Thimbleweed Park Podcast #50

by Ron Gilbert
May 21, 2016

The Thimbleweed Park Podcast turns the big 5-0 and we talk about super delegates and why they don't have their own comic books.

You can also subscribe to the Thimbleweed Park Podcast RSS feed if that's 'your thing'.

You can also get the podcast directly from iTunes.

- Ron

Kevin Drum - May 21, 2016 at 20:30

Fox for President 2020

Randy Pratt - May 21, 2016 at 20:36

Easter egg material?

Trump 's first campaign speech was in 1987 according to this article...

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/02/donald-trump-first-campaign-speech-new-hampshire-1987-213595

Mattias Cedervall - May 21, 2016 at 21:20

That would be golden! :-)

Big Red Button - May 22, 2016 at 15:35

In my opinion, the game should remain unaffected by any real political campaign. Just limit any political contents to Ransome the clown. Unpolitical and/or caricatured contents usually make it easier to relax.

Ema - May 23, 2016 at 13:22

I agree with you regarding the normal game flow. But if it's an easter egg which is not necessary to solve the game and if it's well hidden why not?

Derrick Reisdorf - May 24, 2016 at 03:08

Speaking of Easter eggs...Have you guys seen the references to Monkey Island in Uncharted 4?

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 24, 2016 at 05:05

Yes, very funny!
in particular the painting where there is the "THIEF" text on it, and the name is "GU▒▒▒▒▒▒▒"

urielz - May 21, 2016 at 20:48

Haven't heard it yet, but with that title I expect to see references of this podcast on the NYT.

Mattias Cedervall - May 21, 2016 at 21:18

Ron, sorry for spamming you, but I really hope that you get the time to implement fog that reacts to the playable character's movements!

Gary, I'm gonna vote for your pencil called Marktavi!

David, I like Bernie as well!

interceptor - May 21, 2016 at 21:54

I will be really disappointed if there is no Superdelegates comic book somewhere in the game...

Jasko2000 - May 22, 2016 at 00:34

Just curious - do you think the folks at Microsoft will have to go through all the voicemail messages during cert to make sure there's nothing inappropriate?

Social Justice Warrior - May 22, 2016 at 03:20

That you guys talked about Donald Trump gave me a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE Tolerancegasm!! Seriously: rainbow colored milk started coming out of my multi-cultural nipples! So tolerant!

And man I really love how this presidental campaign saturates everything. I really love how I cannot get away from it at all. So cool. Especially for a European like me, who actually dont give a shit.

Dominik - May 22, 2016 at 04:16

Yeah! How dare they!

Talking about something that happens in their country in a free-of-charge podcast in one of the currently fifty episodes after the offical end of the podcadt for about 3 minutes. These 3 minutes are minutes lost on the game!

Yeah, they are really out to get you... How dare they make you listen to that!

Hey, is your real name Ransome by the way? Because your post sure sounded like something he would say...

dada - May 24, 2016 at 16:43

And i always get such massive multiorgasm!!! everytime i stumble upon a fucknut that sooooooooo muuuuuuuuch doeessn't give a shiiiiiiiit thaaaaat heeeeee just muuuuuuuuuust write about iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

Harban Vasselbakk - May 22, 2016 at 08:51

I'm one of the late voicemail recorders, and I have two questions:

1) The rules say no music. But can I sing a few notes of an improvised song?
2) The rules say it has to be like a real voicemail message. But it's only supposed to identifiable as a voicemail message, and not like an ACTUAL voicemail message? It's difficult to make it funny (and unique) if it's supposed to appear serious.

Nor Treblig - May 22, 2016 at 11:08

ad 1) Seems like the answer is no:
Someone asked this question: https://blog.thimbleweedpark.com/phonefaq/57261cf17dce7c4069b42c04
Here is Ron's answer: https://blog.thimbleweedpark.com/phonefaq/572621ac7dce7c4e6ab42c04

ad 2) This is OK. There are real voice messages which are funny (and many more which try to be funny :-)

Avis - May 22, 2016 at 09:56

I have put in my name for my voice mailbox, and I have my phone message written, but I'm stuck here because I've never recorded wave files and am not sure of a good way to do this. I have a Windows 7 laptop with built-in microphone, and a recent Android smartphone with microphone. I looked at some recording apps for the Android, but they seemed more like advertising apps! Any helpful suggestions from the crowd?

