If you haven't seen the documentary, here it is: ua-cam.com/video/xgqEneDNQto/v-deo.html Ron Gilbert interview: ua-cam.com/video/qzorEPK6khk/v-deo.html Dave Grossman interview: ua-cam.com/video/GABrEdG8Ez4/v-deo.html
Mark Ferrari is an interviewer's dream. He has some stories to tell, all of them very interesting, and is very proficient on telling them. On the other hand, having two hours of really interesting content to edit must be complicated. The work of choosing what to cut and what to keep, specially in the context of a documentary that includes other interviews, must be really difficult. Once again, kudos on your superb final edition on the documentary. And thank you very much for uploading the full interviews. Everything surrounding your Monkey Island documentary, and obviously the doc itself, is gold.
Oh, he sure is. He was so forthcoming with stories and info. Trying to structure this and two other 45 minute to an hour interviews was a logistical nightmare, but just about pulled it off. Thank you very much!
Wow, the fact he had no idea what a legend he was for so long is stunning. The biggest media industry in the world became what it was in his shadow as he had no idea! So glad this interview was done for preservation! His work on Thimbleweed Park is incredible and among my favourite game art in years!
I enjoyed seeing Mark Ferarri before in a GDC video, but this interview is on a whole new level. Mark's insights and truly excellent, not to even mention his amazing art and stories!
It is interesting that compression, which relies on patterns in data, is obviously (even to me) possible with dithering since a checkerboard is a pattern hardly more complicated than one color repeated...but the programmers weren't willing to take a few hours to re-write the algorithm until the art director demanded that they do it!
Recently fell back in love with these games from my childhood and these interviews along with the documentary has been absolutely amazing to help get back into the nostalgia. I'm super proud of how confident you've gotten with the interviews and super happy you've gotten to speak to these legends. Well done bro. 🎉
Man, this comment is so touching, thank you so much. I was so nervous with these first interviews as it was far removed from anything I'd done before, but I did one last Friday and I said to the missus that I'm noticeably more relaxed and confident doing them. It means a lot to hear someone else say that. Really appreciate it! ❤
Love this, what a great interview. Mark is a strange guy, very humble for how amazing he is. I checked his website after this and it's so insane how much he downplays himself.
It's amazing... back when I was a kid playing the EGA version of monkey island, there was an intangible thing about the art style that I absolutely loved, but couldn't exactly identify. Today I can say it's definitively the dithered art work. This game and Loom were the first games I ever played with that art style. Anyway, it's great to know now who was the champion behind that decision. So much respect for Mr. Ferrari and his legacy on these games. To bad we didn't have him for Monkey Island 2.
Really enjoyed this mate, definitely my favourite segment. I was listening whilst rewiring the games room but I spent most of my time just sat listening.
Thanks for making and publishing these interviews. And the documentary of course. I very much enjoyed watching all of them. Greetings across the channel from Belgium.
Thank you so much for these Monkey Island docs / interviews. I enjoyed them so much. So insightful and really took me back to playing my Amiga SoMI as a 10 year old boy. You’ve done something here that I’d have loved to be able to do - well done!!
Fantastic interview and what a talented guy. Hes being pretty modest about his beginnings..those color pencil images are amazing, and not just the rendering. Im sure those old geezers at that con were truthfully impressed. Also George Lucas doesnt get enough cred for building what sounds like an awesome place to work and nice lives for the many people under him (including getting royalties for games for the designers) Thanks for this!
Thank you! Mark's coloured pencil drawings are just stunning. It sounds like Lucasfilm games was an ideal works[pace for creativity in those days; just a shame that seemed to change around 1991/92.
Ah, that's very kind. These interviews were the first I've ever done, so I was worried I wouldn't be any good. Just got to give them room to breathe and tell their stories without the interviewer talking too much, as I hate it when interviewers talk all the time. Mark was a superb interviewee.
I forgot to comment on this pete when i watched it, i think this is so well put together very well structured how the documentary is presented in terms of questions you had prepared pete very professional and obvisiously about your favourite game! Good on you pete.. p.s as in (now) ive got the spotify pete armour on now 👍😀
@@onaretrotip I bought the app that he mentioned. It is really cool. I get up before the sun so the scene is introduced in darkness and I get to see it reveal itself as the day progresses.
