Wow! So many wonderful comments! You are all so amazing and kind. I love reading the comments and all the thanks you've shared! The range of stories of how you got the game (grabbing from your Mom on Xmas eve and getting to play early - Hah, loved that!) your experience playing the game and the way it set your imaginations soaring is so cool to read. I've shared this link among the team members who made the game and they are reading these too. Like I said in the video, we all worked hard on making this and we put as much heart and soul in as we could. It's an absolute pleasure to see that not only did we succeed, but that these games still linger fondly in your memories. Thanks to Flandrew for reaching out and putting together this video - nicely done!
Ty and the team for amazing job. Even now, after 20 years since I played it as kid for 1st time, I play it from time to time and watch speedrunners, coz HP1&2 are one of my fav. games until this day.
Well, that's deserved ! Now that we know the conditions (few infos, little time)...what a performance !! That first HP game on PC stays one on my favorite of all time. So thx Chris and your team for the magical memories and thx Flandrew for the interview
Hi, Mr Vuchetich. Considering how great the HP franchise is, it is sad there has been very little coverage about the videogames: everyone seems to remember them fondly (specially the first ones), but they seem to be gone from the collective memory, and the fact you can't buy them anymore (unless second hand) doesn't help. I have many questions and I hope in future installments you are able to answer them: How many people in KnowWonder had read the book (or at least knew about it) before you got the project? How many read it in order to know better the world of HP? -You mentioned you were quite limited on what and how could you use the world of Harry Potter (e.g. the spells used). Is there something (a scene, a level, a monster or character...) you wanted to use but couldn't, even of it was on the first book? What was left in the cutting room floor? -Have you played the Harry Potter games in other platforms? If so, what did you like? Is there something that made you think "wow, I wish we would have done that!"? - Information about KnowWonder is a bit limited: what was your and your team's experience before Harry Potter? - What are you doing now? Are you still in the videogame industry? -Playing the first PC games shows clearly an evolution and learning process, getting better, both in graphics and capability. If I recall correctly HP1 for PC was made on some version of the unreal tournament 1.0 game engine. One of the interesting quirks of the game is that it has multiple versions of the castle, and depending on where you are on the story it loads one version or other, each with its own secrets. This makes the first game not really free-roam (unlike the 2nd and 3rd, which allow you you to roam freely). What was the reason for this? Was it due to the engine's limitation or just a design decision? - I suppose Flandrew will ask this, but were you ever given a reason for why you didn't make more HP games after Prisoner of Azkaban? Have you tried to convince EA or WB to put the games back on Steam or other platform?. I remember one of the lead creators of Age of Empires 2 fought for years trying to convince Microsoft before AoE2 HD was released in 2013 Thank you @flandrew for covering this. Please keep it up and ask as many questions as possible. And thank you again Mr Vuchetich, for taking your time and answer questions. Many tie-in videogames end up as a half baked pile of trash just to fulfill a contractual obligation, but I'm so happy KnowWonder cared, and it shows.
@Christopher Vuchetich Bro, if you make this game Online, this would be crazy. Imagine creation of the character, learning spells, going to classes, mini-games, pvp, and design would be same or "modern" for a little. That would be fire. Bless us with that idea.
Hi Christo! I just wanna say that you and your team created a game I could just dream in, and play for hours on end. To this day I still hope of a Remake/Remaster of the original 3 games. I remember bringing the first HP game to school and installing it on the school PC's to play it during lunch or break. Seriously, thank you for making what I consider one of the greatest platformers (or games in general) of all time. This and Toy Story 2 definitely are 2 of my favorite games of my childhood that I will always cherish. Cheers!
The fact that they successfully made the buildings and architecture feel intrinsically like Hogwarts, despite only having blurry photos + 1 guy's memory and written notes is absolutely amazing - and really speaks to the fact that it was made by real fans of the stories. Massive thanks to the team.
Oh my goodness it's so good to hear from the person who was in charge of making one of my favorite childhood games!!!! Christo, thank you (and the team) so much for making such a huge impact on our childhoods!
Yeah, I think if he puts out a full compilation of these interviews, he'll get a bunch of watch time and the TH-cam algorithm will push it to the front page
The charm and wonder that these Harry Potter PC games brought just cannot be forgotten. You could really tell that the developers put so much love and care into these gorgeous levels, where even now with so many advances in tech and making things look real, these games FELT real, but so much more than that. A true magic flows through these experiences, and I'm so thankful they were made. While I'm excited for Hogwarts Legacy, I know that the KnowWonder Harry Potter pc games will forever retain that elusive youthful joy of learning magic and adventuring through the halls of an ever changing, ever continually exciting and engaging magical gothic school. Truly, it is magic, so all my thanks to the awesome people behind these captivating games, and to Flandrew who makes such awesome analyses about these childhood cornerstones.
This is fantastic! I’ve always wondered what the developers think of these games retrospectively! Looking forward to part two! It would also be great to hear from the devs of the PS2 games and beyond (EA bright light) could be the making of a very good series of content here - well done 👍🏻
A few weeks ago I was searching for content like this. There's not much pertaining to the developers of some of these amazing titles and I would like to hear their perspectives on it, such as this, as well as how it was made. From my side, to just give them the recognition that they deserve and let them know that we appreciate what they did for us as kids.
@@norestforthebuilders5865 In a similar vein there exists a series on TH-cam where the makers of the first Ratchet and Clank games play through the game and give commentary. RaC was one of my childhood favourites along with Harry Potter!
You made all the right questions, specially the flippendo and the paintings origins which haunted my sleep for years. Also the last bit, the PC versions truly are the best of the bunch and I'm glad they did better than expected, grew up playing them and replay them almost every year (up until the fourth one of course). Hopefully the upcoming game captures some of the charm of these games, or at least has flippendo or Jeremy Soule or I ain't buying it lol. Thank you Christo and Flandrew can't wait for the next part, CoS PC is THE best
@@jackchaos100 yes 5 and 6 are also pretty good and try to go back to their roots, now with some interesting changes like mouse spells and potions, and some fun physics. I don't replay them as often but certainly more than the next ones
Thank you Crhisto! I got this game at the library and I wanted to finish it so bad that I ended up getting it for my birthday. I cannot tell you how long that chess part or the stealth library sections took me as a kid. Filtch and Mrs Norris scared the shit out of me!