Derrick Reisdorf - May 22, 2016 at 10:11

I'm just going to use my voice recorder app that came with my phone. Not sure if it records it as a .wav or .mp3 or what, but either should be fine.

Randy Pratt - May 22, 2016 at 10:59

You can use the Windows 7 Sound Recorder app. Just type "recorder" in the Start search box and it should appear. Then "Start Recording", "Stop Recording" and you will be prompted to save the file (WMA format). Good luck Avis

Nor Treblig - May 22, 2016 at 11:12

"The recording must be a .wav, .mp3, .m4a or .ogg file."

But he should still try it and also an Android recording app and compare the microphone quality. If the Laptop one is better we can still help him converting the file.

longuist - May 22, 2016 at 13:51

I recommend Audacity:

http://www.audacityteam.org/

Its free, opensource and cross-platform.

It does the wanted wav and ogg out of the box and m4a via FFmpeg and mp3 via LAME plugin, which is just 2 clicks away.

David Fox ✓ - May 24, 2016 at 16:03

Audacity is what I use all the time on my Mac. Does the trick.

Avis - May 24, 2016 at 22:44

Thank you!

Tom - May 22, 2016 at 13:40

I live in California so I don't bother to vote since it makes no difference. True democracy has not time zones.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 22, 2016 at 13:51

Hello, I live on the other part of the Earth, but your statement tickled my curiosity. Why you say it makes no difference?

Tom - May 24, 2016 at 11:37

The winner is usually declared before the polls close on the west coast. Electoral college system is not equal to popular vote. Clinton regime would be a dictatorship. Trump would be anarchy. Bernie would be socialism. Our only hope is if Ron runs for president with Gary vice president. :-)

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 24, 2016 at 11:47

Ron's regime will be an adventureship!

Orcan Ogetbil - May 22, 2016 at 16:48

Maybe true, it might not might not make a difference for this one time, but the outcoming numbers might change the perception of people for the subsequent elections.

David Fox ✓ - May 24, 2016 at 17:24

I also live in California and always vote even if it won't make a difference. I'm lucky to live in a state that pretty much always votes the way I do, so for national elections (presidential), it really doesn't make a difference in terms of outcome (though it might in terms of perception).

But for state and local elections, it often does make a difference, and sometimes a big one. There have been some races that are really tight, as well as some important propositions that were narrowly passed/defeated.

But then, I also pick up litter while hiking...

Sushi - May 24, 2016 at 18:14

thumbs up for David respecting nature!!!

Ron Gilbert ✓ - May 24, 2016 at 18:34

Good people like David Fox are the reason I can throw my trash on the trail while hiking and not feel guilty about it.

Nor Treblig - May 25, 2016 at 04:25

!ooooooooooooooooooN

Sushi - May 25, 2016 at 14:08

tsk tsk, Ron. Leaving your trash is not only completely disrespectful towards nature and other hikers but also a potential forest fire hazard. As punishment you will insert a puzzle in the game involving littering.

Nor Treblig - May 25, 2016 at 16:58

As punishment we let him play through a great game called Universal Studios Theme Parks Adventure!

Brian Small - May 25, 2016 at 17:20

Agent Ray: DROP CIGARETTE
- Animation of Reyes carelessly dropping cigarette butt on the ground -
- dramatic pause -
- Animation of David Fox scooting from behind a tree, building, manhole,... picking up the cigarette butt, chastising Reyes, and returning from whence he came -

Nor Treblig - May 25, 2016 at 17:36

Or he could *woosh* through the room like the Pony Express in DOTT...

Brian Small - May 25, 2016 at 20:14

Oops - got Reyes mixed up with Ray there. Agent Reyes is the male, Agent Ray is the female (who smokes). .. I think.

David Fox ✓ - May 26, 2016 at 15:51

Hah! Ok, added to the list.

Ema - May 25, 2016 at 18:35

Just as long as David is a slower hiker than you, and comes after you.

David Fox ✓ - May 26, 2016 at 15:52

That's why we kicked you out of California! Too much littering.

