Odd Piece of the Week: IGN interviews Oddworld Characters

[Xavier]

In 2001 something very special happened. For the first (and last) time in Oddworld history a bunch of people from earth were somehow allowed to go to Oddworld and interview Abe, Munch, Humphrey and Irwin. They even managed to tape some of the answer and bring them back for us.

Let's have fun and revisit what to me is one of the coolest things Oddworld did to promote Munch's Oddysee.

IGN VS the Vykkers
http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/...vs-the-vykkers

IGN Xbox: There have been allegations that you've used child or child-like labor in the production of some of your products. Some have even said that you're using the actual labor IN the products. What's your response to that?

Humphrey (click here for audio): "Children" is such a BROAD term...

Irwin: Yes, who's to say when childhood ends and servitude begins.

Humphrey: In terms, of putting our loyal scrubs into our products... I can assure you we make every effort to assure we meet all the necessary safety standards.

Irwin (click here for audio): Yes, Humphrey and I meet often to assure safety never interferes with profit.

[Irwin and Humphrey pause --look meaningfully at each other]

Irwin: You know? I don't think that came out right...

IGN VS Munch
http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/18/ign-vs-munch

IGN Xbox: How exactly do you plan on going against an entire corporation with a wheelchair, some fuzzy things, and a Mudokon?

Munch: (click here for audio) [grins wickedly] Oh I might be just one Gabbit... but we gots plans for them Vykkers and their buddies... we gots plans. They might have the Moolah... but that's not all it takes to get along in the world... we got the heart... and it doesn't hurt to have a couple hundred angry ol' Fuzz-heads on your side neither. Let's just put it this way: I wouldn't be investing no moolah in Vykkers Labs right about now.

IGN VS Abe
http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/26/ign-vs-abe

IGN Xbox: What's your hope for the future of the Mudokon race, besides the success of the Rehab & Tea chain?

Abe: I had a dream that one day all Mudokon will have clean loin clothes with no doodoo stains. They will have plenty of big fat larvae to eat. They will live simply with the land and have personal fitness trainers. Oh, and I'd just like to see everything have a proper label. Like, if a tasty treat is made of something, you know, like your brother -- then you'd know and ya might not want to eat it.

Note that the site linked to in the articles, http://www.vykkerslabs.com/, has partially been saved and is hosted here: http://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/...bs/index2.html

[Varrok]

I bet IGN slammed Munch's Oddysee in reviews.

After all, it had too much water.

[oblivionkeeper23]

IGN Xbox: What's your stand on the environment?
Irwin: Never been there.

I love this so much

[Gunnr]

Lol I just read and listened to all of these last month

These were awesome, I wish there were more

[Vlam]

By the way, there was going to be an Oddworld animated series:

It was an online animated series that was going to be animated in Flash. I guess it has been postponed after the exclusive deal with Microsoft, as it was originally supposed to coincide with (or come out just before) Munch's Oddysee's release.

I have no idea if the project will continue, but we can always hope.

http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=993

[Xavier]

It was going to be made by Eruptor, yes. No clue what's the relation with the IGN interviews tho.

[Vlam]

Let's have fun and revisit what to me is one of the coolest things Oddworld did to promote Munch's Oddysee.

To be frank, those interviews aren't particularly interesting (compared to Munch's Oddysee designer diary).

[Xavier]

Still, please stay on topic.

Feel free to start a new thread about the Oddworld animated series.

[Nate]

I haven't heard those audio clips in more than a decade, but somehow the Vykker bits are ingrained into my head such that I could quote them word for word, including intonation.

I wonder how often I listened to them back in 2001.

[tmakz]

Haha woooooooooo that was Awesome

[Crashpunk]

Wow, I've never actually heard of these before. Very interesting indeed.

And yeah an excellent way to promote the game.

[kjjcarpenter]

These seem oddly familiar. Thanks for highlighting them, Xavier.

At the very least, it's an interesting parallel to the advertisement for New 'n' Tasty and, by extension, Soulstorm. There don't seem to be many tongue-in-cheek teasers anymore, when as far back as Oddysee and Exoddus, OWI often embraced their (arguably gratuitous) humour.

Granted, it wasn't all gut-busting, as evidenced by this demo disc:



But it would be great to see a little humour return, to contrast with the dark moments that have been revealed thus far. Like this:



I don't know who decided that Oddworld always had to be taken seriously all of the time. The original game ends with a fucking fart to black! At its core, Oddworld has always been a powerful message, wrapped in a disturbing world, with a dash of humour to keep the nightmares at bay and offer a moment of satire in an absurd story. I hope Soulstorm doesn't abandon this ideology for a relentless grunge effect.

[oblivionkeeper23]

I don't know who decided that Oddworld always had to be taken seriously all of the time. The original game ends with a fucking fart to black! At its core, Oddworld has always been a powerful message, wrapped in a disturbing world, with a dash of humour to keep the nightmares at bay and offer a moment of satire in an absurd story. I hope Soulstorm doesn't abandon this ideology for a relentless grunge effect.

I couldntve said it better. I really do hope Soulstorm maintains Oddworld's humor, especially if Oddworld wants to attract new fans to the series. No one likes "edgy remakes", and while Soulstorm isn't really an edgy remake, it could be seen as one by non-fans.

[Vlam]

Indeed, Kevin's right.