Developer interviews and commentary (DX and DXIW)

This page lists interviews and other commentary media from Deus Ex series developers affiliated with Ion Storm that contain information on the Deus Ex series and its development.

Developers
The following developers appear in five or more entries on this page:


 * Warren Spector – Producer and Project Director (Deus Ex), Studio Director (Deus Ex: Invisible War)
 * Harvey Smith – Lead Designer (Deus Ex), Project Director (Deus Ex: Invisible War)
 * Robert "Bob" White – Designer (Deus Ex)
 * Chris Norden – Lead Programmer and Assistant Director (Deus Ex)
 * Sheldon Pacotti – Script Writer (Deus Ex), Lead Writer (Deus Ex: Invisible War)
 * Steve Powers – Designer (Deus Ex), Senior Designer (Deus Ex Invisible War)
 * Ricardo Bare – Designer (Deus Ex), Lead Designer (Deus Ex: Invisible War)

1998 — 2000 (Deus Ex pre-release)
Entries marked with an asterisk (*) are dated by an interviews index page on DeusEx Machina. Entries marked with two asterisks (**) are dated by an interviews index page on Planet Deus Ex.

Warren Spector interviews

 * W. Spector and M. Bagur (Jul 1998). "Warren Spector and Michelle Bagur Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-07-11.
 * Warren Spector (c. May 1999). "Deus Ex Warren Spector" (archived). Stormtroopers (interview). Archived 1999-08-28.
 * Warren Spector (c. May 1999). "LDespot's Interview with Warren Spector at E3" (archived). GamerzEdge (interview). Archived 1999-10-05.
 * Warren Spector (Jul 1999*). "Warren Spector Interview: Talking with the Man who hates crates" (archived). Unreal Universe (interview). Archived 1999-10-11.
 * Warren Spector (Jul 1999*). "GameSpot's Ten Questions with Warren Spector" (archived). Archived 2001-06-09.
 * Warren Spector (Oct 28, 1999). "Deus Ex Interview" (archived). IGN (interview). Archived 2001-03-03.
 * Warren Spector (c. 1998-1999). "The Warren Commission: ION Austin Gives Form to Designer’s Vision" (archived). Ion Storm (interview). Archived 2001-11-23.
 * Warren Spector (Feb 2000*). "Deus Ex Q&A; with Warren Spector, New Screenshots" (archived). GA-RPG (interview). Archived 2000-06-18.
 * Warren Spector (Feb 2000*). "Deus Ex Week: Warren Spector Interview" (archived). Daily Radar (interview). Archived 2000-04-15. Part of a series of articles titled "Deus Ex Week." Spector's interview also extends through the sections "Nano-abilities" and "Unreal Engine, Deus Ex 2, and Groupies".
 * Warren Spector (Feb 4, 2000). "Deus Ex Interview - Warren Spector Tells All" (archived). Archived 2000-04-19.
 * Warren Spector (Jun 8, 2000). "Deus Ex: Interview with Warren Spector". EIP Gaming (interview). Also archived 2021-09-16. Originally hosted on DeusExGaming in thee parts: "Questions 1-10", "Questions 11-20", "Question 21-29" (archived). Also published on deus-ex.org on Jun 29, 2000.

Harvey Smith interviews

 * H. Smith and S. Powers (c. 1998). "WarZone Feature: Deus EX" (archived). WarZone (interview). Archived 1999-08-08.
 * Harvey Smith (Mar 1999**). "Interviews: Harvey 'Witchboy' Smith" (archived). Deus Ex Incarnate (interview). Archived 2011-04-18. The interview was also published on Planet Deus Ex.
 * Harvey Smith (Apr 1999*). "GameGirlz Features - Q&A With Harvey Smith" (archived). GameGirlz (interview). Archived 1999-05-08.
 * Harvey Smith (c. May 1999). Harvey Smith interview (archived). 3d.unlimited (interview). Archived 1999-08-20.
 * Harvey Smith (Jun 1999*). "Deus Ex Interview - PC Paradox" (archived). PC Paradox (interview). Archived 1999-10-10.
 * Harvey Smith (Jul 1999*). "Interview" (archived). DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-04-18. Another version of the interview (archived 2000-08-18), with the same content is dated Nov 15, 1999.
 * Harvey Smith (Oct 8, 1999). "Deus Ex Developer Update" (archived). 3D Unlimited. Archived 2000-08-17.
 * Harvey Smith et al. (Jan 27, 2000. "Interviews: Deus Ex Chat Jan 27, '00" (archived). Deus Ex Incarnate (chat transcript). Archived 2000-10-11. Also published on Planet Deus Ex.
 * Harvey Smith (Mar 2000*). "Interview with a Witchboy" (archived). Unreal Universe (interview). Archived 2000-04-07.
 * Harvey Smith et al. (Jun 9, 2000). "Developer Q&A" (archived). DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-12-08. Other interviewees: Bob White, Steve Powers, Ricardo Bare, and Monte Martinez.
 * Harvey Smith (Jun 12, 2022). "Harvey 'Witchboy' Smith Interview - Part I". DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-08-16.
 * Harvey Smith (Jun 14, 2022). "Harvey 'Witchboy' Smith Interview - Part II". DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-08-15.