Haha, same - one of the few games our school library deemed harmless enough to give to the teens. It was never available though, because everyone wanted to play it at that time.
This game and the chamber of secrets on PC were the first real games I ever played. I’m a huge gamer today so to say these games had an impact on me would be an understatement. I wish I could play them again 😢 thank you to the team for making my childhood awesome
_A DEVELOPER INTERVIEW?_ This was _SO_ interesting! Very cool to hear about the development, research, creativity, and different iterations that went into making such an iconic game! Good work, Flandrew! 👏👍
This is fascinating to listen to. I haven’t played this game in at least 12 years but the visuals and audio are still locked into my brain to this day.
The PC version of HP1 was always my favourite, having played the GBA and Xbox versions as well. I loved in the quidditch mode how you could fly around where ever you wanted. Found my cd of this game recently and got very excited at the prospect of being able to play it again.
Oh. this was such a treat. The first 3 Harry Potter PC games were so important to me as a child and getting to hear from one of the developers was so frickin cool
I remember when my parents gave me philosophers stone for PC for my birthday, I couldn't let the game down for days. Nowadays I still go back and play it for a while just to get the nostalgia going, and honestly, all I need to do is listen to is the soundtrack look at the visuals. The way the coloring is set on the early games is just beautiful! Thank you for your amazing work!
This was the FIRST video game I ever bought that was mine that I chose (and not my older brother's pick). This video just threw me right back to being 6 years old in a game store when this game released and pointing at it as I asked my dad if we could buy it. The soundtrack, gameplay, visuals...core memories. Thank you so much, Christo and team.
This game and the next two have a very special place in my heart. I remember being very anxious while playing this game as a child because of the slightly eerie atmosphere in some parts of the game. Same thing with the second game too. My relationship with anxiety while playing video games has always been rather interesting, because it was always mixed with a huge amount of curiosity. Had I not felt that way back then, my feelings would have been closer to indifference. The most eerie parts were exploring the castle before going to the Lumos lesson, the Lumos lesson itself and... pretty much everything after that, but especially those parts. I don't even know why that is, but it's very interesting. The end battle of course is also one thing. I've always wondered how on Earth the developers ended up making a box pushing puzzle for the antechamber, after which you just stand right in front of Quirrell who yells at you and slowly walks away! I find it positively hilarious. It's _not_ bad game design. It's an interesting creative choice. A very peculiar thing. Same with the end battle. Quirrell breaks his own neck and then you make huge pillars fall on him and, after defeating him, he becomes a source of fireworks! I really have to admire the creativity here. That battle was _SCARY_ back in the day. A huge thing to me as a child. The satisfaction I got after beating him was immense. I do kinda wish Christo had talked a bit about these things as well, but hearing about the development after all these years was incredibly cool! It made me feel like a child again. Also... I first played this game with a Finnish dub. The dub is hilariously dreadful since the characters sound like they're from a silly little kids' cartoon while the original voice lines were far more... dignified? I played the game with the English dub for yeeeeeeeeears after my first times with the Finnish dub, but these days I always go back to the Finnish dub. The funniest part is the end cutscene where Fred and George are laughing. They never recorded a proper laugh sound so it's just two different "HAAAA!" yells by Ron: "Haa-HAA! Haa-HAA!" I have shown that to every Finnish Potter fan I know and I often get them to play the game too. Still, over 20 years after the game's release, it's still a new thing to a lot of people and that's just absolutely beautiful. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for making this video and Christo and the rest of the people that gave birth to this game. It means so much to me that words cannot express. I'm not one of the biggest Potter fans in the world, but these first three games are something very special to me. I have played the PS and PS2 versions too, but the PC games were there for me when I needed entertainment during my lonely childhood. Very few games mean this much to me. It's a crying shame that EA went into a different direction with the Goblet of Fire, because the third game was incredibly promising and the fourth game was a massive let-down. KnowWonder would have made that game so much better. Once again, thank you.
Hey, i don't know if it interests you, but theres a quite active community that speedruns all HP games, mainly focusing on the first three. It's cool to see how much time passed since their release and how many people are keeping that community going!
Thank you so much Christo and the team at KnowWonder. I played the first 3 PC games over and over again as a kid and they're such a comforting playthrough as an adult. Thanks for this interview Flandrew!
@@konradnowacki7279 That's true ! in my memories it was in HP1, but after replaying it recently, the Pints Ceremony is only in HP2 PC version ^^ HP2 is a very great improvement to HP1, but HP1 is still a very good little game.
this game is my childhood, the love and dedication that they put into every detail the graphics, the music, everything! 18 years later i still play it sometimes.
So I've been playing these games for years and they're part of the reason how my gaming channel got bigger and bigger and still does to this day. I've always wondered how they did it and how they came to such a great game. These types of games are not being made anymore: the storytelling, the classic graphics, the music and most importantly: the atmosphere. Every inch of this game is a warm bath of pure nostalgia and magic. Massive thanks to Christopher Vuchetich and Flandrew for this great interview!
A big ty to christo and his team and also to the team responsible for the PS1 version not only did they creat something special they created something that was never matched again. The first 2 games are amazing and stand the test of time and people will continue to play them 20 years from now. Thank very mutch for all your work
This video was awesome. Actual information that I find super interesting. Nothing too technical, and this guy seems really genuinely loving of his work.
This was my childhood. I was too young for the books and movies when I was little, and this game was my first experience of the Wizarding World. It will always hold a warm, fuzzy place in my heart : ) Thank you!
Thank you so much for making this video! It is so cool to have this in-depth discussion with someone who was so clearly passionate about HP and game design. Loved this game as a kid, just an astounding and gorgeous work of art.
This game was my childhood. I remember watching my sister play it, and then trying to play it myself. All the memories of getting stuck at certain parts such as the broomstick chase and getting past Fluffy, being scared of Filch and Ms. Norris, beating the game for the first time, etc. The music in this game is just SO nostalgic and takes me back to being a little kid!
Thank you Christopher and your whole team! My siblings and I spent hours 100%ing 1 & 2. The idea of casting Alohomora on a mirror and walking through it was SO COOL to me, in a way that's still a bit hard to describe. It brought a fuzzy feeling to me, watching this video and hearing that you all had fun trying to sneak those secrets in, just as we had fun spending hours trying to find them! I didn't realize your team had made a 3rd HP game until just this past month (thanks to this very channel!)! I immediately ordered it and played it through, and was very gratified to enjoy one last hurrah of levels and challenges! Kudos to you and your team. PS: Thank you for making it possible to buy the rest of the wizard cards in 2 & 3 ^^
This game was a huge part of my childhood. On the same level as Hit and run. I remember staying up all night in a little pillow castle I've built playing it. Ty.
