experience since the game has come out?
- Orpheus_Aeons
  June 23, 2015 at 8:10 am PDT
  
  Questions are supposed to be FOR TREYARCH AND/OR SONY SANTA MONICA ONLY.
  
  If you wanna ask Bungie something…you need to use Twitter.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 23, 2015 at 8:50 am PDT
  
  Only episodes 3 and 4 and those guests get forum questions. That can be changed. I’m sure Wil can ask Bungie and Naughty Dog both questions as well if it works out. Why would I ever go on Twitter or even go on Twitter to send a tweet like that?
n_i_g_e_
June 23, 2015 at 7:47 am PDT

This is my third and last question for you guys and it is for Treyarch.

Here it is: The Crisis Missions were developed back when games were going to be created in the future with modes to provide a higher value of game play and value for your money. This was back when Next Gen or Next Generation was just an idea. Now modes are a common part of many games and the Crisis Missions included in Time Crisis were amongst the first ever in the world to do this. The Crisis Missions have been incorporated in many games like a Sony developed franchise called Starhawk and another very notable and all time highest grossing title called StarFox. Have you ever though of going forward with and incorporating the Crisis Missions in a single player mode for Black Ops III?
cjhill1836
June 23, 2015 at 10:17 am PDT

Great linup of studios Will! Can’t wait to start watching. How awesome is it that PlayStation keeps bringing us loyal gamers original content :)
Vicioussama
June 23, 2015 at 10:22 am PDT

For Naughty Dog,

When are we getting the Uncharted Racing game? :P Gotta keep up with your theme of three games in a series + a racing game!
- n_i_g_e_
  June 23, 2015 at 10:38 am PDT
  
  Drake likes adventure. His character will need to be monopolized or monetized in as many forms of dlc as possible so he can get to adventure. Yes, that means even if it is a part in the brand new indie samurai PS4 game that has such very great video game music and gameplay. Now it will just be up to Naughty Dog to find a way to get money and monetize developing “Drake Only” centric dlc.
JeezusGut
June 23, 2015 at 10:29 am PDT

How do you figure out what to scope down, forget, or manage considering that you probably have immense, possibly grandiose ideas, for games but cannot accomplish everything you may want to do? Basically, how do you decide what gets prioritized on a game development cycle and what gets left out?
- n_i_g_e_
  June 23, 2015 at 1:36 pm PDT
  
  Lucky day I have your answer. Drake likes adventure. His character will need to be monopolized or monetized in as many forms of dlc as possible so he can get to adventure. Yes, that means even if it is a part in the brand new indie samurai PS4 game that has such very great video game music and gameplay. It is called: Drake Centric and Drake Only. Or it will be called: Drake Only as we would not want to have the message get lost in Drakes self centered persona. I think Drake Only and Drake Centric can possibly work. Maybe just “Drake Only” is best to stay on the safe side as to not cause a misunderstanding.
OmegaDyne
June 23, 2015 at 10:48 am PDT

Oh boy, great job on getting a radical who hates on gaming, gaming culture, and gamers on a daily basis. Remember, this is the guy who demonized an entire group of pro-consumer advocates because his friend, Felicia Day, wasn’t treated very nice by a couple anonymous people on the internet. He denies the existence of women and minorities who disagree with him politically. He’s also the guy who blatantly lied about the suicide of a young British girl, blaming the supposed “hate culture” and “bullies” of the internet; in the sad reality, the girl was very troubled and sent messages to herself and there were no signs of online bullying.

Wil Wheadon is a very angry, condescending, divisive personality and a terrible choice for show host. SCEA, you should do research on who you hire before you hire them. I will not be watching this series.

