Eurogamer Tim Schafer interview

[juv3nal]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/double-fines-tim-schafer-develop-interview

some money quotes

Eurogamer: If you had the opportunity to work with Activision in the future, would you say, 'No chance?'

Tim Schafer: It's a small industry. You don't want to burn any bridge because you never know. But once somebody sues you... Maybe that bridge is pretty burned.

Eurogamer: What do you think about Bobby Kotick? He's a person.

Tim Schafer: He is. Well, allegedly. Ah... I don't know.

[Lu]

1up.com posted an article titled "Tim Schafer: Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is ´a Total Prick´"

Is it just me or is that completely out of context. THE CONTEXT:

Eurogamer: I think he's a bit misunderstood because he's trying to make lots of money when people think he has an obligation to make gamers happy.

Tim Schafer: His obligation is to his shareholders. Well, he doesn't have to be as much of a dick about it, does he? I think there is a way he can do it without being a total prick. It seems like it would be possible. It's not something he's interested in.

It annoyed me slightly.

[JonCole]

I think it's worded that way to get clicks, but I also don't think it's a stretch to label it that way. Sure, Tim didn't say "Kotick is a total prick", but he did say "He could do it this way, instead of doing it like a total prick [like he is currently doing]".

[dpp]

The context tells me he's calling Kotick out for being a total prick in his due diligence to the shareholders.

So yeah, the 1UP title seems about right.

[syntheticgerbil]

I had read the interview before because it was posted on Mojo first, but someone sent me an article this morning from Kotaku also stirring up the prick and dick parts.

Fine, he said it, but I can't tell if these sites are trying to be sensationalist about it or just give what Schafer was saying about the industry and Activision more audience.

I guess we'll see later this week if nothing happens or it becomes a three ring circus.

[Lu]

I guess out of context was wrong then. Still, something annoyed me about it.

[thorn]

The thing that jumped out at me from that article is that at several points he uses the pluralised 'games' when referring to what he's working on now.

[SiN]

Yeah, the games with an "s" and the hinting at a smaller, faster downloadable release is quite exciting. I love Tim Schafer games, but I hate waiting 4 years between releases. Hopefully with the new engine and strong team, they should be able to put out more frequent releases. Or at least release shorter downloadable games along with their epic releases.

As for the Bobby Kotick stuff, I think the headlines were a bit sensationalist. They sort-of imply the interview went something like this:

Eurogamer: What do you think about Bobby Kotick? He's a person.

Tim Schafer: HE'S A PRICK! Next question.

Schafer gave a fairly balanced and honest answer, given what he's gone through with Activision. Still, nice to hear someone come out and say it.

Mo

[dibs]

"Tim Schafer: Activision CEO Bobby Kotick acts like ´a Total Prick´"

Fixed

[JonCole]

The thing that jumped out at me from that article is that at several points he uses the pluralised 'games' when referring to what he's working on now.

This has been confirmed by Joystiq. 4 games by 4 smaller teams within Double Fine. I'm pumped, because this means I'm more likely to check out their games which haven't totally appealed to me in the past.

Here's the link:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/double-fines-next-projects-four-smaller-games/

[thorn]

Heh. I just read that article and hurried here to post it. Looks like you pipped me by 15 minutes

[syntheticgerbil]

Awesome! No longer will we have to wait 4-5 years for a Double Fine game to come out!

[lobotomy42]

I hope the company is doing well. From the outside looking in, it seems like it's been a rough time for them.

Also, the way Schafer talks in both the Eurogamer interview and the Joystiq post makes it sound like the business end of things is eating up all his time these days. As if he's full-time company president, part-time game writer, which is sad.

[elmuerte]

they should release two games at the same time... that would be better than fine... that would be double fine

[Nachimir]

Also, the way Schafer talks in both the Eurogamer interview and the Joystiq post makes it sound like the business end of things is eating up all his time these days. As if he's full-time company president, part-time game writer, which is sad.

Yeah, though fairly typical. It's difficult to be a part time manager and part time creative (and promoting your best creatives to management is often a mistake). In Double Fine's case, I think that's been especially so with the lawsuit occupying all their directors.

[F4T C4T]

I read about this on RPS this morning.

I think the multiple games angle will be great for Double Fine, more stuff coming from them is a good thing. Even if Tim isn't getting to do much on the creative side for each one, the guys and gals they have there are also great folks (Scott C and Tasha Harris spring to mind).

There was an blog post on Gamasutra on being Mindie which I think fits Double Fine quite nicely. It's about the gap between mainstream and indie.

Also, I think Mr. Gaynor made a post on his blog about a similar thing a while back, but he called it single A games. I hope that kind of thing takes off because it's the only way I can see more varied content and experiences in games coming about.

[ThunderPeel2001]

So Brutal Legend 2 was a go, then? I wonder what went wrong? I bet a sequel would actually be pretty awesome, as I think they'd do a better job this time around, having learned from their mistakes in the first one.

[Roderick]

I find this news about Double Fine developing smaller games in a shorter time very positive. It confirms my own ideas on what they would do next. After Brutal Legend I did predict they wouldn't make another 5 year+ development monstrosity, but would go the way of downloadable, episodic, or at least an in-between form.

I also like how Tim basically states that a Psychonauts sequel or spin-off is something he'd like. Of all his games, it was the one universe that really justified more exploration and expansion.

[elmuerte]

Psychonauts Episodes :tup:

[syntheticgerbil]

Thanks elmuerte, now I'm foaming at the mouth.

[Hermie]

More Develop shit-slinging: http://positech.co.uk/cliffsblog/?p=769 (Guy who made Gratuitous Space Battles vs. Mark Rein of Epic.)

[MrHoatzin]

Thanks elmuerte, now I'm foaming at the mouth.

Is this, uh, a good thing?

[syntheticgerbil]

As long as there's no permanent life-destroying disease involved.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Psychonauts Episodes :tup:

*Head explodes*