How Disco Elysium Was Made in an Abandoned Building

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This Disco Elysium documentary details the development of the indie detective RPG Disco Elysium and goes behind the scenes of its creation. Discover more about the development studio ZA/UM and the people behind it. Their story begins after a drunken night in Estonia when Robert Kurvitz, who ultimately became the lead writer and designer, and his friends decided to start a creative collective to make their artistic voices heard. Before attempting to make a video game, Robert first wrote a book that ended up becoming a big failure which launched him into a deep depression. The documentary also explores all the design decisions that ZA/UM made and shows how they took inspiration from Twitter.
It also takes a close look at all the hurdles the team had to go through. Robert and the rest of the team had no prior game development experience before working on Disco Elysium so the learning curve was steep. Additionally, the studio created a mechanic that had never been done before called the Thought Cabinet. Therefore, they had no past mistakes to learn from and no examples to borrow elements from. Furthermore, the team had to write an absurd amount of text for the 24 different skills that all talk to the player and can influence the outcome of every mission in multiple ways. Lastly, the documentary takes a look at the future of ZA/UM and Robert shares some advice for aspiring game developers.
0:00 Part 1
2:34 Ad
3:46 Part 2
References:
thatguyglen.fun/video/how-dis...
Outro song: Thank You R.G.E. - Joe Bagale
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#DiscoElysium #ZA/UM #GameDevelopment

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Use GLEN to get 55% off your first month at Scentbird sbird.co/3r9UDSi

[@anaveragealex5138]

Congratulations on the sponsor and 100k! I knew your concept was good from the start, I love the work

[@soorian6493]

This really was a miracle game. By any amount of common sense, it shouldn't exist. It was insane. Made no financial or practical sense. It is the definition of a marketing nightmare. It must have been impossible difficult to write. But it does exist and it's one of the best things I've ever experienced because of how unlikely it was.

[@Karlach_]

I plan on buying the game in the future and giving it a shot

[@torquedawg1004]

A violent and irrepressible miracle.

[@molybdenumrose]

Very similar to the TTRPG studio in the doomed commercial area

[@eriksaari4430]

isnt it based on a novel though?

[@ZephirumUpload]

This is why I think Kurvitz's advice was so point: "Don't attempt to do what I did, it's awful and it's much nicer to just go with the flow. If that doesn't sound right to you and you're willing to give up all comforts, then try, something like this does not pop out of apathy"

[@zaidlacksalastname4905]

"zaum's future is bright" I wish

[@sadmarinersfan8935]

Yea it’s sad the dev has been killed from all the bullshit and fallout

[@jettisonantics]

"it launched him into a deep depression, causing him to struggle with alcoholism. Now for out sponsor-"

[@inL1MBO]

Came here for this

[@plantagominor722]

honestly? it's on theme.

[@Karlach_]

Ads make me depressed and want to drink

[@shunkela]

Alternate transition: Do **you** smell like alcohol and depression? Try scenty scents!

[@posteador]

Unintentionally or intentionally hilarious? Either way I laughed.

[@yari4046]

his kids literally were like "books are cringe, dad" and he's like "thats GENIUS"

[@OneNamelessHero]

The true auteur

[@rezaghassemi3044]

We might think that kids these days are cringe, but they definitely have more insight than us into today’s world

[@bothquickanddead]

Fuck does Cuno care about BOOKS?

[@nanoqht285]

@@rezaghassemi3044 You’ve legitimately just written “kids these days”. I didn’t know someone could unironically do that.

[@Bacbi]

@@nanoqht285 Doesn't always have to be negative, it's just a reality that the world they grow up in is vastly different. That's been very true for most people, especially in the last 100 years. But I'm old enough to remember what it was like before having access to the internet, that kids today grow up with it in their pockets. With all the good and the bad that comes with it. I might not understand everything they're into, TikTok being a good example. I understand the value of brevity but 60 seconds seems a bit short to me, but I get and accept that it's not meant for me.

[@giuthais]

How *IRONIC* is it that Robert, Helen, and Alexander were fired from the ZA/UM studio, while the company (and many others) uses the incredibly disengenuous rhetoric that auterism is bad.

[@thehippie3610]

The voice acting adds so much to the game. I'm glad they did it.

[@googplusisawful1922]

agreed!!!