Brian Ruff - May 22, 2016 at 18:58

Hey guys, congrats on the Ars Technica writeup! Great to see the game getting some love from mainstream media.

Patricio Martinotti - May 22, 2016 at 22:50

This is for mr. Fox: David, hello. I'm a big fan of Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders, in game conversations always tell to my interlocutors that ZM is my favorite game of all the times. Sometimes I name Konami's The Goonies (1985) for MSX. That two games are my two grials in videogames of all the times.

I want to know: the next project will be a Fox's idea? I hope so. I want to play a story wrote by you. And by the way, what happened to Zak McKracken 2? All I was able to found on internet all these years is an italian article for a game magazine with a couple of drawings about the game in process. You know, sharks swimming on the asphalt, pretty weird. I wonder if this team would give another chance to our belowed character in a sequel. If not, I wonder if the next game will have your name, David Fox, on the leadership of the project.

Tum de Dum, Dave. See you soon.

Patricio Martinotti - May 22, 2016 at 22:52

Despite my last name, Martinotti, I'm not italian (I have great grandfathers from Italy) but argentinian. I didn't understand a word on the italian article. So, I don't know anything about the cancelled project of Zak McKracken II.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 23, 2016 at 06:20

Here is the article of Zak McKracken II :
http://devilmaster.altervista.org/zak2.html
You can Google Translate it easily in the language you want.

David Fox ✓ - May 24, 2016 at 17:31

Thanks Patricio, though now I'm going to get more ribbing from Gary about Zak being the "best game ever"... Zak II was a fan-based project. I left LucasArts before attempting a Zak sequel, and no one at LucasArts ever attempted to create one. If Ron ever gets the rights to Monkey Island from Disney, maybe I'll try to get them for Zak as well.

I have no idea what my next project will be after TWP... check back with me in a year :-)

Ron Gilbert ✓ - May 24, 2016 at 17:35

Thimbleweed Park 2! Check your contract Mr. Fox!

Sushi - May 24, 2016 at 18:22

yes! scoop!

longuist - May 24, 2016 at 19:44

Go directly to Thimbleweed Park 3a, so we definitely get a proper ending for the series.
An all new IP would not be bad too. Hopefully all team members have proper adhesion contracts, so we can expect VERB based point and click adventures every two years.
I hope this it not too demanding. Consider the long wait we had to suffer!

Farooq - May 25, 2016 at 08:55

Yay!

David Fox ✓ - May 26, 2016 at 15:54

How about a VR version... Thimbleweed Theme Park?

Farooq - May 25, 2016 at 08:54

Yay!

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 23, 2016 at 06:18

Hello,
like you, I am also a great fan of Zak McKracken, it's one of the best games I ever played.
And I am italian... I know very well the article you mentioned.
It was an April Fool's day, but I believed it at that time... so disappointed... :-(

Patricio Martinotti - May 25, 2016 at 13:49

April Fool's day means Innocent Day? In Argentina is the december 28th. That day everyone can lie about everything. It's so boring.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 25, 2016 at 18:00

It means the day where everyone can make jokes, write fake news, and so on.
In Italy is called "April Fish" and it's the 1st of April.
Zak McKracken II was an article written on the April issue of ZZap (year 1989). Clearly it was a joke, but I had discovered only on the issue of May :-(

Big Red Button - May 23, 2016 at 16:05

They could consequentially make TP 2 a Zak homage, set in 1988, the year Zak came on the market.

There is still a big worldwide desire for a Monkey Island homage, though.

Someone - May 24, 2016 at 05:09

Not Zak McKracken 2 but in this one you will find David Fox. :)

http://www.mckracken.net/

LogicDeLuxe - May 24, 2016 at 18:39

More like a big worldwide desire for an ACTUAL Monkey Island game. Monkey Island 3 still has to be done. ;)

Mister T - May 23, 2016 at 06:43

...and then there is that moment when every gamer from germany immediatly thinks "monkey wrench!"

Patrick - May 23, 2016 at 08:18

Oh, the famous monkey wrench.... Boris Schneider wanted to change a few graphics to "translate" the puzzle and use the term "Engländer". But Lucasfilm didn't allow it....

