Happy Two Year Anniversary
Mar 29, 2019
Happy Second Thimbleversary, lovely Kickstarter backers and other Thimbleweed Park fan-a-renos.
It's been two years since we launched Thimbleweed Park!
We've done so many things in that time, including:
▶︎ Launched on PC, Mac, Linux with Steam, GOG, Humble and Epic Games.
▶︎ Launched on Xbox One with Xbox Play Anywhere so you can switch between playing on your PC or Xbox.
▶︎ Launched on PS4 and Switch.
▶︎ Updated the game to include the much-loved in-game hint line system.
▶︎ Added playable arcade games.
▶︎ Released the Ransome Unbeeped DLC.
▶︎ Sent out physical rewards to all our backers, including 1012 signed big boxes.
▶︎ Launched big boxes for PC/Mac and PS4 and Switch, each with their own unique feelies.
▶︎ Created a great range of cool swag with Fangamer, including 4 T-shirts, the ViewTron, mugs, and a metal sign.
Fangamer has restocked the PC/Mac big box (for the third time!) and has a crazy deal where you can get the Cast-a-Reno shirt for just $10 when bought with a big box! They've also released a cassette tape version of the soundtrack - previously only available in the PS4 big box.
To celebrate two years of Thimbleweed Park, we're doing something a bit special. We want to show our gratitude for coming with us on this strange journey to a pixelated world of adventures. We're giving away rare physical swag. Including free shipping anywhere in the world!
Four lucky people will get a rare big box version of the game. They can choose whether they want the PC/Mac, PS4, or Switch big box version.
50 other lucky people will get one copy of the physical phonebook. Originally included in the sold out Switch big box, and only available via this prize drawing.
All you have to do is create an original tweet using the hashtag #visitThimbleweedPark. Tell everyone why they should spend some time in Thimbleweed Park. And if you haven't been there, tell us why you're keen to go.
Key Rules
▶︎ Tweet using the hashtag #visitThimbleweedPark by 9am (Pacific) April 2 2019.
▶︎ Your tweet must include a statement as to why people should #visitThimbleweedPark
▶︎ Don't reply to our tweet, make your own tweet.
▶︎ Tweet must not be offensive or inappropriate (we reserve the right to judge this on an individual case).
▶︎ Don't violate Twitter's rules
▶︎ only one account per individual can be used to enter the contest. Anyone caught using multiple accounts to enter a contest will be ineligible.
▶︎ Maximum one tweet (entry) per day of the competition.
▶︎ Must be over 21 to enter.
▶︎ 4 randomly chosen people will win one big box of their choice (either PS4, Switch, or PC/Mac), including postage anywhere in the world.
▶︎ 50 randomly chosen people will receive a voucher to redeem on @fangamer for the physical phonebook, including postage to anywhere in the world.
▶︎ Winners will be drawn using https://competitionagency.com/tweetdraw. Once chosen, winners will be checked for validity using above requirements.
▶︎ We'll get in touch with winners via Twitter direct message with details on how to redeem your reward. You must respond within 48 hours to be eligible to get your reward, otherwise we'll draw another winner.
▶︎ All winners will be notified by April 16 2019.
Locking It Down
Jul 26, 2018
I'm locking comments on the blog. It's been a fun few years talking with everyone, but as the game enters it's new phase of life (and it's a strong one) most of the comments are now spam that I need to delete, or people asking questions that are better asked somewhere else.
If you have a support issue, please email support@thimbleweedpark or visit our forums at https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com
Thanks to everyone for making our job and the game a lot more fun.
This Can Be Yours!
May 09, 2018
Thimbleweed Park team member Emily Morganti has spent the last year making this amazing quilt featuring some of the memorable characters from Thimbleweed Park.
Rather than selling it and retiring to the Bahamas, she decided to sell it and donate 100% of the money to The Video Game History Foundation which works to preserve the history of video games.
- Ron
Thimbleweed Park Podcast #68
Mar 31, 2018
A very special anniversary podcast where Gary, David and I realize we actually have nothing in common.