Bob White interviews

 * Bob White et al. (Aug 25, 1998). "Deus Ex Design Team Interview" (archived). Vault Networks (interview). Archived 1998-12-06. Other interviewees: Harvey Smith, Dan Rubenfield, Marshall Andrews, and Steve Powers.
 * Bob White (May 1999*). "Apache chats with Deus Ex co-creator Bob White" (archived). Unreal Universe (interview). Archived 1999-10-13.
 * Bob White (Jun 1999*). "Deus Ex - Bob White" (archived). U-Games (interview). Archived 1999-11-19.
 * Bob White (Feb 2000*). "With Deus Ex designer Bob White" (archived). Unreal Universe (interview). Archived 2000-04-10.
 * Bob White (May 5, 2000). "Bob White Interview" (archived). DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-12-08.

Chris Norden interviews

 * Chris Norden (May 1999). Interview at E3 1999 (partially archived). Reposted on The Cutting Room Floor (video interview).
 * Chris Norden (Jul 1999*). "Interviews: Chris "Assassin" Norden" (archived). Deus Ex Incarnate (interview). Archived 2000-04-18. The interview was also published on Planet Deus Ex.
 * Chris Norden (Jul 1999). "Chris Norden - Deus Ex" (archived). U-Games (interview). Archived 2000-01-06.
 * Chris Norden (Mar 2000*). "Interview with Chris Norden" (archived). Unreal Universe (interview). Archived 2000-04-18.

Other developer interviews

 * T. Elliot Cannon (Jul 1998). "T. Elliot "Myscha" Cannon Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-07-11.
 * Michelle Bagur (Jul 1998). "Michelle Bagur Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-11-18.
 * Albert Yarusso (Dec 1998). "Interviews: Albert 'Alchemy' Yarusso" (archived). Deus Ex Incarnate (interview). Archived 1999-02-20. The interview was also published on Planet Deus Ex.
 * Scott Martin (Jan 2000*). "Interviews: Scott "Starkiller" Martin" (archived). Deus Ex Incarnate (interview). Archived 2001-07-19. The interview was also published was posted on Planet Deus Ex.
 * Mark Adams (Apr 2000**). "Mark Adams Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-07-11.
 * Alexander Brandon (Apr 2000**). "Alexander Brandon Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-07-11.
 * Chad Warren (Apr 2000**). "Chad 'MISMonkey' Warren Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-07-11.
 * Clay Hoffman (May 9, 2022). "Clay Hoffman Interview" (archived). DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-06-21.
 * Scott Martin (Jun 18, 2000). "Scott Martin Interview" (archived). DXNation (interview). Archived 2000-08-15.

Articles/videos with developer commentary
Names listed at the beginning of citations are authors of the articles.


 * W. Spector/H. Smith commentary – U-Games (c. May 1999) "Preview: Deus Ex" (archived). U-Games. Archived 1999-12-04.
 * Warren Spector commentary. "preRelease Deus Ex (1999) preview." SDX9000's channel on YouTube (video).
 * Warren Spector commentary. "Deus Ex preview". Retro VHS Gaming Videos' channel on YouTube (video).
 * Warren Spector commentary – Ameer Ajani (May 3, 2000), "GameSpot Preview: Deus Ex" (archived). GameSpot. Archived 2000-08-16.
 * Warren Spector commentary – John Keefer (c. May 2000), "Behind the scenes on Deus Ex" (archived). GameSpy. Archived 2000-05-12.