Nor Treblig - May 23, 2016 at 13:04

LOL, that's the first time I hear about this!
But I can understand Lucasarts: what were the changes he proposed, changing Jojo the monkey to an Englishman and maybe the banana to a tea biscuit? Putting a monkey into your pockets is one thing... :-)

Ema - May 23, 2016 at 13:43

As we wrote somewhere else in this blog, in Italian it would have been much easier.
That tool is called "pappagallo" in italian, which means "parrot".

Nor Treblig - May 23, 2016 at 13:58

Actually... no: Show me how a parrot could play a piano!

Carlo Valenti - May 23, 2016 at 16:19

After years of study and practice.

Nor Treblig - May 24, 2016 at 00:05

HA! I call bullshit! And here comes my scientific explanation:

In some parts you have to hit up to 6 keys at the same time! You would need at least 3 parrots for this part. And I'm not even sure if it would be possible they could properly play with their claws, jumping/flying from key to key, maybe holding on on a bar with their beaks?

Maybe you would even need up to 6 parrots, standing on a bar and playing with their beaks.
Now animate that! At least we can reuse the biscuit sprite from the Englishman...

Polly wants a cracker!

Ema - May 24, 2016 at 12:24

I wrote the solution in another thread.
You go in the shop in Booty, ask the tender for the parrot. He replies that the parrot is not on sale, but he could trade it for another pet.

A monkey, for instance.

Nor Treblig - May 24, 2016 at 13:15

Very clever!

Ema - May 24, 2016 at 16:17

Thank you :-)

Gffp - May 25, 2016 at 09:33

Poor Jojo, treated like a pet. He's an artist!

McDrake - May 23, 2016 at 13:14

and from austria and switzerland ;)

PrinzJohnny99 - May 23, 2016 at 15:08

Happened to me immediately :o)

McDrake - May 23, 2016 at 13:16

The sound of the podcast is much clearer.
Did you change something?

PrinzJohnny99 - May 23, 2016 at 15:09

I thought everyone caught a cold.

Zuckerberg - May 23, 2016 at 14:36

Isn't it kinda weird when Mark or Octavi listen to the podcast and another part of the team is talking about you..? Like canned water-cooler talk ;)

Octavi Navarro - May 24, 2016 at 07:18

It's OK if they say nice things! We never get tired of those :)

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 24, 2016 at 06:28

Ron Gilbert's tweet of the day:
"Dear @Disney, now that you're not making games, please sell me my Monkey Island and Mansion Mansion IP. I'll pay real actual money for them."
Great move! This news is bouncing all over the world!!

Big Red Button - May 24, 2016 at 08:18

Ron, never mind! Now you have the perfect conditions to make any game you want, supported by the most predestined team in the world.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 24, 2016 at 09:53

I realized only now that the tweet says "Mansion" twice :-D

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 24, 2016 at 09:17

A big earthquake is happening in the games world... Ron's tweet is a breaking news!
Look at these headlines (italian - you can Google translate if you want):

- *Game Reactor*: "Ron Gilbert è ancora interessato ad acquistare i diritti di Monkey Island"
http://www.gamereactor.it/news/252663/Ron+Gilbert+e+ancora+interessato+ad+acquistare+i+diritti+di+Monkey+Island/
- *The Games Machine*: "Ron Gilbert vorrebbe acquistare i diritti di Monkey Island"
http://www.thegamesmachine.it/news-videogiochi-pc-ps4-xbox-wii-u-app/44904/ron-gilbert-monkey-island-disney/
- *Every Eye*: "Ron Gilbert chiede a Disney di vendergli le IP di Maniac Mansion e Monkey Island"
http://www.everyeye.it/notizie/ron-gilbert-chiede-a-disney-di-vendergli-le-ip-di-maniac-mansion-e-monkey-island-262343.html
- *4 News Games*: "Ron Gilbert ha richiesto alla Disney le proprietà intellettuali di Monkey Island e Maniac Mansion"
http://www.4news.it/25111-ron-gilbert-ha-richiesto-alla-disney-le-proprieta-intellettuali-di-monkey-island-e-maniac-mansion.html
- *IGN Italy*: "Fermi tutti, Ron Gilbert parla di Monkey Island 3!"
http://it.ign.com/the-secret-of-monkey-island/101647/news/fermi-tutti-ron-gilbert-parla-di-monkey-island-3
- *SpazioGames*: "Ron Gilbert desidera tornare a lavorare ad un nuovo Monkey Island"
http://www.spaziogames.it/notizie_videogiochi/console_multi_piattaforma/221736/ron-gilbert-desidera-tornare-a-lavorare-ad-un-nuovo-monkey-island.aspx
- *Eurogamer*: "Ron Gilbert: Disney per favore vendimi le IP di Monkey Island e Maniac Mansion"
http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2016-05-24-news-videogiochi-ron-gilbert-disney-vendimi-ip-di-monkey-island-e-maniac-mansion
- *Stay Nerd*: "Ron Gilbert chiede a Disney di vendergli Maniac Mansion e Monkey Island"
http://www.staynerd.com/ron-gilbert-chiede-disney-vendergli-maniac-mansion-monkey-island/