You can also subscribe to the Thimbleweed Park Podcast RSS feed if that's 'your thing'.
You can also get the podcast directly from iTunes.
- Ron
Where Are They Now
Mar 29, 2018
It's our one year anniversary of launching Thimbleweed Park to the public!
To celebrate, we're 50% off on ALL digital platforms for less than 24 hours:
Buy it on Steam
Buy it on GOG
Buy it on Humble
Buy it on the Mac App Store
Buy it for Xbox One and Windows 10
Buy it on PS4
Buy it on Switch
Buy it on the iOS App Store
Buy it on Android
We have discounts on some of our great T-shirts and other merch over at Fangamer.
AND we're releasing the physical versions on Switch and PS4 with Limited Run Games along with an exclusive new vinyl color and an exclusive new T-shirt!
There will also be a one-year anniversary podcast on Monday.
As part of these celebrations, we've put together a bumper "where are they now" for many of our team members. So if you'd been wanting to get to know the team better and hear about their other projects, now's your chance.
We've listed everyone in alphabetical order based on first name.
Alexander Preymak
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Russian Translator
Where do you live?
Ryazan, Russia
What is your favourite colour?
Ginger. Sometimes brown
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Blade Runner 2049
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Ned Vizzini, It's Kind of a Funny Story
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Non-fiction
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Russian Translation
What was your favourite area of the game?
Town
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Dime Paradox
What are you working on now?
This was a busy year since Thimbleweed launched, and I'm still translating... Thimbleweed! And a bunch of games with NDA, so check my website from time to time to see my current list of translated games. From the latest projects I can recall Sol 705, an adventure game by Patricio Land which is free everywhere and actually a demo. I also occasionally write for Kanobu.ru, a Russian video game site — you'll be surprised, but my latest piece was about Thimbleweed Russian localisation, its ups and downs, and how it's a great game, and if you're Russian — buy it and see for yourself.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Twitter: @preymak, website: preymaktranslations.com
Chase Martin
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Producer
Where do you live?
Seattle, WA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Brown
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing Missouri
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Abbadon's Gate
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Sci-fi
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Dev Team
What was your favourite area of the game?
Town
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Library Stairs - I slapped myself in the forehead after that one.
What are you working on now?
I joined the ID@Xbox Team, to champion and help other independent developers release their games on the Xbox platforms.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Twitter: @theplayerpiano
Christophe Pallarès
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
French Translator
Where do you live?
Úbeda, Spain
What is your favourite colour?
Lilac
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Get Out
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
The Legend of Zelda - Hyrule Historia
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Jokes and Humor
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Getting Willie out of jail
What are you working on now?
Still working full time on the French localisation of various games. Since TP, I translated Bertram Fiddle (Ep.2), Lydia, The Revenge of Johnny Bonasera (Ep.1, currently working on Ep.2), Just Dance 2018, The Crew 2 (ongoing), Paul Pixel, Tesla vs. Lovecraft, Lucid Dream (ongoing), Midnight Quest, The Goddess Robbery. Various projects in the pipe too! ^^
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
@xtooph on Twitter, mobygames.com, gamesmith.com
Concha Fernández Álvarez
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Spanish Translator, QA Tester
Where do you live?
London, UK
What is your favourite colour?
Red
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
It
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Sports and Outdoors
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Annoying kid conversation
What are you working on now?
I've worked on numerous games (AAA, indies, social - sorry, NDAs) and a book project with Spanish publisher Héroes de Papel.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Follow me on Twitter! @conchaf7z
David Fox
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Designer, Writer, Programmer, Sound
Where do you live?
San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
The Shape of Water
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
The Princess Bride
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Sci-fi
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Town, Country, Circus, Mansion, Factory
What was your favourite area of the game?
Circus
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Finding lost page of Ransome's Joke Book and charging the battery.
What are you working on now?
