The Return of Ron Gilbert to Monkey Island After 30 Years

The team behind Return to Monkey Island shared their experiences and insights into the game's development at the Devcom panel. The discussion, titled "Beneath The Return of Monkey Island: Q&A with LeCrew," featured renowned game designers Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman, and David Fox, who have all contributed to the original Monkey Island titles and the latest installment. They were joined by Return to Monkey Island's art director, Zoe Nguyen Thanh, and creative director, Rex Crowle. With a 13-year gap between the last game in the series and the release of Return to Monkey Island, and over 30 years since Gilbert's last involvement, the panel explored how the team reunited. Gilbert recalled meeting with Devolver's co-founder, Nigel Lowrie, at PAX 2019, where they discussed the possibility of acquiring the Monkey Island license. After considering the opportunity for two to three months, Gilbert consulted with Grossman, and they spent a weekend brainstorming ideas for the game. "I didn't want to create just another Monkey Island game," Gilbert stated. "I wanted to ensure we had a meaningful story to tell." Following their discussion, Gilbert returned to Devolver, and the team began contract negotiations with Disney, which took approximately nine months to complete. During this time, Gilbert and Grossman worked on a separate game project, Delores. Once the Monkey Island project was confirmed, Gilbert collaborated with Crowle and other team members to bring the game to life. Return to Monkey Island was not officially announced until 2022, despite generating significant excitement among fans. However, some critics expressed disappointment with the game's art style, which deviated from the original games. The team addressed these concerns during the Devcom panel. Gilbert expressed confidence in the art style, citing Crowle's vision as the driving force behind the game's unique look. "I knew that the art style was exactly what I wanted," Gilbert said. "Although the negative feedback was hurtful, I never doubted the team's decisions." Crowle added that art often provokes reactions, and the team aimed to create something thought-provoking. "If we didn't have the original creators on board, it might have been awkward," Crowle said. "But with their support, we were confident that we were creating a genuine Monkey Island experience." Zoe Nguyen Thanh shared her perspective on the art style, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing gameplay and storytelling over realism. "The team responded well to this approach, and I believe we achieved a visually successful game that showcases everyone's personality," she said. Return to Monkey Island received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in 2022, generating $3 million in revenue and selling 100,000 units within the first month, according to GameSensor. The panel also discussed the potential for a Monkey Island movie or TV adaptation, with David Fox jokingly referencing the rumor that Monkey Island inspired the Pirates of the Caribbean film. Gilbert expressed reservations about adapting the game into a film, citing concerns that the protagonist, Guybrush, might be portrayed as a buffoon. Gilbert and Grossman shared their approach to writing comedy in the Monkey Island series, describing it as a form of caricature that amplifies character traits and societal references. They drew inspiration from their personal experiences and the game's development process, often incorporating humorous elements that resonated with the team. Gilbert noted that testing the team's reactions to comedic elements was an essential part of the writing process. "It was crucial to see if the rest of the team, especially Grossman, would laugh at certain moments," Gilbert said. "This helped us refine the comedy and ensure it was effective."