Good to see the whole stuff, how you managed to pull these off with the views you have, i dunno, but maybe its the channel where people who click on such videos actually check them out.
I would have loved to 1. see the picture that Mark drew and left on his screen while he went to lunch to get the Art director to get Dither to be compressible. 2. Hear more about the conversation that took place with the Art director and the programers to change the algorithm, and hear how the dynamics of the relationship between Mark (the thorne in their side) and the programmers must have been after this? 3. Hear Mark explain more about how the Dither process works, it is still 16 colours right? Is the checkerboard just a trick of the eye/mind that blends the colours to seem like other colours are being made? I guess its all too late but these were some of my thoughts while watching this.
1. He doesn't have the picture. I'd love to see it too. 2. Doubt the relationship changed one bit. 3. Yes, it's still 16 colours, but the checkerboarding creates the illusion of different colours. If you Google 'dithered pixel art' you'll see numerous examples.
Many games for the Apple ][ (early 80s, well before Lucasarts Games existed) used dithering to expand the 4-color palette pretty extensively, although the artwork on lots of the early adventure games were wildly amateurish.
He kind of yada yadad over the experience of using the 4,096 color Deluxe Paint palate on his father's Amiga and then having to use 16 color EGA palette at his job. Talk about crushed expectations....
@@onaretrotip I really would have loved if you had followed up on that. Especially since he was so inexperienced with computers, having that initial experience with the Amiga as his first paint program established his baseline for what computers could do. I can imagine him walking into Lucasfilm, this top tier company, thinking he's have the best tools at his disposal. To then be forced to work with 16 ugly colors-- there's a potentially really interesting story in there that we just didn't get a chance to hear.
Dude seriously I dunno what the fk is up with UA-cam but your videos are not being recommend anymore even tho I have alerts on I just realised oh I haven’t seen anything from that retro gaming dude in a while
If you haven't seen the documentary, here it is: ua-cam.com/video/xgqEneDNQto/v-deo.html
Ron Gilbert interview: ua-cam.com/video/qzorEPK6khk/v-deo.html
Dave Grossman interview: ua-cam.com/video/GABrEdG8Ez4/v-deo.html
You did incredible work. Thank you
This guy was the star of the doc, some great insight not just about the game but life itself
He sure was. I enjoyed speaking to Mark so much, and he was really forthcoming with info and stories.
Mark Ferrari´s work never ceased to amaze me ... he brings life to pixels like nobody else
He sure does!
Mark Ferrari is an interviewer's dream. He has some stories to tell, all of them very interesting, and is very proficient on telling them. On the other hand, having two hours of really interesting content to edit must be complicated. The work of choosing what to cut and what to keep, specially in the context of a documentary that includes other interviews, must be really difficult. Once again, kudos on your superb final edition on the documentary. And thank you very much for uploading the full interviews. Everything surrounding your Monkey Island documentary, and obviously the doc itself, is gold.
Oh, he sure is. He was so forthcoming with stories and info. Trying to structure this and two other 45 minute to an hour interviews was a logistical nightmare, but just about pulled it off. Thank you very much!
Wow, the fact he had no idea what a legend he was for so long is stunning. The biggest media industry in the world became what it was in his shadow as he had no idea! So glad this interview was done for preservation! His work on Thimbleweed Park is incredible and among my favourite game art in years!
I know, right! His story about discovering what a big deal Monkey Island was really shocked me. Thank you, glad you enjoyed the interview.
I enjoyed seeing Mark Ferarri before in a GDC video, but this interview is on a whole new level. Mark's insights and truly excellent, not to even mention his amazing art and stories!
Yes, he was absolutely fascinating to listen to. So many great insights and stories.
This may actually be more interesting than the monkey island video. Thanks for postin the whole thing
Yeah, Mark was absolutely fascinating. Thanks for watching!
Criminally underrated channel.
Thank you so much!
His comments about the creative process are so amazingly well said. Great interview!
Yes, he really was a joy to talk to.
It is interesting that compression, which relies on patterns in data, is obviously (even to me) possible with dithering since a checkerboard is a pattern hardly more complicated than one color repeated...but the programmers weren't willing to take a few hours to re-write the algorithm until the art director demanded that they do it!
Thankfully he pressed them for it!
