Exlusive Interview that Never Was with Chris Avellone

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:15 am

[ Person -> Interview ] - News related to <a href="http://www.duckandcover.cx/archives.php ... ry=85">Top Story: THIS IS IT</a>

 
<img src="http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/93/t ... anddac.jpg" alt="" />
12/23/09
 
Would you like to do an interview with Duck and Cover conducted by me? This is Pooperscooper, I'm very professional interviewer.
Thanks
 
12/24/09
I'd definitely be open for a New Vegas interview once the press
floodgates open, if you wanted to wait. Until that happens, though, I
can't discuss FNV - if you had other stuff you wanted to ask, though,
feel free, that should be fine.
 
Hope you're having a great holiday, Pooperscooper!
 
Chris
12/25/10
Hey, thanks for the reply I wasn't really expecting anyone to get back to me. I can ask you questions not related to Vegas but I have to know a few background things for me to formulate some questions like do you read DAC forums often and are familiar with any of the antics? Do you know any of our popular members like Megatron and why they are popular? Those are just things I would like to know so I can somewhat personalize the questions a bit to be DAC oriented or something. I'll probably send you some questions next week since I'm off from school and stuff.

Have a good holiday.

Pooperscooper
 12/25/10
 
I've been buried/undercover on Alpha Protocol a while, so I'm not up on
the latest antics. :)
 
But feel free to send over whatever you want and I'll take a stab at it
- hope you're having a good holiday, Pooperscooper.
 
Chris
 
1/4/10
 
1. You were interviewed before about Planescape: Torment and you said this quote that I wanted to ask you about;

"Chris: Probably start off with more combat - the beginning is very slow and exposition-heavy, and I don't think that helps get the player into the mystery of his character. This is something I tried to correct in the future opening levels of Black Isle games (notably IWD2, where you're in trouble the moment you step off the boat in Targos). Also, I would work more extensively in creating more dungeon and exploration areas, and do another pass on the combat mechanics in the game - the story and quest structure in the game ended up becoming the primary focus of design, and I think the game suffered as a whole when it came to combat. "

Many fans found this greatly disturbing because one of the reasons the game was so great was that it's primary focus wasn't combat. What is your response to this?

2. Many fans hold you in high regard primarily based off Planescape which was over 10 years ago and each one of the games you worked on since though good in their own regards never really lived up to the expectations set by you in Planescape, do you think Planescape was just a fluke of a game or perhaps your game design focus has changed over the years?

3. How come the characters looked good in Planescape but looked like shit in all the other IE games, why weren't the later IE games using bigger characters?

4. Can you tell us why people call you MCA and how it started.

5. Alpha Protocal was delayed into next year but the reasons were never clearly explained, was it because the game needed more polish or because it would have been buried by the other big releases of the holiday season? Are you still actively working on the game or is it pretty much finished?

6. Brian Methesoda mentioned how AP has changed drastically from what it was originally planned to be and he seemed somewhat unhappy with that. What changed in the game since its inception and why was it changed?

7. What did you like most about Fallout 3? What things did you not like about the game?

8. Ron Pearlman once said he wanted to kill you, can you explain why? Do you think he will remember you when or if you see him again?

9. For a time it looked like Obsidian wasn't in a very good position with the Aliens RPG being canceled and it started to look like Troika all over again, how secure do you feel Obsidian is from having to shut down like so many other developers have had to do? Have any publishers been interested in buying the studio?

10. You have always talked about how you wanted to do a spy RPG, is there any other type of new games you wanted to make?

I think that is it for now, perhaps we can do a part 2 if part 1 is a hit at the box office.

Thanks,
Pooperscooper
 
1/5/10
 
This all works for me. To warn you in advance, #5 part 1 can only be
answered by SEGA. I shall happily answer #5, part 2. #4 is going to be
disappointing, b/c I have no idea. ;) Some of the older RPG Codex guys
might know.
 
The rest of the answers will be incredible beyond your wildest dreams.
 
I also have to run the final interview by folks here, might take a few
extra days. Otherwise, no worries. Is there a certain time you needed
this back by?
 
Chris
 
1/5/10
 
I have no time table so you can take your time and stuff.
 
1/13/10
 
How are the answers coming?
 
1/13/10
 
Only wrote draft answers for a few of them so far. 
 
Is there a time you needed it back by? Let me know.
 
Chris
 
1/13/10
 
No there is no time limit, I just got bored for a bit but I found something to do.

Pooperscooper
 
1/13/10
 
Ha ha ha - fair enough. 
 
If you haven't heard from me by next Friday, feel free to ping me a
reminder on the chance it's fallen off my radar. Which I doubt it will.
But who knows, I could be hit by a bus next week and suffer amnesia.
 
Chris
 
1/22/10
 
Pooperscooper, I won't be able to get to this as soon as I'd hoped. I should have another update for you by next Friday.
 
Chris
 
1/25/10
 
Gosh, fine.
 
1/29/10
 
And the update is... there'll be an update next Friday. ;) It's been a heavy work week.
 
Chris
 
1/29/10
 
Come on mang. I see you have other little interviews and shit on the internet recently, why aren't you putting mine to the top of the queue? DAC is important and not one that you want to make enemies with.
 
