Disco Elysium. How to make Game of the Year and lose it all
Summary
This episode details the creation of *Disco Elysium* by the Estonian collective Zaum, tracing its origins from a teenage role-playing group to a critical phenomenon. The narrative shifts to the studio's internal collapse, where founders Robert Kurvitz, Alexander Rostov, and Helen Hinpea were allegedly fired after discovering a controversial acquisition of controlling shares by investors Ilmar Kompus and Tonis Havel. The host presents conflicting accounts of fraud versus workplace toxicity and lack of engagement, highlighting the legal battles and the subsequent cancellation of the sequel. T…
Topics discussed
Introduction: The dissolution of Zaum and Disco Elysium's legacy
Game overview: Setting and protagonist of Disco Elysium
Origins: Robert Kurvitz and the Overcodes group
Early influences: Marxism, Tolkien, and the band Ultra Melanchol
Founding Zaum Cultural Association and meeting Alexander Rostov
Kaur Kender's role and the failure of Sacred and Terrible Air
The pivot to video games: From novel to game concept
Early development challenges: Funding, hiring, and scale
Studio growth: UK office, soundtrack, and release delays
Success, The Final Cut, and the sudden departure of founders
The controversy: Timeline of dismissals and public statements
Alleged fraud: The 4.8 million euro sketch purchase scheme
Management's defense: Toxicity, neglect, and IP theft claims
People Make Games investigation and Ilmar Kompus's interview
Interviews with Argo Tulek and other former employees
Employee accounts of workplace dynamics and Robert's behavior
Founders' interview: Shock, legal disputes, and counter-claims
Legal outcomes and ongoing court proceedings
Post-departure: Cancellation of sequels and new studio ventures
Conclusion and preview of Part 2
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