... WOW! Not to mention all the other articles in the world...

Brian Small - May 24, 2016 at 11:56

I was at first amazed and happy to see Ron's tweet, but then this morning, so see the news coverage - Wow!. If the tweet didn't initially get Disney's attention, the coverage is sure to help.

Big Red Button - May 24, 2016 at 12:18

The reaction by the media is stunning indeed. Though, why would Disney be interested in selling the IP, seeing how popular both game series still are?
From a realistic point of view, we should just hope that Team Thimbleweed is going to develop as many further point & click games as possible. And if they announced a Monkey Island 1 homage, I would definitely support it! Honestly I would rather like to play a Monkey Island rip-off by Ron Gilbert than any official MI sequel by someone else. :)

PrinzJohnny99 - May 24, 2016 at 13:38

Disney is only interested in big money. And Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island aren't the IP's that guarantee big cash.
Maybe if Ron would include some Ewoks...

Big Red Button - May 24, 2016 at 17:16

However, I keep my fingers crossed for Ron.

David Fox ✓ - May 24, 2016 at 17:33

Maybe some three-headed Ewoks?

PrinzJohnny99 - May 24, 2016 at 18:08

...or three-headed Jar Jar Binks.

Carlo Valenti - May 24, 2016 at 18:13

I still believe that the three-headed tuna may deserve some development.

Big Red Button - May 24, 2016 at 18:21

That's right, I assume that the three-headed tuna converts to the dark side of the force during the game.

LogicDeLuxe - May 24, 2016 at 18:49

Oh dear! And I thought, he had already one head too much. :D

Nor Treblig - May 25, 2016 at 04:22

Oh my! The three-headed Ewok was funny, but this is just horrifying!

Brian Small - May 24, 2016 at 13:27

If nothing else, this will also help get the word out about Thimbleweed Park.

Darkstorm - May 24, 2016 at 14:44

Have you actually started a dialogue with Disney yet Ron?

Unless you have contacts within the company already, I assume this would be the chap you need to speak to:
https://twitter.com/sethdavis
He was the one who the recent crop of classic lucasarts games released on GOG at least.

Good luck in getting something out of the vault though. :/

Daniel Wolf - May 25, 2016 at 02:54

Seems like almost a year ago, someone started a *petition on change.org* asking Disney to return those rights. With the recent news coverage, maybe that petition will get a boost. I just signed it -- who else is with me?

https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-disney-company-give-the-monkey-island-intellectual-property-to-ron-gilbert

Brian Small - May 25, 2016 at 12:20

I'm in.

longuist - May 25, 2016 at 04:58

There are new screenshots floating around:

http://worthplaying.com/article/2016/5/23/news/99516/

As it seems to be a press kit, everyone puts a watermark in it. Is a busy bee out there who finds them without?

Ron Gilbert ✓ - May 25, 2016 at 09:42

You can see the full presskit at https://thimbleweedpark.com/presskit

longuist - May 25, 2016 at 09:49

Thank you, busy bee

Sushi - May 26, 2016 at 15:41

hey Ron, did you get lots of questions through the press contact yet?
because it says: "press@thimbleweekdpark.com"
Ok, I know you are constantly thinking about the weekly podcast/blog so the typo is understandable.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 25, 2016 at 08:41

I was thinking...
... Day of the Tentacle was published by LucasArts.
In 2010, the IP of DotT is owned by Disney.
Tim Schafer just did a remastered version of DotT...
...Tim Schafer owns the IP of DotT? Or he was just granted a license of use?
If the first case, then Ron could have a chance to obtain his creature back.

