About

Jan 01, 2013

It's always hard to write your own about pages. I should have my mom do it, she always has nice things to say about me.

I started making games because I loved to program and I loved to tell stories and the two seemed to intersected nicely.

I wrote a program for the Commodore 64 (greatest computer ever made) called GraphicsBASIC that extended the rather boring built-in Basic that includes commands to gain access to the graphics and sound.

In 1985 I got a job working at Lucasfilm Games (now called LucasArts) porting Koronis Rift and Ballblazer from the Atari 400/800 to the Commodore 64.

In 1986 Gary Winnick and I created and designed Maniac Mansion.

During its production, I developed the SCUMM System (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion).

I co-designed the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade adventure game with Noah Falstein and David Fox.

I am also the creator and designer of The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge. A game about a pirate.

I am the co-founder of Humongous Entertainment where we made some amazing adventure games for kids like Putt-Putt, Freddi Fish and Pajama Sam.

I was the producer of Total Annihilation.

I co-created DeathSpank with Clayton Kauzlaric and was the designer of the first two DeathSpank games.

I worked at Double Fine for a bit making a game I've had rolling around in my head for close to 25 years called The Cave. Double Fine was sold to Microsoft, who now owns The Cave, and once again I got nothing and someone else owns my IP.

I released Scurvy Scallywags in The Voyage to Discover the Ultimate Sea Shanty: A Musical Match-3 Pirate RPG (or SSITVTDTUSS:AMMTPRPG for short) for iOS and Android.

I just finished a new point & click adventure game called Thimbleweed Park and the completely free Delores.

Tony Feb 05, 2018
Hello,

im a big Fan of LucasArts Games and your work. I have some very beautiful, original, sealed games and want to ask you, if it is possible to sign some of them (also Thimbleweed Park)
I live in germany and will send them to you or, maybe you are in germany next time.
Is this possible?

Greetings from Germany
Tony
Deivid Jun 11, 2018
Hi, I love your work, you MI is an inspiration to me since I was a kid until this days. I´m a scriptwriter now, I´m live in Argentina and I saw you on 2016. I´m working in a pirate comic book that has a few MI homage and I´m glad to send to you.
Greetings, and thank you!!
http://escritopordeivid.blogspot.com
Beernerd81 Mar 05, 2019
Hello Ron Gilbert! My name is Rob, I am 37 years old, and I live in a VAN down by the RIVER! Well, the first two things are true, anyway.  I just finished Thimbleweed Park and it really took me back.  Games like Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island and D.O.T.T. along with a plethora of other point & click adventures (ask me about Loom) really helped define my nerdy childhood.  Thimbleweed Park brought that fun back for me.  As a matter of fact, I've started writing the script, dependency charts/graphs, and even working on concept art for a game of my own using the AGS engine.  It's going to suck, but I'm having fun all the same.  Anyway, thanks for over three decades of fun and for inspiring me to focus my midlife crisis on attempting to relive my childhood by making my own crappy game.  It's a hell of a lot cheaper than a Corvette.
Eugene Cloete Mar 26, 2019
Hi Ron Gilbert
My name is  Eugene, age 41, from Johannesburg, South Africa.
I loved playing the Monkey Island and Indiana Jones games in the 1990s. The adventure puzzles were so enjoyable with an incredible sense of humour. Thank you for all the hours of entertainment.
Also: thank you for listing the games you've worked on above. I look forward to checking them all out.
I recently played thimbleweed on Nintendo Switch and really enjoyed it.
I hope there are many more similar  projects in the pipeline for you and look forward to it.
Best Regards,
Eugene
SparkySaurus Rex Jun 08, 2019
I just finished my first run of Thimbleweed Park. Awesome awesome awesome. The nostalgia feels ran deep, coupled with neat new features and awesome character toggling. I love that the ending isn't spoon fed either, deep thinking required! Love eeeeeet.

-SSR
Sam Dec 21, 2019
I am so thankfull for your work. Even my kids learn the magic of guybrush actually. Ok, and DOTT, but mostly MI I-IV. :)
Riccardo Rispoli Dec 24, 2019
Hi Ron, I have a partially sealed copy of Maniac Mansion first edition for C64. It's so good to have a physical copy of it (although it was only possible to save once :] ). I have copies of all LucasArts games.
Is there a physical copy of Thimbleweed Park?

