How a Lawyer Sacrificed his Career to Redevelop his Skyrim Mod | The Forgotten City Documentary 

Thanks to Jake for helping us create this doc. If you liked it, throw him a "Salve Friend" on twitter; twitter.com/jacobdekk

Developer here: Thanks for taking an interest in us, NoClip! Also, for the history buffs: at 12:45 when I said "Virgil" I should have said "Ovid" - my bad! :-)

Man that one senior that wants him to spend his whole life dedicated to just the job is the saddest human being I ever heard

This dude would quite clearly be brilliant at anything he wanted to do, and he's chosen game development - let's make sure he continues to create amazing games by supporting him and buying his games.

"every waking moment of your life should be dedicated to your legal career" I'm exaggerating, probably not by much, but this is seriously one of the most depressing sentence I can think of to come out of someone's mouth to be directed at you.

It's one of the most obnoxious parts of the legal profession in Australia that it is run largely by people who are not just determined to have no substantial life outside of practise but who seem almost offended by anyone who does. They speak so grandly and confidently of how they don't need more than the grind to anyone who doesn't leave the conversation fast enough, and yet the idea that there is an alternative to 12+ hour days is seen as a threat unless you're just as miserable as them; it's telling that if you are either successful or happy in a side hobby that takes a few hours a month they resent it far more than a hobby that sucks up every hour you have that you aren't enjoying. And yet, because they work more hours than anyone else and longer than anyone else, they end up in the senior and partnered positions in firms and become the de facto leadership of the profession - then have the audacity to wonder why the profession is stuffed to the gills with alcoholics who permanently burn out by 40 or have their first heart attack at 50.

A very inspiring doc and very well deserved, the Forgotten City is a stellar game with a fantastic story. Nick is a legend

My favourite game of the year. Clever, enthralling, thought-provoking and a genuinely moving experience which lingers long in the memory. Also, I will never stop squeezing a certain resident out of 5,000 denarius each and every loop. The jerk.

"I knew just enough to know how little I knew." This man knows what's up. I remember this mod back in the days and didn't know about this project I'll definitely be buying it to support him and his team.

My heart absolutely jumped when I saw this. Had no idea you guys were working on a Forgotten City video. It was an absolute joy to playthrough so I cannot wait to see the journey that lead to it's creation!

The conversation system looked so similar to The Outer Worlds that I was sure it was using some pre-built facial animation package. It's insanely impressive that a team this size figured out and built an entire modular character animation system from the ground up.

Their facial animation runs circles around Mass Effect Andromeda, and it was really nice from the Obsidian dev to help out, the Obsidian people seem to be really a nice bunch of people, I just come to this right after the documentary of Bethesda and knowingly they didn’t really help out on the making of Fallout New Vegas, its impressive.

Legal drama time loop next? My favorite sequences were the socratic dialogues because they actually forced you to think about the option you were selecting. I'd love a game with that more in focus!

Finally played this and it was one hell of a rewarding game.

This was my indie game of the year. I'd already played the Skyrim mod years ago but the game is completely different apart from the basic time loop premise so I'd encourage anyone who has played the mod to check it out anyways. For anyone else, go play it! Great to see the story and person behind it too, and a fellow Aussie too. Thanks NoClip for covering this and Modern Storyteller for a fantastic game.

As an Australian lawyer myself - I understand why you did it entirely. Those who dedicate every hour life to the profession are the worst at it.

I streamed this game from beginning to end in one sitting, it's a great success no doubt!

The very fact that this man went out and did what he wanted to without knowing how to is very inspirational.

Professor, in a bar: "So then, I convinced him that carrots used to be purple!"

I found The Forgotten City by random chance, and it has turned into one of my favorite games of recent years. I absolutely loved it! I was so happy to see this video. Getting to get to learn about the creation of the game, and the people behind it was really cool.

I never played Skyrim but hearing this started as a mod for it makes me want to start. The Forgotten City was an amazing game with a great story to it.... also, bless the autofollow mechanic.

