Long time visitor, first time poster here.
I happen to know a few more bits about this one. I enjoyed worldbuilding Ms. Dembo did for Sword of the Stars universe, so I read and followed almost every interview and podcast fishing for more info.Siber wrote:I don't want to say everything good was Cirulis and Dembo's doing. Without having been there, I can't say how much of what they did was their own ideas and how much was outlines they were given and executed well on.
IIRC from the words of Martin Cirulis, he said he was hired in later part of the development cycle of HW1 when most of the production was done. Something about bosses looking how things were shaping up and suddenly deciding they needed a writer. He was given the ability to rehash and rescript all of the missions to make the story we now know out of already existing pieces of dialogue. Also he produced a script and insisted upon inclusion of "Return to Kharak" mission. As I understand, he fleshed out the backstory of Kharak, and Karan S'Jet's character is his doing (note: in missions you know her only as Fleet Command). Interesting bit for HW lore fans - by his design, Karan did NOT join her people on Hiigara - part bosses didn't like, process done to her was irreversible and her self-sacrifice needs to be viewed in this light; she was to remain a silent guardian of her people in orbit high above Hiigara. Logic tells that at least part of cinematics were produced the last.
add: oh, and there was no three hyper core bs of course. it originates somewhere from hw2 team
Ms. Dembo involvement in HW1 was a lesser one. She was to write backstories of some kiith and, iirc, to produce a HW1 manual. In HW:C her role was expanded.
As for Cata, after HW release Sierra decided they wanted something like a standalone expansion or a spin-off to sell alongside HW1. Somewhat separate from the main franchise so it would be safe, if I understood it correctly. As I see it, the main reason why Relic is dismissive of Cata is because it was not their decision, not their design and not their doing right from the start.