Ron Gilbert fantasizes about Monkey Island sequel

Ron Gilbert's next game may be a puzzler for iOS, but he still gets nostalgic on occasion. For example, just how would he handle a new installment in the Monkey Island series? Hypothetically, mind you.

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Ron Gilbert's next game may be a puzzler for iOS, but he still gets nostalgic on occasion. For example, just how would he handle a new installment in the Monkey Island series? Hypothetically, mind you. Gilbert tackled that question in his Grumpy Gamer blog, making it quite clear that he was just talking, nothing more. But if it did happen, he'd make it a fully voiced 2D game, and do all the things they couldn't do in the '90s with the limited engines and hardware. "Monkey Island deserves that. It's authentic. It doesn't need 3D. Yes, I've seen the video, it's very cool, but Monkey Island wants to be what it is. I would want the game to be how we all remember Monkey Island."

Telltale brought the series to 3D

Before making The Walking Dead, developer Telltale Games made their own take on the franchise in Tales of Monkey Island. However, Gilbert said that none of those games mattered. "It would be called Monkey Island 3a. All the games after Monkey Island 2 don't exist in my Monkey Island universe," Gilbert said. "I'd want to pick up where I left off. Free of baggage. In a carnival. That doesn't mean I won't steal some good ideas or characters from other games. I'm not above that." The reason for the "a" is that the game would not be the Monkey Island 3 he had envisioned in 1992. "I'm not the same person I was back then. I could never make that game now. It is lost to time. Hopefully this one would be better." As for going the crowdfunding route, Gilbert said he wouldn't do anything flashy, preferring to keep it "raw and honest." He doesn't want the hype or the distractions, but just to make a game. "The game would be the game I wanted to make," he said. "I don't want the pressure of trying to make the game you want me to make. I would vanish for long periods of time. I would not constantly keep you up-to-date or be feeding the hype-machine. I'd show stuff that excited me or amused me. If you let me do those things, you will love the game. That, I promise." Disney now owns the rights to the game after its purchase of LucasFilm and subsequent closure of LucasArts. Gilbert has said he wants to talk to Disney about getting the franchise rights to the series.
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From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 16, 2013 10:30 AM

    John Keefer posted a new article, Ron Gilbert fantasizes about Monkey Island sequel.

    Ron Gilbert's next game may be a puzzler for iOS, but he still gets nostalgic on occasion. For example, just how would he handle a new installment in the Monkey Island series? Hypothetically, mind you.

    • reply
      April 16, 2013 10:52 AM

      How appropriate - you fight like a cow.

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        April 16, 2013 12:02 PM

        No no no. Try again!

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          April 16, 2013 12:02 PM

          I always chose that option on the second round of insult sword fighting. It never gets old.

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      April 16, 2013 10:52 AM

      Would be cool and all, but if he's looking to do something new, why doesn't he do something new? Why does it have to be an existing IP?

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      April 16, 2013 10:59 AM

      I need to know the secret of Monkey Island™! Why won't you tell us Ron?

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      April 16, 2013 9:32 PM

      I feel the same way about Ghouls'N Ghosts, except I'm not Tokuro Fujiwara :(

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      April 17, 2013 12:22 AM

      The gaming world wants to see Ron get the Monkey Island license. A true Monkey Island 3 is one game that simply needs to be made, and it's great that he'd ignore the other MI's, just like the fans of the originals have wished would be the case. A Monkey Island 3 by Ron, and hopefully Tim, would be a gaming wish come true. Disney, your philosophy is all about making wishes coming true, isn't it?


      By the way, you fight like a cow!

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        April 17, 2013 1:45 AM

        Its never going to happen. As much as I want it to, no chance in hell.

        Disney is where IP goes to die.

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          April 17, 2013 3:40 AM

          someone start a petition and show Disney there is actually some interest in this then?

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