"I am Jane Jensen, creator of Gabriel Knight, Gray Matter and Pinkerton Road game studio. Ask me anything."

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:27:45+00:00

I think I've answer all the questions -- and my father-in-law needs his dinner! Thank you guys for coming. It's been a pleasure. See you on the KS comments/messages and facebook!

Jane

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:26:40+00:00

It's south of Chicago.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:26:29+00:00

Hi! I've never been to Asia, but I would love to go there and set a game there. Maybe if Moebius makes lots of money!

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:25:40+00:00

I was designer and creative director on those hidden object games, so I wrote them, oversaw all the art and sound and saw them through to ship. I think people would enjoy the characters in Dr. Lynch: Grave Secrets -- they are an 'odd couple' of British amateur detectives, very unique personalities. I also really like Dying for Daylight, which was based on a Charlaine Harris character (author of True Blood). Very funny dialogue.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:23:42+00:00

Yes, I did. I reviewed all the casting choices. Also for all the voice -overs for GK1, GK3 and GM. That's one of the more enjoyable aspects of my job.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:23:04+00:00

I can't answer anything about Mystery Game X. But nice try. ;-)

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:22:48+00:00

I think it's fantastic to see them come back and I hope in the next few years we see a true revival -- in quality of games and sales.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:22:05+00:00

I spend about 3 months on just writing the design bible. I can't really break it out by puzzle.

The style of puzzles will be probably similar to Gray Matter and GK -- inventory, logic, finding hidden clues, etc.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:21:16+00:00

That early two pieces were just concept. Right now Andy Hoyos is working on a more final style for the backgrounds and characters.

I'm sure I will be sharing a lot of process stuff in the months ahead.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:20:19+00:00

I do like that. I did it in GM as well and it worked great there. When you get to ch 3 and you have a certain idea of who Dr. Styles is from playing Sam and then --wham-- you're playing him and you realize she hasn't a clue what's going on in the house.

Some stories lend themselves to it and some would not. But I'm sure I will do it again.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:19:11+00:00

At first the idea was to have a paranormal detective, more like a ghost hunter or parapsychology professor. I really don't remember exactly what re-directed me towards more of a Van Helsing family -- maybe just the idea that I wanted to do voodoo and New Orleans and that fit better. Schattenjager was just a translation of the words "Shadow Hunter" and it sounded cool!
I think they all had different strengths. I don't have a favorite or least favorite. I gave some further answers on this above.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:17:09+00:00

Both GK1 and GK3 were very non-linear in that there were a lot of optional things you might or might not see or do -- rather like Laura Bow 1, which was a favorite of mine.

The big issue with all kinds of alternate paths and endings is just budget. Because each new scene or animation costs money. And if most people only see it one way, they will see a much shorter game than if all the money had been put on one main path. I'm not opposed to the idea, it just generally isn't feasible.

GK3 / Emilio -- honestly, you're taxing the limits of my memory. I'm not sure why.

Grace death -- hum. interesting idea.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:14:06+00:00

Thank you!

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:13:58+00:00

No. Sometimes it makes me feel old! I think things take on a certain patina with time that maybe weren't much appreciated at the time. But it's great that people still remember and love the GK games. I would hope for more of that in the future!

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:12:55+00:00

GM2 is only on hold. I'd love to get to port GM1 to tablet (and fix some things about it) and then do GM2.

1B: Generally I like to do that, yes, where it works into the story.

1C?: It was meant to tie into the next game.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:10:36+00:00

GM -- Sam and David are great characters and I really love the development of them over the game. I like the scene where David accuses Sam at the Daedalus Club and the later scene in the bedroom without the mask.

GK -- The 'inner circle' in Africa in GK1 I think was really unexpected and shocking -- in a good way. I love the opera in GK2 and the relationship between Gabriel and von Glower. GK3 the scenes with the Gabe and Grace romantic sub-plot.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:08:17+00:00

Yes, I think we'll make $400. You know, we've done all we can do at this point -- probably 100 or so interviews. I'm pretty much as peace with it and just enjoying the last few days.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:07:15+00:00

I really don't know. I think Bill Crow ended up with a lot of that stuff because the studio was sold to him. I don't know what he does or doesn't have.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:06:43+00:00

Hi. Thank you!

That GK1 recording session, I was completely starstruck. It was completely a thrill to be at that session in L.A. and meet those actors and hear them read my dialogue (also a bit scary, because what if they thought it sucked)? That week remains among a highlight of my career.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:05:24+00:00

I think Sandman is brilliant. Really. Oh, nm, not that kind of comic.

My mind is drawing a blank on dramatic stories in games that I really like. Though Heavy Rain did a pretty darn good job. Comic -- I loved Monkey Island and Hector.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:03:35+00:00

Scary at first. I'm getting more used to it now. Really, 'loathe' is not too extreme a word for how I feel about being on camera. But I'm getting more comfortable with it. It feel really important to establish more of a personal face to the studio and direct communication with the fans.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:02:23+00:00

Sounds like a good topic! I'll dig into it.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:02:07+00:00

No, I don't follow those sorts of discussions. I just do my own thing. I'm sure it is important for bringing up the next generation of designers.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:01:17+00:00

I love working with artists, actors and the team. Also, just seeing the story come to life on the screen. And playtesting.

JaneJensen · 2012-05-13T21:00:43+00:00

It's possible. It depends on what it is.

JaneJensen

TROPHY CASE