Investigating VR (Meetups, connecting, field trips to The VOID), visiting theme parks (research only, hah), updating my old apps (Rube Works: The Official Rube Goldberg Invention Game - http://RubeWorks.com), Netflix binging.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
@DavidBFox, Facebook and LinkedIn
Emily Morganti
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Public Relations
Where do you live?
San Francisco, CA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Can't think of any movies, but loved American Vandal TV series on Netflix
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Young Adult Fiction
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
The Upper World
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Getting blood sample
What are you working on now?
Doing PR for Wadjet Eye Games' Unavowed, inkle's Heaven's Vault, and Asymmetric's gateio app. Also writing novels and building dollhouses!
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
@fovlet on Twitter or emilymorganti.com
Fabio Bortolotti
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Italian Translator
Where do you live?
Milano, Italy
What is your favourite colour?
Pink
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Rogue One
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Prelude to foundation - Asimov
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Sci-fi
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Mansion
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
The best "ah-ah!" moment was the forest puddle. It made me feel like in the old SCUMM days.
What are you working on now?
I'm translating two unreleased games (sorry, can't say which ones!) and I'm working on the DLCs/updates of Rainbow Six: Siege and Ghost Recon Wildlands. I also have a retrogaming channel on Twitch: www.twitch.tv/kenobisboch
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
@fabiobortolotti on Twitter
Gary Winnick
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Creator, Designer, Animator, Inventory Artist
Where do you live?
Felton, CA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Thor: Ragnarok
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Ex-Heroes series
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Adventure
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Mansion
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Delores Flashback
What are you working on now?
Completing a new comic book 'The Variants': an homage to the comics of the 1960's
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
garyart.net
Heinrich Lenhardt
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
German Translator
Where do you live?
Vancouver, Canada
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Stranger Things and Black Mirror [TV shows]
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Paul Auster: 4 3 2 1
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Short Stories
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Additional German translations (HintTron 3000™ text)
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Obtaining tools, creating forest footprints and getting Natalie away from her desk.
What are you working on now?
Writing articles for German-language media like GameStar, doing freelance translations and hosting the 'Spieleveteranen' podcast (www.spieleveteranen.de).
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
www.lenhardt.net - Twitter: @hlenhardt
Jenn Sandercock
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Designer, Writer, Programmer, Producer
Where do you live?
Seattle, WA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Purple
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Probably the new Blade Runner movie, for the visuals.
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
I finally finished the Obernewtyn Chronicles, which I started reading almost 30 years ago. Note: most of the delay is because the final book wasn't finishing until recently. I also finished the Shadowmarch series, which I started around 10 years ago.
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Cooking and Food
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Hotel, Sewers
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
The dialog puzzle with Teddy in the hotel lobby. It was the first puzzle I put in the game.
What are you working on now?
I'm still working a bit on Thimbleweed Park: supporting sales, checking social media and responding to support emails. Mostly, I'm working on an Edible Game Cookbook. That's real-world tabletop games where you eat real-world food as you play the game. I'm working on a series of games that I can put together into a cookbook with recipes and rules for playing. I'm hoping to Kickstart it this year. You can find out more and subscribe to my newsletter here: ediblegames.com
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Twitter: @jennsandercock
Katerina Bergerova
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Senior QA Tester
Where do you live?
Prague, Czech Republic
What is your favourite colour?
Black
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
I haven't seen that many movies, but probably Blade Runner 2049.
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
First two books of Andrzej Sapkowski's Hussite Trilogy. I also quite enjoyed a series of horror manga by Junji Ito.
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Mystery
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Town
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
It's very difficult to choose just one puzzle. I remember I really liked the puzzle chain during Delores' flashback - I got a bit stuck the first time I played the game, but all I needed to do was stop and think about the possible solutions. I loved how logical it was in the end. No obscure "randomly combine this with that until something happens".
What are you working on now?
Well, let's say I'm planning to practice some game development. But it's very early to say anything more about this hobby project of mine. I'm also still involved in Thimbleweed Park-related work (as a community manager most of the time, and as a tester when the need arises). Working on this game has been a blast. And who knows what the future brings. Hopefully more great game projects I could participate in.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
I'm not really an active social media user at the moment.
