PAXERY
The PAXORIFFIC game show called PAX is finally over and it was PAXTASTIC, so let's go over all the PAXERY!
Now, if I was smarter, I'd divide this up into several posts to fool you into thinking I post a lot, but I'm not going to do that. You're too smart for that and I respect that smartness. Instead, I'll just break it up in to the different subjects, or "sections" as they are called in some countries.
First off...
The Keynote
I don't even know where to begin. When they asked me to do the keynote, it took three days for me to make up my mind. I've never spoken to a group of people larger than about 100 and giving the keynote at PAX was a terrifying thought of the most terrifying terrifyingness. I don't do a lot of public speaking. It terrifies me. Maybe you've heard.
I finally said yes because this was something I knew I needed to do. If I said no, I'd regret it for the rest of my life. It was a chicken I needed to slay or I was going to die trying.
I asked how many people would be coming to the keynote and they said around 2000. Big number, but I thought I could handle that. I started working on the speech immediately and spent the next two months writing and practicing and swearing off WoW for the duration. If I was going to screw this up, I was going to be damn prepared.
Day of the keynote, I arrived at the Main Hall a few hours early to get set up and check out the stage. When I walked through the door and saw the sea of chairs the calmness I had worked so hard for over the last two months vanished. "How many chairs did they set up?" I asked. "6000" was the reply. 6000! wtf! I didn't agree to this! My fear endlessly bounced between "what if only 100 people come" and "what if all 6000 people come".
There was a funny incident at the U.S. border on the way down involving PAX that I wanted to tell as an opening joke. I refused to write it down so it wouldn't seem rehearsed and ran that though in my head as I waited for the hour of reckoning.
The lights finally dimmed and they told me they were ready and I was escorted to the stage entrance as someone in my head kept calling out "deadman walking". I stood behind the curtain, took a deep breath and said "I'm ready". The curtain was pulled aside and I walked on stage.
I can't even describe what it's like to look out over 6000 people who are all looking back expecting you to do something. I wish I'd taken a picture. Seriously. I wish I'd taken a picture, that would have been really funny and I thought of it an hour after the keynote ended.
My number one goal was to get everyone to laugh in the first 15 minutes and I think I did that. I don't remember the rest of the talk. That's the honest truth. I remember the first 15 minutes and the last 5, but the rest is a odd blur.
A lot of people told me that they loved the keynote, even Wil Wheaton, so I guess I didn't dance around the stage half naked doing pirate impressions. Or maybe that's why they liked it.
Also, a huge thanks to Clayton Kauzlaric for helping me photoshop a couple of my images, most notably this one, which got a huge laugh. Also, to Deirdra Kiai for masterfully running the image-show back stage, and to Darren Evenson, Chris Mitchell and Dave Grossman for reading over my speech and telling me I can't say things like "You're all wasting your lives playing video games!" at PAX.
Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton has been one of my heroes for a long time. I like to think that I liked Wil before it was cool to like Wil. I was one of the few people that really liked Wesley Crusher on Next Gen and I was thrilled to find out that he was at my keynote and twittered this:
"That was the most inspiring keynote I've ever heard. So awesome. Thank you, Ron Gilbert!".
Now, why he was twittering during my keynote and not paying attention is another matter, but I'll deal with that later.
I also got a chance to meet Wil for the first time at PAX and he is truly one of the nicest guys I've ever meet and he can totally house sit for me anytime I need to be out of town.
Monkey Island Fans
Many thanks to the hundreds of fans that came up to me during the show and said thank you for Monkey Island and how they're looking forward to DeathSpank. You are truly the most awesome group of people I've ever known and I love each and everyone one of you more than the others.
I only had to sign one body part at the show, so I consider that a big win!
Dominic Armato
Despite being the voice of my creation Guybrush Threepwood, I had never met Dominic before. Back when we were doing Monkey 1 and 2, the thought of voice was crazy talk. "Computers will never be able to do that!" I'd scream, then follow up with "You can't connect more than two computer together at the same time!" and other insane rantings that all turned out to be completely wrong.
But I digress.
If PAX wasn't thrill packed enough for me, I got to hang out with Dominic Armato and maybe PAX is just filled with nothing but cool people, but damn is Dominic one cool guy. I never had a voice in mind for Guybrush (voice acting being crazy talk and all), but I always thought Dom (I can call him that now that we're BFFs) nailed it and it's double cool that he's such a nice guy. And Dominic, if you're reading this, good call on ordering the pizza.
DeathSpank
Holy crap! DeathSpank pwned PAX. Am I using the word pwned right? I think it means "any small, ornamental mat, as of embroidery or lace used to decorate".
We gave hourly live demos on the show floor and the DeathSpank booth was packed for every demo. We ran though one of the Monkey Island style dialogs with Eubrick the Retired and then went around killing stuff.
We had this and another 14 inch tall DeathSpank statue on display for people to touch and break small parts off of. We also made four smaller ones that we gave away to five lucky people. Yes. I know. Four statues and five people. It's how we entertain ourselves.
This is where I spent most of PAX. Locked in a small room in the back of the show demoing DeathSpank to an endless stream of press and people looking for the bathroom. Harmonix had their Beatles Rock Band stage right outside our meeting room. I now hate the Beatles.
But enough about DeathSpank, let's talk about DeathSpank!
But first watch this...
...then...
READ
THIS
AND
THIS
AND
THIS
AND LISTEN TO THIS
THEN READ THIS!
