Questions for Mike Stemmle? Post 'em here!

[Gryffalio]

Mike, having worked on so many successful games, are you surprised by how often fans seem to dwell on the games/things they don't like?

[Lambchops]

Hi Mike,

A non Monkey Island question to start. Telltale have so far either brought back old franchises or built an adventure game around established characters. While I'm not expecting you to spill the beans, do you have any wonderful ideas for a new episodic series and if so do you think they are likely to eventually become a reality?

On a Monkey Island note, what is your favourite running gag of the series?

[Toothless Gibbon]

Hi Mike.

When I preordered I wasn't expecting the private forum to be a genuine perk - how wrong I was! This is great fun.

As one of a seemingly large British MI fanbase, I have a few related questions.

Has Europe, and particularly the UK, been a large target market for TTG and is that even more so with the Monkey Island IP?

Has any British humo(u)r been a major influence on you and your writing?

Have you visited the UK often?

One other unrelated question - Was moral in the team affected by some negative comments (especially about graphics) that appeared when Tales was announced?

[OCKi]

Hi there!
I'm sorry if this question has already been answered, but how will the player interact with the hot-spot objects on the screen? Will you have the option to 'examine', 'use', 'talk to' and 'pick up'? Or is it just one-click interaction like Sam & Max?

Thank you!

[ttg_Stemmle]

Originally Posted by Arodin

It was commented in an E3 interview that you guys are all 10-15 years older now than when you last worked on Monkey Island and other classic adventure games. It also follows that most die hard fans of the classic Monkey Island games are also 10-15 years older now. How has that influenced your writing of the jokes and puzzles, if at all? Do you feel that you are purposely trying to go for more sophisticated humor to appeal to us old farts or trying to think 10-15 years younger to match the humor of the classic games?

I can absolutely guarantee that my humor hasn't gotten any more sophisticated over the years. If anything, I've become more fascinated with bodily functions, words that sound dirty (but aren't), and the timeless comedy of blows to the head.

Hopefully, the rest of Monkey fandom has regressed with me.

[ttg_Stemmle]

Originally Posted by LuigiHann

What? No. Just that you and Mike Chapman have the same first name. It was kind of an "I can't think of any good questions" question.

Har! Congratulations on inadvertently discovering a sore spot in my writing armor! Seriously, if you go take a look at the first draft of the script for SBCG4AP episodes 1 and 3, you'll find, like, a gazillion uses of the word "hey." It's a conversational crutch that I lean into like Don Baylor crowding a strike zone.

And yes, both Mike C and I did respond to "hey Mikes" simultaneously on occasion. The prevalence of Mikes in the world is one reason I'm typically referred to as "Stemmle" in the office.

[ttg_Stemmle]

Originally Posted by mhaley

Hey, Mike.

I have a question, but I don't know whether or not it can be properly answered until after the game is released to the public. While designing Tales of Monkey Island, were there many ideas that were tossed around, but in the end, left on the cutting room floor?

I'll let you know after we ship

[ttg_Stemmle]

Originally Posted by PariahKing

Why did Stone LeChuck die at the end of Escape?

True evil can never die. Just look at Dick Cheney. Or better yet, don't. If you ignore him, maybe he'll go away.

[ttg_Stemmle]

Originally Posted by Silverwolfpet

Hello Mike!

First, it's a great privilege to talk to you and I want to thank you (as I thanked everybody on the team) for bringing back our childhoods once more.
Second, the questions (I'll try to keep them short):

1. What was the first line that you wrote for the game (the first thing you actually put on paper)?
i.e. One of Guybrush's lines, the plot summed up in one sentence, a minor detail regarding one character or something more practical such as "must buy milk" etc.

According to the database, the first line I actually wrote is something about "Pink Pajamas Pierre." How weird. Of course, by that time, we'd already worked out the plot, written a whole bunch of story outlines and whatnot. I couldn't tell you what came first.

2. How does a normal work day go for you? Do you enter work place - sit down - drink coffee - write ideeas - watch youtube - write some more - draw - go home? I'm really curious how much work there is to be done on a normal day.

During non-crunch my days start at 8:30 (I'm an early riser, especially with Charlie and Max getting me up at 5:30), with coffee and emails. Then it's a full day of writing, coding, and reviewing, usually punctuated by a one-hour design meeting for projects down the road (right now it's episode 4) and a one hour lunch at my desk (inexpensive and healthy). On normal days I go home at six. Right now that's stretching out a bit.

3. What exactly did you work on in MI4? I am talking about an ideea that was 100% yours that made it into the game (i.e. the duck or Giant LeChuck Statue)

Sean Clark and I pretty much designed the whole kit and kaboodle of EFMI together. I couldn't tell you which idea came from where at this point.

4. Would you work on a Monkey Island Movie? (I know it will never happen, but if someone would just have sooo much money on his hands and was a MI fan?)

I'd be glad to, but they'd probably cast Owen Wilson as Guybrush or something, and that would kinda suck.

5. What is the most dearest memory of them all, regardin the MI series?

The skeleton dance of Guybrush's parents. No wait, Insult Swordfighting. Or maybe it was the spitting contest. Or the puppet show. Do I really have to pick?


Okay, I've got to go polish the finale,
Mike

[Sean A]

Hey Mike ole buddy ole pal!

