I don’t know if only subscribers can read the article, but here is the link:
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2003/03/18/bunten/index.html
-DavidCPA
Argh! So now I have to sit through that stupid ad thing to read the article.
Great that recognition of the lamented Ms. Berry continues however. She’s on my short list for greatest game designer of all time (with Miyamoto, Garriott, Meier).
No, we can read it just fine.
Interesting article. Very tragic, though.
Insisting that a mass market of people could be reached if designers would only get out more, Bunten uttered her most quoted maxim: “Nobody on their deathbed said, ‘I wish I’d spent more time with my computer.’”
Too fucking true, and one we gamers should pay attention to more often.
Very well-written article.
I knew Dani as Dan back when I was in college. His then-wife was attending the same university as me, and he had a pre-production Amiga. A bunch of us geeks got wind of it and he was kind enough to let us come over and drool on it.
Many of the same geeks helped him play-test Robot Rascals (tested as a board game before he ever got the code running).
Lost track of Dan after college, and by the next time I saw him at a CGDC in the early 90s, she was Dani. (Ah, the joy of pronoun change.) I only saw her at GDCs, but we had some truly fascinating conversations over good beer. I always looked forward to seeing her. Brilliant, creative person, and truly one of the coolest and most talented people I’ve ever had the pleasure of calling a friend.
Spent a good amount of time talking to her at the last CGDC she attended (Long Beach). I knew she wasn’t in good health, but I didn’t know that was going to be the last conversation. A real shame that someone so talented didn’t have more success and happiness in life.
(Oh, and despite Trip’s denials in the article, EA damn well did insist on combat in the PC version of MULE. Dani refused, so the product died.)
I had never herd about the remark on Meir, Bunten and the idea for Civilization? This just some long lost rumor?
God, I miss her sometimes, and we weren’t even that close. Talking to her a couple times a year was like having most people around every day; it gave you plenty to reflect on when she was elsewhere.
The last GDC I saw her at, we talked about developing some ideas for articles which, unfortunately, I never followed up on.
Man, I loved Seven Cities of Gold. I still remember getting hooked on it in Grade 10 and cutting classes to play it. Never had the chance to play MULE, though.
“Nobody on their deathbed said, ‘I wish I’d spent more time with my computer.’”
I’m planning to.
This comment was probably more relevant pre-intarweb, when spending time with your computer meant being alone by definition. These days kids use computers exclusively to communicate what with ICQ, AIM, Napster, eDonkey, web forums, email, etc etc.
Computers really have become quite social, much to my chagrin.
M.U.L.E. is on my short list of all-time favs, and I played scores of 2, 3 and 4 player games on my C-64. A food plot and crystite were the key to victory.
George Broussard and I have contemplated buying the rights to this game and doing a modern remake (non-combat, of course!), but it seems that the rights are split between EA and Dani’s estate, so the chances are between slim and none.
(Have also considered trying to buy the Zork or Planetfall rights from Activision, and making a real-time 3D first-person version – why Activision isn’t doing doing this is scary stupid.)
Also makes sense to me to port M.U.L.E. to the GBA, and take advantage of the 2 to 4-way link cables. Perfect game for this system.
Only talked to Dan once, back when I was a game journalist in the early- to mid-80’s. Was very friendly and accommodating.
Scott Miller, CEO
3D Realms
I agree about MULE, I have 3 brothers and we played that thing to death back in the '80s. I wasn’t good with the economic subtleties but I think I scored the record for wumpus-catching in a single game.
/waits to see what joke can be made from this post
I remember a remake of MULE called Sea HORSE or something like that.
(Have also considered trying to buy the Zork or Planetfall rights from Activision, and making a real-time 3D first-person version – why Activision isn’t doing doing this is scary stupid.)
You wouldn’t be the first. Activision has a few people that are holding on to their IPs for deal life because one day they are going to make a new game based on them. Planetfall is one that is near and dear to their hearts. In 95 Activision was working on “Planetfall: Floyd’s Next Thing” and briefly in 2000 they kicked aound Planetfall again. All the while turning down more abled suitors. Ofcourse I don’t think anyone who has asked to pay for the rights to do Planetfall game had deep pockets. That may of had more to do with it than anything else.
I remember a remake of MULE called Sea HORSE or something like that.
Space HORSE
I remember a remake of MULE called Sea HORSE or something like that.
Jesus, that only like seven weeks ago.
MULE is still a multi-player favorite among the 30+ set at work. We have an Atari 800 set-up with 4 Wico joysticks. Our stilted co-workers get annoyed by the music, which jus tmakes playing all-the-better.
Anyone fond of the old MULE music really must download this amazing remix.
I liked Seven Cities of Gold a lot too, more than Mule.
olaf
Jesus, that only like seven weeks ago.
Ah, the good old days. Everything’s shit now.