Your Comment:
Other people's comments:
Posted by Squidi on Sep 9, 2009 ten past ten am
Posted by Lennie on Sep 21, 2009 twenty past one pm
Wasn't as exciting as they make it out to be.
Posted by Eric on Sep 9, 2009 half past ten am
Posted by Linus Bondesson on Sep 9, 2009 five past eleven am
This is where the troubles began;
first off there wasn't a parking spot to be found ANYWHERE!
when I finally found one it was next to a curb and cough expensive as (lots of sybols).
When I got into PAX and found out where the "main stage" was they wouldn't let me in!!!
to get a perspective; after driving for 15 hours to hear THE Ron Gilbert deliver his keynote. having a minor heart attack for not finding a parking spot, just to hear that it is full; well, all I can say is that there are no words to describe that feeling.
I was persistent and made my way between the "Enforcers" (cause I refused to give in to "it is full" mentality) made my way through the line and THERE WERE MORE SEATS LEFT. even though they were in the very back towards the exit, it was more thn good enough for me.
The keynote speech was great and borderline amazing. But when I got out to move my car to a "better" spot, city of Seattle decided that my "new" cars temporary permit wasn't enough to prove that I had payed taxes in California. so they gave me a $36 ticket.
conclusion; The keynote was great and very much in par with what would be PAX09, I watched the presentation for deathspank which look very promising, I will certainly pick it up when it is done. And Mathematically Ron Gilberts' Speech was worth in rough numbers $36+$4+$50 = $90
Posted by ChrisM on Sep 9, 2009 twenty five to noon
Aaaaww Ron, the internet to the rescue! Youtube's got your back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QqdiylFFak
Great keynote!
Posted by Toryn Farr on Sep 9, 2009 twenty to one pm
Posted by Rexilafa on Sep 9, 2009 noon
Second, when are we gonna get a release date? If you give a near accurated date I promise to buy the game =P. But please make it soon because my country currency (argentina $) keeps devaluating...
Well, I can't comment much more since I'm at work and cannot access webs with content classification: Games...
Posted by Nacho on Sep 9, 2009 quarter past noon
Posted by Chris on Sep 9, 2009 twenty to one pm
Posted by Dmian on Sep 9, 2009 quarter past one pm
Then I'll make 5 people buy this game.
Then I'll send one of those chain-mails saying that if you don't buy this game and make 5 of your friends buy this game, terrible bad luck will strike you.
Then I'll send an e-mail saying that Ron Gilbert is millionaire, and wants to share his fortune with you, you just have to send him $35 for money transfer expenses...
And if RG doesn't make enough money to make another game, I'll say that he needs money and please send donations to him as he's dying because the pirates ruined him (no, not the ones downloading games from the internet illegally, I mean the pirates on his games :D)
Ron, you're great man.
I'm really looking forward to DeathSpank.
Posted by Someone on Sep 9, 2009 twenty to two pm
Posted by Alfonso Maruccia on Sep 9, 2009 twenty five past three pm
I was always dubious about too much enthusiast discussions on games being art. I have had and continue to have so much fun and feelings with videogames (sometimes I cried with them, too....) but I was never convinced about them being "art". Dunno, maybe it's because I'm accustomed to think about "art" as something different from things like "fun" and direct interaction by the "viewer", or simply because I always thought games were better than art without even being aware of this thought....
Anyway I found your keynote inspiring (too bad I was in the wrong part of the world to attend it :-P) and, as for the "videogaming art" thingy, a refreshing point of view. Oh, and obviously DeathSpank looks very promising :-P
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 9, 2009 twenty to four pm
Posted by Alfonso Maruccia on Sep 9, 2009 ten to four pm
Naaa, I think one of the main reasons is that the majority of publishers still sell them as a disposable pastime. Just look at how much DRM crap they put in them (so wasting users time with no reason and compromising the ability to archive them as humanity digital heritage) without obtaining no concrete benefits from this disgraceful behaviour....
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 9, 2009 four pm
As you've pointed out, many of the people that make games don't see them as art and that's a huge flaw. As I stated in the keynote, I think games are a very important art form and we need to stop thinking we are just making toys for kids and we'll start making better games and publishers won't treat them like soap to sell.
One of the reason the big Hollywood studios fund and distribute indie movies is that they see them as important art. It's a business, don't get me wrong and they are money grubbers with the best of them, but they also see them as important art. Maybe that's just snobby ego, but it works.
Big companies like EA and Activision see games as toys and they treat it about as seriously as that.
It's time for that to change. Everyone will be happier!
Posted by jalf on Sep 9, 2009 half past four pm
Are movies art? Is music art? Some is, much of it is not.
Why shouldn't it be the same with games? Many games are just disposable meaningless toys made to entertain us for a few hours, so why shouldn't we treat them as such? And there's nothing wrong with that, just like there's nothing wrong with movies that simply attempt to entertain. Few people would consider them art, but so what? Movies don't have to be art.
The important thing is that movies can be art, and that some of them are art.
I do wish that developers would take the art side of games more seriously, and think of the games they make as more than just dumb entertainment.
But let's not pretend that every game should be art, or is ever going to be art.
That's almost as silly as claiming that games "are not", or can not be, art. Almost.
Posted by Squidi on Sep 9, 2009 ten to eight pm
I personally believe that it is the lowest hanging fruit that tastes the most delicious. You aren't going to change the world by making something people can only see in a gallery. For something to be Art, it must have people who appreciate it.
