Ron Gilbert Working on Penny Arcade Game 37
Yesterday at the Penny Arcade site Gabe shared the news that Ron Gilbert is working with them on Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. The well known designer, veteran of several LucasArts adventure titles as well as the creator of the SCUMM engine, has apparently been assisting the duo in planning out their first commercial game title. Says Gabe, "We had our first meeting with Ron pretty early in the design process. Tycho and I were getting the story fleshed out and we had some ideas about the design and over all pace of the game. We laid it all out for Ron and then he picked up a whiteboard marker and started teaching class. I'm not sure how many people can say they got a game design 101 course taught by Ron Gilbert, but that's exactly what Tycho and I got that day. His insights into the way you move the player through an interactive story so that they get to explore the world but don't loose the narrative were incredible." 1up also has commentary from Gilbert, who says, "I have been a fan of Penny Arcade because I have always found their comic so funny and biting. When I first heard they were making a game and that they had chosen to weave adventure game elements into it, I knew immediately I wanted to be involved. Working with the Penny Arcade guys and the team at Hothead has been an absolute riot."
Re:one to watch (Score:5, Insightful)
With the Rain-Slicked Precipice of Darkness, Tycho and Gabe have already said they're trying to make something simple, and fun. Something they can sell to their fans for 10 or 20 bucks a pop, and that people who love the comics can really appreciate, and people who dont love the comics might can still find some entertainment value in. I dont really think they can or should be expected to live up to their own expectations of game companies who drop millions of dollars, and thousands of hours of man-time into games, to turn around and sell at premium 50+ dollar prices, possibly with extra for peripherals.