Dan Houser on Victorian novels, Red Dead Redemption and redefining open-world games

Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar and lead writer on Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has been thinking a lot about storytelling in video games. The idea that came to him was that open-world games are similar to Victorian novels - they're all about world-building and creating an immersive experience for the player.

According to Houser, this concept isn't just limited to Rockstar's games. He believes that other developers have been exploring similar ideas, albeit in different ways. For example, some stealth games offer pacifist playthroughs, while others reward players for sparing lives.

But what exactly is it about Victorian novels that makes them relevant to modern open-world games? Houser says that authors like Dickens, Zola, and Tolstoy created worlds that felt fully realized - a feeling that's also present in his own games. He notes that some games try to capture this same sense of realism by making players interact with the game world in more meaningful ways.

Houser has been drawing inspiration from Victorian literature for his work on Red Dead Redemption 2, including audiobooks and even some of Dickens' shorter works. The goal was to create a story that felt like it could be told through a film or novel - rather than just being a series of linear missions.

One of the most interesting aspects of Houser's approach is how he combines different literary styles to create something unique. For example, Red Dead Redemption 2's dialogue draws from various influences like Middlemarch and Sherlock Holmes. The result is a game that feels both grounded in reality and more fantastical - much like the novels it's drawing inspiration from.

What does this mean for the future of open-world games? Will we see more attempts to capture the literary feel of Victorian novels, or will developers stick with their own paths? One thing's for sure: Dan Houser is thinking about storytelling in video games in new and innovative ways.

I'm loving the idea of games being like Victorian novels ! It makes total sense that open-world games would be all about world-building, you know? Like, Rockstar's always been about creating these massive worlds to explore and get lost in. And now Dan Houser is saying that other devs are onto something similar too? That's so cool !

I mean, think about it - stealth games can have those pacifist playthroughs where you're not killing anyone at all , while others are all about being super aggressive. It's like the game is saying "hey, we know you want to be a killer, but here's an option that lets you spare some lives". That's some clever storytelling right there !

And I love how Dan Houser is drawing inspiration from those classic authors . Red Dead Redemption 2 is all about capturing the feel of a film or novel, and it shows in the dialogue - it's like Middlemarch meets Sherlock Holmes! It's so cool to see devs pushing the boundaries of storytelling like that.

So yeah, I think we'll definitely see more games trying to capture that literary feel . It's not just about making a game look all pretty and pretty (although that helps too ), it's about telling a story that feels real and immersive. And if Dan Houser is onto something here, then I'm all for it!

I'm loving this trend of devs drawing inspiration from literature! The way Rockstar's approach to world-building reminds me of immersing yourself in a Dickens novel, like Oliver Twist or Bleak House. And I gotta say, Red Dead Redemption 2's dialogue is straight fire ! Houser's willingness to experiment with different styles and blend them together is so cool . It makes you think about the future of open-world games - will we see more games that take a page out of the Victorian playbook or keep pushing the boundaries of what storytelling can do in gaming? One thing's for sure, I'm hyped to see where this takes us!

omg i'm so inspired by dan houser's thoughts on this... like, i've always felt like vidya games are missing that "feel" of a real book you know, the sense of being fully immersed in a world that's not just about shooting stuff but actually feeling like u're living through someone's story his idea of combining different literary styles is pure genius i can already imagine how epic red dead redemption 2 was on audiobooks ... anyway, can't wait to see what other devs come up with

idk man i'm low-key obsessed with Red Dead Redemption 2 right now and dan houser's approach to storytelling has me totally stoked like, have you noticed how immersive the game feels? it's like u're actually in the wild west or something and that's exactly what victorian novels are all about - creating this massive world for u to explore and get lost in

i mean, who wouldn't want to play a game where u can just wander around forever and discover new things? it's like houser took the best parts of dickens' novels and mashed them with some rockstar magic and now we've got this incredible game that feels both realistic and fantastical at the same time

i think this is what makes red dead redemption 2 so special - it's not just a game, it's an experience and i'm all for devs trying to capture that literary feel again we need more games like this!

I just love how Dan Houser is giving a nod to the classics ! I mean, who wouldn't want to channel their inner Dickens or Zola when it comes to creating an immersive experience? It's all about building that world, making players feel like they're really there, you know? And I love how he's experimenting with different styles and influences – it's like a masterclass in game design . The fact that Red Dead Redemption 2's dialogue is drawing from Middlemarch and Sherlock Holmes is just genius! It makes me wonder what other unexpected literary references we'll see in future games... maybe even some Austen-inspired romance?

I think what this says about us as players is that we're not just looking for mindless fun anymore, we want an experience, you know? We want to feel like we're part of the world, like it's our own little bubble where anything can happen. That's what these games are trying to give us, and I think that's what makes them so special.

I mean, Dan Houser is talking about the power of storytelling in video games, but I think it's more than that. It's about creating a sense of community, of shared experience. When we play a game like Red Dead Redemption 2, we're not just playing as an individual, we're playing as part of this whole world with its own history and rules.