Can a game change the world? I think that has happened to some extent. Much like how porn ushered in the era of video recording devices, I think Space Invaders and Pac Man ushered in the computer era. There's no doubt in my mind that they wouldn't have caught on with the average consumer. Games made computers approachable to people who would otherwise never know what the hell to do with LOAD "*", 8, 1. School libraries all had computers, but they only had Oregon Trail and Robot Odyssey. What other thing in the history of man has had such a fundamental change to EVERY aspect of life and society within a thirty year span? If games even had a small part in the acceptance and propagation of technology, then they are Important.
Now, whether a single game can change the world... I don't know about that. But it can change a single person. I know that the effect they've have on my life was profound and immeasurable. Isn't that enough for something to be Art?
Posted by Vanquisher of Evil on Sep 9, 2009 twenty five past five pm
Posted by Thrall on Sep 9, 2009 ten past nine pm
There are games out there that actually illicit emotion - Shadow of the Collosus being one shining example.
The trouble is that there's not enough games out there that are art, companies market their titles as being meaningless distractions. Stemming from this fault, the public opinion is swayed into believing games are "for kids" or "for entertainment".
It almost feels that games-as-art are only immediately recognised as such from the so-called "hardcore" gamers who have seen enough Halo-esque games to realise these titles are so special.
Posted by LeChuckster on Sep 9, 2009 twenty to ten pm
Art is expressionism. I would consider the movie Casablanca art. I wouldn't so much consider Zombie Strippers! the same thing. Some may though, and that's great. I have my opinion and they have theirs - power to them. This goes for any medium.
60 years ago, film were climbing the same hill games are today. When the first few films came out they were nothing more than a horse running or a train robbery how-to. Some were astonished and considered it an amazing art form. Others found them overwhelming and scary.
Games are going through the same evolution as film. Games are still young and growing. For now, yes, games are considered a toy to the general public - especially those with money. To those who care about games and the industry, it an art form.
Personally, I am glad there are the behemoths that are game publishers. They are the evil corporations that push people like you to develop amazing games. The trials you had to go through to make DeathSpank will make it so much better. You are no doubt working your butt off to make this game amazing. This way you can shove it in EA's face when you publish it. That is what is so great about indie-games, movies, etc. They have soul that Sims 3 or Sonic Olympics never will.
Personally, I think games will degrade when it becomes a common medium of entertainment and art.
Long live indie-gaming, except for Blizzard.
Posted by Thrall on Sep 9, 2009 five to ten pm
With the vast majority of games falling into the latter category.
Posted by Eric on Sep 10, 2009 five to six am
Posted by Rexilafa on Sep 10, 2009 seven am
I think that art is way long dead. And It's because you can never create art if you are conditioned by thinking of the profit you will make out of it, or in "more nice words", thinking what would like to other person.
I believe art is when you do something without thinking of anything except what you want to express. That's why I believe that games never where art and neither the contemporary music, movies, books and paintings are. They are just another piece of the market.
But, although I disagree with the idea of considering games as art, I agree with the point that is a lot better when you try to do something from that perspective. And that's why I feel a big respect for you and your work.
BTW: Really nice keynote :).
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 10, 2009 ten to eight am
Art is what you put into it and what you expect people to get out of it. My real point is that the people who make games need to treat them as important. When they do that, we get much better games.
Posted by Rexilafa on Sep 10, 2009 twenty to nine am
Is just the concept that i have about it. Not that I'm saying that everything that is not art, is materialist crap. But that's how I like to differ.
Well... I keep talking as if I knew something about art. Better knock it off.
PD: Saw the trailer and it looks really interesting. But please fill the game with puzzles.
Posted by Martyn Cooke on Sep 10, 2009 ten past two pm
Let me put it this way, is chess art? Sure you can craft special chess pieces, and skillful play could be considered to be an artform, but is the game itself art - and if so, why?
Don't get me wrong, I feel very strongly that games are art - but I have trouble articulating exactly why I believe so.
Is it because games are crafted?
The ceiling of the Sistine chapel was crafted by someone, and then used as Michelangelo's canvas.
Does that mean there's some natural order as to what crafts are more dominant types of art?
Perhaps "art" is just some gut feeling, internally programmed into individuals who cast their gaze over a creation and say "I don't know if it's art, but I like it".
Posted by pleghm on Sep 16, 2009 half past two pm
Posted by jennifer on Sep 12, 2009 twenty past seven pm
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 12, 2009 twenty five past seven pm
Posted by jennifer on Sep 13, 2009 eleven pm
Posted by Samuel Abram on Sep 14, 2009 seven am
Posted by Karl on Sep 19, 2009 twenty five to six am
Posted by mephili on Oct 5, 2009 half past two pm
Posted by Elaine Marley XD on Sep 10, 2009 quarter to ten pm
Posted by Joe on Oct 1, 2009 half past two pm
Posted by Elaine Marley XD on Oct 27, 2009 half past eleven pm
=P
Posted by Duditch on Sep 30, 2009 quarter to seven am
Arguing, arrrrguings... damnit, Arrrrrrrr-Pinguins!
Posted by Ralph on Sep 9, 2009 five past eleven pm
If creative products like paintings, literature, music and movies are considered a form of art, then why not games? It's the same process of creating something original for people to enjoy. There's really no difference between the one or the other.
Posted by Alfonso Maruccia on Sep 10, 2009 half past ten am
If we took this approach for granted, we could just end the discussion here stating that movies, games and these kind of things will go as far as being "high entertainment" or something. But not Art....
Posted by David on Sep 13, 2009 quarter to five pm
Music and dance are art of many artists.