Chamber of Secrets for the PC was literally my introduction to Harry Potter that became such a big part of my childhood and also really ignited my passion for gaming. I can't thank this development team enough for the amazing job they did with the first to HP games.
I cannot count how many times I played this game as a kid. My family only had a computer, so that was the version I got. Running around Hogwarts, playing through the spell challenges, flying on a broom, sneaking around in the invisibility cloak, and taking down the trials leading to Voldemort were everything I wanted as a kid and more. Just a completely gripping and enjoyable experience that was equally challenging as it was satisfying. Only recently learning about how little access to production was provided, it's amazing how the game ended up mirroring the visual style and the sound of the film as well. Superb work from you and everyone else on the team!
Christo and any other member of the team, if you're reading this, I'd like to thank you and congratulate you for the absolute gems you created. It might seem like an exaggeration but I vividly remember a lot about the first times I played each of the PC adaptations. For example, I recall getting Philosopher's Stone on a Saturday, installing the game right after dinner, and playing it. 10 year-old me was amazed at how realistic, wonderous, and sometimes eerie way the castle looked. The Flipendo challenge was so amazing to me I even called my mum to come watch me play. I was already in love with the Harry Potter franchise by that time. I watched the movie shortly after it premiered, which led me to start reading the books. The massive amount of detail contained in the books was amazing and the movies were thrilling. However, your games made it feel somehow more personal. Even though I was playing as Harry, by playing your adaptations I felt like *I* was the one going through life at Hogwarts. Maybe it's because I was a nerdy white kid who wore glasses and had brown hair (and brown eyes), but it was mostly because you built a fun game with an incredibly rich atmosphere. The visuals, the music... Oh, the music! Whenever I think about Hogwarts, I think about the one made by Jeremy Soule. John Williams' soundtrack is a masterpiece for Harry's journey, but Soule's feels like it was meant for us, the players, whilst we explored the castle. Oh, and you built the most fainful renditions of the Entrance Hall to date. Whenever I read the books, I imagine your version(s), not the movies'. Whilst I'm eagerly awaiting Hogwarts Legacy, my high expectations are due to your effort and passion (and Avalanche is doing incredibly well so far, it seems). I still play your games as part of my yearly Harry Potter marathon and I never get bored. So, yeah... THANK YOU for making me a happier child, teen, and adult. :)
You’re welcome! I loved reading your memories of when you played the game. You describe exactly what we were trying to create. Jeremy’s soundtrack was the cherry on top!
This means so much to me, wow. You don’t know how much this game molded my whole magical world as a child, I’m so grateful to have had this as a part of my childhood ❤️
This game not only got me into Harry Potter, but into videogames themselves. It was the first time I got immersed in a world so much. My cousin and I would spend hours replaying the levels trying to find every secret door and chest. The music and the visuals, the waterfalls and gardens and dungeons. We still remember it with just pure love.
i’ve not even read any of the books or seen all of the movies, but i found your videos very entertaining regardless since i grew up with chamber of secrets on ps2. super glad you got to interview the og devs and that i found this channel.
This was one of the first PC games I got when I was 7 years old. Together with Rollercoaster I played it so much. I have such good memories of playing this together with my siblings and cousins at family gatherings.
All the funny jokes and criticism, comes together and makes you realize that the makers of the game put their lives and careers on the line and ideologies and so much heart and love and pation and the games will always hold a wonderful place in my heart.
Thanks Christo! It's fun to hear him talk about hardware limitations and things. As a kid playing the game the world felt endless and full of wonder! I still remember vividly collecting fire seeds for hagrid in the caves adjacent to his hut, throwing wizard crackers at Malfoy, finding Fred and George's bean stash room, running from filch. My siblings and I quote some of Filch's lines to this day "rotten little guttersnipes". The passion from the developers was definitely felt in my numerous playthroughs as a kid. This interview was a joy to listen to.
I really enjoyed watching this. Philosopher's Stone was one of my favourite PC games as a child and I drove my parents mad shouting FLIPENDO at everything
This game is probably the first (or one of the first) video games I've ever played. All of the first three HP games will forever be an incredibly important piece of my childhood. Huge respect to the KnowWonder team!
Was at first disappointed it wasn’t a normal vid but then when it started it was really fascinating. Great new video. I would hope you can make more interview content
Unbelievable this video exists! That game played a big and important role in my childhood. I loved the first two games and the music is something i fondly come back to, when I need a nostalgia whiplash… thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Wow, this is great timing! Recently TH-cam suggested your version comparison video to me. After that I wanted to replay the old HP PC games (I was really addicted to the first 2 back in the day, but never played the 3rd one) and just as I've finished the first two games and started playing the third one, you're dropping this video! Thank you so much for your efforts! It's always awesome to hear developers talk about the creation of great games, especially years after release when the devs can talk freely and don't have to hold back.
For me, the most memorable part of those games was the soundtrack! Hogwarts's theme is forever ingrained in my brain and hearing it always send my brain into full happyness mode! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, back to those afternoons where I would explore the castle, casting Alohomora in every nook and cranny and doing those crazy challenges to learn a new spell. Also, fun little detail I noticed in the games: The portraits that we use as shortcuts in Order of the Phoenix/Half-Blood Prince can be seen waaaaaaay back in Philosopher stone xD Those assets were basicaly so well-done, the devs stuck to them for half a decade.
Wow I have so many memories of this game. I played it sooo much and from time to time I still play it. The music is great too, never forgot about the music
Wow, thank you for putting this video together! It was really facinating to hear everything the team had to go through to make the game, particularly the spells they were alowed to use. I tend to want to go down memory lane and play all the games I grew up with and the Harry Potter games were the ones I'd play the most. Mainly because we weren't allowed a lot of video games unless it was based on something my parents knew about, and since the whole family loves Harry Potter I ended up with a huge collection of them! Thanks again!
