Talk:Safe Combinations/@comment-24729554-20150906125339/@comment-1500935-20150906205355

I believe the explanation would be that any of the ex-Looking Glass Studios developers had their own interpretation of the number. In the end, it's really attached to what System Shock was for its era: a story-telling focused game with its own gameplay originalities.

But yes I would say the Fahrenheit 451 connection is a tangible one. Steve Gaynor previously from 2K Marin seemed to believe it was a nod to the novel (reference). Btw, the first comment on this other reference mentions an interview between Warren Spector and Harvey Smith, dated from 2007 or so, with a passage on Looking Glass's door code.

And who still calls Harvey Smith "Witchboy" nowadays? :D

EDIT: It would be this lecture I believe, but I don't have the time to watch it all. :p