Sometimes even the composition process is done collectively.
Posted by Alfonso Maruccia on Sep 15, 2009 quarter past midnight
Oh, and it's not "mine" argument, it's a well established line of thought for certain scholars....
Posted by Kroms on Sep 9, 2009 twenty five past three pm
I still don't get why Star Wars means so much to so many people, though.
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 9, 2009 quarter to four pm
It's a hard thing for people today to understand.
Posted by Kroms on Sep 10, 2009 twenty five past noon
Maybe you're right, but in my defence I do go back and see older films and try to understand why this and that were so popular, pivotal or interesting, or do pick up films people I respect have suggested (so, for example, I've seen Unbreakable and Quest for Fire based on your recommendation). But Star Wars spawned this entire phenomenon that goes over my head - people still obsess over it, you still see teenagers dressing-up in Vader costumes and making internet memes based on Star Wars and so on.
Ebert's Great Films review sheds a bit of light on it, but what I see is a typical hero's tale with lots of well-done special effects and bad dialogue. Then again, I'm sure some people look at Star Wars in the same way I look at, (not to sound like the cheesy fan) well, Monkey Island.
The closest I've come to answer is that it brings-out the little kid inside (similar to Penny Arcade's Mega Man effect); describe Star Wars to any six year old boy and their jaws drop ("Laser swords? Mind powers?...Wow...").
Could just be both a "the kid inside" + "right time and place" kind of thing.
Posted by melbviin on Sep 12, 2009 ten to two pm
Posted by Its Full of Stars on Sep 22, 2009 ten to three am
Why because they've seen it all before but it was Blade Runner that caused it all to be seen before in the first place by inspiring directors, writers, artists and the style/world created in Blade Runner has been re-used many many times over.
It's the same with Star Wars you never saw anything like it before everyone else started being influenced by it & they are fun movies to watch.
My eyes were rolling into the back of my head when I saw people comparing James Cameron's Avatar movie to Halo games when the Halo games shamelessly ripped of Cameron's Colonial Marines from the Aliens movie even down to the black Sargent.
Posted by Kelly on Sep 9, 2009 twenty five to five pm
Good job being awesome. Keep it up!
Posted by Jenny on Sep 9, 2009 half past five pm
Posted by Toryn Farr on Sep 9, 2009 twenty five to seven pm
I think that with any medium, whether or not the outcome of the individual effort (a single film or a single game) merits the title of being "art" depends mostly on the amount of care and love that it's creators poured into it.
Hell, even food can be art if the chef puts enough care into it's preparation.
Now... if the only goal of someone creating a game is to crap it out on time to correspond with the release of a movie... well, that's a goal that by it's very nature seems like the creators are interested more in making money then in creating something they're passionate about.
Sometimes, btw... I think having modern capabilities in a medium (the ability to depict ANYTHING via CG or the ability to make INSANELY high quality 3D graphics) can really hinder and detract from the process of creating art.
Michael Bay movies, for example, are automatically disqualified as being considered art.
"Those aren't ideas! Those are special effects!" - Military Officer to Michael Bay
"I... don't understand the difference." - Michael Bay
Posted by LenH on Sep 9, 2009 quarter to nine pm
Getting seated at Cheesecake Factory in Seattle during PAX -- perhaps the longest two hours of my life.
Posted by juan Ferreyra on Sep 9, 2009 ten to nine pm
and I Totally agree about games being Art, but I also think that just like Movies and Comics the mainstream of them became very lesser art ,if there is such a thing, actually not lesser but less passionate art, like you said they are not pushing themselves and risking too much with them.
Anyway, DeathSpank Looks so great! Can't wait to play it.
Posted by Thrall on Sep 9, 2009 nine pm
Now you're back in Vancouver would you consider a meetup? I can imagine you're pretty busy with Monsieur Spank, but it would be pretty awesome to organize a lunch together with a few Van Devs - and it won't even cost you a plane ticket!
On Topic: having spoken on stage to a (smaller, but not small enough) crowd before I'd say you did quite well. The sensation of being abducted is somewhat normal, at least you have video footage to assure you there were no beams of light - or probes - involved.
On the subject of Deathspank - did you actively start looking at previous attempts at game-based parody before?
There was a game called "Eat Lead" that was out a while back, they set out to mock common gaming conventions - and even secured Will Arnett (from the show Arrested Development). Sadly the game itself was a bit pants, and ended up being tragically ironic.
Posted by Ralph on Sep 9, 2009 eleven pm
READ
THAT
AND
THAT
AND
THAT at work.
And I don't have any sound over here to I can't LISTEN TO THAT! either.
This is going to be one very long day over here now waiting to be able to get home to read and listen to all that. Thanks a lot for that. It's like waiting for Deathspank all over again. Oh, wait, we're still doing that. Game's starting to look absolutely awesome, by the way. :)
Posted by Haggis on Sep 10, 2009 ten past three am
Also, I'm looking forward to DeathSpank!
Posted by Spitfull Headtomb on Sep 10, 2009 quarter to four am
Deathspank will be ok, if gameplay will be rich, and OK.
Posted by Junaid on Sep 10, 2009 five to noon
Really looking forward to it and good luck on finishing the game!
Posted by Robert T on Sep 10, 2009 two pm
Firstly, something you probably never have heard/read before:
I love Monkey Island! I upgraded my Amiga500 to 1MB memory just for that game. I spent months to finish it, after cursor-scanning every pixel on Melee and Monkey Island... And the puzzles was quite hard for a 11 year old Norwegian who didn't know English very well. I was semi dyslectic (great dictionary Ron!) at the time too, so I was sure it was "You fight like a dirty farmer!"