Dev: I'm not going to spend every waking hour on my profession! Also dev: spends every waking hour on the game instead. Well done, it looks really impressive!

I haven’t had a game truly grip me like this in years and to hear the story of its development is crazy inspiring. So much respect to this team and I can’t wait to see what they do next!

I bought the game after watching this and I was definitely not disappointed. Great story, intelligent concept, and a very entertaining gameplay. Even though you re-live the same day over and over, it didn't feel repetitive even once. Definitely recommended!

"Every single waking moment should be dedicated to your career" doesn't sound like a career I'd want to be a part of

Even the biggest studios screw up facial animations on huge games (e.g mass effect andromeda). Must have been terrifying to tackle

19:40 The comment about how hard facial animation is followed by a clip of a character's teeth clipping through her jaw was either a hilarious oversight or incredible editing X3

I got my parents to buy this for my birthday on PS5. Was so good! The intrigue and the fact it was Aussie developed just made it even better. Get the game if you want a great story! I never want to play Elder Scrolls but loved this game.

I remember watching this doc without knowing anything about the game a few months ago. I don't remember when, but the game was eventually bundled on some store and I bought it, but then forgot to play it. Today is part of a long weekend in Italy and I decided to finally play it... and I finished it in one sitting unlocking all the endings. Such an AMAZING game, what a breath of fresh air!

I went into this knowing NOTHING except it was set in Ancient Rome, not even the timeloop thing. Best narrative based game I've played in a long while.

I’m so glad the devs didn’t give up on this game. The Forgotten City captured my heart and is one of those few games I felt like I needed to finish in one sitting…was up until 5 am playing it just so I could get the proper ending. Also, mad props to the guy for deciding HE should be the one working overtime on the game, not his staff. I look forward to seeing whatever else he comes out with!

I have so much respect for this man. Daring to chase his dream and then building something like this. One of the best narratives I have seen in ages and extremely thought-provoking. Amazing

I saw the game on Game Pass and I finished it a couple of days ago. Loved it. The time loop story is solid, well made and intriguing. I live in Italy and I was surprised how the Roman architecture and art was well made in the game. Thanks to this documentary, now I know how much work and passion there was behind this project. Thanks

I don't usually play Indie games, but The Forgotten City was easily one of the very best narrative driven experiences I have played in a long time. Such a rewarding experience, that I will remember for years to come. I can't wait to see what Nick and the team can accomplish next!

I respect those who change careers to work on something important to them. Given the state of job markets around the world, it's really courageous.

bang up job jake! loved the mod, convinced now that i should play the "proper" version after watching this. why is it that i always feel like career changers have the coolest perspective on things and the best eye for detail lol

Can we just take a second to appreciate the amount of detail and lighting quality at 21:15. My god this looks good

Love it when Noclip has guest presenters (no slight against Jeremy or Danny!). Good job. I would have liked a minute or two with footage of how modding Skyrim actually looks, but now I'm motivated to go look that up myself :)

My favourite type of games are knowledge and mystery based, particularly those that sustain constant sense of wonder from start to finish. This was one of them. It's such a beautifully crafted experience.

Did not expect this but definitely wanted it. So great to see this idea from mod to full game. Thanks NC & Jake

Fantastic job as always. Absolutely loved the forgotten city. One of my highlights of the year for sure

What a great indie dev story. This had completely passed me by so thank you so much for highlighting it! Its now downloading via Game Pass!

Beginnings of a dev studio. Awesome doc as usual. Love to see a well deserved come up of clearly talented and dedicated people.👍

holy fucking shit. what a MONUMENTAL achievement. this guy got all the kudos and he fucking clawed all of it in with his own fingernails. what an impressive person. just awed.