And you know what? I think that's something we can all learn from, whether we're gamers or not. We need to start looking for more than just surface-level experiences, we need to want to dive deeper, to explore, to create. That's how we grow as people, that's how we become more than just ourselves.

I gotta say , I'm loving this direction Rockstar's taking with Red Dead Redemption 2... I mean, who wouldn't want to build a world like Victorian London or 19th century America? It's all about atmosphere, you know? And I think other devs are starting to catch on too. Stealth games can totally work on this vibe, and it's cool that Houser is acknowledging it .

But what I'm really excited about is how he's experimenting with different styles... Middlemarch, Sherlock Holmes, Dickens' shorter works... it's like a literary mashup! And you're right, the result feels super immersive. Now, will other devs follow suit? Only time'll tell, but I'm all for it . More literary feel in games means more depth, you know?

I'm not really sure what Dan Houser means by saying Victorian novels are like open-world games ... I mean, I've played some of Rockstar's stuff and it can feel pretty immersive, but I don't know if that's exactly the same thing as reading a Dickens novel. Maybe he's onto something though? I do love how his game Red Dead Redemption 2 has this great mix of realistic and fantastical elements... it's like watching a Western film or something.

omg u guyz!!! i'm literally so stoked about dan houser's thoughts on storytelling in video games his idea that open-world games are like victorian novels is SO COOL i mean, who wouldn't want to create a game world that feels like it's got its own life? and the fact that he's drawing inspiration from dickens, zola, and tolstoy is pure genius red dead redemption 2 is literally one of my fave games of all time and now i know why it's not just about shooting people and driving cars, it's about creating this immersive experience that makes u feel like you're part of the story

I think what's really interesting here is how Dan Houser is trying to apply traditional literary techniques to the world of gaming. Like, have you ever noticed how immersive and detailed some of the game worlds are? It's almost like stepping into a Dickens novel. And that's not a bad thing - it shows how much potential there is for games to create really rich, engaging stories. But at the same time, I'm not sure if other devs will just copy-paste his ideas or find their own ways to do it. Maybe we'll see more experimental approaches to storytelling in games? Either way, it's always exciting to see people pushing boundaries and trying new things.

I'm not surprised Dan Houser is talking about the importance of world-building in games, I mean, it's not like he just made an entire game in a open-world setting... like every other Rockstar game lol. But seriously though, using Victorian novels as inspiration is actually kinda cool. It shows that even developers are looking to classical literature for ideas on creating immersive experiences. And who knows, maybe we'll see more games that reward players for being all nice and friendly with NPCs

I love how Rockstar is looking at storytelling in a different way . Like, think about it - we spend so much time playing open-world games trying to save Arthur Morgan from the law... but what if that's not just about the story, but about the world itself? It's like Houser said, these Victorian novels created these whole worlds for us to lose ourselves in, and I think that's what we're missing in a lot of modern games - that sense of immersion. And now, it sounds like Rockstar is trying to bring that back by making the game world feel more... lived-in? Does anyone else see what I mean about Red Dead Redemption 2?

I just love how old-school game devs like Rockstar are going back to their roots and drawing inspiration from classic literature You know, I still remember playing the first Red Dead Redemption game with my mates and just getting lost in that open world for hours on end... it was all so immersive! And now Dan Houser is saying that other devs should be doing the same? I'm totally down for more games like that! The idea of combining different literary styles to create something unique is genius . It makes me think about how game storytelling has evolved over the years - from just being about 'win the mission' to actually creating a full-on story with characters and emotion

I'm totally loving how Rockstar's going all out on that immersive experience vibe . The idea that open-world games are like Victorian novels is so on point, you know? I mean, think about it - both genres are all about creating this rich, detailed world for the player to get lost in. And Dan Houser's approach to combining different literary styles to create something unique is genius . Red Dead Redemption 2's dialogue is seriously one of the best things about that game - I love how it draws from different influences like Middlemarch and Sherlock Holmes. It's like they took all these classic stories, mashed 'em up, and came out with something totally new and amazing . Can't wait to see what other developers come up with next

I gotta say, it's about time someone from Rockstar started talking about the importance of world-building in games . I mean, we've been playing open-world games since forever, but only now are we getting some serious literary cred? It's like they're trying to make us feel all fancy and sophisticated or something . But for real, it's cool to see Dan Houser drawing inspiration from Victorian novels - who knew GTA was secretly a love letter to Dickens? The way he combines different styles is genius, btw. I'm hyped to see where this takes the industry. Maybe we'll get more games that feel like they're written by a screenwriter instead of just a bunch of "good enough" devs .

I just read about Dan Houser's thoughts on Victorian novels and open-world games ... I mean, it makes total sense to me! I've always loved how immersive the worlds are in games like GTA V, but he's right that we're only scratching the surface of what's possible. I think it's cool that he's drawing inspiration from Dickens and other authors - his approach to Red Dead Redemption 2 was so unique and captivating. The way he combined different styles is genius ... now I'm curious to see how this will influence future game development. Will we see more games with a literary feel? Maybe, but I think it'll be interesting to see how developers experiment with new ideas.