Key Takeaways
1. Dan Houser discussed the challenges faced in developing Rockstar’s abandoned spy game, Agent, which had around five different versions but never came together successfully.
2. The game’s initial concept was revealed at E3 2009 as a PlayStation exclusive set in the 1970s Cold War, focusing on espionage and counter-intelligence missions.
3. Project stagnation occurred after the internal demo phase, with the team eventually shifted to work on Grand Theft Auto V due to a lack of direction for Agent.
4. Houser highlighted the difficulty of merging the fast-paced nature of spy films with the open-world format of video games, leading to a dilemma in gameplay structure.
5. Rockstar never formally canceled Agent but removed it from their upcoming titles list in 2021 to focus on other projects, like Red Dead Redemption 2.
During a recent chat on the Lex Fridman Podcast episode 484, Dan Houser, a former co-founder and writer of Rockstar, shared details about the studio’s abandoned spy game called Agent, which was never released despite having five versions.
Candid Remarks
In the podcast, Houser openly acknowledged the main issue, stating, “We put a lot of effort into several versions of an open-world spy game, but it just never came together.” Although he didn’t explicitly name it, he was alluding to Agent from Rockstar Games.
He went on to say, “There were around five different versions. I don’t think it was ever going to work, I’ve come to that conclusion—and I often reflect on it, sometimes while lying in bed—what makes them excellent as films doesn’t translate well into video games. We need to find a new approach to make it work as a game.”
The Initial Reveal
For those who may not know, Rockstar teased Agent during Sony’s E3 2009 press conference. The game was intended to be a PlayStation exclusive, set in the Cold War of the 1970s, allowing players to engage in counter-intelligence missions, espionage, killings, and travel through exciting locations, resembling a James Bond-style adventure.
However, the 1970s backdrop was merely one prototype among many that Houser referenced, with other versions considering more modern contexts. He also stated, “I’m not sure what it could have been since we never progressed enough to develop a solid story. We were in the early phases of building the world, but it never really took shape in either version. I think I understand why.”
Project Stagnation
The game transformed into an internal demo shortly after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas launched in 2004, but sadly, it hit a standstill. Leaks regarding Agent popped up from 2009 until 2010, and then again in 2011 and 2015. Without clear direction, the team was redirected to work on Grand Theft Auto V around 2015.
The key issue appeared to be how Rockstar could blend the strict structure of the spy genre with an open-world format. Houser elaborated, “Films in that genre are very fast-paced and have a clear sequence of events. You need to hurry here to save the world, then rush there to prevent someone from being killed, and then save the world again.”
In contrast, an open-world game has moments where the story aligns. However, there are many times when it feels less urgent, and players just explore and do as they please.
The Freedom Dilemma
“I want the freedom to go here and do what I want, and I also want to go over there and do as I choose,” he said. “This is why it works well as a criminal, because there are no strict orders dictating your actions.”
This created a dilemma for Rockstar: they aimed to develop an open-world game that offered extensive freedom, which Agent struggled to embody due to its potential linear nature. Houser noted, “We attempt to create external pressures through characters, nudging you into the narrative at times. But as a spy, that concept doesn’t fit well since you’re always racing against the clock. This leads me to wonder if a good open-world spy game is even possible.”
Rockstar never formally announced the cancellation of Agent until they took it off their list of upcoming titles in 2021, allowing developers to focus on Red Dead Redemption 2.
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