This game used the colonoscopies of one of its developers for the textures of its doors

The preservation of video games has become a crucial aspect to prevent the loss of discontinued titles, while also allowing fans to discover fascinating anecdotes about their creation. One of the developers that has taken the initiative in this area is Nightdive Studios, known for remastering classic games. Among their most notable works is the Enhanced Edition of System Shock 2, an original title from 1999 that is considered a spiritual predecessor to the Bioshock series.

Impossible to be more original

Recently, in a podcast from the Deep Dive series, hosted by Locke Vincent from Nightdive Studios, surprising details about the creative process behind this classic were revealed. Nate Wells, art director of System Shock 2, shared an interesting fact that has caught the attention of fans: the peculiar doors of the eighth level, known as The Many, were designed inspired by a sphincter. This aesthetic decision was made to reflect the organic nature of the level, which contrasts with the cybernetic setting of the rest of the game.

Wells explained that, after facing difficulties in finding an appropriate design, producer Josh Randall suggested using images from his recent colonoscopy as a reference. This unusual source of inspiration led to the creation of the disturbing doors in the game, which are ultimately altered photographs of Randall’s colon. Although there were theories among fans about the use of images of human anatomy for the textures of The Many, the exact origin of the design had remained unknown until now.

In its remastering, Nightdive Studios kept the original content, although they designed new images for the doors, which remain just as unsettling as their predecessors. These types of curiosities not only enrich the game’s history but also highlight the ingenuity and creativity of the developers of the time.

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