Thanks thanks thanks a lot for all your games!

Riccardo
Riccardo Rispoli Jan 10, 2020
Sorry, I found the answer myself (yes it does)  :)
Christian Feb 18, 2020
Ron, I just wanted to write and thank you for all the game you brought to mankind.

Monkey Island.....I mean there is not even a description of how important that game still is to me. Monkey Island is a feeling, a warm emotion in my heart! Its like I am thinking of a child <3 The music, the game............... pure Love. And of course Michael Lands work is godlike too

Greetings from Germany

Chris
Jessica Mooney Mar 04, 2020
Hey Ron,
I just wanted to say thanks. I grew up with the Humongous Games, and I use them daily as examples of masterful game craftsmanship. I'm in school for interface design and game design, and Pajama Sam in particular is a huge influence to me as a designer. The principle that everything in the background *does something* if clicked on, that the world itself is so engaging and beautiful that it makes you want to explore it. I hold everything I make next to Pajama Sam in order to test its quality and cohesiveness. Thank you for the fun the games brought me as a kid, and thank you for the consistent inspiration as a designer.
- Jess
L.A.Wolfman Apr 15, 2020
Hey, man. I'm going to say hi to you on Twitter.
Víctor Parejo Apr 24, 2020
Hi Ron!
We would like to introduce you to something we think you might love. We are developing a new graphic adventure inspired by all your HUGE adventures. It's called The Adventures of The Black Hawk. We leave you our networks and our email in case you are interested in taking a look and knowing more;) Take good care of yourself
https://twitter.com/blackhawkadvent
https://www.instagram.com/halconnegroaventura/
https://www.facebook.com/theblackhawkadventures

We look forward to hearing from you wishing you like our idea

Víctor Parejo Medina
Tiffany May 11, 2020
Hiya Ron!

I wanted to say thank you for the Humongous Entertainment games. Those games were a major part of my childhood, and they got me into the adventure game genre.

Stay safe,
Tiffany
Manu Aug 02, 2020
Hey Ron, I've played a "pirate" version of Monkey 2 in a friend's 386 back in 92 when I was 12 yo. Was there when I learnt english just to play your game. I've utter memories about monkey and maniac mansion, day of the tentacle was the last game I remember from my childhood. I was just playing the new MI 2 version right now, so many good memories! And I never realized the name of the creator of my fondest memories from my childhood. Now I'm 40yo, I'm a developer since my 20s, I love computers since my earliest contact with basic, clipper and MI 2. I just wanted to share how big place your creation has in my life. Thank you so much for this sweet memory I have, <3 much love

PS: now I'm a buddhist and haven't remembered the philosophic part of Herman Toothrot, I was too  young to understand....  where all that came from? Also I'm very curious how it was being a game developer in the 80s, and create a framework like SCUMM, I'm now craving for knowing more about all that and what was on your mind at that time. It's weird for me being in touch with this almost 30 years later. Also, I'm a grumpy developer as I suppose you claim yourself as a grumpy gamer :P cheers!
Riemann80 Aug 12, 2020
Hello Ron,

sorry in advance for the odd suggestion, but could the current crisis probably offer the chance of obtaining the rights to the Monkey Island franchise? Disney is apparently in financial trouble due to most of their sources of income being shut down. Maybe in this state they would sell the rights to Monkey Island at an affordable price? They do not seem to have any own plans with the IP.
In any case, thank you for all the games you managed to create so far.
Ryan Allen Sep 03, 2020
Hi, Mr. Gilbert. My very first adventure game was King Quests 5 and Space Quest 4. They thrilled me. But I'll ALWAYS remember your games for making me laughing and entertaining me like no other. Thank you. I was almost a kid then. Now I'm an old man with fond memories of Adventure.
Ryan Allen Sep 03, 2020
Thank you, so much.
Nathalie Rosa Sep 27, 2020
Thank you very much for Thimbleweed Park! Made my vacation inside home because of covid-19 pandemic much more brighter, fun and far less depressing. My husband also loves you because Monkey Island. I will never forget! Kisses from Brazil! <3
Test Oct 17, 2020
This is a test.
Freddie Oct 22, 2020
I'm happy I found this page. I searched for "new pirates of the caribbean", got to a wiki page with a link to monkey island, and then a link to this page. And this was pretty much what I wanted to find. Not sure why I wanted to read about a new POTC movie.