Katie Postma
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Community Management
Where do you live?
London, Ontario, Canada
What is your favourite colour?
Green
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Sci-fi
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Social media
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Mouse puzzle!
What are you working on now?
Working at Stoic as the Community Manager for The Banner Saga Series
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
You can find me working here: @bannersaga
Lauren Davidson
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Writer
Where do you live?
Southampton, UK
What is your favourite colour?
Peacock blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
A Silent Voice
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
The Disaster Artist
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Mystery
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Town, Circus
What was your favourite area of the game?
Town
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Riker Burger
What are you working on now?
Dropped Monocle Games' very talented programmer Denis has been building us a custom point and click framework for the Godot Engine. We have been doing a HD remake of our first ever game, Witchy Woo, to test it and have a full length sequel planned to begin work on shortly after its release.
In my spare time I am working on a dating sim about female serial killers. My Google search history probably has me on a watch list now.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
@boosegoose is my twitter where I post most of my updates.
Malcolm Stead
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Engine Programmer, Windows & Xbox Programmer
Where do you live?
Vancouver, BC, Canada
What is your favourite colour?
Pink
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
In cinema, there wasn't a lot of great films last year - probably Dunkirk
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
I spent a few hrs thinking on this one, ended up going for "skag boys by Irvine welsh". Soley because it was first one which came to mind.
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Self Help
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere. I like to think I was the team's eye candy
What was your favourite area of the game?
Circus
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Wait? Was I supposed to play it? :)
What are you working on now?
Just finished working on contract for software for lidar for use in film industry... now working on fun (hopefully) 2d action, comedy game
Also looking at finishing Naked War (tm), if enough people want it.
http://www.zee-3.com/nakedwar_ios/
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
www.confusedduck.com or Twitter: @ConfusedDuck
Mark J. Ferrari
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Background Artist
Where do you live?
Eastsound (Orcas Island), WA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Green
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Collateral Beauty
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
All The Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Young Adult Fiction
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Mansion
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Figuring out how to do the artwork. :]
What are you working on now?
Artwork for a card game based on Sonia Lyris' 'Seer' series of fantasy novels. Check out the first book and the coming card game at https://lyris.org/seer/
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Sadly, I am a largely invisible recluse these days, but I do have a website that I myself have neither visited or updated for many years. :] www.markferrari.com
Octavi Navarro
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Background Artist, Animator
Where do you live?
Barcelona, Spain
What is your favourite colour?
Dark grey
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
I just realized I don't watch many movies anymore!
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Runaway by Alice Munro
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Physics and Astronomy
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Hotel
What was your favourite area of the game?
Mansion
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
The MmucasFlem application puzzle.
What are you working on now?
I'm currently working on Luca Redwood's new game Photographs and my new short game after Midnight Scenes.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Twitter: @pixelshuh
Robert Megone
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Lead Tester
Where do you live?
Basingstoke, UK
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Blade Runner 2049
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Kitchen Disco (To my daughter)
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Short Stories
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Town
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Unlocking the factory.
What are you working on now?
Working full time as a programmer on a new game over at Revolution Software.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
Twitter: @robertmegone
Ron Gilbert
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Creator, Designer, Writer, Sound, Engine Programmer, Mac Programmer, Audio Director
Where do you live?
Seattle, WA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
Good Time (I just got done watching The Disaster Artist and it is now tied with Good Time).
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Abomination
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Sci-fi
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere
What was your favourite area of the game?
Hotel
What was your favourite puzzle in the game?
Distracting Natalie
What are you working on now?
Desperately trying to come up with a new project!
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
grumpygamer.com (I quit Twitter)
Steve Kirk
What was your role on Thimbleweed Park?
Musician
Where do you live?
Seattle, WA, USA
What is your favourite colour?
Turquoise
What is your favourite movie you watched in 2017?
The Post
What is your favourite book you read in 2017?
Testimony by Robbie Robertson
Which section would we find you in at the Edmund Mansion mansion library?
