Monaco Developer Andy Schatz Answers Six Questions

Editor’s Note: Kristian “Fill Out a Goddamn Ticket” Boruff is a huge fan of indie games, in addition to making sure our poorly maintained equipment works when we need it. Because he’s so awesome, he e-mailed a list of questions to Andy Schatz, developer of the crazy indie heist game Monaco. Enjoy.

1. Stealth games are known for players frantically searching for which button to press. What made you choose the “walk into it until it does something” control scheme?

What if you had to press a button to eat each pellet in Pacman?  Or even more basic than that: when you go to open a door in real life, does your brain make a conscious thought?  Or does your body just take care of it for you?  I don’t see any reason to add buttons where none are necessary.

Also, the feeling of pushing against the door and then having it burst open when you have unlocked it is far more satisfying than if you were just holding down a face button.

The title of Monaco’s first campaign is “What’s Yours Is Mine”.  I wanted to go with @MonacoMarketting but it was taken.  So @MonacoIsMine it is.

When Americans listen to French, it may as well be Simlish.  And the cool thing about Simlish is that it communicates game mechanics through tone without sounding as repetitive as it would if it were in English.  So when you hear the French guards yelling at you to “Stop, Thief!”, it doesnt get old quite as quickly.  French is Simlish.  It is a silly language.

I tried my best to stay true to those original fans.  Don’t mock me, man!  I love my older games and their subject matter, but I wanted an easier challenge.  Designing sim games is hard.  Designing a game with directly controllable player characters is MUCH easier.

 Never played it, though I grew up in the c64/Amiga generation.  But I see that it’s somewhat analogous to Pirates!, and so my likely unpopular verdict is: WILDLY OVERRATED.  (Defender of the Crown was better and had sideboob)

I feel bad saying this because its so bland and obvious, but Goldeneye.  But it’s really a trick question, because why would you bother making a movie set in Monaco that didn’t involve thievery?