#484 - Dan Houser: GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar, Absurd & Future of Gaming
Lex Fridman speaks with game writer and Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser about his creative process, influences, and the design of story-driven open world games like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Dan explains how films, literature, and war stories shaped his approach to world-building and character creation, including the tragic arcs of Niko Bellic, John Marston, and Arthur Morgan. He also discusses his new company Absurd Ventures, its universes such as A Better Paradise and American Caper, his views on AI and large language models, and reflects on mortality, family, and advice for young people.
What if you could talk to your favorite character in a movie? | Christoph Lassner
AI engineer Christoph Lassner introduces a taxonomy of digital content he calls Content 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, and explains how generative AI is enabling the next phase. He describes Content 3.0 as media that is dynamically generated with and for each individual viewer, allowing them to co-create stories, interact with characters, and explore worlds without preset narrative boundaries. He also discusses the technical underpinnings, creative possibilities, and economic implications of this shift for storytellers and the entertainment industry.