Anyway! I bought a Amiga Format magazine, and there was a huge poster of Monkey Island 2 in it. (On the other side, there was a poster of Eye of the Beholder 2). I spent the next months looking forward to the next X-mas, simply because I was going to get MI2 from my parents. (Ye, I lived at my parents place at the age of 12.) Opening up that lovely present, 24th December 1991 is still the best X-mas moment in my life. I was up all night trying to get my gold back from Largo LaGrande! (Although it was abit anoying to manually swapping 3-4 diskettes during the spitting-animation.)
A few years ago, I came across a website "grumpygamer.com", I don't know how, but the guy blogging on it claimed that he had something to do with MI... Oh, really? I fired up tsoMI, and true enough, Ron Gilbert was really in the scrolling text! Since then, I've read every post. Each time there is a new post, it's like opening a present... Doesn't happen too often though... =)
I've had the MI music theme as a ring tone on my phone for a while now, and it's like a secrete code of honor. People that haven't experienced the MI feeling, things it's a nice tune but doesn't notice it, but if my phone calls when a MI experienced person is close, its like instant bonding. It's like saying: "you and I, we are of the same kind!", without saying it, you just know! Freemasons... Weak sisterhood of ... something weak!
So I'm taken up into the piratehood of MI now, right? (My drink smells funny...)
Enough of this! It's a tribute, thats what it is, a tribute to the best game in the world, and to the people who made it happen... That would include you Ron!
(I hope someone reads this, or else I've wasted 45 mins of my life... Nothing compared to WoW ofc...)
Posted by Chalito on Sep 11, 2009 quarter past eleven pm
I was halfway through part one when a friend of mine got a 286 with a color VGA display. I went to his place and we played all night till morning to finish the game in one go. Those are very fond memories for me.
And believe it or not, I mentioned MI at a job interview (I work in IT)! The guy who later became my boss was asking about my english level. I had some english classes in highschool, but not much, and I explained that I had improved my vocabulary playing games (in Argentina at the time, it was almost impossible to find games in spanish and one had to learn english the hard way to understand what the characters were talking about). Turns up the guy was a gamer too so he knew exactly what I was babbling about :)
Anyway, I just saw the whole keynote on youtube. Ron, congrats! greatly inspiring speech. You rocked !
Posted by Tom Wahl on Sep 10, 2009 twenty five past seven pm
But enough with the pwnage/'doiliee talk', let's move on to PAX-A-MANIA...!
PAX KEYNOTE
Just saw your Keynote on YouTube - and it was perfectly entertaining for the gamer nerd in all of us. And having been one of it's biggest fans, "Viva la Graphics Basic!" ~ nice mention ~ those set of C64 utilities were amazing for 1983-84! ;-)
DEATHSPANK
It's really good to see your Ron-Gilbert-brand™ of humor featured in a game like DeathSpank.
On the surface the title reminds me of an advanced version of that cow-hurling game that was made for 3DO and eventually ported to Sega Saturn and PC - do you remember The Horde (1994) with Kirk Cameron?
Here's some retro media courtesy of YouTube: (The Horde: Intro Footage & Video gameplay, et.al.) - Remember it's 1994.
Posted by Elaine Marley XD on Sep 10, 2009 ten to ten pm
Posted by Micke on Sep 10, 2009 half past eleven pm
Posted by James That Dashing Fellow on Oct 1, 2009 quarter past five pm
Posted by Ruben on Sep 11, 2009 twenty past four am
I know I'll love it und I'll buy so many of it, that you can buy the Monky Island licence, make you're MI3 and finally work with Dominic Armato, formerly known as one of the coolest guy.brush's ever.
In the Gamespot Video I could hear some of the Beatles songs in the background. I could listen to them all day, but for 3 days... and with some musical failures trying to rock the world... well I kinda get you. They had a booth on GamesCom, too and I listened for one song... Not a fan of those music games, really.
Well whatever. Life's good since, soonerish all the world will be talking bout the f**king awesomeness of DeathSpank.
Talking about "the whole world", do you have a publisher for Europe by now?
Posted by Kelgrim on Sep 11, 2009 half past eleven am
I was a bit disappointed after seeing the screenshots. It just didn't feel good. But as soon as I saw this little hero walking I knew this will be awesome. Now I like the style and from what I've seen both parts, Monkey Island and Diablo.
And now there are two great possibilities created by your post.
1. You met Dominic. And after the changes in this year we are all steamed up, waiting for our greatest dream come true. HOPE
2. The statue looks great. You got to establish a whole merchandise around Deathspank.
First I would like to have a DeathSpank Collectors Edition with a statue and some other features like a Making-Of, artwork, soundtrack...
And you could sell statues with a huge wardrobe. Pirate Deathspank, Rambo Deathspank, Obi Wan Deathspank...
And perhaps a female character with Elaine outfit or "Barbie"-style clothes
We need LEGO Deathspank. And then LEGO Deathspank - The Videogame
Deathspank - Animated Series
Deathspank Comic Books and movies made after the comics like "Deathspank Ends" and "The Dark Dispenser"
Deathspank Cereal, the best breakfast for little heroes
You would be richer than Lucas and could buy all licenses.