The feeling of those warmth corridors is even today just beautiful and impressive with that 12 month time span in mind. I remember every room like my backpocket. You helped my younger me to find the love for Videogames and feel more immersed in this quirky world of magic. When i think about Hogwarts i have this version in mind with those beautiful glowing candles and the blue windows. Thank you to Christo and every single Person at Know Wonder who worked at this game. You made magic without wands but with love and passion. ❤
I've played the PC version so many times and every time I love it. Amazing to hear about the development behind it, they really managed to make something special and I'm glad they get to know just how special it was for us all.
Just seeing the people who made a huge part of my childhood, people I had no idea about up till now... there's something that makes me bawl my eyes out. The fact they've made it in 12 months while juggling directives from three different sources is mindboggling.
Someone needs to get the Know Wonder team back on those games, and make a remaster. People would pay millions for them! This video was so pleasant to watch, I am waiting for the second part! You've landed a sub!
I remember the day I got this game. I was 6, my mom was in her room wrapping Christmas presents and my older brother convinced me to barge in, grab whatever I could and get out. So I did. I snatched the first thing I saw and it was this game. Mom wasn't happy but let me keep it, and that's how I got to play it before most kids.
rewatching this and man i can't express how happy it makes me to know that someone revisisted all the games and made such a definitive list of every harry potter game (bc i know how hard it is to get through every single harry potter game in existence) and somehow snowballed into having an actual dev interview, i don't think anyone could've imagined this happening for an old ass movie tie in game from the 00s in 2022 but wowww here we are huh?
Oh my God! This I've been looking for this everywhere. It's absolutely amazing that there are so many fans of these old HP games, and that the devs are still out there and remember it all.
I adored the first game as a kid and even bought and played through the second this year. To the Know Where team: thank you! This game is one of my most treasured childhood gaming memories. Also, damn you for that fluffy timing challenge it still haunts me to this day. And to Flandrew: oh my god my guy! I haven’t been this excited about a small TH-camr since I was one of the first 50,000 to sub to Scott the woz! I will watch your career with great interest!
Thank you Christo and the KnowWonder team for making such a wonderful game! I have such fond memories of playing this game as a child with my siblings. Initially I found the jumping with the mouse too hard as I would keep falling in what I used to call the 'faint stuff', so I'd ask my dad to help! My siblings and I usually still replay this game at Christmas time (despite being in our late 20s) to replicate those cosy childhood weekend mornings. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this interview. The PC versions up to prisoner of Askaban were a huge part of my childhood. I didn’t even know that the console versions were different until I saw your videos.
My favorite games growing up and my favorite games now! I wasn't allowed to play video games as a kid but my grandparents let me play these in secret. The vibes of the game are immaculate and I loved all the secret rooms and chests. I admire your hard work and thank you!
wow really nice to have one of the og devs in an interview! I was quite young when my older brother showed me the game and let me play it for myself a bit. It was so mysterious and magic. Me and my siblings quote or recall moments from the game to this day. Like the FLIPENDO, Dumbledores glitched glasses or the fire snails. Quite legendary game for me
Still to this day Harry Potter Philosopher's Stone on PC is one of my favorite childhood games. There was always something new to discover while playing game which made it easily repeatable. TYou know that they read the books because they added things that the movies did not include. The music is magical as well. I still visit the game from time to time! Thanks for the memories!
These games meant so much to me when I was a kid that I almost cried while watching this. And Christo was so passionate and informative. It's really great that he knows how many people cherish the work he and his team did. They certainly made MY childhood better because of it.
What an amazing surprise! I’ve loved all of your HP videos, and I’ve always wanted to hear from the developers to learn more. This interview was incredible and made me so happy, thank you! Can’t wait for Part 2!
Thank you SO much for a childhood favorite full of lovely settings that I still play! I am still really fond of the secret cavern on the way to Hagrid's hut and the huge stained glass window in the Lumos challenge that I currently have as a desktop background. This game inspired a whole ton of my own creative works. Again, thank you so much!
One of my most beloved games growing up. To the point I bought an old laptop and a copy of this game a few years ago to replay it. I also love mucking around in the debug mode - such great memories!
Oh man it's so fun to listen to interviews of the creators of things from your childhood. Thanks for doing this Flandrew and thanks to Mr Vuchetich for accepting.
Perfect video, thanks! I remember borrowing the game from a friend and playing it for hours. The best part was Peeves which was so true to character! And I haven't even noticed that he's not in the movies until some years ago! Thanks for this epic game!!
Wow! So many wonderful comments! You are all so amazing and kind. I love reading the comments and all the thanks you've shared! The range of stories of how you got the game (grabbing from your Mom on Xmas eve and getting to play early - Hah, loved that!) your experience playing the game and the way it set your imaginations soaring is so cool to read. I've shared this link among the team members who made the game and they are reading these too. Like I said in the video, we all worked hard on making this and we put as much heart and soul in as we could. It's an absolute pleasure to see that not only did we succeed, but that these games still linger fondly in your memories. Thanks to Flandrew for reaching out and putting together this video - nicely done!
Ty and the team for amazing job.
Even now, after 20 years since I played it as kid for 1st time, I play it from time to time and watch speedrunners, coz HP1&2 are one of my fav. games until this day.
Well, that's deserved ! Now that we know the conditions (few infos, little time)...what a performance !! That first HP game on PC stays one on my favorite of all time. So thx Chris and your team for the magical memories and thx Flandrew for the interview
Hi, Mr Vuchetich. Considering how great the HP franchise is, it is sad there has been very little coverage about the videogames: everyone seems to remember them fondly (specially the first ones), but they seem to be gone from the collective memory, and the fact you can't buy them anymore (unless second hand) doesn't help. I have many questions and I hope in future installments you are able to answer them:
How many people in KnowWonder had read the book (or at least knew about it) before you got the project? How many read it in order to know better the world of HP?
-You mentioned you were quite limited on what and how could you use the world of Harry Potter (e.g. the spells used). Is there something (a scene, a level, a monster or character...) you wanted to use but couldn't, even of it was on the first book? What was left in the cutting room floor?
-Have you played the Harry Potter games in other platforms? If so, what did you like? Is there something that made you think "wow, I wish we would have done that!"?
- Information about KnowWonder is a bit limited: what was your and your team's experience before Harry Potter?
- What are you doing now? Are you still in the videogame industry?
