Mustard’s Milestones: The Games that Defined a Gaming Visionary

By AGBOVERSE Staff

Donald Mustard is a partner at AGBO, former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games, and a legendary figure in the gaming world. Known for his groundbreaking work on titles like "Infinity Blade" and the global phenomenon "Fortnite," Mustard’s career is marked by innovation and a unique blend of immersive storytelling with cutting-edge technology. But where did it all start for Donald, and how did skipping class to play video games jumpstart his journey to becoming one of the greatest game creators? In this exclusive feature, Mustard dives deep into the games that shaped his iconic career, offering an insider’s look at the milestones and memories that have defined one of gaming’s most visionary minds. 

First Encounters: Arcade Classics

Donald’s love for gaming began in the late 70s/early 80s with arcade machines in pizza parlors. If we can remember, games like Pac-Man, Tetris & Frogger were just breaking into arcades and kids like Donald were having their first experience in the driver's seat (and quite literally). Donald reminisces on the time by remembering the first game he ever played, one that many of us can probably relate to. “The first game I remember playing was probably Pac-Man” he recalls, “but pretty quickly, it was Ms. Pac-Man that truly captivated me.” Getting exposure to these early arcade games sparked his initial fascination with digital games, but getting good at them set the stage for his future career.

Discovering New Worlds: The Nintendo Era

In 1986, the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was a pivotal moment in Mustard’s life. At the time being just 10 years old, Mustard remembers “With Nintendo, games like Mario Brothers, Zelda, and Metroid were the ones that blew my mind apart and started me on this journey”. These weren’t just new games; they were gateways to new worlds. Mustard speaks fondly of how these titles weren’t just about storytelling but about being immersed in a world that gradually revealed itself as you explored it. “It wasn’t so much that it was a beat-by-beat story like in a movie. It was more about being put into a world, and the world would kind of open up and reveal itself to you as you explored it and experienced it”. 

Technological Leap: The 3D Revolution

The late 90’s brought the transition from 2D to 3D gaming and it was groundbreaking. Mustard recalls, “Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation was a GAME-CHANGER. As a poor college student, my friends and I rented a PlayStation from Blockbuster in order to play.” Remembering what lengths he had to go through, Donald shares “We started playing Final Fantasy VII, and we got about eight hours into it before, [we were playing it all night], and we had to go to class the next day, so we went to save the game, only to realize that on a PlayStation you couldn't save without having this extra memory card that you had to buy that cost, like $40 and I didn't have $40 at that point. And so my brother and I and my roommates kind of looked at each other and we're like, Well, I guess we're just, like, not going to class. And so we just, we stayed up. We stayed up for almost, like, 72 hours straight, playing the game. And we played it until we beat this whole thing. And by the end of that, I'm like, "That's the industry I'm going into!” 

Revisiting Childhood Classics

As much as Donald stays looking forward, he also tries to revisit the games of his youth to find new appreciation and insights. “Within the last year, I replayed Final Fantasy VI and Super Metroid. The craftsmanship in these games is even more impressive now,” he notes. The constraints and limitations these games were created under forced incredible creativity, a lesson that remains relevant today. Donald’s reverence for these classics highlights their timeless appeal and enduring influence. Playing these games again as an adult, he discovers new layers of depth and ingenuity, reminding us of the lasting legacy of these pioneering titles.

Donald Mustard’s journey through the gaming world is a compelling narrative of passion, innovation, and creativity. His reflections on the games that shaped him offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the experiences and inspirations of one of gaming’s most influential creators. As AGBO continues to explore new frontiers in interactive storytelling, Donald’s legacy serves as an inspiration for future generations of gamers and creators alike. His exclusive insight into his gaming history not only celebrates the milestones of the past but also paves the way for the innovations of tomorrow.

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