Darn, my two sentences of text you read is over and I did not get to type what I wanted.

Read this first...
Team up with Lori Cole and make a new adventure rpg game. I would easily pay 20$ for it. Make Sid Mayer responsible for some sort of mini map in the game and I could even pay 22$.
Mariano Biasin Nov 03, 2020
Hello Ron,
My name is Mariano and I'm a filmmaker from Argentina. I'm writing this with the same enthousiasm that when I was 14 and I was reading your name on my EGA monitor. If you ever read this, THANK you for the everlasting fun and inspiration.

I made a few short films but now I'm developing my first feature film. It's a coming-of-age drama. When I finally obtained the support and big part of the funding, covid started to attack social life (indie shootings specially included). I hope I'll be able to shoot it at some point of next year. Now, I'm using these anxiety months to (keep) polish(ing) the screenplay.

I have my main characters playing and adventure game on a pc in two scenes, and I'd be so honored and happy if that game is one of your creations. I'd love to ask for your permission for that. Last night I finished Monkey 1 once again... with the same enthousiasm than when I was 14. Then I thought... Why not?

I understand this is not the proper place to do this, but I didn't know any other way to contact you. So, here I'm leaving my email. Of course I'll be glad to tell you more details about the film, my work, etc.

Hugs from Buenos Aires!
Ron Gilbert Nov 03, 2020
> Mariano Biasin

Please use the contact for to get in contract with me.
Kate Jan 01, 2021
I came here to kick some ass and to beat all my favorite childhood games from the 90s, and Guybrush just ran out of ghost pirates. Really though, I've got a lot of shelved mapping technology. Hmu if you get bored.
Augusto Busignani Mar 04, 2021
Thank you for existing and making games, really, infinite thanks.
Robert Chapek May 01, 2021
Consider Business and more With The Walt Disney Company! Share to your Companies, Double Fine, Humongous, and more ETC! Consider? bring your work and more together with Disney? Consider?
Korekutaa Sep 07, 2021
Wow, you actually wrote the names of your own games correctly back in the day, congratulations!

However, 'a game about a pirate' couldn't be more wrong. It's TWO games, not one. Also, are they really about 'a pirate'? In the first game, Guybrush (if this is really what the game is about) is more like a 'wannabe-pirate' (does he ever even officially become a pirate in the game?). The second game seems to be about 'The Big Whoop' more than 'a pirate'. Furthermore, the ending proves he's clearly not really a pirate anyway..

At least the names are correct this time, though.
Louis Oct 16, 2021
Hello Ron. First of all, thanks for your great games. Will there be another part of Thimbleweed Park at some point, or a similar game?

Best regards
Jon Schwarzmiller Feb 20, 2022
Ha, I just went to New Orleans and I always have flashbacks (did you give me PTSD?) of hours of frustration with no Internet connection.    I always thought of the voodoo lady in MI1 and MI2 and it was kinda surreal to see all this stuff there that I thought was my first intro into the occult.   I can now see the development of Governor Marley's house in MI2.   Good memories all of them thanks.
Jessica Jones Feb 21, 2022
Hi Ron

Thanks a lot for Thimbleweed Park!
It brought back so many memories I got from Monkey Island.
Jeremy Martin May 07, 2022
Hi Ron,

I just wanted to thank you for bringing us Monkey Island, and more importantly, for bringing us Monkey Island again!!! I'm just really grateful and can't wait to enter the world of Guybrush Threepwood again! Soooo excited!
Alex May 07, 2022
Hi, I am from Italy, I found MI and MI2 very nice.
I think the best part of those games is the humor and the way the WORDS are used in the games.
This is expecially true for the first MI: btw the italian translation for that game was great.
I hope Return to Monkey Island keeps that kind of humor, that kind of use of the words.
I don't care about the different kind of visuals / graphics.
Btw, the graphics of Return to Monkey Island remind me of DotT somehow.
Have a nice day.
Joeri May 09, 2022
Hi Ron,

Thank you for the creative treasures you have given us. I own a lot of the games you worked on and they've inspired me for years as a creator. Looking forward to Return to Monkey Island.
Denise L. May 16, 2022
I'm beyond excited for Return to Monkey Island! The graphics look absolutely beautiful! I've loved the MI games for so many years, thank you so much for adding another chapter!