-Playing the first PC games shows clearly an evolution and learning process, getting better, both in graphics and capability. If I recall correctly HP1 for PC was made on some version of the unreal tournament 1.0 game engine. One of the interesting quirks of the game is that it has multiple versions of the castle, and depending on where you are on the story it loads one version or other, each with its own secrets. This makes the first game not really free-roam (unlike the 2nd and 3rd, which allow you you to roam freely). What was the reason for this? Was it due to the engine's limitation or just a design decision?
- I suppose Flandrew will ask this, but were you ever given a reason for why you didn't make more HP games after Prisoner of Azkaban?
Have you tried to convince EA or WB to put the games back on Steam or other platform?. I remember one of the lead creators of Age of Empires 2 fought for years trying to convince Microsoft before AoE2 HD was released in 2013
Thank you @flandrew for covering this. Please keep it up and ask as many questions as possible. And thank you again Mr Vuchetich, for taking your time and answer questions. Many tie-in videogames end up as a half baked pile of trash just to fulfill a contractual obligation, but I'm so happy KnowWonder cared, and it shows.
@Christopher Vuchetich Bro, if you make this game Online, this would be crazy. Imagine creation of the character, learning spells, going to classes, mini-games, pvp, and design would be same or "modern" for a little. That would be fire. Bless us with that idea.
Hi Christo! I just wanna say that you and your team created a game I could just dream in, and play for hours on end. To this day I still hope of a Remake/Remaster of the original 3 games. I remember bringing the first HP game to school and installing it on the school PC's to play it during lunch or break. Seriously, thank you for making what I consider one of the greatest platformers (or games in general) of all time. This and Toy Story 2 definitely are 2 of my favorite games of my childhood that I will always cherish. Cheers!
The fact that they successfully made the buildings and architecture feel intrinsically like Hogwarts, despite only having blurry photos + 1 guy's memory and written notes is absolutely amazing - and really speaks to the fact that it was made by real fans of the stories. Massive thanks to the team.
awesome comment cho te jin ,cant agree more my friend😁😁
Oh my goodness it's so good to hear from the person who was in charge of making one of my favorite childhood games!!!! Christo, thank you (and the team) so much for making such a huge impact on our childhoods!
This. Was. AMAZING!!!!! PLEASE MORE OF THESE INTERVIEWS! They can be hours long!
Yeah, I think if he puts out a full compilation of these interviews, he'll get a bunch of watch time and the TH-cam algorithm will push it to the front page
The charm and wonder that these Harry Potter PC games brought just cannot be forgotten. You could really tell that the developers put so much love and care into these gorgeous levels, where even now with so many advances in tech and making things look real, these games FELT real, but so much more than that. A true magic flows through these experiences, and I'm so thankful they were made. While I'm excited for Hogwarts Legacy, I know that the KnowWonder Harry Potter pc games will forever retain that elusive youthful joy of learning magic and adventuring through the halls of an ever changing, ever continually exciting and engaging magical gothic school. Truly, it is magic, so all my thanks to the awesome people behind these captivating games, and to Flandrew who makes such awesome analyses about these childhood cornerstones.
❤
This is fantastic! I’ve always wondered what the developers think of these games retrospectively! Looking forward to part two! It would also be great to hear from the devs of the PS2 games and beyond (EA bright light) could be the making of a very good series of content here - well done 👍🏻
A few weeks ago I was searching for content like this. There's not much pertaining to the developers of some of these amazing titles and I would like to hear their perspectives on it, such as this, as well as how it was made. From my side, to just give them the recognition that they deserve and let them know that we appreciate what they did for us as kids.
@@norestforthebuilders5865 In a similar vein there exists a series on TH-cam where the makers of the first Ratchet and Clank games play through the game and give commentary. RaC was one of my childhood favourites along with Harry Potter!
TH-cam recommendations on point and on time for once. Thank you for making this. Loved playing this and its sequel on PC when I was a kid!
You made all the right questions, specially the flippendo and the paintings origins which haunted my sleep for years. Also the last bit, the PC versions truly are the best of the bunch and I'm glad they did better than expected, grew up playing them and replay them almost every year (up until the fourth one of course).
Hopefully the upcoming game captures some of the charm of these games, or at least has flippendo or Jeremy Soule or I ain't buying it lol. Thank you Christo and Flandrew can't wait for the next part, CoS PC is THE best
Yeah really excellent choice of questions. I never would have guessed JKR came up with Flipendo!
Order of the phoenix had a decent PC port
@@jackchaos100 yes 5 and 6 are also pretty good and try to go back to their roots, now with some interesting changes like mouse spells and potions, and some fun physics. I don't replay them as often but certainly more than the next ones
Thank you Crhisto! I got this game at the library and I wanted to finish it so bad that I ended up getting it for my birthday. I cannot tell you how long that chess part or the stealth library sections took me as a kid. Filtch and Mrs Norris scared the shit out of me!
Haha, same - one of the few games our school library deemed harmless enough to give to the teens. It was never available though, because everyone wanted to play it at that time.
This game and the chamber of secrets on PC were the first real games I ever played. I’m a huge gamer today so to say these games had an impact on me would be an understatement. I wish I could play them again 😢 thank you to the team for making my childhood awesome
You can still play them if you know where to look!
Thank you for your contribution to my childhood, Christo. ☺️
_A DEVELOPER INTERVIEW?_ This was _SO_ interesting! Very cool to hear about the development, research, creativity, and different iterations that went into making such an iconic game! Good work, Flandrew! 👏👍
14 minutes is not an interview, thats like a coffee chat, lol, if it was 28 minutes, then THAT an interview.
I have no idea how this popped up 40 mins after being posted, but 100% on point. I've been re-playing the first game over the past few months.
All that aside - thank you for making this video! This is great!
This is fascinating to listen to. I haven’t played this game in at least 12 years but the visuals and audio are still locked into my brain to this day.
The PC version of HP1 was always my favourite, having played the GBA and Xbox versions as well. I loved in the quidditch mode how you could fly around where ever you wanted. Found my cd of this game recently and got very excited at the prospect of being able to play it again.
Oh. this was such a treat. The first 3 Harry Potter PC games were so important to me as a child and getting to hear from one of the developers was so frickin cool
Amazing interview. Love to see this type of video for EA Lord of the Rings Return of the King
I remember when my parents gave me philosophers stone for PC for my birthday, I couldn't let the game down for days. Nowadays I still go back and play it for a while just to get the nostalgia going, and honestly, all I need to do is listen to is the soundtrack look at the visuals. The way the coloring is set on the early games is just beautiful!
