Ron Gilbert Cancels RPG Project Due to Lack of Funding – Game News

The “giant tree” of the gaming industry, Ron Gilberthas decided to stop developing the unnamed role-playing game project. This project has been described as a combination of “Zelda Classic meets Diablo meet Thimbleweed Park.”

In one recent interview with Ars TechnicaGilbert explained that the project had many problems, including a very small development team (only three people) and a severe lack of financial support.

+ Difficulties in Capital and Time

Ron Gilbert said: “I don’t have enough money or time to build such a large open world game“.

• Capital requirements: “It’s either a passion project you’ve spent ten years working on, or you need a large sum of money to be able to hire enough people and resources to meet it.“
• Recommendations from publishers: Gilbert explained that he had “touted” the idea, but “The deals the publishers offer are terrible.“
• Reason for cancellation: “The amount of money they were willing to spend and the agreements they offered were completely unreasonable for me to continue working on this project.“

+ Criticism of the Modern Publishing Model

Gilbert points out that the current business model of major publishers, which is driven by data analytics, is stifling innovation.

• Driven by analytics: Current publishers “very driven by analytical data.” This makes “pitching” new ideas much more difficult than when he first started his career.
• Stereotyped products: “They have their own formulas that they apply to games to try to figure out how much money they can make, and you end up with a lot of games that look exactly like last year’s games, because they make money.“

+ Praise the Indie Game Market

Gilbert expressed his love for the independent game market, where he found creative freedom.

• Creativity: “That’s why I really like the indie game market, because it’s quite a departure from a lot of what the big publishers offer, and a lot more creative, weird, and unique.“

Gilbert’s unnamed RPG project was announced in 2024 and had been in development for several months, scheduled to launch later that year or early 2025. However, everything was put on hold.

+ A little about Ron Gilbert: “Father” of the Adventure Game Genre

Ron Gilbert considered one of the most influential game designers of all time, especially during the 80s and 90s, when he worked at Lucasfilm Games (later LucasArts).

• SCUMM Engine: He is the co-creator of the SCUMM (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion) tool, which revolutionized storytelling and interface design for puzzle adventure games.
• Typical Classic Works:
  • Maniac Mansion (1987): The game that gave birth to the SCUMM engine and shaped Lucasfilm Games’ signature humor style.
  • The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) et Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge (1991): Considered absolute classics of adventure games, known for their wit, unique storylines, and clever puzzles.
  • Thimbleweed Park (2017): A classic adventure game he designed and recently released, demonstrating his return to the genre that made his name.

His career has been synonymous with creating deep and innovative storytelling experiences, something he was looking for even in the recently canceled role-playing game project.