Warren Spector interviews

 * Warren Spector (c. Dec 2000). "Warren Spector Speaks: An official statement about Deus Ex 2 from the man himself" (archived) GameSpy (developer's statement). Archived 2000-12-05.
 * Warren Spector (Dec 11, 2000). "Redherring.com Chat". GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-05-11.
 * Warren Spector (Jun 2001**). "Warren Spector Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-07-12.
 * Warren Spector (Feb 11, 2003). "Warren Spector on Deus Ex: Invisible War" (archived). GameSpy (interview). Archived 2003-04-01.
 * Warren Spector (c. Dec 2003), "Warren Spector talks Deus Ex: Invisible War" (archived). Eurogamer.net (interview). Archived 2003-12-02.

Harvey Smith interviews

 * H. Smith and S. Martin (Aug 29 2000). "Harvey Smith & Scott Martin (Deus Ex SDK)" (archived). IGN Vault (interview). Archived 2000-10-18.
 * Harvey Smith (Dec 2000*). "Interview with Harvey Smith, aka Witchboy". DeusEx Machina (interview). Archived 2001-02-03.
 * Harvey Smith (Feb 2001**). "Harvey Smith, a.k.a. witchboy, Interview" (archived). GameSpy - Planet Deus Ex (interview). Archived 2001-06-08.
 * Harvey Smith et al. (Feb 2001*). "Behind the Scenes Look in the Making of Deus Ex" (archived). DeusEx Machina (interview). Archived 2001-04-09. Other interviewees: Steve Powers, Chris Todd, Sheldon Pacotti, and Ricardo Bare.
 * Harvey Smith (Mar 2, 2001). "An Interview with... Harvey Smith" (archived). DPerry.com (interview). Archived 2001-03-05.
 * Harvey Smith (Feb 18, 2003). "DX: Visible Interview". IGN (interview). Archived 2012-10-13.
 * Harvey Smith (Sep 17, 2003). "Interview with Harvey Smith". GamePro (interview). Archived 2004-03-15.
 * Harvey Smith (Sep 18, 2003). "Harvey Smith on Deus Ex: Invisible War" (archived). GameSpy. Archived 2003-09-20.
 * Harvey Smith (c. Dec 2003). "Secrets Revealed? Not quite, but you can catch a glimpse into the covert world of Deus Ex: Invisible War" (archived). GameZone Online (interview). Archived 2003-12-03.

Sheldon Pacotti interviews

 * Sheldon Pacotti (Jun 28, 2000). "Interview with Sheldon Pacotti" (archived). Gamepen (interview). Archived 2002-10-16.
 * Sheldon Pacotti (c. 2000). "Deus Ex Scriptwriter Sheldon Pacotti" (archived). Speedy3D (interview). Archived 2000-08-19.
 * Sheldon Pacotti (c. 2000-01). "An interview with the main writer of Deus Ex 1" (archived). Deus Ex Machina (interview). Archived 2001-08-13.
 * Sheldon Pacotti (2001). "Deus Ex Radio Interview". www.newlifeinteractive.com (audio interview).
 * Sheldon Pacotti (Oct 7, 2003). "Deus Ex: Invisible War - exclusive interview!" (archived). Computer and Video Games (interview). Archived 2008-04-22.

Other developer interviews/group interviews

 * Alexander Brandon (Jan 2001*). "Interview with Alex Brandon". DeusExMachina (interview). Archived 2001-02-02.
 * H. Smith and R. Bare (Feb 13, 2003). "Smith and Bare: Building an Invisible War" (archived). GameSpy (interview). Archived 2003-02-21.
 * Ion Storm developers (Nov 17, 2003). "Deus Ex: Invisible War Interview, Part 1" (archived). IGN: RPG Vault (interview). Archived 2003-12-02. All interviewees: Harvey Smith, Warren Spector, Matt Baer, Ricardo Bare, Sheldon Pacotti, Sarah Paetsch, and Steve Powers.
 * Ion Storm developers (Nov 24, 2003). "Deus Ex: Invisible War Interview, Part 2" (archived). IGN: RPG Vault (interview). Archived 2003-11-26. All interviewees: Sheldon Pacotti, Kent Hudson, Sarah Paetsch, Ricardo Bare, Steve Powers and Matt Baer.
 * Ion Storm developers (Dec 1, 2003). "Deus Ex: Invisible War Interview, Part 3" (archived). IGN: RPG Vault (interview). Archived 2003-12-02. All interviewees: Kent Hudson, Ricardo Bare, Warren Spector, Matt Baer, Jared Carr.