In short, shut up Wesley.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 23, 2015 at 11:47 am PDT
  
  That says “Gamer Gate” all over it.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 23, 2015 at 1:24 pm PDT
  
  The post really does seem to match-up closely with ‘Gamer Gate’. I am not saying that it is true and that the post is a factual recap of events involving Wil. It is just that the post seams to match up with the theory of ‘Gamer Gate’.
- SomeFurf
  June 24, 2015 at 4:32 am PDT
  
  I like that. No refutations of what OmegaDyne says, no refutations, just cry GamerGate and let the projection of your own biases do the work for you.
WilburMonkey
June 23, 2015 at 11:47 am PDT

I am on board with this! Playstation Underground has been great, but I don’t always want to see too much gameplay ahead of release. But I am all for watching Wil pick the brains of the industry’s great developers. Major points if you can dig into how they respond when the product falls short of their vision (or the expectations of critics and fans). The Order 1886 and Drive Club come to mind.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 23, 2015 at 1:27 pm PDT
  
  I had no idea that The Order 1886 and Drive Club fell short of anyones’ expectations.
Elatis
June 23, 2015 at 12:32 pm PDT

Could Sony find a more irrelevant or ignorant person?
Shows just how out of touch they are with their audience.
VinsanityV21
June 23, 2015 at 1:43 pm PDT

Cool! I’m a big fan of ya, Wheaton – your Table Top show on Geek & Sundry is all kinds of entertaining! And I have always been a big fan of hearing the people behind the games talk about their projects, from way back in the day when I used to read interviews with guys like Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma in the pages of Nintendo Power. If a game nowadays has Behind the Scenes videos in their special features section, or a Director’s Commentary, you can bet I’ll check it out. Having you host a shot about that kind of thing? Definitely looking forward to checking this series out :D

Btw, now that you’ve grown up and have that beard all the time…. you look sort of like Riker. I just have to say that. It’s weird. You just can’t NOT remind me of Star Trek TNG, lol :)
arfaboulius
June 23, 2015 at 2:23 pm PDT

I didn’t actually hate Wesley in Star Trek, so I didn’t had any ill feeling toward Wil until I saw him act like a spaz on the internet.

The fake nerd act is getting on people’s nerves, he’s just annoying. We know he’s just trying to get a paycheck, we don’t want to see that, you’re not our pal.

Any no name that slightly care about game development and is articulate enough would present a better image.
reinking
June 23, 2015 at 3:57 pm PDT

Screw the haters. I am going to watch.
Funky0ne
June 23, 2015 at 7:26 pm PDT

For all those saying that backward-compatibility is bad, or that you don’t want it. As somebody said in shooting down BC, “you” might not want it, but don’t go speaking for everybody.

As for some of the comments I read about it, hey, to each their own. But the fact some mock others for “wanting to play PS2 games on PS4” — several die-hard, old-school gamers actually have all their old games. I currently have 50+ PS3 games on disc, and 50-100 PS2 games, even a decent amount of old PS1 games. I can understand maybe drawing the line at PS1, perhaps even PS2… but it would be nice to have all games playable and consolidated on one console, so we don’t have to litter our living room or gaming room with 3-4 different consoles, just to be able to play the Playstation games we’ve already bought and purchased.
- PanTheMan16
  June 24, 2015 at 6:46 am PDT
  
  Since so many people fail to understand why BC is not reasonable for Sony, I went ahead and explained the obvious, in a reply to one of the first comments. Check it out. BC is not going to happen on PS4.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 24, 2015 at 12:50 pm PDT
  
  So, Backwards Compatibility the new age safe haven for gamers and users alike that will allow for legacy software to be used on new devices for Sony was just sensible for the PlayStation 2, Playstation 3, PS Vita, and PlayStation Now?
Funky0ne
June 23, 2015 at 7:26 pm PDT

(Continued)

The simple idea of, “well, it’s remastered on the new console, get that edition”, is a tad insulting to those that may have already spent $40-$60 on a lot of the old titles when they were brand new, and then are expected to spend it again just because the graphics are a tiny bit shinier and slightly more defined. It’s not like remasters ever tend to add any real new content, just polish everything up. Remasters are a bit of a shady “double-dip” of sorts.

Then there’s the argument of, “well, you can re-buy those games on the marketplace, or on that subscription-service that lets you play old games”, again, having to pay again for that which we’ve already paid for.