Let's say I want to write for Telltale, but I have no game experience or marketable skills of any kind. Several questions that might help me along:

What are the chances a resume written on a scrap of toilet paper will get me anywhere?

If I stalk you, is that a bad thing? (Keep in mind I give a mean footrub.)

What's the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if his father forced him into it?

Do I have any recourse at all? How did you get into it (I'd imagine it was a different world back then, but it's always interesting to find out)?

Has anything this blatant and pathetic ever worked?

Thanks ahead of time if you answer these. If not, ampersand off.

[dumpling321]

Originally Posted by shoemonkey

what's the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?

42 duh!!

[Sven_Q45]

Originally Posted by ttg_Stemmle

I can absolutely guarantee that my humor hasn't gotten any more sophisticated over the years.

I love the Sam and Max Seasons too. Love the puns and jokes and all that!

[AndyBundy]

How often do you think of the good ol' days back at LA? Where do you think is more creativity florishing: back then at LA or nowadays at TTG?

[Rather Dashing]

Originally Posted by dumpling321

42 duh!!

Not quite "duh". The joke is that they asked for the answer to the ultimate question. Then, when trying to find the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything, they found that the ultimate question wasn't "What is the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything?". The whole joke doesn't logically stand up if you say "42" is the Meaning, because it simply isn't.

[Laokin]

Hey Mike,

Surprised nobody asked you this yet.... But, It's my understanding that Freelance Police was pretty much finished when it was canceled.....

With that said my question to you is:

Freelance Police vs Save the World & Beyond Time and Space?

Which did you like better as a finished product... also which do you think was more true to the original.... and as a finale of sorts (I already know the answer but I'm gonna ask anyway) Which did you think was better and what has working on Telltale's version rubbed on you the most?

(Oh and by the way... us Sam n' Max fans really love that wide screen.... Season 1 is on XBLA with widescreen support and we were told that you wouldn't retro fit the engine... so, my suggestion is to make the re-releases on PC too... or Patch it. Which ever works better :-)....)

[thesporkman]

How can you type with boxing gloves on?

[Tea]

When you look at the general opinion of EMI, how do you feel?

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by TheJoe

When you look at the general opinion of EMI, how do you feel?

Hmmm... I absolutely adored Escape. I actually started playing it again last night and remembered how great it was. I had just got done playing CMI and the first thing I noticed in EMI is that I was actually laughing out loud--frequently. Don't get me wrong, CMI is perfect in everyway and I enjoy it immensley, but I find EMI more witty and hilarious. I never did understand why it was the "odd duck out." Maybe I am just weird.

Although, I do understand two things: I missed Lechuck as the lead villain and...

When I control the game I DO feel like I am operating heavy machinery. Accursed post 1997 belief that point and click was dead!

[corruptbiggins]

I was wondering how you got into the whole game business.

[PariahKing]

Originally Posted by ttg_Stemmle

True evil can never die. Just look at Dick Cheney. Or better yet, don't. If you ignore him, maybe he'll go away.

This is a funny joke answer to my question because it leads into another question I was thinking of asking you. Ironically I happen to be a conservative Republican and a theologically conservative Christian. (I am not trying to imply I took offense at your joke or anything.)

Basically what I want to ask is: Will that kind of political and/or religious humor be present in Monkey Island? There was this kind of borderline environmentalist and anti-capitalist undertone in Escape.

To clarify I don't particularly care if you like or dislike Dick Cheney purposely nor do I mind if you make jokes about him - he wasn't a great vice president by any stretch of the imagination. Nor was I huge a fan of Bush's policies, even as a conservative Republican. I don't want to fight about religion or politics or give any one a hard time.

My concern is that Monkey Island becomes divisive or contreversial. I don't want any political or religious issue to be more than a throw away joke in the series even if it's something I support. That's just not what Monkey Island should be to me. I would be upset if the theory from the "What's his theory" button was the theory of evolution where people who disagree with ideas or tenants of it are made out to be idiots and lunatics as a focal point of the game and more than a throw away line. Nor would I want Monkey Island to focus on the proof of theism and god or to mock atheists. I want it to be a fun adventure game that everyone can enjoy. That's what Monkey Island has always meant to me

If the answer is "We're going to use Monkey Island as a political or religious football" I will be disappointed. I would not picket the site or complain or whine or expect the whole world to tailor to my personal religious beliefs - whether I think they apply to all people or not. I would be unhappy. If I can get a solid "We're not going to do that" I'd be thrilled. If I get a "I don't know/ignore" I understand. If it's like "It'll be kinda like Escape level" I'm OK with that - Escape wasn't so overtly so that I didn't like it. I actually really liked it. I'd just like to know what to expect.

And no, I am not implying in any way I think anyone who disagrees with me in the forums is stupid or that I blindly believe stuff. Nor do I disrespect those who disagree with me. I have reasons for my opinions that I believe are valid that I have researched. I understand that people disagree with me and that I am not the only Telltale customer.

Thanks.

P.S. I thought that Sam and Max 104 was done well. The president was an obvious parody of Bush but it was portrayed in a way that made fun of multiple presidencies (I did not have sex with that woman) and without extremely direct morality "lessons" or mocking of real parties of people.