Arts and Entertainment
What areas of the game did you contribute the most to?
Everywhere, Music for all areas
What was your favourite area of the game?
Circus
What are you working on now?
I am writing songs with George Sanger and working on a sound design project.
What's the best way people can follow you and find out more about your work?
stevekirkpop.com, @stevekirkpop
Thimbleversary
Mar 27, 2018
Thimbleweed Park's one-year anniversary is this Friday, and to help commiserate (I mean celebrate) the game is going to be 50% off for one day on all platforms. If you're thinking of picking it up, you might want to hold off a few days.
This will be the deepest discount we've offered, after that, it's back to our normal price (but still less than the Guybrush approved price for a video game).
Physical Releases
Mar 14, 2018
Physical releases of Thimbleweed Park are coming for the PS4 and The Switch courtesy of Limited Run Games.
Ransome *unbeeped* DLC
Feb 28, 2018
All clowns swear, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, but for Ransome the Clown it is an art form. In our new "not kid friendly" DLC all of Ransome's beeps can be remove and you'll be able to hear Ransome in all his unbeeped glory.
Available now on Steam and GOG!
Unfortunately, the DLC will only be on Steam and GOG. All the other platforms require that DLC be rated the same as the main game (they do make exceptions for some AA game, surprise, surprise) so it won't be coming to Switch, XBox, PS4 or mobile. We apologize in advance, but that is out of our hands.
When Lauen and I wrote the script, we didn't add the swearing, we just put in *beeping* or *beeper*. Adding the swearing would have meant some pre-process to remove them all and it would have been hell on translators. It was also more fun to write because I had no idea what he was really saying.
When we got to the studio, I wasn't sure if the actor was going to swear or just say "beep". We did some tests and it was pretty obvious that having Ransome say "beep" really undercut his personality. You got the impression that Ransome was censoring himself, which he would never do.
So, we decided to have the actor (Ian Corlett) go full on swearing. The problem was the script didn't contain swear words, just *beep*, *beeper* or *beeping*. Ian didn't think he'd have a problem just filling in the swear words on the fly and it was amazing to listen to. He would do first run cold readings and seamlessly add swear words. It was amazing and hilarious.
I hope you enjoy and please, keep the kids away. We aren't kidding about this stuff.
- Ron
Thimbleweed Park Vinyl
Feb 13, 2018
If your parent's old turntable is gathering dust in the basement, oh boy do I have an awesome use for it!
Also worth noting that vinyl will likely still be playable after the apocalypse. MP3's. Not so much. Think of it as an investment for bartering for food in the future.
Delores Cosplay Guide
Oct 25, 2017
Thinking about cosplaying Delores for Halloween or some other event?
I got to cosplay Delores at PAX West AND Geek Girl Con this year. I had an immense amount of fun pretending to be a game developer for MmucasFlem games! And now, with this handy guide, you too can have fun!
Assemble your outfit
Let's start with some reference pictures of Delores.
You've got to get all the essentials together to be able to become Delores. Let's go down from head to foot.
Head
The glasses are the most important part of the entire outfit. If you're going the simple option, just get gate io app and forget everything else!
If you naturally have Delores' hair, then I'm super jealous! For everyone else...
▶︎ Temporarily dye your hair
▶︎ Get a wig, there are many cheap ones available, but I like this one from Arda.
Torso
You'll need a t-shirt and jacket.
Delores' shirt was created to mimic Dave's shirt in Maniac Mansion. Dave's shirt is gray with the Lucasfilm logo. So by extension, you can wear any purple shirt with a slogan on it, although I'm sure Delores would prefer MmucasFlem or some other games company logo.
I created as close a replica as I could on Red Bubble as a scoop-neck women's shirt.
For the jacket, Octavi, who drew Delores, assures me that her jacket is a denim jacket like this light blue one.
Legs & Feet
For jeans, I'm not going to give you a link to find blue jeans because... well... I'm sure you have something that will work! Fold up at the bottom so they're pretty high.