There are several that weren’t able to outright afford the brand new “next-gen” consoles when they first released, and in order to acquire them, had to trade in their old systems to help knock the price down a bit — those people also now have to either trade in their old disc games because they become useless, or have a stack of games that collect dust and are never playable to them again.
Funky0ne
June 23, 2015 at 7:27 pm PDT

(Continued)

For all the arguments against it, it’s not that much different than the Ex-Bucks Done snafu with the whole DRM announcement in the earlier days. They pointed out that they were trying to kill off pre-owned sales, and that people would have to rebuy things like crazy, and massive dollar-signs… well, not being able to play old games, or be able to access them is in that same ballpark when the best count-argument is, “yank out your wallet and rebuy it here, here, or over there”.
Funky0ne
June 23, 2015 at 7:32 pm PDT

Oops, “count-argument” = “counter-argument”.

PS – Before anybody tries to dismiss me as an “Xbot troll” or “Xboy” or whatever — I’m not. I despise Xbox and Microsoft with every bit of my being. Seeing their countless errors, glitches, exploits, snafus, etc for the past few decades with their Windows OS was bad enough, and I *KNEW* when they announce the original Xbox, it’d bring several similar issues to console players and it did. Was even more disgusting when Microsoft admitted that they never originally made the Xbox with gamers in mind, the ONLY reason they claimed to make it, was to purposely attempt to drive Sony out of business, their own words.

I’m a die-hard Playstation player, and have been since the original PS1… which stemmed from Nintendo dropping the ball on them at the last minute when it was originally intended to be the first SNES CD-Rom drive. I had Wii, and have Wii U, and do a lot of PC gaming… but the pride of my gaming is Playstation!
- n_i_g_e_
  June 24, 2015 at 12:00 pm PDT
  
  Backward Compatibility is at the fore front of technology and was the trend that swept the world in 2006. It was originally a concept and later on backwards compatibility left the realm of concept and transitioned to a marketable model on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Backwards compatibility also was incorporated on the Wii and later the Wii U. However Nintendo always had the ‘backwards compatibility’ functionality just that was not what it was called at the time. At the time it was called playing old games on the new system or something like WoW you can play nes games on snes. It was also called you should go buy the nes game or version of the game on SNES since the nes games are old, dirty, dusty, somewhat non-working, cheap, or maybe part of the label is damaged and so on. The adaptor would allow the old cartridge into the new machine. However if you modified the slot for the cartridge you could make the old games fit as all that was done to block someone from putting the old game in a Nintendo cartridge system was Nintendo had changed the size of the cartridge. A different sized cartridge would mean the game would not fit in the slot.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 24, 2015 at 12:13 pm PDT
  
  Cont’d
  
  Microsoft actually made the Xbox because the corporation had lots of money and so much money they just wanted to find something to do with it. ‘Microsoft made game without thinking of the gamer’ well that is a nice idea as Microsoft had so much money that at times it was actually, and you can quote me on this, Microsoft has so much money they do not ever care about the person; ‘Microsoft did not care about the gamer’ Not only did they not care about the gamer they did not care about people at all and that was fact not just something a lot of people said.
  
  Microsoft actually made the Xbox because the company had a lot of money and wanted to try to make a lot more money. But somehow as it turned out Microsoft actually had lost, I guess in some way, to none other than Sony and PlayStation. Microsoft conceded defeat, paid the money back to Sony and came to Sony & PlayStation asking if they could get some help with games and some games. The rest is history…
SomeFurf
June 24, 2015 at 4:30 am PDT

Wil Wheaton? Yeah, no. You’d have to try really hard to find somebody who’d get me to turn off faster.
honkayjeezus
June 24, 2015 at 5:28 am PDT

Miyamoto please!!

I am now once again seeing where the money for Sony first party content is going to…
phatb0y
June 24, 2015 at 7:27 am PDT

Of all the people you could pick… Wil Wheaton? I know times are hard Sony, but damn.

Maybe you could pick someome who is less hostile to gamers on social media like, say, Jack Thompson? Hell, at least he’d be interesting.