Posted by Rexilafa on Sep 11, 2009 quarter to two pm
Posted by Jacko on Sep 11, 2009 twenty past eight pm
Posted by duck on Sep 11, 2009 twenty past noon
Posted by Samuel Abram on Sep 11, 2009 five to two pm
I was the guy who
A. asked you what you thought about Tales of Monkey Island, and you approved.
B. asked you if the secret will eventually be revealed (I'm not asking him to reveal the secret; I don't have the power to open tight lips, nor do I seek it).
C. came up with an idea for the three-headed monkey with you, Dave Grossman, and Tim Schafer as the heads thereof (which is at this URL: http://www.samuelabram.com/3headmonkey.png)
D. was made into buying 5 copies of your upcoming Deathspank.
Do you remember me? And what do you think about the Three-headed monkey I made?
Posted by Someone on Sep 11, 2009 twenty past six pm
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Sep 12, 2009 quarter to three pm
Hi Again. Looking forward to the Deathspank. Because there is not much released there is not much to say. How about opening a thread for the MI specifically and talk your experiences for the first and second chapter (you already did for the first). I was replaying today from the morning until now the first three games. You know what. Curse of Monkey Island is really poor. You don't really see how poor it is unless you play the other two in advance and be very clear on what you just played. The first two offer a very unique sense of seriousness and humour at the same time. We see serious plots and serious characters. All of these is being humorised in a more than silly way in the Curse of Monkey Island. LeChuck for example is being made such a woos which we know he is not. He is a clever fellow. Guybrush is shown too naive and that things work out just by siliness and luck. The whole atmosphere is not what it was in the first two games. Also a true fan knows that the gags and laughs of the two originals can never be matched up even with the episodic Telltales. Make the true MI3 at last. How many people need to wine until you get the point! :)
Good luck with Deathspank. Sure going to buy it.
Demetris
Posted by Samuel Abram on Sep 12, 2009 twenty past three pm
Second of all, don't give me any BS purity tests based on if you love/idolize MI1&2 and hate everything that came after it. That's not being a fan, that's being a fanboy. And yes, there are even "true fans" who love Curse of Monkey Island, like it or not, and yes, I've played all the MI games.
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Sep 13, 2009 six am
Posted by Samuel Abram on Sep 13, 2009 half past six am
Also, keep in mind of what the developers of MI3 had to work with after the weird ending of MI2 and Ron Gilbert's subsequent leaving of LucasArts. Of course, now that Darrell Rodriguez is president of Lucas Arts, a Ron Gilbert-headed MI 3 seems more possible. Still, I doubt LucasArts would let the franchise die...
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Sep 13, 2009 five past noon
Posted by Tamas on Sep 16, 2009 ten to two pm
Which brings me to my other point that for some of us, maybe having played the first two as young kids really affected us a lot more than playing 3 with a more grown up, judgemental mentality. I’m unsure about this one since I often replay 1 and 2 as an adult and I still get a total kick out of the jokes and the whole thing. But part of me wonders if the nostalgia contributes to this.
Either way, to each his own... It’s fun to think about how Ron would have made MI3 but I have a feeling if he did it today it would probably still feel quite different from many people’s memories of 1 and 2. Sorry about wall of text.
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Sep 16, 2009 quarter past three pm
Demetris
Posted by Joe on Sep 13, 2009 quarter past seven am
Posted by Ron Gilbert on Sep 13, 2009 quarter to ten am
Posted by Miguel on Sep 14, 2009 twenty to three am
Posted by Hermoine on Sep 14, 2009 twenty five to eleven am
Posted by Clayton K on Sep 14, 2009 ten to noon
Posted by Niterain on Sep 14, 2009 twenty five to four pm
Posted by Troy on Oct 24, 2009 twenty to eleven am
Posted by Polo on Sep 16, 2009 five to two pm
Posted by Obi Wan Kenobi on Sep 17, 2009 quarter to one am
Posted by Son on Sep 17, 2009 twenty five past two am
Posted by Gamer on Sep 17, 2009 eight am
Posted by Someone on Sep 20, 2009 five past seven am
Posted by got on Sep 28, 2009 ten to seven am
Posted by Joe on Sep 28, 2009 ten to three pm
Posted by Got Gilbert on Sep 29, 2009 quarter to six am
Posted by Joe on Oct 1, 2009 half past two pm
Posted by Woot on Oct 1, 2009 quarter past five pm
Posted by Pantufla on Oct 2, 2009 twenty past seven am
Posted by Joe on Oct 2, 2009 twenty to one pm
Posted by karl on Oct 2, 2009 quarter to one pm
Posted by mr indent on Oct 5, 2009 five am
Posted by Kasper Aae on Sep 13, 2009 twenty five past noon
Posted by Anti on Sep 13, 2009 twenty to six pm
Posted by theosk on Sep 15, 2009 twenty five to five am
Posted by Martyn Cooke on Sep 17, 2009 quarter to one am
In reality most mainstream publishers will be happy enough making millions of dollars profit in shovelware Wii sports clones. Not to say the developers of those games wouldn't kill for a chance to do something fun - but it's only because of Hothead's belief in the concept that this game is seeing light of day.
As thematically fitting as it may seem for a Ron Gilbert game, piracy isn't really something that should be advocated outside a fantasy game setting; If people want to see more stuff of this variety they need to start voting with their wallets.
Once the publishers see that the market is behind interesting games then they'll start wanting to make them too!
... I'm hoping the project does set a new paradigm, because I'd love to play EA's "Monkey-Island-meets-madden 2012" game - with an innovative analogue stick control scheme!
Posted by pnkthrepwood on Sep 17, 2009 twenty to four am
The end of the world! Maya people saw it!
