25 years ago a videogame introduced me to sandbox level design. Spoilers ahead. Deus Ex (2000) is a game that sits within a lineage which extends all the way back to the earlier Ultima Underworld games and continues spiritually until at least Prey (2017). But as this is Appendix N we’ll begin with a longer list of inspirational videogames for me, before we zoom in on just one. Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat (1995, Mindscape) Sid Meier’s Civilization II (1996, Microprose) Fallout (199...