PS – Shut up Wesley.
- n_i_g_e_
  June 24, 2015 at 12:35 pm PDT
  
  I do not see what is wrong with Wil. Conversations and some dialog with creators and studios is kosher. Look Wil Wheaton’ mom told everyone that Wil is a cute boy, who behaves well, use to listed to a lot of music, is interested in playing musical instruments, and a time watches to much music. She also said he is shy, is a very nice person, and never said anything bad. And then in confidence said he needs a hair cut, although on that one I will have to add in his defense that Wils’ hair was fine. I hope when Conversations with Creators with Wil Wheaton finally airs in a few weeks that it is good. Wil Wheaton is worth the money he is getting. Later on I would like to see a hard hitting show with developers and studios hosted by someone. You know talks about real issues, the industry, games, companies. and more. Maybe Wil again and he can keep this thing going.
- ronnieronb73
  July 8, 2015 at 3:49 am PDT
  
  You said it Bro!
Hefex001
June 24, 2015 at 9:35 am PDT

Of all the uninformed people on gaming you could have hired to do this show Sony, you went ahead and got Wil it was my producer’s fault Wheaton. I really hope you guys make a second season of this show, because im gonna pass on this one.

Talk about D.O.A, sheesh.
Funky0ne
June 24, 2015 at 4:26 pm PDT

BTW – Blows my mind why those that don’t want backward-compatibility have to vocally ruin it for those that do. Having that extra option on the console won’t hurt anybody that doesn’t want it, won’t effect those that don’t want it, etc. It’s a lot like one of those many service options on my PS3 that I never use.

Back in my day, it was a GOOD thing to have MORE options, not less… so perhaps people need to stop vocally shooting down options and only wanting bare-bones, since it’s taking options away from others that have reason and purpose to utilize them.
JROD0823
June 25, 2015 at 4:53 pm PDT

I’m usually very positive on the blog posts, but pardon me for a moment because my disdain for Wil Wheaton is too much for me to handle right now, and I need to vent.

That man single handedly and irreparably sours every production that he graces his being with.

Do you folks even realize how much better Star Trek: The Next Generation would have been if the Edoans in the episode “Justice” had been able to do us the favor of killing off Wesley Crusher that early in the run of the show?

It would have been the single, solitary measuring stick by which all TV series would aspire to be like, whether it was science fiction or any other genre.
- JROD0823
  June 25, 2015 at 4:54 pm PDT
  
  Oh, I will be passing on this show, unfortunately.
  
  I want to watch it, but I can’t bear the thought of having to listen to or see Wil.
bucktoothewok
June 25, 2015 at 8:28 pm PDT

@ORPHEUS AEONS…annnd who exactly are you again? Oh that’s right, nobody. Probably just a guy that’s 30 something, lives in mom’s basement, and trolls the Internet 40 hrs a week because they’re bitter about life lol. Making fun of Wil Wheaton, or anyone for that matter isn’t cool. Sorry I had to make fun of you UT your post made me do it lol. You sound like every other wanna be clever troll on the internet. Leave people alone man. Just try to have fun. If you don’t like something maybe go find something you do like and go talk about it. You’re not clever or funny. Go somewhere else. Lol
mattack2
June 25, 2015 at 8:45 pm PDT

Can we get it as a podcast instead somehow, so we can play it faster than realtime??
RogueGentleman
June 26, 2015 at 1:05 am PDT

This show is a simple yet great idea, and I can’t think of anyone better to host it. I’m marking this on my calendar.
jlenoconel
July 6, 2015 at 8:46 pm PDT

On what planet did Sony and Playstation think it was a good idea to hire this guy? He sides with people like Anita Sarkeesian, who is someone who is so anti-gamer its ridiculous. I won’t call for this guy’s firing, but I won’t be watching this drivel either lol.
ronnieronb73
July 8, 2015 at 3:39 am PDT

Huh? Wil Wheaton is anti-gamer! You dropped the ball on this one Sony. Wesley Crusher is a SJW weasel who, like Anita Sarkeesian, is a proponent of CENSORSHIP. Whoever chose Wheaton to do this series should be FIRED. The whole series is getting 1 star and only because ZERO stars was not an option. Was this some kind of joke or is Sony joining the Sarkeesian band wagon like Intel? Probably the latter. Lost major respect for Sony on this. Shows that Sony doesn’t care about fans of Playstation, the gamers or the developers. Can’t wait to see how Sony will insult/shame/alienate the players. “Greatness Awaits”? No, more like: GREATEST MISTAKE!
ronnieronb73
July 8, 2015 at 3:53 am PDT

LOL no comments allowed on the YouTube video. PATHETIC!
MatrixAsISeeFit
July 13, 2015 at 11:13 am PDT

Bungie are skinner box scammers. They can rot in hell.