The most important thing is the curly pink laces. But make sure you also get white socks and plain white shoes (these ones are pretty comfy).
Accessories
Getting a bag that fits what you want and looks authentic is pretty hard. Still, most cosplay characters don't have any bag at all, so I feel like it's a bit of a luxury to be able to stay in character AND get to carry around my mobile phone and keys.
I ended up settling for a bag that wasn't quite right, but was a bag that I had in my bag collection anyways. If you can make your own bag, do that! But otherwise, maybe this or that option from Amazon will work for you.
Now you've got all the basics, you can add in some fun things!
Like a balloon animal....
Or make some damn, fine Thimbleberry Pie...
You can also make yourself a notebook to remember all the things on your TO DO list. You're aiming for something like this:
You'll need a blue notebook with spiral binding. I'd recommend picking up something in your local supermarket or office supplies place. However, if you're desperate, this one from Amazon looks about right.
Download this zip folder with the plain front cover and stickers.
Get In Character
While cosplaying Delores, don't forget to practice your victory dance and learn to these classic quotes:
▶︎ "But I just want to design games."
▶︎ "If this were a Sierra On-Line graphic adventure, I'd be dead now."
▶︎ "It's my speck of dust."
Here's some pictures of me cosplaying Delores for inspiration.
"I'd love to talk to him, but I'm too shy, what with him being famous and all."
Do NOT attempt to match your head size to Delores, you'll fall over!
The wig really brings the costume to life and also signals to people around you that "yes, I am cosplaying a character!"
This is me on the left and Elise Kates, the voice of Delores on the right! So much Delores in one photo.
And since I have no shame, I attempted to reproduce the classic "I got a job at MmucasFlem games"-dance! Turns out doing a good moonwalk is REALLY hard! ;)
And that is all! Have fun being Delores!
Android Avaliable Now
Oct 10, 2017
Good things come to those who wait (and after I've had my morning coffee).
If you're having support issues, please head over to the support thread on the forums.
Android Slipping A Week.
Oct 02, 2017
The bad news is we're slipping the Android version by a week, from the 3rd to the 10th of October. The good news is the Android build will fully support controllers, mouse and keyboard, plus a wider range of hardware.
Android is always hard due to the vast array of devices. As we got to the end of testing, a few devices showed up with GPU issues that we felt needed to be fixed. We're committed to having the Android version work with controllers, plus mouse and keyboard and it's taken longer than we wanted to get it working.
It's also hard when a version or game slips, it often feels like you failed. It's only a week and we'll have more compatibility, plus controllers and mouse and keyboard.
Have I mention controllers and mouse and keyboard? Yes, we'll have them.
- Ron
Ports Ports Ports
Sep 14, 2017
Been awhile since I posted here, and I should start doing that more with news and updates. I post a lot of Twitter, but forget that not everyone is on Twitter. I'm starting to think you're the smart ones.
We released the arcades last month. There is a new puzzle chain to find tokens for the machines. The puzzle chains can only be done in hard mode, but once you find the tokens, they will be there for every new game, including those started in easy mode.
Occuplying much of our time now are ports, ports and more ports.
The iOS build has been approved by Apple, and now we're waiting for some PR stuff.
The Switch port has also been approved by Nintendo, but we still have to do some "paperwork" before it will be on the e-store.
Exciting times.
We're doing last minute testing on the Android port. It's much harder than iOS due to the huge variety of hardware. We've come across a couple of GPUs that don't have the power, or are just buggy and needed to rewrite some of our shaders.
We're also trying to get full controller, mouse and keyboard support into the Android, which is also proving to be more work than anticipated.
Yeah, I know. Bitch, bitch, bitch. Bring us solutions Mr. Gilbert, not problems.
- Ron
P.S. The PS4 port has been live for several weeks now.
Dialogs, Hints and more...
Jun 20, 2017
There is a new Thimbleweed Park update (Build 1388.918) that includes two major additions and several minor ones. This build should be live on Steam and will be live on GOG in the next 24 hours. Due to approvals and reviews, it will be a few weeks before it makes it to the App Store and Xbox.