2/4/10
 
Are you going to update on the progress of the answers tomorrow or is it going to be your final answers and stuff? Also, can people now ask questions about fallout: new vegas?
 
2/4/10
 
It should be done, but I'll doubt you'll have it tomorrow. I finished the rough draft this afternoon, I'm going to do another "look at it fresh" pass tomorrow morning, then it has to be routed through the folks for approval and a second set of eyes. It shouldn't be much longer. 
 
You asked interesting questions, so kudos for that. 
 
Yeah, I think you can ask questions about New Vegas, but those go directly to Bethesda, those wouldn't go to me. If you need the contact person, let me know.
 
Chris
 
2/5/10
 
Draft was sent out this morning, collecting feedback. Don't know how long that will take.
 
2/12/10
 
Hey, Pooperscooper, the interview's not going to happen. It might be because of the profanity in my answers even in the rough draft, I don't know. *I* thought it was funny, so I can't imagine anyone else thinking differently.
 
It's probably a good thing, I wouldn't have time to do a second pass anyway with all the other junk going on. And I don't feel like editing it to make it more public-friendly, frankly.
 
Anyway, go ahead and dump hate on me and declare everlasting revenge, that's fine. I'll do better due diligence next time before saying "sure, send an interview."
 
Chris

Stainless · Post by **Stainless** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:30 am

Those are actually some good questions. Someone needs to find MCA and his PR approval guy and get whipping.

Killzig · Post by **Killzig** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:01 am

The Mister Chris Avellone (MCA) thing was something we started using in news postings about him just because I was too lazy to type out his sort of half ethnicy name all the fucking time. Pretty funny that all of this had to be vetted (and rejected) by some half-wit PR monkey who just graduated college and couldn't find a clitoris with magellan's preserved brain on his shoulder.

I'd be really curious to hear his response for #7. Maybe if you post this in the ask the devs thread at the bethstapo forums you'll get some answers.

Ausir · Post by **Ausir** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:04 am

I'd be really curious to hear his response for #7. Maybe if you post this in the ask the devs thread at the bethstapo forums you'll get some answers.

Doubtful.

Aonaran · Post by **Aonaran** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:24 am

Calling the interviewee a gayboy is the watermark of professional journalism, it lets them know you are serious. I'd expect things to break loose in the the PR department soon.

Ausir · Post by **Ausir** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:26 am

The Mister Chris Avellone (MCA) thing was something we started using in news postings about him just because I was too lazy to type out his sort of half ethnicy name all the fucking time.

Imagine having to type "Emil Pagliarulo" all the time.

Post by **Retlaw83** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:39 am

Ausir wrote:[Imagine having to type "Emil Pagliarulo" all the time.

With a name that difficult, you think that greasy fuckwit could write a semi-coherent plot.

SenisterDenister · Post by **SenisterDenister** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:18 am

Good read poops, gives me a deeper insight as to who is getting shit done on New Vegas. Seems like a nice guy, though.

Kashluk · Post by **Kashluk** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:02 am

Yeah, I was fairly disappointed that there weren't any proper answers yet. I actually care what Chris Avellone has to say.

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:56 am

Bethsoft PR department needs some heat, methinks.

Good job Poops, we'll get those answers somehow.

Post by **Manoil** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:20 am

When did Ron Pearlman say that? Anyone have a link?

Jaesun · Post by **Jaesun** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:40 am

*summon* Ausir....

Jim Cojones · Post by **Jim Cojones** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:56 am

Manoil wrote:When did Ron Pearlman say that? Anyone have a link?

When he was recording monologues written by Avellone for Fallout 2 ending. Mentioned in one of Fallout Bibles.

Thor Kaufman · Post by **Thor Kaufman** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:30 pm

Come on mang. I see you have other little interviews and shit on the internet recently, why aren't you putting mine to the top of the queue? DAC is important and not one that you want to make enemies with.

You da best, Pooper <o

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:42 pm

Welp, looks like my news post was edited by KoC because of my last response sent to Chris Avellone;

"Who are you getting approval from anyways? Do you need approval for any interview you do from Uncle Furgus? Why not just get rid of the questions like about Alpha protocal if that is the one holding it up. Don't be a swell guy."

If you read the interview you would understand that conversation we had was somewhat casual and calling people swell guy is okay. Don't edit my shit. Here is KoC's response to that question;

"Did you seriously send Avellone that last question? If you're going to represent DAC by trying to interview game developers, then you have to act at least a little bit professional. I know how people act on the forums, but you've got to be a little bit better than that with the stuff you post on the front page man....not cool."

Thor Kaufman · Post by **Thor Kaufman** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:48 pm

KoC, you swell guy

haha the flower is back in action, thats pretty awesome

Killzig · Post by **Killzig** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:13 pm

Wow, KOC makes Kreegle look like Snake Plissken. Poops, you should ask MCA about the time I sent Herve an e-mail saying MCA called him a cheese-sucking surrender monkey.

ekkaman · Post by **ekkaman** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:07 am

Not like he can fire you is it.

Jim the Dinosaur · Post by **Jim the Dinosaur** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:25 am

ffs koc you sand-swell guy

Stainless · Post by **Stainless** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:46 am

Haha, the return of everyone being called a flower.