AdventureX 2010

[GarageGothic]

There's a couple of articles around detailing the development history of The Dig. This from Adventure Classic Gaming:

The truth was that Moriarty was responsible for quite more than half of the game that was released. He created the entire basic plot, developed the main characters, and directed the overall atmosphere and visual style for the game.

Also Mix'n'Mojo has a long article on the game's development including Moriarty's involvement.

Personally I find Brian Moriarty - and his work on Infocom's Trinity and Wishbringer as much as his later LucasArts gigs - a much more interesting designer than that Ron Gilbert dude. But I'm sure that's just me.

Edit: Also, great news about Jonathan Boakes! He's definitely one of the more succesful indie developers working commercially at the moment. And judging from his blogs I think he would also be a good speaker.

[m0ds]

Many thanks for the information there GG! I remember reading a detailed article about the Dig once but long forgotten most of what it said. Well, I've sent Brian an email now, hopefully to the right address!!

[m0ds]

Ok, so Hal Barwood isn't really stressing his interest in the expo, but he IS happy to do a small interview. So if anyone has a question for him or one about Fate of Atlantis, now is your time to type it, I'll do my best to ask

[magintz]

It does sound very cool. London is easy for me and should be suitable. It might be worth mentioning this to the IGDA, they have a meeting in London tomorrow; search Facebook for them and say hello.

Secondly it might be better to try to subsidise some of the cost of the expo via forum contributions and the like to get a bigger audience for the first expo.

Thirdly, I could listen to anything by Dave Gilbert even if he was talking about how CJ likes his tea.

Finally, another idea would be to perhaps link in with a Mittens or Brittens trip. I know you suggested January but having multiple events close together could lure more internationals and potentially create a greater variety within the expo.

[m0ds]

True Gayry but it's personal preference really. I know that for a lot of people this is just a hobby, just something they might even drop in on for twenty minutes an evening. For others though they don't even bother to do that, they just "know" the name Monkey Island or what not. I will try the IGDA but...well, I dunno. It's one of those organisations I've tried to walk towards several times in the past but ended up walking away.

Linking it with Mittens would be a bit odd. It's not meant to be strictly for the AGS commnity nor is it meant to be a holiday really. It's just an exhibition I know that putting it NEAR to Mittens would help the international travellers, but you also know I'm all for promoting things that get us all together on more of a regular basis. I need something early in the year to look forward too, and something I know I would attend. But cos nothing like that exists for me to attend I have to make it happen myself

Anyhow. More news includes the fact I have been offered one central London location for FREE for the two days but it's quite small. I may have to go and have a look to get a feel, because show and tell could still very much work upstairs and seminars downstairs, that is, providing attendees would be more likely to spend a day sitting in listening to the guests than they would checking out the latest demos. Hmmm?

You better be there though. Three or four pikey stops from London and you're 15 now so you bloody well better be!

[magintz]

Haha, I'll bring the Zero Hero.

[m0ds]

Good! I can't wait to play all two rooms of it

[m0ds]

Updates! Brian Moriarty is very interested in attending, and I've found a few places in Central London to do it. One place says we can use it for free but it's quite small, so I'll have to do a recce later in the year

[Azure]

This sounds awesome,  perhaps you could also get support from some of the European adventure game developers and publishers?  ( Jowood is in Austria..)
Though be cautious if this gets too big there's health and safety and financial stuff to look into.

If it does go ahead, I am so there!

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

My advice is to keep the first one a modest affair, see how well it does, and go from there.

[m0ds]

Yep, I think #1 will have to be small. May have to scrap the on-site bar, too.

I'll be keeping up with ProgZmax to ensure the event is as thrilling as possible

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I'm not sure what that means.  Will I be paying you afterward? 

[Stupot]

No on-site bar??? Noooooo!;-)
Oh well.  We'll all just pile into the nearest pub when it's over.
Great news about Mr Boakes.  He's a really interesting chap.

[Layabout]

May have to scrap the on-site bar, too.

You've just ruined it for me too. :p

[m0ds]

Hehe, well then it's a good job there's 5 pubs all right next to the Battersea location

Providing things like a bar and stuff mean bigger venues and all the bigger ones, despite looking great, have all been in the region of 5000 for a day, which is waaaaayyyyy too much! But you never know, maybe if a mag gets interested then they can help rent a venue

[Nickydude]

If you do contact RetroGamer, perhaps you can try and persuade of of their staff toi come along to write an article for the mag, especially with the big names you have there.

[Matt Goble]

I would certainly be interested in attending.

Edge magazine has an interesting couple of articles on User Generated Content and Gabriel Knight this month, so there would probably be a good turn out if it was publicised enough.

Have you thought about filming the presentations to produce a dvd from? 

Best of Luck Mark!

Matt

[Nickydude]

Nickydude, I've kept my eye on RetroGamer and so far I've remained pretty shocked that they've excluded the AGS community and other similar engines. But your suggestion is still very valid, definitely worth getting in touch with.

Just a note to say in the latest issue they have a four-page spread on the making of Zak McKacken. 

[Raider]

What an awesome idea. Are you thinking it will be like those fishing expos where people set up stalls and sell their stuff? Or is it more like an auditorium setting where people come and talk?

Either way I would fork out a few hundy to come.

[m0ds]

It's both