The Origin Stories of Elder Scrolls' Paul Sage

We get an inside look this week from Paul Sage, founder and CEO of Ruckus Games. Inspired by Ultima 3, he worked his way up to lead designer of Ultima Online, to Borderlands 3 and more. Now working on a new project at Ruckus, we talk LEDs to 2600, Multima and when players outsmart you - this week! 

This week's episode contains mentions of suicide. Viewer discretion is advised.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Intro: Meet Paul Sage

[00:09:15] Founding Ruckus Games: Origins of the Studio and the Name
Paul shares how Ruckus Games was formed, why the name was chosen, and the vision that inspired its creation.

[00:15:27] Surviving in Games: Do You Really Need a Hit?
A candid discussion about the brutal economics of game development, why hits matter, and whether smaller successes can still keep a studio alive.

[00:17:30] From Borderlands to Ruckus: Building a Team During a Pandemic
Paul reflects on bringing together the original Borderlands crew, the challenges of forming a studio during COVID, and why this team made sense.

[00:21:04] Growing Up in Texas: Consoles, Coding, and Falling in Love with Games
From playing on a Merlin to coding in BASIC, Paul’s early years in Texas shaped his passion for computers, games, and Ultima Online.

[00:34:50] From QA Tester to Designer: Breaking Into the Industry
Thanks to a chance connection, Paul lands his first QA role — and through long nights and relentless work, makes his way onto the Ultima Online design team

[00:50:26] Tabula Rasa: Hard Lessons and E3’s All-Time Low
Paul opens up about leading Tabula Rasa, the struggles of working with ideas he didn’t believe in, and the infamous E3 moment that nearly broke the team.

[00:59:37] Bethesda and Beyond: Learning Structure and Gaining Confidence
After leaving Tabula Rasa, Paul joins Bethesda and ZeniMax Online, where strong processes and leadership lessons gave him the confidence to launch his own studio, Ruckus Games.

[01:02:15] Borderlands 3 and Beyond: Finding Joy and Fixing a Broken Industry
Paul looks back on the success of Borderlands 3, why the industry needs change, and how Ruckus Games is built on lessons learned to create a healthier path forward.

[1:09:04] Outro: Closing Remarks

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