Thank you for your amazing work!
This was the FIRST video game I ever bought that was mine that I chose (and not my older brother's pick). This video just threw me right back to being 6 years old in a game store when this game released and pointing at it as I asked my dad if we could buy it. The soundtrack, gameplay, visuals...core memories. Thank you so much, Christo and team.
This game and the next two have a very special place in my heart. I remember being very anxious while playing this game as a child because of the slightly eerie atmosphere in some parts of the game. Same thing with the second game too. My relationship with anxiety while playing video games has always been rather interesting, because it was always mixed with a huge amount of curiosity. Had I not felt that way back then, my feelings would have been closer to indifference. The most eerie parts were exploring the castle before going to the Lumos lesson, the Lumos lesson itself and... pretty much everything after that, but especially those parts. I don't even know why that is, but it's very interesting. The end battle of course is also one thing. I've always wondered how on Earth the developers ended up making a box pushing puzzle for the antechamber, after which you just stand right in front of Quirrell who yells at you and slowly walks away! I find it positively hilarious. It's _not_ bad game design. It's an interesting creative choice. A very peculiar thing. Same with the end battle. Quirrell breaks his own neck and then you make huge pillars fall on him and, after defeating him, he becomes a source of fireworks! I really have to admire the creativity here. That battle was _SCARY_ back in the day. A huge thing to me as a child. The satisfaction I got after beating him was immense. I do kinda wish Christo had talked a bit about these things as well, but hearing about the development after all these years was incredibly cool! It made me feel like a child again.
Also... I first played this game with a Finnish dub. The dub is hilariously dreadful since the characters sound like they're from a silly little kids' cartoon while the original voice lines were far more... dignified? I played the game with the English dub for yeeeeeeeeears after my first times with the Finnish dub, but these days I always go back to the Finnish dub. The funniest part is the end cutscene where Fred and George are laughing. They never recorded a proper laugh sound so it's just two different "HAAAA!" yells by Ron: "Haa-HAA! Haa-HAA!" I have shown that to every Finnish Potter fan I know and I often get them to play the game too. Still, over 20 years after the game's release, it's still a new thing to a lot of people and that's just absolutely beautiful.
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for making this video and Christo and the rest of the people that gave birth to this game. It means so much to me that words cannot express. I'm not one of the biggest Potter fans in the world, but these first three games are something very special to me. I have played the PS and PS2 versions too, but the PC games were there for me when I needed entertainment during my lonely childhood. Very few games mean this much to me. It's a crying shame that EA went into a different direction with the Goblet of Fire, because the third game was incredibly promising and the fourth game was a massive let-down. KnowWonder would have made that game so much better.
Once again, thank you.
Hey, i don't know if it interests you, but theres a quite active community that speedruns all HP games, mainly focusing on the first three.
It's cool to see how much time passed since their release and how many people are keeping that community going!
@@gonzaloc4711 Yeah, I've noticed! ^^ It's very cool how people do that. Frankly, I totally feel them since I speedrun Max Payne every now and then.
Thank you so much Christo and the team at KnowWonder. I played the first 3 PC games over and over again as a kid and they're such a comforting playthrough as an adult. Thanks for this interview Flandrew!
Then you probably also noticed the Bean Bonus Room ISN'T in HP1 (0:24)
I also replayed the HP trylogy as an adult, they are the best HP games to date!
@@konradnowacki7279 That's true ! in my memories it was in HP1, but after replaying it recently, the Pints Ceremony is only in HP2 PC version ^^
HP2 is a very great improvement to HP1, but HP1 is still a very good little game.
I never thought we'd ever get an interview like this!!! Thank you!!!
this game is my childhood, the love and dedication that they put into every detail the graphics, the music, everything! 18 years later i still play it sometimes.
So I've been playing these games for years and they're part of the reason how my gaming channel got bigger and bigger and still does to this day. I've always wondered how they did it and how they came to such a great game. These types of games are not being made anymore: the storytelling, the classic graphics, the music and most importantly: the atmosphere. Every inch of this game is a warm bath of pure nostalgia and magic. Massive thanks to Christopher Vuchetich and Flandrew for this great interview!
King Christo 🤴
A big ty to christo and his team and also to the team responsible for the PS1 version not only did they creat something special they created something that was never matched again. The first 2 games are amazing and stand the test of time and people will continue to play them 20 years from now. Thank very mutch for all your work
This video was awesome. Actual information that I find super interesting. Nothing too technical, and this guy seems really genuinely loving of his work.
This was my childhood. I was too young for the books and movies when I was little, and this game was my first experience of the Wizarding World. It will always hold a warm, fuzzy place in my heart : ) Thank you!
Great interview! Really cool to hear about the origin of Flippendo.
A few years ago I replayed this game, and was shocked at how good it still looked. You and your team did a wonderful job, Christo. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for making this video! It is so cool to have this in-depth discussion with someone who was so clearly passionate about HP and game design. Loved this game as a kid, just an astounding and gorgeous work of art.
This game was my childhood. I remember watching my sister play it, and then trying to play it myself. All the memories of getting stuck at certain parts such as the broomstick chase and getting past Fluffy, being scared of Filch and Ms. Norris, beating the game for the first time, etc. The music in this game is just SO nostalgic and takes me back to being a little kid!
Worked on this, back in the day. I recognise all the faces in the paintings! Great interview by Chris
This is so amazing to watch, props for getting the interview!!
Thank you Christopher and your whole team! My siblings and I spent hours 100%ing 1 & 2. The idea of casting Alohomora on a mirror and walking through it was SO COOL to me, in a way that's still a bit hard to describe. It brought a fuzzy feeling to me, watching this video and hearing that you all had fun trying to sneak those secrets in, just as we had fun spending hours trying to find them!
I didn't realize your team had made a 3rd HP game until just this past month (thanks to this very channel!)! I immediately ordered it and played it through, and was very gratified to enjoy one last hurrah of levels and challenges! Kudos to you and your team.
PS: Thank you for making it possible to buy the rest of the wizard cards in 2 & 3 ^^
This game was a huge part of my childhood. On the same level as Hit and run.
I remember staying up all night in a little pillow castle I've built playing it.
Ty.
Chamber of Secrets for the PC was literally my introduction to Harry
Potter that became such a big part of my childhood and also really ignited my passion for gaming. I can't thank this development team enough for the amazing job they did with the first to HP games.
