Returning to Monkey Island - Dave Grossman Interview (LucasArts Legend)

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

Dave Grossman reveals how a disastrous interview at Skywalker Ranch almost cost him his legendary LucasArts career.

The episode is an interview with Dave Grossman, a key figure from LucasArts' golden age of adventure games. Host Keith guides the conversation chronologically through Grossman's career. Grossman explains how he got his job at LucasArts in 1989 by answering a newspaper ad and surviving a panel interview where Ron Gilbert put his pencil down on Grossman's resume, a sign they were done. He describes SCUMM University, the training program for new designers like himself and Tim Schafer. Grossman details his role on The Secret of Monkey Island, implementing puzzles and writing dialogue without a formal script, and shares anecdotes like creating the rubber tree cliff gag as a dig at Sierra games. He discusses the development of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge and the shift to scanned painted artwork. Grossman explains how he and Tim Schafer were given Day of the Tentacle as their first solo project, aiming for a Chuck Jones cartoon vibe. He talks about leaving LucasArts after feeling burned out, going on a bicycle trip, and then freelancing. Grossman recounts working with Ron Gilbert again on children's games like Pajama Sam at Humongous Games. He describes his time at Telltale Games, focusing on the challenging episodic production of Sam & Max Save the World and the secretive start of Tales of Monkey Island. A major segment covers the genesis of Return to Monkey Island: Ron Gilbert secretly contacted him via Slack, they met for a couple of days to plan, and it took seven months to finalize contracts. Grossman discusses the April Fool's Day announcement, fan reactions to the art style, and the game's commercial and critical success as the fastest-selling Monkey Island title. He reflects on his collaborative dynamic with Gilbert and shares his favorite new character, Putra. The interview concludes with Grossman's current projects, unreleased game ideas, and his all-time favorite games: Colossal Cave Adventure, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Monument Valley.

As heard by us

A warm Dave Grossman interview that mixes LucasArts memories, Return to Monkey Island, and a purple-tentacle time-travel aside.

Dave Grossman's Arcade Attack appearance has an easy, well-shaped appeal: it moves toward his LucasArts years, then circles forward to Return to Monkey Island while that game's reception still feels close at hand.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Meet LucasArts legend Dave Grossman in a loose, memory-lane interview that starts with his early days and wanders toward Return to Monkey Island, with one wonderfully strange detour into purple-tentacle futures.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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