Our ‘My Creation’ series continues this week with Nick Pearce of Melbourne, Australia.

Last month, Nick (a.k.a. ModernStoryTeller) received a received an Australian Writers’ Guild award for his Skyrim Modding project, The Forgotten City – available to download now for both PC and Xbox One.

We recently chatted with Nick about The Forgotten City. Read the interview below…

Congrats on the Australian Writers’ Guild Award. How are you celebrating?

I had to fly to a red carpet event to collect my award, and give a speech in a glamorous venue full of prominent writers and producers - that was celebration enough for me. I'll take pizza and sweat pants over a black tie dinner any day. I'm just happy that the humble mod has been recognized as an art form, comparable to stage and screenplays. It's an exciting time for modders and mod users!

For those unfamiliar with The Forgotten City, can you give a quick overview of the mod?

The Forgotten City is a Skyrim expansion mod offering a unique gameplay experience: a murder mystery investigation set in an ancient underground city. You'll need to solve it using your wits, and the ability to travel through time. It has a dark, non-linear story in which you'll interrogate suspects, explore the city and its many secrets, and navigate challenging moral dilemmas. It features multiple endings, an original orchestral score, and professionally voiced dialogue.

How did you get started with modding?

The mod that really inspired me to make mods myself was New Vegas Bounties (for Fallout: New Vegas) by Someguy2000; it was a revelation that mods could be on par with professional quality games. That got me excited to have a go myself, and so when Skyrim arrived I started making a dungeon mod, and 1700 hours later it had become The Forgotten City. I really just made something I wanted to play; one that assumes a level of intelligence on the part of its players, rewards players for thinking for themselves, makes them invest emotionally in characters, allows them to roleplay, and is genuinely non-linear. It was also an homage, or "love letter," to Bethesda, because I am a shameless fanboy.

What do you think about the prospect of more folks trying your mods?

I'm really excited about console users getting to play The Forgotten City, as well as all the other great Skyrim mods out there! They're in for a real treat!

Any modders you’d like to give a shout out to for their assistance/help over the years?

I'd like to thank Someguy2000 (creator of New Vegas Bounties) for the inspiration. The entire modding community is generally tremendously helpful. 

Anything else you'd like to share?

I just want to shout out to the talented artists who made The Forgotten City possible; I can't recommend these folks highly enough!

• Trent Moriarty, the brilliant Seattle-based composer who contacted me out of the blue to ask if I needed an original orchestral score - easiest decision I ever had to make!
• Patrick Deegan, the incredibly versatile Youtuber who voiced six distinct characters.
• James McLauchlan, the Australian voice actor who absolutely nailed the Patrick Stewart impersonation for Jarl Metellus.
• Steve White, the British audiobook narrator whose sympathetic and tactful portrayal of Dooley - a man with an intellectual disability - made him a breakout character.
• Damien Caine, the New Zealand games industry veteran who lent his terrifying voice to the Arbiter.
• Heather Jane Hogan, the US voice actress whose portrayal of a certain plighted character (no spoilers) set up what one player described as "the most difficult choice I've ever made in a videogame."
• Leara Morris-Clark, the US voice actress and writer whose professionalism was truly stunning.
• Stewart Moyer, the US voice actor who tells a sad story with more nuance and pathos than any actor I've ever known.
• Asia Sanchez, the US voice actress and free spirit who I am sure is destined for much bigger things.
• Paden "Cassie" Dowdy, the US voice actor with a wonderful flair for comedic roles.
• Storm Watters, the US voice actor who is exactly the sort of person every team needs.
• Adoxographist, the Canadian voice actress whose voice makes grown men blush.
• Jess Osborne, the US voice actress and Art Director and with a beautiful, strong voice.
• Elizabeth Plant, the British voice actress and prodigy.
• Jonny Knowles, the British voice actor and film maker with a BAFTA somewhere in his future.
• Naoree, the French voice actress whose words are like music to me.
• Owain David, the British voice actor with a gift for flowery delivery and comedic timing.
• Hamish Hector-Taylor, my friend, and the New Zealand actor who did a wonderful job as Domitus, the most punchable character ever written.
• Phoenix Emrys - the Canadian voice actress who played Asanshi, and whose character shines through in the extraordinary richness of her voice.

Download The Forgotten City on Bethesda.net:

• Xbox One
• PC

With the launch of our new Bethesda.net forums, we’re looking for recommendations for new ‘My Creation’ interviews. Share your suggestions in the new board dedicated to the Creation Kit.