Having finished #ReturnToMonkeyIsland, I would like to share a thought. Part 1. #monkeyisland #rtmi #guybrush #gamedev #gamedevs
This game and the team have my admiration. It is hard enough to design and execute an excellent game, create a new engine, experiment with the art, deliver on the music.
It is even harder to deliver a game with meaning. It takes bravery to even attempt such a thing. There is almost no chance of pulling it off. So much can go wrong. The meaning might be misconstrued, leading to anger and protest.
A game's "message" might come across as obvious, or lacking in meaning. Delivery might feel heavy-handed. Why even risk it? What is to be gained? It's just a game, after-all. Why does it have to mean anything?
But Return to Monkey Island DOES mean something. It has a message about our world, our society, about US. It asks us a question. Why can't we just enjoy the nice things? Why don't we enjoy all this life provides without falling into conflict and anger over the details.
It's a message, and it is timely. And it was delivered in a game. Once again @grumpygamer and team have continued to evolve our art. And they've done it without fear. Ron continues to lead the way, proving that game design is an art, without preachy-ness.
A while back, @nfalstein was quoted as saying that this game would be studied by academics in the future. Having not seen the game, I wondered what innovations of interface or technology we would see that would cause him to make such a claim.
But I believe he may have been talking about something much more subtle. Deeper. More powerful. #ReturnToMonkeyIsland is a game that radiates love. Well-done, team.
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