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Video: Creating the characters and world of Mafia III

In this GDC 2017 talk, Hangar 13's William Harms discusses how the team used real history to inform Mafia III's characters and overarching narrative

January 10, 2019

1 Min Read
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Set in 1968, Mafia III takes place during one of the most turbulent years in American history. From the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to growing outrage over the war in Vietnam, the country's fault-lines were exposed and threatened to tear the United States apart. 

In this GDC 2017 talk, Hangar 13's William Harms discusses how the team used real history to inform Mafia III's characters and overarching narrative, and the decisions that drove the inclusion of sensitive issues such as the era's racial tensions.

It was an insightful talk that's definitely still worth watching, so developers shouldn't miss the opportunity to do so now that it's freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its accompanying YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

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