Ron Gilbert Joins Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions

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Ron Gilbert has joined fellow Secret of Monkey Island creator Tim Schafer at Double Fine Productions, reports Kotaku. Gilbert most recently created DeathSpank at Hothead games, but left the studio before the game was released.

The two developers previously worked together on The Secret of Monkey Island, its sequel LeChuck's revenge, and Day of the Tentacle many years ago. According to Kotaku, Gilbert is already designing a game for Double Fine, which has shifted its development strategy to smaller titles following the release of Brutal Legend and cancellation of a sequel.

"It's an idea that I've been batting around for many, many years," said Gilbert. "I've been talking to Tim over the last couple of months about it and it sort of percolated back up. It's very different than DeathSpank, it's a bit of a departure from that. It's going in a very interesting direction."

Ron had been coming into Double Fine to work, borrowing a desk from Tim, since Gilbert is "really horrible working at home because all I do is other things rather than work." While there, the duo began to talk about "different ideas I've had for games, kinda going back and forth like we do," which eventually led to Schafer suggesting that Ron join the team and build the game for Double Fine.

There are no details about Ron's game, though he does promise that "fans of those old adventure games [like Monkey Island] will like it," though he doesn't confirm that it is an adventure game. Double Fine will next release Costume Quest, due out this Halloween, through PSN and XBLA with THQ publishing. THQ will also publish the studio's next title.

From The Chatty
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    September 27, 2010 12:21 PM

    Wish they'd both join Telltale instead, work on games they KNOW how to make. Let's face it - the scenario, style and presentation made Psychonauts - not the run of the mill gameplay.

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      September 27, 2010 12:54 PM

      [deleted]

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      September 27, 2010 1:28 PM

      And did the gameplay ever define their previous titles? I thought the scenario, style and presentation were what set Secret of Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle and so-forth apart from the rest of the titles of the genre (King's Quest / Leisure Suit Larry etc..)

      I for one and goddamn pleased with this news. Branch out and conquer!

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      September 27, 2010 1:35 PM

      You know it is weird. Telltale has proven there's an adventure game genre still. Double Fine could easily join them on that train. I just don't get where their heads were at really with Brutal Legend or DeathSpank.

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        September 27, 2010 2:47 PM

        Really? I thought Brutal Legend was a fine game and I'm always itching at my wallet to get the Deathspank full versions. The demos were -fantastic-.

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          September 27, 2010 4:55 PM

          Yeah i really enjoyed Brutal Legends and actually took the time to get all the hidden crap....which is extremely rare for me. The only issue with it was trying to have the RTS battle mode in there beyond that i had a great time with it.....Plus i tended to actually laugh at jokes and enjoy them instead of a slight chuckle and that being it.

          Deathspank was good to though i though it got a little wash rinse repeat with the action and jokes and stopped playing 1/2 way though probaly will finish and was still a good game for what it was (ADHD tend to take over to quickly for me though)

          Plus even though i would love to see these two join forces again on a point n click, and i'm sure they will again, i've enjoyed their exploration into other venues.

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          September 27, 2010 6:09 PM

          Didn't enjoy the contrived parts of either. Brutal Legend... RTS on a console was a waste. DeathSpank... overdone genre now with fart jokes. No thanks.

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