[@mustbemeech]

Immersive

[@tedthecommenter5364]

I'm so fucking sad about what happened to them, this game had such an emotional impact on me

[@monsoon156]

The optimism at the end :( breaks my heart to see how things turned out.

[@russiachan2]

I'm so fucking sad man, I hope Robert wins that lawsuit

[@pnutplum3919]

The more i learn about disco elysium's development the more and more i appreciate the games messages. The themes of failure, addiction, and moving on from the past were all reflections of disco elysium's development. And disco elysium can trace its lineage to a pen and paper rpg? Like wirral?? Even its insane development mirrors the development of an in game rpg, fortress accident (but obviously, disco elysium succeeded).

[@LostbyElysium]

They 100% took their personal experiences and added it into the game. Only a game that they could write due to what they’ve been through and where they’re from. Very unique. Also fun fact: Fortress Occident was the name of za/um when they first started out. When disco elysium was called “No Truce With The Furies”

[@wasa1487]

It's a shame about the lawsuit, though.

[@kerred]

When I get a new RPG like Fallout, Skyrim, BOTW, I often make a beeline towards a town and spend the next hours talking to every NPC and exploring everything safely in a town. Disco Elysium is exactly that except I can go as far as ask an NPC 'what is beauty', or shout 'GIVE ME MONEY'. I am glad they never gave up.

[@aturchomicz821]

Its still simply amazing to see that Disco Elysium turned out how it did, it really did save my view of RPGs as whole and raised my expectations of future story telling onto a whole new level. Disco Elysium change Video games for me, and its development cycle just shows How much heart was pourn into it 🥰

[@Kallan007]

Wow, the back story is as amazing as the game is. Life is full of crazy stories like this. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThatGuyGlen]

My pleasure!

[@safe-keeper1042]

RIP ZA/UM. You were the best.

[@Elesnouman]

It's important to say, that disco Elysium uses pixel crushers dialogue system, it's a great asset you can buy online. Proving that you don't always need to code every little thing.

[@bofad6074]

As a life long hard drug addict this game was like playing interactive moments of my life. with the ability to save scum real life interactions. The game is one of the best and most important of my life atleast

[@GeorgesSegundo]

I can literally understand both your joy, and your pain, brother. Hope some day i can be free.

[@tedthecommenter5364]

same here

[@jhinpotion9230]

Harry can kick his habit, so can you. You got this, man.

[@VideoGameSophistry]

Following the news this week of what happened to these individuals makes this work even more important. You're incredible by the way. This is transcendent.

[@hamzafasih]

Truly a special story. Talk about starting from rock bottom. I hope all the creatives out there get inspired by this and realize that it's never to late to make an impact on the world through your craft.

[@faizaliqbal2284]

DE is a game that in my opinion is everything i wanted in detective noir game, such a great game. Great Video as always Glen, happy to see your video here!

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Much appreciated Faizal!

[@ASLUHLUHCE]

“Don’t do it. Just do something normal with your life. Go work first, go to a studio that’s already there, that’s already nice and produced. Don’t make your own studio. My second suggestion would be that if you absolutely, totally feel like you’re going to be a bum, that you’re not going to pay your rent and you’re going to lose your apartment and you have to do something, and then your friends happen to want to make a video game - as it was in my case - if it feels like an existential must and you will die if you don’t make it… then definitely do it, because it’s very much possible, I think. You have to be really… it has to be scary how much you want to do it, because it’s very hard.”

[@pikachuzan]

All of Robert's words were meaningful. But his words at 22:17 are more important to me than any of his other words. Although we don't think of it as just a "video game", the saying is perfectly true. Whatever you want to do, it's all possible with the potential in you. You just have to want and try more than you can even imagine. Thank you for video. It's perfect. An extremely informative video series. I watch it slowly, taking lots of notes. Keep it up this!

[@ThatGuyGlen]

My pleasure, glad you liked it!

[@jon-umber]

Absolute masterpiece. The best written video game in history, and it's not close.

[@Karlach_]

Red Dead Redemption 2 has a better narrative

[@HarryDuBois616]

Yep, this and Outer Wilds. Nothing comes close to these two games.

[@Karlach_]

@@HarryDuBois616 Red Dead Redemption 1&2 surpasses them both narratively and in gameplay. The Last of Us Part 1 as well.