Ron Gilbert ✓ - May 25, 2016 at 09:42

Sony licensed the right to do the remastered version (only that, not sequels or new product) and then Double Fine did the work. Double Fine does not own the IP or even have the license to DotT, that is Sony.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 25, 2016 at 09:51

OK, thanks for clarification.

Patricio Martinotti - May 25, 2016 at 13:39

Disney purchase LucasArts in 2012, not 2010.

A personal tip for this: it was 10/30/2012, the day the only-Nirvana concert in Buenos Aires turned twenty years. As a fan, now you will say I'm so nerd, I dropped a music class to walk around the stadium and think about Kurt (I made the same trip to the stadium the 10/30/2002, the day the concert turn ten years). Well, when I returned home, I sit on my PC and saw a little article who made me laugh: "Disney purchase Lucasfilms and announces Episode VII for 2015"

And, if Ron and cia. are asking for get the IPs back, why they use the characters in TWP?
On the Ransome's cirucs trailer, we see Zak, Annie and Caponian, Guybrush, Manian Mansion's characters...
And Dave and Sandy are secondary characters... I'm confused now... the team can do that?

Big Red Button - May 25, 2016 at 15:13

The names they use in TP are ordinary personal names, which are not protected by copyright. Moreover, they only look similar, but not identical.

Carlo Valenti - May 26, 2016 at 01:25

Yes, yes, yes. All that hype about the Mansion of the Monkey and the House of the Mouse.
I don't care where chimps or rodents live. I still have some gopher repellent left from the '90s.
The true matter is: who framed Franklin, the lost character from TWP? Why no one's talking, or even asking about him? Why do we have less than five screenshots with him? Why no clue about him being an a%#hole, or a decent person?
I think we have a conspiracy here.
It's been all crafted up to cover down the fact that you killed him, right? And nothing's left of him.

Poor Franklin.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - May 26, 2016 at 03:35

Uhm, I can imagine the story behind Thimbleweed Park.
Franklin is the ghost of the pixellated body came to death too soon, which tells agents Ray and Reyes who killed him.
The End.

Sushi - May 26, 2016 at 15:33

no.. it was mentioned very early on that you also get to play Franklin, as sales guy who wakes up dead in the hotel, but he"s not the body found in the water near the bridge.

Mario F. - May 26, 2016 at 06:10

@Terrible Toybox: would be great to have a successor to Zak. A lot more stuff came up in the meanwhile. like the phoenix lights, triangle ufos, new facilities on the moon, light blinking on mars, ufo detected in the ocean, Japan Air Lines flight 1628 incident etc. and the list of mysteries goes on. enough for weired stories.
Google Inc. controlled by aliens.
Rothschild conspiracies

Carlo Valenti - May 26, 2016 at 10:52

I have my personal theory about a sequel to Zak (& also possibly to Maniac Mansion)... but I will keep to myself.
So, there's no actual reason for this comment of mine, actually...

Ema - May 26, 2016 at 14:37

I have a very smart comment for your post, but I think nobody will be interested, so I won't write it.

Carlo Valenti - May 26, 2016 at 15:06

I think that your answer was clever, but I'll never tell you.

Ema - May 26, 2016 at 17:27

Actually, to say the truth, it wasn't. But you can't tell it, since you didn't read it.

Capitan Catarro - May 26, 2016 at 06:51

Cmon Ron.. please tell us if Disney say something!

Big Red Button - May 26, 2016 at 07:36

By my count, Disney would probably set high value on denying such negotiations, until they have found an agreement. It's common practice.
That said, if Disney hasn't contacted Ron yet, he should tell us the plain truth, because I'm probably not the only one who still keeps his fingers crossed for him. :)

Capitan Catarro - May 26, 2016 at 09:20

You said that buddie!

Arto - May 26, 2016 at 11:28

I'm pretty sure Disney has absolutely no interest to even discuss about selling their IP. The chance that they could do something with these titles has more value to them than the money they would get by selling them. I think. Hopefully I'm wrong. But I'm not.

