Thimbleweed Park Podcast #41

by Ron Gilbert
Feb 13, 2016

Where we talk about crunch food and George Lucas giving us neck rubs.

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You can also get the podcast directly from iTunes.

- Ron

Carlo Valenti - Feb 13, 2016 at 18:54

... AAAAAAAAAAH!!!
BZZZBZZZZ DAVID FOOOX! CRZZZCSFFFZ
I WILL TAKE BZZZBZZZZ
MY REEEVENGGGE
ONE DAY OR AAANOTHEEERRR
ZZZXXXVFJSRHT
GMLFGZZZX
ZZZzzzzZzztfffffzzsssssss...
ssssfsssssssfsssst.....
(black screen)

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 13, 2016 at 19:02

Ehi Carlo Valenti: you got an answer from David Fox, be respectful! :-)
I didn't receive mine this time, so consider yourself lucky :-)

Juan R. - Feb 13, 2016 at 19:46

I always wondered if the detectives having similar names might be a wink to detectives Thomson and Thompson from Tintin. Do you guys read Tintin?

Nor Treblig - Feb 13, 2016 at 19:54

Awesome, so many questions answered!

Regarding closeups: There aren't talking animations in The Secret of Monkey Island.
But they do have blinking eyes and sometimes different facial expressions like smirking.

Zombocast - Feb 13, 2016 at 19:56

Happy Valentines Day, or Deadpool day if your single

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 13, 2016 at 20:16

Deadpool is a superb movie!

Arto - Feb 13, 2016 at 19:57

Thank you for answering my question. I've been wondering the naming of the characters for a year, and this explains it. It is true, that once you give a name for something, it becomes the thing you named it. It has been said, that if you truly want to understand a culture, you have to understand the language. We are more language - and therefore name - driven than we really realize, so naming a character is not something you can just change later. But, if audience wouldn't know the names before the release, you could rename them and audience would be ok with the released names. You wouldn't be ok with them, but the audience would.

About Arto: it's pronounced art-o. O is pronounced as in "chore", so it stops right after the o-part. I have found it difficult for any non-Finn I've come across, except maybe Italians (it is infact Italian and Celtic origin of Artos (bear), later Arthur in English). And my last name is just impossible. But R2 is fine with me ;)

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 14, 2016 at 03:23

In fact, I thought your name was "arto", with ending O, pronunced as it is written. which in italians means "limb" (part of human body, legs and arms).

Arto - Feb 14, 2016 at 05:49

That's funny, I didn't know it was limb in Italian :) Italians do pronounce my name correctly. Google translate has the voice button, which is sometimes helpful with pronounciation. https://translate.google.fi/#fi/it/arto

About Ray/Reyes: it would be fun to know what was the plan why they were named similarly. But I guess that's 20th anniversary RHD (Ridiculous High Definition) re-release's commentary material.

Nor Treblig - Feb 14, 2016 at 08:27

So Lucasfilm ex-employees have decided: Your nick name is now ArtoDito! :-)

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 14, 2016 at 13:39

.... which in Italian means LimbFinger :-)
Coincidence? Don't think so!

Carlo Valenti - Feb 14, 2016 at 17:26

You pointed this out too well!
However, ArtuDitu è probabilmente un droide di origine sarda. :)

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 14, 2016 at 17:31

Ahahahah Carlo!!
(To non-italians users: it's related to a particular region of Italy, by the way, we are just joking)

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 13, 2016 at 20:12

This must be the longest talk you've had so far! :-)

I think that the agents' names are too similar, I keep forgetting who's who.. :-(

I now understand why there are no close ups.

Nor Treblig - Feb 13, 2016 at 20:35

I hope sometime I will find a place to purchase Gary's comics.