Recently fell back in love with these games from my childhood and these interviews along with the documentary has been absolutely amazing to help get back into the nostalgia. I'm super proud of how confident you've gotten with the interviews and super happy you've gotten to speak to these legends. Well done bro. 🎉
Man, this comment is so touching, thank you so much. I was so nervous with these first interviews as it was far removed from anything I'd done before, but I did one last Friday and I said to the missus that I'm noticeably more relaxed and confident doing them. It means a lot to hear someone else say that. Really appreciate it! ❤
Love this, what a great interview. Mark is a strange guy, very humble for how amazing he is. I checked his website after this and it's so insane how much he downplays himself.
Thank you very much! Yes, he's very modest when it comes to all this.
What a great guy! Loved listening to this
Such a lovely chap.
Mark Ferrari, a true genius in terms of pixel art.
Undoubtedly.
And once again thank you! Those interviews are gems for a fan of MI series like me.
My pleasure!
It's amazing... back when I was a kid playing the EGA version of monkey island, there was an intangible thing about the art style that I absolutely loved, but couldn't exactly identify. Today I can say it's definitively the dithered art work. This game and Loom were the first games I ever played with that art style.
Anyway, it's great to know now who was the champion behind that decision. So much respect for Mr. Ferrari and his legacy on these games. To bad we didn't have him for Monkey Island 2.
Yes, it was fascinating to hear all this from Mark. It's made me appreciate the EGA artwork so much more.
This has been a great series thanks
Thank you!
Really enjoyed this mate, definitely my favourite segment.
I was listening whilst rewiring the games room but I spent most of my time just sat listening.
Thank you, David. Mark took the whole documentary up a notch I think.
I'm an artist who specialises in pixel art and this video was very insightful and inspiring.
Glad to hear that! It was definitely an absolutely fascinating interview for me.
Just bought Living Worlds because of the interview. Great stuff.
Awesome!!!
Same! Makes my phone look so much cooler!
Thanks for making and publishing these interviews. And the documentary of course. I very much enjoyed watching all of them. Greetings across the channel from Belgium.
Thank you very much!
Thank you so much for these Monkey Island docs / interviews. I enjoyed them so much. So insightful and really took me back to playing my Amiga SoMI as a 10 year old boy. You’ve done something here that I’d have loved to be able to do - well done!!
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed them. It was a childhood dream being able to do it.
Thank you very much for this great series!
You're very welcome!
Amazing work as usual. Best documentary on UA-cam!
Thank you so much!
Wow! Superb stuff! Congratulations!
I love the insight of Mark on narrative, and the details about dithering and color cycle.
Thank you! I found it fascinating too; it was a real treat for me to talk with Mark.
Awesome interviews and the documentary was brilliant (and so very timely too), all the views were well deserved! Gongrats and thank you, sir!
Thank you very much!
These interviews are gold!
Thank you so much! This one with Mark is one of my favourites.
This is AMAZING. Thanks again. Massive gems, especially "Storytelling" 1:32:01
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did.
The color cycling dither master himself! Can't wait to watch this when I have 2 hours.
😃
This is such a gem! Thank you!
Mark is so interesting and passionate. Thank you!
The Legend! Next one: Michael Land, please.
Would love to, but he didn't respond to the offer. Hence he isn't in the documentary.
@@onaretrotip Ooooh U_U. Thanks for trying, Onaretrotip. You did an amazing work, you are invaluable.
Thank you for sharing these diamonds Pete!
My pleasure, Marek!
I know he will hate me saying this, but Mark Ferrari is a genius!
Haha, yes, he probably would.
Fantastic interview and what a talented guy. Hes being pretty modest about his beginnings..those color pencil images are amazing, and not just the rendering. Im sure those old geezers at that con were truthfully impressed.
Also George Lucas doesnt get enough cred for building what sounds like an awesome place to work and nice lives for the many people under him (including getting royalties for games for the designers)
Thanks for this!
Thank you! Mark's coloured pencil drawings are just stunning. It sounds like Lucasfilm games was an ideal works[pace for creativity in those days; just a shame that seemed to change around 1991/92.
Mark: not just a superb artist. A philosopher as well.
I know, right!
Pete you should consider interviewing as an alt career path, you have serious skills. Maybe Eric Chahi could be next?