Posted by Delusion's Master on Sep 20, 2009 quarter past five am
There's a thing that got me puzzled, though: in that amazing list of computers, among Ataris and Commodores and stuff of all sorts, I could find no mention of the awesome MSX! Did you miss that one Ron? It was a great piece of hardware for programming at the time! Proud pinnacle of Japanese engineering back in the 80s! Some even say it was better than C64, even though that was something you usually could only hear from people who bought an MSX instead of a C64 (yeah, like me)
This is my first post, so I can only conclude by thanking you for this blog, and in case no one ever told you (but I'm sure someone already did) what Star Wars was to you at 13, Monkey Island was to a lot of people of all ages!
Posted by Kevin Vance on Sep 20, 2009 half past ten am
I've been following your twitter for a while, and it occurred to me that 140 character twitter messages are just the right length for adventure game dialogue. The rest was inevitable: Guybrush Threepwood Reads Ron Gilbert's Tweets.
-- kvance
Posted by OLD ?? on Sep 20, 2009 half past eleven am
Posted by OLDER !! on Sep 21, 2009 twenty to nine am
Posted by watiki on Sep 21, 2009 twenty past noon
Ron, in case you'll ever be able to make part 3, you'll need this guy!
Posted by Glottris on Sep 21, 2009 twenty five to one pm
Posted by Zirak on Sep 22, 2009 ten to ten am
MONKEY ISLAND 2 WITH CRYENGINE!!!
Posted by SalsecNew on Sep 24, 2009 twenty to seven am
http://www.zazzle.com/maniac_mansion_tshirt-235520552683840209
Posted by Rasho Hyo on Sep 25, 2009 ten past three pm
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/bobomil/IMG_7334Large.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/bobomil/IMG_7335Large.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/bobomil/IMG_7336Large.jpg
He talked about you and the time spent working together at the Skywalker Ranch...You were a bunch of crazy people! :D
Posted by Joe on Oct 9, 2009 quarter to ten am
Posted by Rasho Hyo on Oct 10, 2009 ten past nine am
Posted by Noah Falstein on Nov 29, 2009 ten past noon
Posted by Jaybot7 on Sep 26, 2009 quarter to nine pm
At PAX! That little show by those funny webcomic kids!
What? They're no longer kids? It's a huge gaming convention now?
This... can't... be real!
Posted by Barney Frank on Sep 27, 2009 half past eight am
Posted by Someone on Sep 30, 2009 twenty five past three pm
Posted by Boxxyy on Oct 1, 2009 quarter past five pm
Posted by Someone on Oct 15, 2009 midnight
Posted by Someone on Oct 5, 2009 five past seven am
Posted by Murray on Oct 5, 2009 twenty five to ten pm
your keynote at PAX was as full of humour as it was inspireing. I enjoyed every second of it. It was great! Thank you again so much for bringing us Monkey Island, a game which made and is still making so many happy out there! I wish you all the best for your new game DeathSpank and yeah, it looks awesome. Greetings,
Murray
Posted by boltok on Oct 15, 2009 five to one pm
Posted by Wanko on Oct 8, 2009 ten past eleven am
Posted by schwör on Oct 8, 2009 quarter past eleven am
Posted by Largo on Oct 10, 2009 quarter to five pm
Posted by Pantufla on Oct 15, 2009 twenty to seven am
WTF!
Posted by Asimbala Sakdijev on Oct 15, 2009 five to one pm
Posted by Delusion's Master on Oct 16, 2009 twenty five past noon
Posted by Comic book guy on Oct 18, 2009 quarter past eight am
Posted by Someone on Oct 25, 2009 twenty past two pm
Posted by Someone on Oct 26, 2009 twenty past one pm
Posted by Rad on Oct 10, 2009 twenty to five pm
It should be called The Mighty Hooded Cloak of Bottomface.
Posted by Karl has a head like a fucking orange on Oct 20, 2009 twenty past two pm
Posted by Someone on Oct 21, 2009 two am
Posted by beware! on Nov 3, 2009 ten past three pm
Posted by cosynus on Nov 10, 2009 twenty to one pm
Posted by Bianca on Oct 21, 2009 twenty to four am
I just wanna say I'm the biggest Monkey Island fan in the world. I'm 12 and my cool cool brother showed Monkey Island 3 to me and I love all the games (except for monkey island 4, sorry). Monkey Island 2 is my favourite one, I LOVE THE ENDING!
You're awesome.
-Bianca
Posted by Elaine Marley XD on Nov 9, 2009 quarter to eleven pm
Posted by Ken and Roberta Williams on Nov 2, 2009 five past eight am
www.sarien.net
Posted by capt. of chelsea on Nov 2, 2009 twenty past nine am
Posted by fred arrr on Nov 4, 2009 twenty past five pm
Posted by fred arrr on Nov 5, 2009 twenty five to five pm
Posted by Gilbert Wong on Nov 5, 2009 ten past eight pm
Posted by James on Nov 7, 2009 ten past four am
Posted by Elaine Marley XD on Nov 9, 2009 quarter to eleven pm
Posted by Someone on Nov 11, 2009 four am
Posted by TheAgreeer on Nov 13, 2009 ten to three pm
Posted by Crea on Nov 8, 2009 five past eleven am
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdgJfHDS4YE
Posted by Not Crea on Nov 9, 2009 twenty to five am
Posted by Vhill on Nov 15, 2009 ten to one pm
Posted by Pantufla on Nov 16, 2009 twenty to ten am
Do you have some of this piece of history to show?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LEPZ-o9VCPk/SwFpXhJCs5I/AAAAAAAAQtg/J-f9fs618_M/s1600/acceptance031.jpg
Posted by Dog Life Jackets on Nov 17, 2009 nine am
http://www.waterdoggy.com
Posted by Bruce on Nov 20, 2009 ten to one am
Will there be a DeathSpank demo?