The only one on eBay shipping to my country was $10 for comic (#1 only) + $55 shipping...
And on Amazon UK I found offers for £999.11, WTF!
On Amazon US it was still in stock in December but those §%$!# wouldn't send to Europe directly! (now it says Out of Print)

Gary Winnick ✓ - Feb 15, 2016 at 12:56

Hi Nor (interesting name...),
For anyone interested in digitally reading Bad Dreams- here's the comixology link :

https://www.comixology.com/Bad-Dreams/comics-series/16371?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC9zZXJpZXNTbGlkZXI

As far as the printed comics go, although I can't attest to the actual availability: mycomicshop.com - appears to list them in stock-
I'll also check-in with Red 5 and see if there's any way they can be ordered directly.

Thanks,
Gary

Yrag Kcinniw - Feb 15, 2016 at 13:59

Gary, why do you think Nor Treblig is such an interesting name?

Big Red Button - Feb 15, 2016 at 14:17

It might be due to the fact that "nor" is also a conjunction in English that negates something.

Franklin - Feb 15, 2016 at 14:26

nor treblig -> (hold up to mirror) -> ron gilbert

tsiugnol - Feb 15, 2016 at 14:56

logically he is so grumpy that he denies everything that is not zero

Nilknarf - Feb 15, 2016 at 15:50

I think you didn't got it :-)

longuist - Feb 15, 2016 at 19:23

but i feel bitwise >>

Gib Der Nottub - Feb 15, 2016 at 16:07

I see! Those who have a mirror have a clear advantage! :-)

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 15, 2016 at 14:51

LOL :-)

nekcarKcM xineohP kaZ - Feb 16, 2016 at 06:36

My name is more complicated to mirror...

Geoffrey Paulsen - Feb 13, 2016 at 20:47

Can you post a link to where to find "Dark Dreams" graphic novel? I really can't find it anywhere.

Jaap - Feb 14, 2016 at 03:28

Thanks again for answering. I guess I intended more of the occasional escapist thought with my question. Good to see of course that you are not tired of it David!

Wiring up rooms, getting art from an actual artist would be the dream state to achieve for myself, trying to slowly build a point 'n' click with a friend (both having full time day jobs and kids we'll probably have some sort of game in 10+ years ;-) ).

J.

Big Red Button - Feb 14, 2016 at 06:36

I'm convinced that Mr. Spielberg is also a backer, maybe via a strawperson. Elsewise he'll buy the game once it gets out.

What are you going to do, if your company grows the same way as Humongous did? Who would do the administration?

PS: Thank you for smoking! :-)

Darkstorm - Feb 14, 2016 at 07:42

Thank you for the answer. I still personally thought the close-ups really worked well and would like to see them again some day, but I hadn't appreciated the additional cost & time factors voice acting would add to them due to the need to time lip flaps on them.

Orcan Ogetbil - Feb 15, 2016 at 00:13

I would say, screw the ESRB, just put "we don't believe in ratings" in the cover. Be the coolest cover on the shelf. Freedom to clowns!

Geoffrey Paulsen - Feb 15, 2016 at 15:39

I agree about the no-zoom-ins. I love being able to fill in some of the details between the lines of the characters, and that zooming in can really destroy that (as in "He doesn't look like a X"). less really is more!

Sushi - Feb 15, 2016 at 19:05

@Carlo Valenti
if David would have answered "No!" to "Are you going to give the same answer to THIS question?"
after answering "No!" to "Are you going to answer THIS question?",
he would have created an equal contradiction as he did by answering "Yes". So you were doomed to short-circuit once you asked the question.

I look forward to your next question !

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 16, 2016 at 07:04

I don't know what Carlo's next question will be, but I'm pretty sure that David's next answer will be "Maybe.".

Carlo Valenti - Feb 18, 2016 at 08:39

... maybe ;)

Carlo Valenti - Feb 16, 2016 at 15:56

..... cszzzzscxxxx...
.... zzzcsrcstzzzz...
(noise of circuits slowly rebuilding themselves from their ashes, in the cold darkness of a winter night)

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 16, 2016 at 07:02

I found this interview that's showing some spoiler-filled pictures I haven't seen before: http://www.truegamers.it/intervista-ron-gilbert-e-gary-winnick-sul-progetto-thimbleweed-park/

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 16, 2016 at 07:39

It's in italian... are you italian?