Ah, that's very kind. These interviews were the first I've ever done, so I was worried I wouldn't be any good. Just got to give them room to breathe and tell their stories without the interviewer talking too much, as I hate it when interviewers talk all the time. Mark was a superb interviewee.
I forgot to comment on this pete when i watched it, i think this is so well put together very well structured how the documentary is presented in terms of questions you had prepared pete very professional and obvisiously about your favourite game! Good on you pete.. p.s as in (now) ive got the spotify pete armour on now 👍😀
Thank you very much, Jay!
@@onaretrotip no problem pete really enjoyed it and really happy for you as its your favourite game
Finally getting to sit down and watch these interviews. Lots of information here. Would have never guessed your age haha!
Thank you! Hahaha yes, I am old.
@@onaretrotip I bought the app that he mentioned. It is really cool. I get up before the sun so the scene is introduced in darkness and I get to see it reveal itself as the day progresses.
I think the Amiga version used the VGA graphics with reduced number of colors. The EGA images looked quite different.
Yes, the Amiga graphics were redrawn from the VGA version, but with 32 colours.
Amazing content!! Keep it up.
Thank you!
This guy is hillarious how did you not laugh out loud which he talks about the "16 awful colours!"
😂
amazing work!
Thank you!
Good to see the whole stuff, how you managed to pull these off with the views you have, i dunno, but maybe its the channel where people who click on such videos actually check them out.
I have no idea either LMAO
"We were wrestling with pixels and not in love with them" they hadno idea what they were about to start :D
Haha nope.
Delightful subject and a wonderful interviewer.
Thank you very much. I think the interviewee really made it rather than the interviewer LOL
Excellent !
Thanks!
Wow, video! Why didn't we get video with Ron Gilbert?
His choice, not mine.
@@onaretrotip Yes it didn't make much of a difference. Great interview regardless.
@@sgtunix Thank you!
Great Job m8. Can you shar a link to app.
Thanks!
Living Worlds app:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pixfabrik.livingworlds&hl=en&gl=US
apps.apple.com/gb/app/living-worlds-mark-ferrari/id1371140984
I would have loved to 1. see the picture that Mark drew and left on his screen while he went to lunch to get the Art director to get Dither to be compressible. 2. Hear more about the conversation that took place with the Art director and the programers to change the algorithm, and hear how the dynamics of the relationship between Mark (the thorne in their side) and the programmers must have been after this? 3. Hear Mark explain more about how the Dither process works, it is still 16 colours right? Is the checkerboard just a trick of the eye/mind that blends the colours to seem like other colours are being made? I guess its all too late but these were some of my thoughts while watching this.
1. He doesn't have the picture. I'd love to see it too.
2. Doubt the relationship changed one bit.
3. Yes, it's still 16 colours, but the checkerboarding creates the illusion of different colours. If you Google 'dithered pixel art' you'll see numerous examples.
Funny thing: Mark tells the secret of monkey island in this interview... and he is actually right.
Amazing 😂
Dithered EGA! Was hard to believe PC's would become gaming machines back then with the graphics power the Amiga had.
Yes! Good times though.
Many games for the Apple ][ (early 80s, well before Lucasarts Games existed) used dithering to expand the 4-color palette pretty extensively, although the artwork on lots of the early adventure games were wildly amateurish.
Yeah, they certainly didn't invent dithering.
He kind of yada yadad over the experience of using the 4,096 color Deluxe Paint palate on his father's Amiga and then having to use 16 color EGA palette at his job. Talk about crushed expectations....
😂
@@onaretrotip I really would have loved if you had followed up on that. Especially since he was so inexperienced with computers, having that initial experience with the Amiga as his first paint program established his baseline for what computers could do. I can imagine him walking into Lucasfilm, this top tier company, thinking he's have the best tools at his disposal. To then be forced to work with 16 ugly colors-- there's a potentially really interesting story in there that we just didn't get a chance to hear.
Just curious whether anyone here has named one of their children Guybrush yet?
Haha I'm sure somebody has. poor kid.
I feel like Marks story telling rant was really about world politics. Did i misunderstand?
LOL
1:38:14 Holly frick'n based
?
Half of those views are mine bro tysm
LOL Thank you!
Dude seriously I dunno what the fk is up with UA-cam but your videos are not being recommend anymore even tho I have alerts on I just realised oh I haven’t seen anything from that retro gaming dude in a while
UA-cam being useless as always.