The first big change is player character dialogs. You can now TALK TO Delores, Ray, Reyes and Ransome. There was no point in adding Franklin dialogs, since you can't really talk to him, and he had one-sided stubs for trying to talk to other players.
This was something I attempted during initial production but abandoned due to me being unable to think about it as anything more than an a overly complex hint system. It always felt to me that all you'd want to do was talk to the other characters and get hints, and the early iterations of the system really showed that, so I abandon it. Time was also getting short and there was a lot of work to be done, so it wasn't matter of me writing player dialogs or hanging out at the beach.
This turned out to be a mistake. I should have pressed forward and implemented this.
Allowing the characters to talk to each other actually solved a bunch of problems. It was crystal clear (in our heads) why they were working together (or didn't care if they were), but that wasn't clear to players. This is especially true with Ransome. Ransome is an asshole. Why would he be helping?
Player character dialogs solved this problem. You now can chat amongst yourselves while spouting plot clarifying lines. If I had a few extra months I would have made them ever more complex, but maybe they don't need to be. I'm sure someone will complain that they didn't talk about X and that is plot critical. Maybe. Maybe not. I do think the dialogs help tremendously and I regret not pushing forward and implementing them from the get-go.
The other slightly related feature we implement was greetings. When Ray walks by Delores, she will say a quick one line greeting, same for Reyes, Ransome and Delores. None of these are plot revealing, but do make the world feel more alive and real.
The biggest change was a new in-game hint system. I know this will cause the hardcore adventure gamer's blood to boil (as it does mine), but the lack of hints was widely criticized by some of the more casual press. As we move to new and more casual platforms like iOS and Android, this becomes increasingly important. I guess it's a sad fact about not only modern gamers, but older gamers that just don't have 18 hours to spend on a game.
The first (failed) iteration of the design was based around a new object called the "HintTron 3000™". You would find it alongside the road and pick it up. You could then use it on any object in the game and it would give you a context appropriate hint.
On paper, it seemed like a good idea, until the first implementation and the problems came roaring out. The biggest problem was when you're stuck it's often at a conceptual level and you don't even know what object to click on. This could cause players to randomly click on stuff, hoping the get a hint with no real idea what they needed.
To stop non-stop hint-clicking, we added some friction in the form of a "cooldown", but it felt artificial and frustrating. We thought about adding a "currency" you find or earn (specks of dust), but these all ran into the issue os rarity and frustration when you can't find or earn them and you need a hint.
So we abandon the idea. David wrote a lot of code for this... so... a moment of silence.
To me, the most important part of any in-game hint system is making sure it feels like part of the world and game. I didn't want to do a hint system that was all UI based.
Back in the 80s, we had hint books with red gel, but we also had phone in hint lines.
Thimbleweed Park already has a working phone, so it seemed natural to just have a hint line number you could call and get a hint.
We once again toyed with the idea of a currency. You're using a phone, so finding money to use it made sense, but unfortunately, the phone is needed for other things and we didn't want to muck up all that with making them all pay phones, plus some of the phones are in the mansion and hotel. We beat it around for a bit, then just decided to making the hint line "free" to use.
Calling the phone provides some natural friction, in that you'd have to get to a phone (or switch to whoever had the cel phone) and make a call and trip down a hint tree.
The advantage we had over a true 80s hint line was that we know the context of where you are in the game, so the hint line can be smart and focus down to hints we know you might needed, and ignore spoilers and other distractions.
Jenn volunteered to take on the job, and we based it (with permission) on the existing online hints of Meghann O'Neill, so we had a good starting place. It's a nice system and hopefully newer players find it fun and helpful.
Now, we know it's not going to be for everyone, but it is 100% optional in that you just don't call it. But I know one's willpower can be weak. If you set...
When you call the hint line, the phone will just ring and ring.