Developer articles

 * Warren Spector (November 2000). "Postmortem: Ion Storm's Deus Ex". Game Developer. UBM TechWeb: 50–58. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. This article was later published in 2003 as "Ion Storm's Deus Ex" (book chapter) in Postmortems From Game Developers (ed. Austin Grossman), published 2003-01-16.
 * Warren Spector (December 6, 2000), "Postmortem: Ion Storm's Deus Ex" (archived). Gamasutra. Archived 2001-01-28.
 * C. Carollo and W. Spector (Dec 4, 2003), "Invisible War Diaries: Warren speaks about consoles vs. PC and Chris Carollo wraps up the development process". IGN.

Developer interviews

 * Harvey Smith (Jul 20, 2007). "Deus Ex - the ending that never was" (archived). Computer and Video Games (interview). Archived 2008-04-22.
 * Alexander Brandon (Nov 2007). "Interview with Alexander Brandon (November 2007)" (archived). Square Enix Music. Archived 2010-04-24.
 * Warren Spector (Dec 17, 2007). "Warren Spector on Disney and Deus Ex 3". Eurogamer. Interviewed by Kieron GIllen.
 * Warren Spector (Feb 13, 2008). "RPS Exclusive: Warren Spector Interview". Rock Paper Shotgun. Also archived on 2008-10-02.
 * Sheldon Pacotti (Aug 22, 2011). "Deus Ex: Looking Back at the Future: The writer of the first Deus Ex games looks forward to Human Revolution". Eurogamer (interview). Interviewed by Wesley Yin-Poole.
 * W. Spector, C. Norden, and S. Pacotti (Jun 26, 2015). "DX15: The Legacy of Deus Ex". IGN (video interview).
 * W. Spector, C. Norden, and S. Pacotti (Jul 9, 2015). "Deus Ex: Remembering Invisible War - DX15 Part 2 - IGN Exclusive". IGN (video interview).
 * Chris Norden (Oct 23, 2018). "Classic Tools Retrospective: The tools that built Deus Ex, with Chris Norden". Game Developer (interview). Interviewed by David Lightbown.
 * Warren Spector (Jun 30, 2019). "Interview with Warren Spector on System Shock 3, Deus Ex Trilogy, Mickey Mouse, and Immersive Sims". WCCFTech (interview). Archived 2019-07-01.
 * Ion Storm developers (Jun 22, 2020). "Deus Ex at 20: The oral history of a pivotal PC game". Rock Paper Shotgun (interview). Interviewees: Steve Powers, John Romero, Ian Livingstone, Sheldon Pacotti, Austin Grossman, Harvey Smith, Robin Todd, Todd Porter.

Developer presentations

 * W. Spector, C. Norden, and S. Pacotti (Jul 16, 2015). "Let's Play Deus Ex with Warren Spector, Sheldon Pacotti and Chris Norden". Deus Ex 's channel on YouTube.
 * Warren Spector, "Classic Game Postmortem: 'Deus Ex'". GDCVault (video recording). 2017 Game Developers Conference, Feb 27, 2017 – Mar 3, 2017.

Articles with developer commentary
Names listed at the beginning of citations are authors of the articles.


 * Sheldon Pacotti commentary – Richard Wordsworth (Aug 5, 2014). "How Deus Ex Predicted the Future". Kotaku. Republished April 14, 2017.
 * Warren Spector commentary – Alex Calvin (Nov 16, 2017). "The God Project: Warren Spector on the making of Deus Ex". PC Games Insider.
 * Scott Martin commentary – John Loeffler (Jun 23, 2020), "Deus Ex 20th Anniversary: Programmer Scott Martin talks about working on the PC gaming masterpiece". Techradar.
 * Warren Spector commentary – Rick Lane (Jan 14, 2021), "The History of Ion Storm". PCGamer.