Creating a video game based off a hit TV show can be a challenge all in its own right, but how do you make a game when the TV show in question has its own audio and animation departments? 

That’s the question Obsidian faced when it teamed up with South Park Studios to develop South Park: Stick of Truth. Designing the game meant getting to directly work with Matt Stone and Trey Parker, but that also meant Obsidian would need to adapt their recording process to work with how Stone and Parker create the hit Comedy Central show (as seen in the documentary 6 Days To Air).

So how’d Obsidian do it? Well in part, it had to learn how to make the game “deliberately crappy.” You can see the whole process in this entertaining GDC 2014 talk from Obsidian’s audio director Justin Bell. Be sure to watch the whole thing for anecdotes from working with Stone and Parker, and of course, a little bit of Kanye West. 

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its new YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC Next already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

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