Comments on: Gamebooks Goes Independent

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:44:50 +0000

I’m in favor of a “real” release of the episode, too. While by no means the real reason I ordered the documentary, I loved the books and was looking forward to the episode – would also like to have it on the shelf, or even in the DVD wallet, on a nice disc, and would pay extra for it.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:25:08 +0000

Wow, you really are packing the DVDs full to the last byte, aren’t you? I think it would have been a completely awesome bonus featurette, but if taking this off-disc is needed for the core content to fit comfortably then it’s an understandable decision.

About how long do you think it runs?

By: Andy Kosela

Andy Kosela — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:16:25 +0000

Jason, I hope you cover Jackson’s Fighting Fantasy series in the gamebooks story, as this was and still is one of the best series in this genre.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:26:39 +0000

Kind of think it would have been cool to see at least part of it on the DVD, but understand the reasons for the omission and trust your production judgement. Used to love those books!

By: Jason Scott

Jason Scott — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:34:18 +0000

I’ll think about it. I find Amray cases and DVD-Rs such a crappy thing.

By: David Richardson

David Richardson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:30:40 +0000

While I’m glad to hear that the gamebook episode will be released online, I’d love to be able to purchase this on DVD. You know, to have it on the shelf.

A service like Amazon’s CreateSpace might not be a bad way to go. Right now, it’s very inexpensive ($0 in total, which includes a proof copy and UPC).

I can guarantee at least one sale.

By: Jason Scott

Jason Scott — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:22:17 +0000

Sean:

The goal with GET LAMP is that there were/are a number of sequences where the audience goes “why are we here”, and they slowly realize why. This works pretty well, I think. The Gamebooks sequence was meant to be that as well – but then I found that the audience would still be wondering at the end. So it became a bonus featurette. Now it’s a loss-leading separate documentary. But the original theory, that it was the same thinking, was true but not enough to wed it into the narrative.

By: Ben Combee

Ben Combee — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:58:59 +0000

Did you ever see the film “The Cassidy Kids”. Some friends of mine made it a few years ago with a pretty strong cast in Austin. One of the main characters works as an author of these game books, and there’s a scene where she’s plotting out one of them with post it notes and a big whiteboard. It’s not on DVD, but it has aired on IFC a few times so it might be “out there”.

By: Sean Huxter

Sean Huxter — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:55:24 +0000

I think this is a wise decision.

I’m not disparaging the genre of “gamebooks”, in fact I wrote a program on the C64 called geoComix which was an illustrated gamebook engine, complete with a gamebook story with many branches.

I had intended on writing an editor so people could create their own, but it was far too difficult a task for me at the time. I could do it now, but that time has passed.

So I like the genre, but I think it is somewhat peripheral to the main topic of “Get Lamp”.

And as you say, it is important enough to merit its own piece.

Keep on keepin’ on. We’re keepin’ on with great anticipation out here…

Sean.