I cannot count how many times I played this game as a kid. My family only had a computer, so that was the version I got. Running around Hogwarts, playing through the spell challenges, flying on a broom, sneaking around in the invisibility cloak, and taking down the trials leading to Voldemort were everything I wanted as a kid and more. Just a completely gripping and enjoyable experience that was equally challenging as it was satisfying. Only recently learning about how little access to production was provided, it's amazing how the game ended up mirroring the visual style and the sound of the film as well. Superb work from you and everyone else on the team!
Christo and any other member of the team, if you're reading this, I'd like to thank you and congratulate you for the absolute gems you created. It might seem like an exaggeration but I vividly remember a lot about the first times I played each of the PC adaptations. For example, I recall getting Philosopher's Stone on a Saturday, installing the game right after dinner, and playing it. 10 year-old me was amazed at how realistic, wonderous, and sometimes eerie way the castle looked. The Flipendo challenge was so amazing to me I even called my mum to come watch me play.
I was already in love with the Harry Potter franchise by that time. I watched the movie shortly after it premiered, which led me to start reading the books. The massive amount of detail contained in the books was amazing and the movies were thrilling. However, your games made it feel somehow more personal. Even though I was playing as Harry, by playing your adaptations I felt like *I* was the one going through life at Hogwarts. Maybe it's because I was a nerdy white kid who wore glasses and had brown hair (and brown eyes), but it was mostly because you built a fun game with an incredibly rich atmosphere. The visuals, the music... Oh, the music! Whenever I think about Hogwarts, I think about the one made by Jeremy Soule. John Williams' soundtrack is a masterpiece for Harry's journey, but Soule's feels like it was meant for us, the players, whilst we explored the castle. Oh, and you built the most fainful renditions of the Entrance Hall to date. Whenever I read the books, I imagine your version(s), not the movies'.
Whilst I'm eagerly awaiting Hogwarts Legacy, my high expectations are due to your effort and passion (and Avalanche is doing incredibly well so far, it seems). I still play your games as part of my yearly Harry Potter marathon and I never get bored. So, yeah... THANK YOU for making me a happier child, teen, and adult. :)
You’re welcome! I loved reading your memories of when you played the game. You describe exactly what we were trying to create. Jeremy’s soundtrack was the cherry on top!
God, that game was such a big part of my childhood, it's heart warming to see the creators still look back at it fondly.
It’s so wholesome to meet the person who helped create some of the most fond childhood memories. Thank you. Christo for making video games fun!
This means so much to me, wow. You don’t know how much this game molded my whole magical world as a child, I’m so grateful to have had this as a part of my childhood ❤️
The PC rendition was my favorite one of them all! I always love to rewatch gameplay videos of it. I would love to own it again.
This game not only got me into Harry Potter, but into videogames themselves. It was the first time I got immersed in a world so much. My cousin and I would spend hours replaying the levels trying to find every secret door and chest. The music and the visuals, the waterfalls and gardens and dungeons. We still remember it with just pure love.
Thank you for your contribution to my childhood, Christo
i’ve not even read any of the books or seen all of the movies, but i found your videos very entertaining regardless since i grew up with chamber of secrets on ps2. super glad you got to interview the og devs and that i found this channel.
This was one of the first PC games I got when I was 7 years old. Together with Rollercoaster I played it so much. I have such good memories of playing this together with my siblings and cousins at family gatherings.
This is completely fascinating. Thank you for this Flandrew & Chris!!
All the funny jokes and criticism, comes together and makes you realize that the makers of the game put their lives and careers on the line and ideologies and so much heart and love and pation and the games will always hold a wonderful place in my heart.
Thanks Christo! It's fun to hear him talk about hardware limitations and things. As a kid playing the game the world felt endless and full of wonder! I still remember vividly collecting fire seeds for hagrid in the caves adjacent to his hut, throwing wizard crackers at Malfoy, finding Fred and George's bean stash room, running from filch. My siblings and I quote some of Filch's lines to this day "rotten little guttersnipes". The passion from the developers was definitely felt in my numerous playthroughs as a kid. This interview was a joy to listen to.
this game is my whole childhood. i played it to death before the 1st film even came out on VHS
OH MY GOD. I have been searching about the development of those games, my favourite childhood game. Thank you so much for bringing this.
I really enjoyed watching this. Philosopher's Stone was one of my favourite PC games as a child and I drove my parents mad shouting FLIPENDO at everything
This game is probably the first (or one of the first) video games I've ever played. All of the first three HP games will forever be an incredibly important piece of my childhood. Huge respect to the KnowWonder team!
Was at first disappointed it wasn’t a normal vid but then when it started it was really fascinating. Great new video. I would hope you can make more interview content
Unbelievable this video exists! That game played a big and important role in my childhood. I loved the first two games and the music is something i fondly come back to, when I need a nostalgia whiplash… thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Wow, this is great timing! Recently TH-cam suggested your version comparison video to me. After that I wanted to replay the old HP PC games (I was really addicted to the first 2 back in the day, but never played the 3rd one) and just as I've finished the first two games and started playing the third one, you're dropping this video! Thank you so much for your efforts! It's always awesome to hear developers talk about the creation of great games, especially years after release when the devs can talk freely and don't have to hold back.
I can get you Philip Trumbo, the creative director. This will always be my childhood
For me, the most memorable part of those games was the soundtrack! Hogwarts's theme is forever ingrained in my brain and hearing it always send my brain into full happyness mode! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, back to those afternoons where I would explore the castle, casting Alohomora in every nook and cranny and doing those crazy challenges to learn a new spell.
Also, fun little detail I noticed in the games: The portraits that we use as shortcuts in Order of the Phoenix/Half-Blood Prince can be seen waaaaaaay back in Philosopher stone xD Those assets were basicaly so well-done, the devs stuck to them for half a decade.
Thank you christos for providing us with this interview. Its very much appreciated for fans of the games
Wow I have so many memories of this game. I played it sooo much and from time to time I still play it. The music is great too, never forgot about the music
That front hallway has become a sort of icon for the Harry Potter games. I never forgot it.