One tricky issue is old save games. To fully implement the AI of the hintTron, we had to add some new variables to track game state. If you load an old savegame, those variables don't exist. Jenn wrote some fancy code to try and predict an old savegame's state. It works 90% of the time, but if you load old games, hints might not be 100% accurate.
And lastly, I implemented some new keyboard commands.
1-6 will now selected dialog choices or they can be reassigned using...
keyChoice2: "2"
keyChoice3: "3"
keyChoice4: "4"
keyChoice5: "5"
keyChoice6: "6"
You can assign keys to cycle through characters using...
keySelectPrev: "9"
You can now disable initing of the controller by adding...
If you don't have the willpower to avoid calling the new hint lines, you can add...
There we more keyboard commands (like the numpad) that I ran out of time, but I'll save those for another update... because god knows, I can't stop working on this fucking game.
That arcade machines will make it into the next major update, probably when iOS and Android are released.
Come talk about it on the Official Thimbleweed Park Forums.
- Ron
Official Thimbleweed Park Forums
May 05, 2017
Announcing the Official Thimbleweed Park Forums. No longer will you have to scroll through hundreds of uncategorized messages looking for that gem of a comment.
I've closed all comments on the blog, so if you want to continue to chat about Thimbleweed Park, head on over to the Official Thimbleweed Park Forums.
When I post a new blog entires, the comments for those entries will open up again.
Special thanks to Robin Ward, a backer, blog reader, and co-founder of Discourse, for helping to set all this up.
- Ron
Thimbleweed Park Podcast #67
Apr 30, 2017
The very last Thimbleweed Park podcast... can we have a moment of silence.
WARNING: This podcast is filled with spoilers...
You can also subscribe to the Thimbleweed Park Podcast RSS feed if that's 'your thing'.
You can also get the podcast directly from iTunes.
- Ron
Friday Questions Questions
Apr 25, 2017
Welcome to what could be the last Thimbleweed Park Friday Questions Podcast.
Time to get all your questions in, although we will be recording on Thursday, so the cut off will be Wednesday evening (PDT).
Please keep your questions about the final game and design, art, production or developer issues related to that.
I think it goes without saying that the comments will be filled with spoilers, so don't read this is you're trying to remain pure.
3... 2... 1... GO!
COMMENTS ARE CLOSED
The podcast should be up this weekend, Monday at the latest.
Whiteboards
Apr 09, 2017
Now that we can post preproduction design docs without fear of spoilers (warning: spoilers ahead) I thought we'd start with the whiteboards.
Early in January, right after the Kickstarter finished, Gary and I got together for a few days of brainstorming on the whiteboard. At this point, we knew the basic story, in so much as these agents show up to investigate the body, and there was a clown, a dead guy and computer programmer.
We didn't really know how the game would end, or how we'd get there, but hey, that is the fun part.
After the first brainstorm session, Gary had the idea of a big factory and this tube based AI. It seemed ripe for digging, so we ran with that and never looked back.
A couple of months later, David Fox joined the team and we started to get into the nitty-gritty of solving the murder.
After the first day with David, I was really bothered by all the details of finding evidence. It seemed like an arbitrary jumble and players would be lost.
I went home feeling a little dejected and overwhelmed. What the evidence gathering stage needed was focus, then the idea of TronMachines hit me. By placing them in the Coroners office, it would give that focus. The TronMachines wanted specific items, and that meshed better with how an adventure game worked. David and Gary seemed to like the idea and it gave out design sessions more focus as well (always a good idea).
Originally the Coroner's office had 4 TronMachines, the BloodTron, FaceTron, FingerTron and EnhanceTron. The EnhanceTron was going to be used to enhance a video image taken from the Quickie Pal video camera, but it felt like too much, so we cut it.
We saved the flashbacks for last, and for those brainstorm sessions Jenn join us. Ransome's flashback started to get huge and we cut it back significantly.
We took pictures of the white boards at the end of each session, or before we erased them.
Most of what you see made it into the game, although tweaked quite a bit. Other parts never got off the whiteboard. Some of it made it off the whiteboard and into the wireframe version, but was cut before final art.
