Inside the Mind of a Gaming Legend: Raphael Colantonio’s PC Picks

Welcome to our latest edition of Disk Cleanup, where we dive into the gaming setups of industry icons! Every week, we explore the desktops of PC gaming gurus to uncover their favorite titles, organization habits, and what keeps them gaming. This time, we’ve got the legendary Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, sharing insights into his gaming journey and the games that fill his PC.

Colantonio’s love for gaming began with a quest to play Ultima 7, which wasn’t available on Apple. His early obsession with the Ultima series led him to purchase a PC, and he hasn’t looked back since. He co-founded Arkane Studios in 1999 after honing his skills at companies like EA and Infogrames. Their first release, Arx Fatalis, was a tribute to the classic RPGs, and since then, Arkane has crafted some iconic titles, including the critically acclaimed Dishonored and Prey.

After departing from Arkane, Colantonio established WolfEye Studios, which launched Weird West in 2022. Currently, he’s busy developing a new first-person RPG, which he hints might have a name now! He took a moment to sift through his Steam library with us, sharing thoughts on various games and some personal favorites.

So, what’s Raphael playing these days? He recently dove into Mewgenics, a game from the creators of The Binding of Isaac. Initially, he found it underwhelming due to its turn-based combat and confusing mechanics concerning cat legacies. However, the quirky gameplay eventually grew on him, mixing rage and fun in a way that kept him engaged. He draws comparisons to other tactical games like Into the Breach and XCOM, which he enjoys even if he doesn’t think he could design them himself.

When asked about his experience with Cyberpunk 2077, Colantonio shared a mixed bag of feelings. While he appreciated the game’s production quality, he felt disconnected from the choices presented, thinking they had little impact on the story. He acknowledged the game’s vast city and engaging elements but noted that, for an old-school gamer like him, it’s tough to find a game he loves entirely. The last game that truly impressed him was Baldur’s Gate 3, which he claims he genuinely loved without any complaints.

Among the older titles on his PC, Colantonio mentioned playing Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. He was drawn in by his love for Lovecraft and found the game’s atmosphere compelling, despite its mixed reception. He reflected on the challenges of game development, recognizing that even games with great qualities can fail to resonate, which can feel unfair to developers who pour their hearts into their creations.

In terms of hours logged, Colantonio has spent a whopping 649 hours playing Wasteland 2, a game he describes as reminiscent of the Fallout series. He was playing it while working on Prey, making it a memorable time for him. And when it comes to games he’ll never uninstall, he cites classics like Thief and Deus Ex, which hold a special place in his heart. He fondly recalls the immersive experience of Thief and how it influenced his work on games like Dishonored.

Colantonio also shared his essential non-gaming software: DaVinci Resolve for video editing and DiskState for monitoring his hard drive space. He’s quite proud of his desktop organization, boasting a clean setup with just a few folders and icons—something that resonates with many gamers out there.

As we peek into Colantonio’s gaming habits, it’s clear that his passion for games remains strong, and his insights into the industry are invaluable. Keep an eye out for more features like this, where we uncover the favorite games of influential figures in the gaming world!