Heck yes.

i love the quote at the beginning where he says all your spare time should be devoted to your legal career. I work for an ISP and this fully explains why lawyers and doctors call us when their internet is down, and have no idea if they are using wifi or how to determine if they are using wifi. They have no idea what is giving them internet or how to unplug and plug it back in. Yes, I have had a doctor tell me that he was going to put me on hold, to get someone more techy on the phone, so I could walk them through unplugging and plugging back in their modem. You should never dedicate yourself to one thing so fully, that you become ignorant of everything else. Kudos to this guy modding in his spare time.

Im really really happy you guys are following mod development. Thank you and i would love to see many more

Very inspiring story! You have created a fantastic game. Loved every minute of it

Excellent documentary as always no clip! And amazing job Nick, for taking a leap, creating something brilliant and telling the story so eloquently. Inspiring and eye opening in so many ways. All the best!

Oh, I played that mod, absolutely loved it and recommended it all those years ago. I saw this pop up on steam and wasn't sure of it given other things on my plate at the moment and didn't even link it to the mod, now I know it is a standalone redevelopment of the mod. I literally can't wait to have a chance to play.

So happy to see you covering this game! It is honestly my Game of the Year, it is so refreshing to see games like this being made

This gave me so much happiness seeing how appreciated and loved this game is. I hope they go on to make many more games as it was my game of the year without a doubt! I'm so glad it is getting the recognition and love it deserves and seeing how happy it make this bloke is bloody awesome!

Omg I literally just finished this the other night. What a fascinating storyline

This is a wonderful piece by you guys and such an inspiring journey by Nick, really glad I stumbled across this video.

Great story. Awesome you guys decided to cover it!

That's an awesome story! Great job on the doc, and Good luck to Nick on his future endeavours!

This game is incredible! Glad you got to do a deep dive into it.

Perfect timing for this video to upload, since I beat this game just 2 days after you uploaded it!! So glad The Forgotten City will get more exposure on GamePass, and excited to see what they do next!!

This was one of my favourite games this year. Truly awesome experience.

Great doco, really enjoyed this. It's awesome to see Nick and Modern Storyteller achieving so much success and quality. :D

Love the difference between Dr. Matyszak and the senior lawyer. Professor at a prestigious university, well accomplished author, and avid gamer. His outlook on the world is so much more complete than someone who spends every moment in just one thing. Now as a game dev myself... 80 hours a week is too relatable and kinda feels the same as being the lawyer, but I guess the time spent is more varied across a bunch of different interests, and every life experience can help inform my job. So those precious few moments I get to spend playing a game, watching a movie, or building LEGO with the kids helps me when I'm back at my desk designing game art, testing it in-engine, and editing screen recordings. I'm also very happy that my superiors always encourage me to work less. I'm a bit of a workaholic and I take on too much just by myself, but for my subordinates I always do the same to encourage them to take breaks, go on a vacation, look after their health. It's one thing to be super passionate and have the drive to keep going, it's another to be pressured by your boss to become a machine.

This is amazing timing for me personally since i just completed this and got the canon ending. It is now one of my favourite interactive stories ever. Much love ~

Nick Pearce sounds like such an interesting person to chat with, what a joy this video was.

Never heard about it, neither mod nor game. Saw this documentary, spend the better last of last night playing through the game. What a miracle of a game for a (mostly) 3 person production. This documentary is also making me hopeful for my own journey. thank you. this video really had an impact on me.

I love this game. Thrilled to see this documentary.

Thank you for sharing your motivation! Congrats to your success!

Dedication is always admirable!

This was one of the best narratives I’ve ever experienced in a video game or otherwise

Just listening to this guy's story makes me want to purchase the game to support his dream. Can't have been easy to take such a leap of faith in a world like that. Bloody legend!

A great example of how a passion project can lead to an entire new career. Helps that the game in question is also bloody marvellous and one of the best of the year!

Superb skills and a well rounded plot serve up a detailed and immersive world in which to enthrall and captivate. Love it,more please.

Wonderful game and a wonderful story behind the game! I can't wait to see what they make next with all they've learned!

