Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One Dev

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One Dev

As a seasoned gamer with a heart for stories that resonate deeply, I can wholeheartedly say that the journey behind Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is nothing short of inspiring. Having been in the industry for quite some time, I’ve seen countless projects come and go, but this one feels different.

Over a period of 15 years, Todd Howard strove tirelessly to bring the game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to players’ control, but he wasn’t alone in his quest. Design director Jens Andersson also embarked on a similar journey that lasted just as long. In fact, it was back in 2009 when Todd Howard first proposed some iteration of this Indiana Jones game, and Jens Andersson was slated to contribute to it then. However, the project eventually failed to materialize before he could join.

Game Rant interviewed Andersson about his path to creating an Indiana Jones title, which he found equally fulfilling as Howard and every other developer at MachineGames. This suggests that the team behind Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is deeply passionate about their work, given that at least two members have a 15-year history with the game.

Andersson Calls The Great Circle His “Redemption”

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One DevIndiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One DevIndiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One DevIndiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One DevIndiana Jones and The Great Circle is a Full Circle Moment for One Dev

In 2009, as Howard was proposing a new Indiana Jones project to George Lucas and Lucasfilm, Andersson was embarking on his role as a lead designer at LucasArts. One of his notable projects at the studio was Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2, released in 2010, but he wasn’t primarily interested in Star Wars at LucasArts. He also worked on an undisclosed AAA title and contributed to the development of a new intellectual property. These weren’t his main objectives at the studio either.

Andersson didn’t have a lengthy tenure at LucasArts, but his ambition during his time there was to contribute to an Indiana Jones project, similar to the one Howard had proposed and been turned down for in the same year. For Andersson, being involved with The Great Circle now is realizing a dream he had nurtured for fifteen years.

Originally, I aspired to work on the Indiana Jones series, but unfortunately, that chance never came my way. Now, though, I’m thrilled to be working on Indiana Jones and The Great Circle at MachineGames in Sweden, which brings a sense of satisfaction since it allows me to contribute to an adventure I’ve always admired. My fascination with Indiana Jones stems from his embodiment of adventure, and my passion for game development comes from the desire to craft experiences that might not otherwise be realized.

As a passionate gamer, it’s no secret that when I’m involved with intellectual properties that resonate deeply with me, like Star Wars Outlaws for instance, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of luck and privilege. It turns out, even the creators behind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle experienced this same feeling back in 2009 – not one, but two of its lead voices aimed to contribute to an Indiana Jones title, only to find themselves both playing crucial roles in making The Great Circle a reality instead. Quite the intriguing twist in the game’s development tale!

Although Andersson’s tenure at LucasArts was short-lived and he didn’t get to work on his desired project during that period, he cherishes his time spent at the San Francisco studio fondly.

For approximately two years, I was fortunate enough to work at LucasArts and ILM, both situated in San Francisco. This stint was nothing short of extraordinary, offering me a rare glimpse into the creative process. Moreover, it deepened my admiration for the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises, along with everyone involved in their creation. The level of consideration and passion poured into crafting fresh narratives within these universes is simply awe-inspiring.

That dedication to the crafting of stories Andersson experienced is still present in Lucasfilm gaming projects, including The Great Circle. MachineGames worked closely with Lucasfilm Games in an effort to ensure the most authentic licensed game experience possible, something more IP rights holders have been doing in recent years. MachineGames also did extensive character research into Indiana Jones himself as part of the development of the game and focused extreme attention on capturing the tone of the original Indiana Jones movies.

In the end, Andersson had his chance to collaborate with Lucasfilm on the game he dreamed of creating in 2009, and it will be released in a matter of days. Just like the Great Circle, everything has come full circle for him.

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2024-12-02 19:33