I assume it'd hard to say at this point (especially since the distribution details aren't finalised--or so I read), but as someone who loves adventure games, but isn't so sure he'll like the (often time consuming) RPG element, a demo would be much appreciated.
-- Bruce
Posted by Finbar on Nov 25, 2009 quarter past two am
either Ron has become disillusioned or deathspack has rolled onto high gear
Posted by Rexilafa on Nov 25, 2009 quarter to seven am
BTW: I think it's kind of boring... You should try tibia. The best MMORPG I ever played (if you can tolerate the lousy graphics).
Posted by NotGilber on Dec 3, 2009 five to seven pm
Posted by Rexilafa on Dec 4, 2009 twenty five to eleven am
It's really fun to explore unknown places in a party. And the fact that you cannot look forward, since you only watch your character from above, give it a lot of intrigue, because you can't anticipate what you will find.
Also, when you die it really annoys you because you lose items, experience and skills, and it could sound like it's to much, but actually it's better, because it means something to die, not just the fact that you have to repair your items like in WOW...
Most of the people I knew in the game spent the time doing what you said, killing and training to raise lvl. But as well as you, I neither find that entertaining.
Anyway, it's always a matter of taste. I'd rather Tibia than WOW.
Posted by mosh on Nov 29, 2009 twenty five past two am
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Nov 29, 2009 twenty five to eleven am
Posted by seahag on Dec 2, 2009 quarter to ten am
Posted by Mickeyblue256 on Dec 2, 2009 twenty five past four pm
Mickey
Posted by lfil on Dec 4, 2009 twenty past ten am
lfil
Posted by Bashar on Dec 4, 2009 twenty five to eleven pm
Posted by Dr. Freud on Dec 5, 2009 twenty to nine am
Posted by Someone on Dec 5, 2009 twenty to nine am
Posted by Someone on Dec 5, 2009 twenty to nine am
Posted by Phelbs on Dec 7, 2009 twenty to four pm
Posted by Phelbs on Dec 7, 2009 quarter to four pm
Posted by spankme on Dec 9, 2009 five to three am
Posted by dave on Dec 9, 2009 five am
Posted by Hero on Dec 9, 2009 twenty past five am
Posted by frannz on Dec 9, 2009 ten past seven am
Posted by Someone on Dec 13, 2009 five to five pm
Posted by mark on Dec 13, 2009 five pm
Posted by Prince on Dec 9, 2009 five past noon
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Dec 13, 2009 twenty past eleven am
Demetris
Posted by Someone on Dec 13, 2009 twenty five to one pm
Posted by Somebody on Dec 14, 2009 five past seven pm
Posted by Someone on Dec 15, 2009 noon
Posted by Someone on Dec 17, 2009 five past six am
Posted by Someone on Dec 17, 2009 ten past ten am
Posted by Someone on Dec 21, 2009 half past three am
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Dec 13, 2009 twenty to two pm
Hahahaha.
Demetris
Posted by Somebody on Dec 13, 2009 five to five pm
Posted by Elaine Marley XD on Dec 14, 2009 twenty five past eleven am
I bet he is playing all those holiday release videogames that he loves secretly...
Posted by spankme on Dec 15, 2009 two am
Let´s spank the monkeys!!
Posted by karl on Dec 17, 2009 twenty five to two pm
Posted by Lifel on Dec 18, 2009 twenty five past noon
I just hope that you are hard at work in order to give us DeathSpank as soon as possible and at the same time starting to write
the final chapter of Monkey Island (or are you planing to do it in a trilogy?)...
Posted by Anti on Dec 20, 2009 ten to eight pm
Posted by fred arrr on Dec 21, 2009 quarter past one am
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Dec 22, 2009 ten past two am
Posted by Alby on Dec 22, 2009 twenty five to four am
When you will come back?
Posted by Demetris Thoupis on Dec 22, 2009 quarter to seven am
Posted by Someone on Dec 22, 2009 three pm
Posted by Jenna on Dec 22, 2009 five past four pm
Posted by Vorlath on Dec 23, 2009 half past four pm
I was too young to see it when it came out. By 1983, I was only about 9 years old and all of the older kids were talking about Return of the Jedi. It was EVERYWHERE! I still had not seen any of them.
Found out a friend of mine did not see it either and another friend had seen Star Wars, but not Empire Strikes back. For my friend's 9th birthday (the first one who had not seen any of these), his Mom rented Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Tron on laserdisk. Here we were, three 9-10 year olds stuck in front of a huge (yes, color) TV in 1983 watching these movies on laser disks for hours on end. I told my friend's Mom she was the best Mom in the world. She laughed. When I asked how she could be so cool and get these movies for us, she said if it can keep boys still for hours on end, it was a bargain.
I went to see return of the Jedi soon after. It's too bad I could not have seen the other movies in the theater, but I was glad to have seen them. I was completely immersed in the world that Lucas had created. And Tron was the icing on the cake.
I had often wondered how people lived in the past without today's technology or conveniences, etc. I think they lived far more than today. There's no feeling like being at the front of the curve. Once the curve is gone, it's gone. There's no way to re-live it. There's no way to explain it. All that's left is to find or create a new wave.