Wow, thank you for putting this video together! It was really facinating to hear everything the team had to go through to make the game, particularly the spells they were alowed to use. I tend to want to go down memory lane and play all the games I grew up with and the Harry Potter games were the ones I'd play the most. Mainly because we weren't allowed a lot of video games unless it was based on something my parents knew about, and since the whole family loves Harry Potter I ended up with a huge collection of them! Thanks again!
The feeling of those warmth corridors is even today just beautiful and impressive with that 12 month time span in mind. I remember every room like my backpocket. You helped my younger me to find the love for Videogames and feel more immersed in this quirky world of magic. When i think about Hogwarts i have this version in mind with those beautiful glowing candles and the blue windows. Thank you to Christo and every single Person at Know Wonder who worked at this game. You made magic without wands but with love and passion. ❤
Wow such a great look into my childhood. Thanks so much for making this video!
Thanks for hosting and uploading this! I love hearing from developers.
I've played the PC version so many times and every time I love it. Amazing to hear about the development behind it, they really managed to make something special and I'm glad they get to know just how special it was for us all.
Just seeing the people who made a huge part of my childhood, people I had no idea about up till now... there's something that makes me bawl my eyes out. The fact they've made it in 12 months while juggling directives from three different sources is mindboggling.
Someone needs to get the Know Wonder team back on those games, and make a remaster. People would pay millions for them!
This video was so pleasant to watch, I am waiting for the second part!
You've landed a sub!
God, I want spell scanning to come back. It's such a simple system, but it was still extremely fun.
I remember the day I got this game. I was 6, my mom was in her room wrapping Christmas presents and my older brother convinced me to barge in, grab whatever I could and get out. So I did. I snatched the first thing I saw and it was this game. Mom wasn't happy but let me keep it, and that's how I got to play it before most kids.
Dude, this is just epic! You're doing incredible work with the old HP games. Excellent idea to interview one of the devs!
rewatching this and man i can't express how happy it makes me to know that someone revisisted all the games and made such a definitive list of every harry potter game (bc i know how hard it is to get through every single harry potter game in existence) and somehow snowballed into having an actual dev interview, i don't think anyone could've imagined this happening for an old ass movie tie in game from the 00s in 2022 but wowww here we are huh?
Oh my God! This I've been looking for this everywhere. It's absolutely amazing that there are so many fans of these old HP games, and that the devs are still out there and remember it all.
I adored the first game as a kid and even bought and played through the second this year.
To the Know Where team: thank you! This game is one of my most treasured childhood gaming memories. Also, damn you for that fluffy timing challenge it still haunts me to this day.
And to Flandrew: oh my god my guy! I haven’t been this excited about a small TH-camr since I was one of the first 50,000 to sub to Scott the woz! I will watch your career with great interest!
Palpatine reference? Or coincidence
@@aviator8632 Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.
Thank you fir making this, it was so great to hear about the story behind the game😃
Thank you Christo and the KnowWonder team for making such a wonderful game! I have such fond memories of playing this game as a child with my siblings. Initially I found the jumping with the mouse too hard as I would keep falling in what I used to call the 'faint stuff', so I'd ask my dad to help! My siblings and I usually still replay this game at Christmas time (despite being in our late 20s) to replicate those cosy childhood weekend mornings. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this interview. The PC versions up to prisoner of Askaban were a huge part of my childhood. I didn’t even know that the console versions were different until I saw your videos.
Please please please, make a remake 🙏 this game was my whole childhood together with the sequals.
Also thank you for making this wonderfull game.
My favorite games growing up and my favorite games now! I wasn't allowed to play video games as a kid but my grandparents let me play these in secret. The vibes of the game are immaculate and I loved all the secret rooms and chests. I admire your hard work and thank you!
Fantastic video thank you for making this ! And thank you Christopher Vuchetich and team for giving us this wonderful game
wow really nice to have one of the og devs in an interview! I was quite young when my older brother showed me the game and let me play it for myself a bit. It was so mysterious and magic. Me and my siblings quote or recall moments from the game to this day. Like the FLIPENDO, Dumbledores glitched glasses or the fire snails. Quite legendary game for me
Still to this day Harry Potter Philosopher's Stone on PC is one of my favorite childhood games. There was always something new to discover while playing game which made it easily repeatable. TYou know that they read the books because they added things that the movies did not include. The music is magical as well. I still visit the game from time to time! Thanks for the memories!
I love this channel so much. Enjoy listening to Harry Potter lore, movies, games etc. Blast to the past.
Hopefully you make tons of Hogwarts legacy content so I can feel like I am playing along side of you!
I'm glad we have confirmation that Flipendo (both the effect and the incantation) came directly from Rowling.
Please, PLEASE do more interviews with the team of the first three Harry Potter games. It would be great!
What a nice surprise.
I loved the game as a kid.
Also: I dig Chriso's interior design. These are nice shades of green 🧑🎨
Harry Potter 2 PC is my favorite PC game, thank you for making my childhood
These games meant so much to me when I was a kid that I almost cried while watching this. And Christo was so passionate and informative. It's really great that he knows how many people cherish the work he and his team did.
They certainly made MY childhood better because of it.
Thank you for doing this interview. I am an artist and big Harry Potter fan and I have also loved the PC design of Hogwarts since I was a kid.
Dude that was awesome!!! Really surprised to learn about Flipendo! Waiting for the next one!
What an amazing surprise! I’ve loved all of your HP videos, and I’ve always wanted to hear from the developers to learn more. This interview was incredible and made me so happy, thank you! Can’t wait for Part 2!
Thank you SO much for a childhood favorite full of lovely settings that I still play! I am still really fond of the secret cavern on the way to Hagrid's hut and the huge stained glass window in the Lumos challenge that I currently have as a desktop background. This game inspired a whole ton of my own creative works. Again, thank you so much!
This is awesome, or shall I say 'wicked'
Really great insight into a childhood favourite of mine. I especially liked the bit about how the paintings were done. Keep up the great work!
One of my most beloved games growing up. To the point I bought an old laptop and a copy of this game a few years ago to replay it. I also love mucking around in the debug mode - such great memories!
This was so exciting to listen to. I can't wait to hear part 2
Oh man it's so fun to listen to interviews of the creators of things from your childhood. Thanks for doing this Flandrew and thanks to Mr Vuchetich for accepting.
Perfect video, thanks! I remember borrowing the game from a friend and playing it for hours. The best part was Peeves which was so true to character! And I haven't even noticed that he's not in the movies until some years ago! Thanks for this epic game!!