First there was Guybrush Threepwood. Then there were Raz and Eddie Riggs. Now, the latest star of a Tim Schafer game is … Tim Schafer.
Schafer is a man known for his wit and clever writing – but even he can get stage fright, apparently. While bemoaning his decision to agree to host the Game Developers’ Choice Awards again, the Double Fine boss worries he’s out of material:
“I know what you need,” said Klint, our web tyrant.
“Yes! I need a few jokes for my script. Hopefully about Game Audio, Design, or-“
“No, what you need is for someone to tell your story, in GAME FORM, for the benefit of future generations.”
“But how’s that going to help me with-“
“Shhhhh,” Klint said, moving my hand to my mouse. “I’ve tried to present your problem in a form that would make you feel more relaxed and comfortable. As if it were a puzzle to solve from a simpler time, when your brain was younger and more flexible.”
“This better be awesome,” I said.
And it was.
In Host Master and the Conquest of Humor, gamers can guide the pixellated Schafer backstage at the awards ceremony, trying to come up with jokes before he goes out on stage. It’s very much an old-school point-and-click adventure game, and as one might expect from a Tim Schafer game about Tim Schafer, it’s very smartly written with a good dose of absurd, self-aware humor.
As Schafer says himself, maybe he should spend less time developing Brütal Legend and more time writing jokes! Since he’s obviously so good at the latter, I mean.
(Kotaku)
