Interview With CEO of Running With Scissors:Questions Needed

[Steven W]

We have an interview lined up in early January with Vince Desi, CEO of Running With Scissors, the developers of the controversial Postal games.

Postal 3 has just been announced and is also being made into a Hollywood movie. Vince was the man behind the decision to bring on board Uwe Boll as director of the film even though his previous work such as House Of The Dead were not well received. He just didn't want the film to have a Hollywood feel.

Vince is an outspoken but approachable character so feel free to ask anything.

For more info on Postal visit their website: http://www.gopostal.com/

If you have any questions you would like to ask then please post them below.

[Synergy6]

Okay, here's a few

Do you agree with the essay by Henry Jenkins, MIT entitled " Reality Bytes: Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked" ( http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerev...act/myths.html ) that basically every stereotype about video games (only girls play them, violent ones make people violent etc etc) are false?

Are you making games for the hell and enjoyment of it, or do you see yourself as more of an artist: using video games as a medium to push, and indeed redefine, the boundaries of what is and isn't acceptable in modern culture?

How would you reply to someone who considers you, to put it one way, something of a less than virtuous person for making video games that they deem undesirable for society?

Do you search out controversy with what you do, or does it simply follow?

Postal and Postal 2 sell, even sell pretty well, as the figures prove. Are we really, in your opinion, buying them because a) we all want to touch up our skills so we can go out and debrain the nearest copper, b) we want a safe output for the dark thoughts our ancestry as cave-dwelling killers bred us ("darkness of man's heart" - Golding), c) we want to enjoy a good gaming experience, d) we're idiots and should all back to Pong and Tetris instead?

What excites you most about what the "next-gen", as Microsoft would put it, or simply the advances in graphic, processing and even sound technology since the launch of Postal 2, can do for games like Postal 3 and beyond?

Is no publicity really the only bad publicity?

Will you be disappointed if you release Postal 3 and not even a single mid-level government secretary kicks up a fuss?

Why does America have some of the worst levels of gun crime in any reasonably developed nation, and other such rather negative statistics, yet point to its "societal morals and standards" when people try to experiment with their artistic creativity?

What's the best part of working at Running with Scissors?

Seeing as you are working to have Postal 3 made into a movie, what's your movie of 2005? (Mine were Sin City/Madagascar, FTR) (No need to include <- in the Q if asked)

What has Uwe Boll got everybody else hasn't? Or, in another sense, what's wrong with the "Hollywood feel"?

Do you ever worry that, considering all you'll have (hopefully) done by the time you shuffle off this mortal coil, you'll still only be remembered as "the Postal guy".

Would I be right in guessing that, as a contrast to all the controversial day job stuff, you have a really traditional Christmas?

Were you attacked by a member of the public sector as a child?

This is just a random list off the top o' me 'ead, as it were, I make no assurances on quality/content/applicability etc etc.
Synergy6

[Norky]

How much did you have to pay Gary Coleman?

[Ferral]

Given all the negative / bad publicity of the Postal series so far, they have become a cult hit amongst many PC gamers worldwide. Did you ever expect the Postal series to get so much acclaim from gamers when initially released and how has this affected your overall outlook on the content and creativity for the series ?

There ya go ! My contribution !

[CocoPops]

Is Postal coming to the Xbox360?

[Steven W]

Good questions!

I'll put these to the side for nearer the time, thanks a lot

[autopilot]

Does anyone read the daily mail?

[Kaine (AoD)]

What underware do you have on?on a serious note i heard of the same not played it so not much i can comment on this ^ ^ thought id add that in tho, worth a try

[autopilot]

More seriously; why does he consider style over substance to be more important? Does it shift more units? Controversy = cash?

Because thats clearly all the postal games are. I'm well against censorship, but can't help feel cynical about the Postal series. Anyway, i'm sure he does not read the Daily Mail, but he sure most love it for thier boosting of sales when Mr Smith from Basingstoke gets all hot and bothered and writes a letter.

[Steven W]

Interview is lined up for next week, I've got your questions ready to rumble.

[yamangman]

Oh oh oh:


What does he think of a clip of a small child playing "Postal 2" featuring in famous annoying teen band The Black Eyed Peas "Where is the love?" Music video? Amusing answer welcome

[Agent]

Will you make a game, then put the gore in with Postal 3; Unlike previous games where it feels the violence aspect alone is used to try and sell the game to your average chav ?

[Synergy6]

Will you promise never to come near me, or anybody I've ever met, with a chainsaw, spade, gun, [insert random hardware store product here], etc. ?

What's after Postal? More Postal? McDonald's Attendant-al?

Postal is obviously 18. On whom should the onus fall to regulate such things? Should, as people like Hillary Clinton would like, the Government step in and get tougher?

Synergy6

[smtkr]

How much did you have to pay Gary Coleman?

Whachutalkinabout?

[Vini]

Can he remake Sensible Soccer?

This should be asked to anyone!

[Steven W]

Interview is now live. Thanks to everyone for their questions.

The interview is unedited and contains strong language, over 18's only.

http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4461