This week, we chat with the amazing Dan Cermak, whose remarkable career has spanned key roles at Strategic Simulations Inc., Westwood Studios, and Volition. Dan takes us through his early days as a self-taught programmer, his love for military history, and the challenges of developing iconic strategy games like Silent Hunter for the C64 and other classic systems. We also delve into his time at Volition, discussing how Saints Row stood out from the crowd, the evolution of online multiplayer, and its lasting impact on the open-world genre. 

Contents:

00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories 

42:08 - Dan Cermak Interview

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Show notes:

Bleem is back: https://tinyurl.com/yc7cttry

Fake PS1 discs flood the market: https://tinyurl.com/csueseuz

BBC found in dump ends up in museum: https://tinyurl.com/2xs8c95s

Atom Controller: https://tinyurl.com/ydbw6fcw

Unreal Tournament 99 Intro reimagined: https://tinyurl.com/mrckwf4r