[@HarryDuBois616]

@@Karlach_ lol you're entitled to your opinion but I completely disagree. Red Dead Redemption is a great game in it's own right, but the writing and story doesn't even come close to Disco Elysium and Outer Wilds. They're in a completely different realm. In terms of gameplay though, you must be joking? RDR barley has gameplay. It's just the same old Rockstar predictable shooting gallery, scripted moments over and over

[@Karlach_]

@@HarryDuBois616 "Different realm." Lmao Anyway Outer Wilds is straight trash, I was so bored playing that lame ass game I barely finished it. Disco Elysium comes close to RDR2 and TLOU 1 but falls short in character development making it inferior. RDR2 has amazing gameplay, you just have to be not braindead to make the most out of it, which is hard for someone like you i'm sure. XD

[@miramerali5807]

The game on the second playthrough deeply touched me especially the conversation between Harrier and Insulindian Phasmid.

[@Dervraka]

It's rare when a game has any emotional impact on me at all, but Disco Elysium was so...(not even sure what the word would be deep? emotionally dark?) that I had to literally stop playing for a couple days in places and get it out of my mind, because it was all I was thinking about, and I was sinking into an existential depression like the main character.

[@normalaboutpathologic]

Seeing this now makes me so fucking sad, man. I hope all turns out well in the end for the original team, whether that means getting back the rights to their work or being able to build up something new

[@WorthlessWinner]

Australia banning a game doesn't say much since they ban everything lol

[@chan4est]

Amazing video! Disco Elysium is easily one of my favorite games ever. The world is engrossing, the dialogue is extremely unique, the art, characters, everything! is just soo amazing.

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@googplusisawful1922]

13:35 "the devs had to write an almost absurd amount of text" oh no, it is absolutely, incredibly absurd. I appreciate how this part of the video mentions that because the skills have multiple different levels, they can have different dialogues depending on the player's stats, meaning that each conversation has many different possible outcomes... Goddamn. Thank you for such a great video❤️ I fell in love with this game recently and it's taken up all my brain space lol.

[@aqsw57]

and now kurvitz, rostov and hindpere left za/um what a terrible news

[@johnhoss2247]

Shouldn't leave any room for interpretation. They "involuntarily left", aka were ousted.

[@tappajavittu]

I've only played it once all the way, but it's already my #1 favorite game, no other game has moved and touch me on so many levels. It's a fantastic interactive and introspective narrative experience and I truly hope other game studios are taking notes.

[@ggmr399]

Try frostpunk

[@tappajavittu]

@@ggmr399 tried it, it ran like shit on my potato laptop.

[@MasterLPG]

21:30 *If only ThatGuyGlen knew...*

[@KnivingDispodia]

The shift in tone with that ad break gave me post-modern whiplash.

[@catharticgemini]

This now feels... like Disco, with the latest news that were released regarding the former collective known as ZA/UM. Fitting of the game's world, but bittersweet to those so in love with Revachol.

[@athullnexus5450]

This is my new favorite video essay channel. Absolutely fantastic, high quality videos. Awesome job. I can’t wait to see more.

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thank you so much, glad you like them!

[@eyegnats]

Just commenting that I found your channel a few days ago and I haven’t been able to stop watching! Please keep up the excellent work compiling all these inspirational stories!

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Awesome to hear that, more videos are definitely coming!

[@lordbafford640]

I'm still playing it. But it already blew me away! The music, the art, the lore, the characters... I can't stop thinking about it. Never have I ever witnessed this perfect fusion between a book and a game.

[@SlowChemicalXV]

These videos are fantastic and having experienced Disco Elysium, I'm so happy for the team's success having seen what they went through to make their vision come to life.

[@safe-keeper1042]

Wow, didn't know Disco used Articy draft. I use it myself and it's so helpful, but I've never heard examples of specific professional devs using it. I can imagine it helped a lot, it's great for keeping on top of things.

[@IShadyl]

Love the game and the story of the devs. What a masterpiece this game is.