Brilliant game, beautiful story. The power of a conscientous but open mind breaking free of the grey world of law. This is creativity giving rise to true passionate art.

This was excellent, more indie game documentaries please!

Well now this is a pleasant surprise. This mod is probably the best story mod I've played in any game. Thank you Noclip!

Amazingly done documentary 👏

As someone who is aspiring to make my first game, this story is very motivating. If this guy can make an entertaining and functional game with no experience, then maybe I can too. EDIT: Thanks everyone for the kind works and helpful tips!

A wonderful story behind a wonderful game Thanks for covering this!

My favourite game of 2021. Thank you for this fantastic experience!

Insane! i admire your courage and hope everything plays out well for you!

An amazing story, thanks for sharing!

I loved the mod back in the day, loved the game now, Nick is really a great storyteller.

What an inspiring story, so happy this game has been so well received by the critics. And major props to him for putting it all on the line to go for his dream. I'm about to play this game for the first time, after work today. Looking forward to it!

Amazing doc! Looking forward to playing this game during the holidays! :)

Enjoyed this a lot. Never heard of this game and now I need to go and try it.

This was/ is sincerely one of the best games I've played in so long, I actually can't remember the last time I experienced a story this good.

Great documentary! I had not heard of this game before and have just ordered it for PS5. Very excited to play it!

What a great surprise! I just got to my home and I saw the notification, I will watch and I can already predict, this game will be on my list to play.

It's pretty amazing how he learned to do that all by himself, all while trying to juggle a legal career. Kuddos to his success.

Un documentaire passionnant, comme bien souvent avec Noclip. ;) Je pense que les gens ne réalisent pas le dévouement nécessaire pour aboutir à une telle création et cette chaine permet déjà d'en prendre davantage conscience. Respect total à Nick Pearce et son équipe pour leur volonté et leur détermination à rester fidèle à leurs principes créatifs, sans prendre les joueurs pour des gros jambonneaux. Je leur souhaite le meilleur pour la suite. 🤝

This is so awesome! Thank You!

Incredible documentary as always! To give up a safe occupation to chase your dreams... and what a dream to chase.

awsome game, awsome dev and awsome story (the making of and the game). absolutely looking forward to future projects

The Forgotten City was one of my favorite mods for Skyrim and when I heard they were making a standalone game, I was extatic. It turned out so well too! Thanks for spotlighting this for us, he deserves all the good that's come from his risk.

I not only love the game but also the community! I have read lots of messages from other fans of the game, yet no one was spoiling the story! Thank you

This guy is so Level headed. Very refreshing

"In our world as it currently stands, work has to be miserable in order for it to be seen as work. The moment that becomes something that's personally enjoyable, then it's deemed a hobby and not as deserving of praise. Therefore, it crudely justifies you being paid less, or not being paid at all, as the enjoyment is seen as compensation enough" --- paraphrasing Bullshit Jobs, by my fave Academic, David Graeber. That lawyer who told him to "stop this game nonsense and only do lawyer stuff 24/7" didn't understand that development is a worthy profession that you should be paid for and praised for. They didn't see the value in it. Besides, that lawyer probably miserable anyway because job is mostly pointless, haha. If you love it, go for it, because life is too short to be slowly dying in a job that doesn't see your worth or let you pursue your passion. I'm glad he did, because he clearly has the talent and made it work. Power to you!

Fascinating how Mr. Jake's learning to develop games lines up exactly with how the complexity of story and action systems escalates through the first hours of this game, and then the various parallel paths later on. It's like they were playing and narrativizing the game in their mind as they were building it for us to explore later. I feel like these are two type of games; where you can either see in final play that a game dev learned the tech and pushed boundaries as they built stuff out from the start of a narrative, or its a game dev going back late to put in a distinct, spectacular start to their game, or to put in layer on layer of complexity available from the start.

Looking forward to watching this video, looks amazing.

I'm reading Philip Matyszak's Enemies of Rome right now, I'm thrilled to learn he was involved in helping with the setting of this game