Quickie Bathroom

by Ron Gilbert
Feb 11, 2015

Gary is out sick today so he couldn't write anything about his latest concept art.

I hear this is the only bathroom in all of Thimbleweed County. That would be just like an adventure game, wouldn't it?

Adventure games can be weird with the rarity of what would be common items in the real world. Back when I was working on Monkey Island, I remember playing a "competitor's" adventure game and there was a puzzle where you needed a pencil. My character was in LA and the only pencil in the game was back in New York. I had to get on a plane and fly across the country to get it.

- Ron

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 11, 2015 at 14:56

No shower? No phone numbers on the wall?

barbie - Feb 11, 2015 at 15:01

ken sent me

Meuti - Feb 11, 2015 at 15:16

After reading the pencil story, I'm relieved to see there's toilet paper.

Boogs - Feb 11, 2015 at 15:34

Use Red Paint on Suit
Use Liquid Soap Dispenser
Use Liquid Soap on Sink
Use Suds on Detective
Walk to Safely First Savings
Talk to Teller
Select Dialog Option 3 ("I'd like to withdrawal all money for Mr. Kringle.")
Give Christmas Card to Cashier
Pick Up Cash

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 11, 2015 at 16:20

Ron, I can bet my fish bowls that you are referencing to Leisure Suit Larry 5 Passionate Patty!!!

PrinzJohnny99 - Feb 13, 2015 at 07:50

Can't be, since Larry 5 was released after MI1+2. Do you need my adress for the bowls or do I have to pick it up ;-)

But what game was it?

Karma_Chameleon - Feb 11, 2015 at 17:06

Les Manley Lost in LA?

But were these games actual competitors? I remember Ken Williams saying he never played a LucasArts game, as the idea was not to copy what others were doing.

Peter Campbell - Feb 11, 2015 at 17:22

If I owned the Quickie Pal I'd make it for paying customers only. You can call it racketeering, I call it a brilliant business strategy :D

Peter Campbell - Feb 11, 2015 at 17:31

Btw, Mr. Winnick, if you happen to read this, hope you get well soon!

Ploe - Feb 11, 2015 at 17:43

Quickie Pal =) That sounds...

Wondering - Feb 11, 2015 at 23:22

Is there a quarter slot, into which I need to insert a quarter, to use the toilet?

Marc - Feb 12, 2015 at 01:05

A bathroom without stalls? Or do you have to lock the entrance door, thereby blocking everyone who only needs to wash their hands? I've never seen such a bathroom. And did they have air blowers back in 1985?

Pedro - Feb 12, 2015 at 11:31

Assuming I'm not being whooshed, but, yeah, this is a pretty typical single-occupancy bathroom in the US., and can be found in all sorts of places, including Starbucks. And, yes, those air driers have been around for decades before that.

Tim Lammert - Feb 12, 2015 at 02:54

I can remember a Game where you had to travel to another Game and in there you had to fly to the moon to find some Oil for your Chainsaw... ;)
I have to say it again, it´s great to be part of this and to be able to see your thoughts while developing this stunning game.
Get well soon, Gary Winnick.

Soong - Feb 12, 2015 at 03:06

@Zak Phoenix McKracken @Marc:
I assume Quickie Pal is the name of a convenience store in TP. This would explain a bathroom without a shower and also the layout of the bathroom. That kind of bathroom is very typical of the ones I encountered in the US, especially in grocery/convenience stores but sometimes also in bars and cafés.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 12, 2015 at 05:56

Oh, thanks!

Joost - Feb 12, 2015 at 04:10

News flash: kickstarter backers get to design the graffiti on the wall...

mario faross - Feb 12, 2015 at 06:14

is there "G.Winnick was here" on the wall? funny

Mattias Cedervall - Feb 12, 2015 at 07:06

It's like Highlander: There can be only one.

Benoit Fouletier - Feb 12, 2015 at 07:29

Thimbleweed Park == TP == Toilet Paper
... coincidence? I think not!

delMar - Feb 12, 2015 at 08:34

@Ron and @Gary:
Is this how you put the toilet paper into the holder?
I think it needs to be done the other way.

@Gary: get well soon (but take your time)

Manuel Quiñones - Feb 12, 2015 at 12:49

that's a years debate my partner and I have. I put it the other way, she puts it like it is in this concept art.

Roger - Feb 12, 2015 at 15:14

@delMar: I can tell you're not a cat owner.

delMar - Feb 13, 2015 at 07:08

@Roger: so, this is how it's done by cat owners?

My family used to have cats when I was a kid.
But you're right, no cats now.

Wayfarer - Feb 12, 2015 at 13:05

The rarity of that pencil needed justification; e.g., because it belonged to Fanny Palmer – an unconventional approach to the following problem: How to obtain antemortem dental records?

PrinzJohnny99 - Feb 13, 2015 at 07:53

You did't have competitors at that time, just market accompanist.

Badde - Feb 13, 2015 at 12:56

waiting for the telephone book ; - )

Lucas - Feb 13, 2015 at 13:03

I think what makes adventure games great is that you find replacements for stuff, like using charcoal for a pencil, or a bucket for a toilet. Is that Aha! moment that makes me feel Im the cleverest guy in the whole game. "Who would have thought of using breath mints to make the root beer fizzy? Me only, I rock.... yeah, this game is great...."

Rum Rogers - Feb 13, 2015 at 20:15

I remember I had a dream one night where I was inside an adventure game and I knew it, so I started picking up random common stuff filling my pockets with useless garbage "just in case I would need that later". It was a very strange sensation, since game and reality were mixed up pretty well.
It's fun how in real life we would never bring something with us unless we're sure we need it, but we become kleptomaniacs in adventure games.

Brian S - Feb 16, 2015 at 18:37

So true. I played an interactive fiction game called "Hunger Daemon" recently which I loved. At various points it subtly pokes fun at the quirky nature of adventure games in this respect. I enjoy seeing that sort of "self-deprecating' humor in games.

B. Bernoulli - Feb 14, 2015 at 06:45

Kleptomaniacs or vandalists...
Pick up toilet paper
Look at garbage bin
Pick up bowl shaped lid
Look at garbage bin
Pick up assorted rubbish
Look at sink
Use bowl shaped lid with sink ("Hi there, Sushi!" ;)
Pull toilet seat
Use assorted rubbish in toilet
Use toilet paper in sink
... Well you know what to do next...

Ferrero RIP - Feb 15, 2015 at 03:38

Use blue crystal on yourself
For (i=0; i < 20; i++) chew
POOP

Christopher Griffin - Feb 14, 2015 at 11:22

Me thinks Gary may have had a wee bit of referential inspiration for this piece whilst he was out sick.

Dr. N. Harold Cham - Feb 03, 2017 at 11:57

Coming back to this post after almost two years, I have only one word to say: under.

Zak Phoenix McKracken - Feb 27, 2017 at 07:11

Eheh, it was under from the very beginning, eh...