[@TennessseTimmy]

17:30 "dark or twisted path, but you don't have to" Perfect way to put it! A lot of developers, gamers don't really understand that it's not about having choices in games or karma, it's about having the choice to be evil and mean, but still being able to choose good. Imagine running into someone random in fallout, you could kill them, but you don't have to.... but you could.... now that's a power fantasy and games that have impactful good and bad decisions are the best, because if I choose good, It will feel so much more meaningful when I don't have to do it, just as it will feel powerful to choose bad, even when I don't have to do it. Disco elysium probably is better at this than most games that attempt to offer "choice"

[@DonJuanitito]

smoothest ad intro ever

[@ToasterNiggow]

Hey man, thanks for the great insights on the developing process of DE. I almost shed a tear over the last words of Robert. Crazy story. But i believe you have to experience stuff like that, to develop such a masterpiece like this. I'm so thankful for this game, and so greatful that i played it.

[@ThatGuyGlen]

My pleasure, glad to hear you liked it!

[@matinmafia]

The moral conclusion? Fight for your goals no matter what, even if achieving them seems impossible. These people did and they managed to make one of the best games ever made. So happy for them.

[@hidden_characters]

Awesome video Glenn! My friend actually lived in Talinn Estonia for about three years. Crazy to think how little daylight they get.

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thank you, glad you liked it! From what I gathered from my research, it does sound like a tough place to live.

[@Harrier_DuBois]

Seeing this behind the scenes makes me all the more impressed at this game. I already loved the artwork but finding out they hand painted it makes it all the more special. I can't wait to see games Za/Um are working on next, amazing devs!

[@KathleenAlexisxx]

i have bad news....

[@tsk5328]

what a story, thanks subbed

[@ForbiddenSlurp]

For me, Disco Elysium is one of those games that will live rent free in my brain forever. Right alongside VTM: Bloodlines as one of the greatest games of all time.

[@JamezJN007]

"zaum's future is bright" well.. about that..

[@Artyom64824]

I love this video and the way you end it. Love the quote from the writer of Disco Elysium at the end of your video. Thank you for such an in depth coverage video and many more

[@Deadforge]

Really cool and insightful video on the development of the game. I love stuff like this.

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Fantastic editing and coverage

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Much appreciated!

[@GURKENGOTT]

I just finished the game and was wondering if there would be a video on it. Here it is, what a time to be alive.

[@dynatwenty]

Game is a masterpiece and nothing less. Just stumbled across your channel and i swear i slapped that sub button so hard .... GREAT content !!!

[@foreducation408]

The editing on this video is pure gold

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Much appreciated!

[@dighad3824]

This whole experience feels surreal

[@Mobus_]

This game was definitely something I've never experienced or seen before. It was a little intimidating to have to learn the though cabinet and the made-up world. Once I did, the story became so much better. I hope to see more games like these that I can play casually, like reading a book. Most games require my full attention and that gets tiresome, and I love the artwork. Too many new games are doing pixelated, ugh.

[@problemforyou]

Yeeeeeeaaah lets gooo Also gg on 100k you deserve it man keep it up

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thank you very much, will do!

[@sadmarinersfan8935]

It’s sad that such a masterpiece is all we will see from the fallout from the dev

[@aadil1362]

Great timing! I just started playing the game this week lol

[@KillahMate]

I was first introduced to the game back when it was called No Truce With The Furies, and barely any games website even knew it existed... it was fun to watch the game develop and the marketing around it grow, but tbh I do still prefer the original name.

[@roobedev3496]

These videos are the best!

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Happy to hear you like the videos!

[@mintsmooth860]

"za/ums future is looking bright" uh huh.... nah

[@thomase640]

Props Glen :) still top notch quality!

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thanks, Thomas!

[@pabloortiz]

Excellent video

[@MrTaffythecat]

So glad Disco Elysium was created

[@deliriousBALLS]

Dude this may not have got as many views but damn was this inspiring and heart warming dont be discoruged

[@MAYOFORCE]

Must've been difficult trying to find a spot for the ad that wouldn't be extremely awkward

[@ComfyMarius]

Amazing! Still one of my top 3 games of all time

[@anaveragealex5138]

I'm not sure if you've tried or not, but getting interviews so you can sprinkle developer commentary throughout the video seems like a good idea.

[@eddiegomez2911]

Great video!

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thank you!

[@tarkanyilmaz425]

Nice good choice. Will watch this one later

[@TheEndlessHuntress]

You did a fantastic job detailing the production of this game! But I have to ask, where did you find that clip of Robert Kurvitz at 14:14 ? Plus, I know some of the photos used in the video can be found in the links provided but I would also love to know where all the in studio photos came from as well. The details are incredible!

