Recently unearthed footage from the making of “God of War 2” has emerged on social media, highlighting the intricate and detailed process involved in video game development, even for a brief segment of gameplay.
The snippet, shared again by KaptainKuba, comes from the “Making of – God of War 2” documentary. It offers a glimpse into the process Sony Santa Monica Studio underwent in producing their renowned action sequel. This particular clip, shared on Twitter, briefly explores the team’s efforts in crafting a simple yet impactful scene where the protagonist, Kratos, aggressively shatters a stone column.
Watch this before pursuing a career in game development. I don't think I could do it 😂 pic.twitter.com/6RfSC9XOqv
— Kaptain Kuba (@KaptainKuba) January 10, 2024
Director Cory Barlog sheds light on the exhaustive process behind creating just one quick-time event. “For that single sequence, the involvement of level designers is critical as they are the ones crafting the physical space where the event occurs,” Barlog points out. He mentions that these designers are also responsible for the actual modeling of the column featured in the scene.
Barlog goes on to detail the extensive collaboration required: “The animation team must wait for the completion of the column’s design. After which, the effects team adds their contributions. Subsequently, a combat designer integrates the sequence into the gameplay, linking it to the game controls. Additionally, a sound technician is required to overlay the appropriate sound effects. Moreover, if there’s a need for specific coding — implying that a new tool must be developed to facilitate this sequence — programmers must be looped in early in the process.”
Barlog emphasizes that nearly “every department is involved” in creating a segment that ultimately translates to just a minute of gameplay. This process is not only iterative but also complex, highlighting the evolving and challenging nature of game development. This complexity has only increased since the release of “God of War 2” in 2007 for the PS2, a period marked by significant advancements in game development.