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 16, 2016 at 08:00

No, and I don't speak Italian. The interview is also available in English...

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 16, 2016 at 07:45

That interview was done in December 2014, I think all the images in it are "dummy", made to fill something that didn't exist at that time.

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 16, 2016 at 08:00

Maybe, but it looks like a picture from the inside of the pillow factory.

PrinzJohnny99 - Feb 16, 2016 at 09:11

It was shown already (if you mean that picture with the "old" Ransome), but I can't find it anymore. I thought, it was shown here in the blog.

longuist - Feb 16, 2016 at 09:13

was in a kickstarter update
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thimbleweedpark/thimbleweed-park-a-new-classic-point-and-click-adv/posts/1075686

longuist - Feb 16, 2016 at 09:28

Btw, its great to see the big progress. And if somebody hast too much time (s)he can compile an archive with all the unused art and send it to this guys:
https://www.unseen64.net/tag/point-click-adventure/

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 16, 2016 at 11:38

Good memory!

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 16, 2016 at 11:40

Thank you.

longuist - Feb 16, 2016 at 14:23

You're welcome.
And for the art archive. Seems that i already saved a lot of it. And in 20 years, when TP is itself a classic, kickstarter and archive.org are history, i dust off a then uncommon hdd from the attic and release the pictures to the equivalent of the internet :)

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 16, 2016 at 11:39

Oh, I must have forgotten about it. :-( Thank you all for reminding me.

Zombocast - Feb 16, 2016 at 23:11

I imagine this is what the Edmund Hotel looks like in real life: http://bit.ly/20Yqd43
Edmund Hotel: http://bit.ly/1SwViXy

Keep up the good work!

Zombocast - Feb 17, 2016 at 00:30

Ron, will you be joining DoubleFines kick-starter model "FIG" on your next title?
I personally think your current Business model is fine. Notch, the creator of "Minecraft"
was largely successful, and had a similar business\distribution model as yours.
This also gave Notch certain editorial freedom to change\sell his product how he wanted.
Ultimately, its a bit early to be talking about your next title, but I thought i'd ask your thoughts.

The Website:
https://www.fig.co/about

The controversy:.
https://youtu.be/hFX0f_YUn1I?t=17

Ron Gilbert ✓ - Feb 17, 2016 at 11:50

Equity based crowd funding scares me. Crowd funding is about emotions, not logical decisions. People who are backing are not asking the right questions (or even know the right questions) and the projects are not giving people the right information to make informed decisions. I think it has the high likelihood of turning ugly real fast.

Zombocast - Feb 17, 2016 at 12:39

✓✓
Well Said.

longuist - Feb 19, 2016 at 11:20

Deleted a super lengthy reply so you don't have to read too much.

Just wanted to say thank you for all the reasonable answers.

You are right, crowdfunding is all about emotions, registered @ Kickstarter just for TP and was really sad that i had problems with my credit card at that time. So no phonebook for me. Cry. I only can get over this if you decide to make at least one more game!

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 17, 2016 at 08:27

Thoughts of a rainy Friday 17th...

...We are waiting for this game like a not-yet-parent is waiting for his first child birth...
...well, only 20 weeks left... give or take a few weeks.
Aren't you excited???

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 17, 2016 at 08:28

Friday = Wednesday

Peter - Feb 18, 2016 at 15:17

Can you do a version of the game, with comments by Team Thimbleweed (Audio Comments by Team Thimbleweed during the game). I think it was like this in the Monkey 2 Special Edition.

Mario - Feb 19, 2016 at 09:47

Instead of smoking and to get a good rating you may could try an animation for chewing gum.

Lidia - Mar 15, 2016 at 03:38

Hey guys!, the sound volume in podcasts is pretty low. I turn my volume up and up, maximum, and i still hear it barely... and I listen to these podcasts and other stuff while cooking... and I can´t listen you but other podcasts are ok! You are on 70% of the volume from other podcasts and youtube videos.

:) thanks!