[@foureyedgiant8419]

Such a weird note in the video to insert the advertisement... I wouldn't have followed the story of personal artistic failure and a fall into alcoholism with a fragrance ad.

[@Michael-hc2vs]

Who cares though

[@Dr.RojoMcDelly]

Had this game in my backlog for over a year now on my Xbox after buying it on sale one day. Well…. Now I mist finally do that first play through

[@matheuscunhapereira4858]

Bro, your videos are the best. It's amazing to see the history behind the games that we like with such detail that you do. Keep pushing. (Sorry for my bad english. I'm from Brazil).

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Much appreciated, glad to hear you like the videos!

[@crimsondespair_9505]

Your English is fine, man, no need to apologise

[@matheuscunhapereira4858]

@@crimsondespair_9505 Thanks bro

[@smokeback]

this is amazing video just learnt about a useful tool to draft up my dialogue

[@AwesomeAutismHC]

I would absolutely LOVE to play a public, widely released version of the pen and paper RPG that led to Disco Elysium. I really hope ZA/UM make that a thing.

[@siwyktos3928]

There are 2 things that stuck with me from this game the most 1st is graphic style and 2nd is the way addiction is shown. There is just something special about those internal dialogues of character when he sees alcohol or cigarettes. I dont think that any other medium was that impactful with this

[@elacme626]

I have no words to describe how much I love this game

[@fishbox385]

Awesome video, btw i bet a lot of people would love to see a video about fez

[@ThatGuyGlen]

Thank you! Fez is on my list ;)

[@m-box3521]

Best channel ever❤

[@edwardnashton2182]

I hope that our world will not be that cursed, and after all problems that happened with ZA/UM, Robert, Alexander, Helen and others will take back a rights on a game and we will see a proper sequel. Because I don't need a sequel without this people heavily involved.

[@Aranneas]

Will you be covering the lawsuit?

[@sleepysummercat1554]

Start from zero to be a star in one punch,this developer is so insane! Sounds impossible,but they did it! Until now,this game still thr best literature game i ever seen! Love the story,dialog,lore,world,etc,all of them are so gem! This game deserve more attention! Not only about the game,also the making-game process also amazing!

[@Cretaker]

I get hyped just by thinking they are already developing their next story/game.

[@k.bart.parkinglot]

There will never be another game like this but that doesn't mean I don't want other devs to try.

[@manintheline5331]

This game was a legendary chance roll on video game history

[@MarineMyste]

Great video

[@MrRhysReviews]

Btw, the game got the R18+ Rating here in Australia... I don't know what X18+ is actually used for (probably Porn 🤷‍♂️) so it was released at Retail, I believe the main reason for the ban was (or would have been) the Beneficial Drug Use, which is a BIG NO-NO for Video Games here, the other points are generally fine but were probably just thrown in to make a better case for the "Ban" but when the Devs pointed out that the Drug Use has negative effects in the long run and the explanation of it is what probably overturned the initial decision. Annoyingly we didn't get the Physical PS5 Version which sucks so I had to settle for the PS4 Disc with Free Digital PS5 "Upgrade" so I'll need to import an American/UK PS5 Disc at some point... Also to play the game, I've been busy 🤣

[@JefGoines]

I hope they win lawsuit. This is infuriating.

[@byob7728]

this game was hardcore to the mega

[@StommelenGames]

About Za/Um name. In Russian there is a phrase "Beris' za um" which literally translates to "take your mind" but actually means something like "get your shit together"

[@cocobort]

Great video, superb game.

[@skybound1048]

So proud of them. I am sure that they had an influence in the development of Estonia as the startup country.

[@Aceman3000.]

Great video man! You should make one on Omori next

[@brandroid7491]

Love this game and move your channel. Honestly, it makes me want to replay these games (and try new ones, you got me hooked on Stardew Valley) How did you get the idea for this channel and where do you find all this info? In any case of you ever visit Osaka Japan, where I live, I am treating you to beers and video game bars

[@deilancelam]

Now Estonia has more game studios! Ringtail for example does a bunch of courses. Some of them are free

[@Savigo.]

8:00 - This is really wierd if they done normal maps this way.

[@Phascolar1]

17:38 where does this scene happen? didn't see it in the game.

[@augustible9151]

when you fix the waterlock, id assume.