Big Red Button - May 26, 2016 at 12:54

You may be right. Disney is rather known for frequently buying an IP than selling one. By the way, tweeting is not a usual way to contact the responsible department of Disney. Ron should contact them in a proactive and serious way instead, because he is the one who has a request whereas Disney are seemingly happy about the status quo.

Brian Small - May 26, 2016 at 13:23

I'm sure Ron has tried multiple standard channel approaches - the tweet would just be the only one visible to us. My guess is that he's been stonewalled, and is hoping for a little public support to provide some leverage.

Big Red Button - May 26, 2016 at 14:55

Well, if they don't open the door for negotiations until TP is finished, Ron should suspend his endeavor until further notice and make a Monkey Island clone instead, which would convey nothing less than the spirit of MI 1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Much as we would look forward to a MI 3a, Ron must not make a life-task out of this unfortunate situation in terms of the IP! Life goes on, as well as game development does.

PrinzJohnny99 - May 26, 2016 at 17:51

If that was the case, then they wouldn't have closed their games devision in the first place, would they? Yes, they wouldn't.

Big Red Button - May 27, 2016 at 07:38

They seem to prefer licensing. Tales of Monkey Island was licensed by Telltale, Star Wars Battlefront has been licensed by EA and, as Ron mentioned above, the remastered version of DOTT was licensed by Sony and developed by Double Fine. There are still many further examples. It was also the explanatory statement when Disney closed LucasArts. It's a kind of outsourcing for economical reasons and it's not necessarily in the interests of the consumers.
Maybe they are even planning on licensing a new Monkey Island sequel. However, I'll never buy any further MI game which isn't done by Ron Gilbert. Especially the later sequels have almost nothing in common with the first two games of the series. Since this is not only my own opinion but also the opinion of the vast majority of all MI fans, Disney would be well advised to sell the IP to Ron instead of licensing it. Unfortunately it always has seemed to be nothing more than wishful thinking. Moreover, a new Monkey Island product would compete with Pirates of the Caribbean, which has become one of Disney's most successful IPs. Therefore, maybe Disney even intend to shamefully abandon the MI IP. Let's suppress this speculation!

Nor Treblig - May 27, 2016 at 19:15

(Note: Tales of Monkey Island was licensed by Telltale Games from Lucasarts.)

I don't understand why Ron needs the IP and cannot just license it for one game. They could e.g. arrange it by specifying the game as being non-canonical (since it's going to be MI3a and replaces what happens in MI3 and later) and so Ron could do whatever he wants (even killing off main characters etc.).

Disney could have MI6 or TomI2 being created later if they want to, or not.

Ron Gilbert ✓ - May 27, 2016 at 19:30

Because everything I did would have to be approved by Disney. Also, I refuse to license something I created. Maybe that's just me being stubborn, but that's he way it is. Why would I spend two years of my life making Disney's IP more valuable for them. My goal isn't to "maximize the IP" and turn Monkey Island into a cash cow, my plan is to build a really cool Monkey Island 3A. I'm not interested in making silly changes to expand the market for Monkey Island. I've had these conversations before. "We need to modernize the game", "Take it to 3D to get a bigger audience". No, what we need is to make a really cool Monkey Island that is true to the originals. I'll take a better game that sells less. That's a hard/impossible story to sell to someone licensing you IP.

Nor Treblig - May 28, 2016 at 06:43

Disney selling their IP may sound unlikely, but then I was very pessimistic when it was all sold to them in the first place that I was pleasantly surprised that all those licensed rereleases were still made possible.

I hope for the best! And who knows, maybe one day we will be able to play Monkey Island 3A. Or maybe you decide to create Monkey Island 3D VR-Edition instead.

Mario F. - May 28, 2016 at 11:48

and u r 100% right about that. pixelate them all i say.

Andi - May 26, 2016 at 19:37

Just wish David, Gary and you made a real successor to Zak Mc Kracken in the meantime licenses of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion are locked or difficult at the moment to get back!

retroactive - May 27, 2016 at 22:03

would you use git again for game development? a lot of AAA studios seem to use perforce, some use svn as both seem to be better at handling lots of binary data and are more artist friendly. so do you think git is the future for game projects?