This is an interview with the independent game developer Michael B. Clark who recently succeeded with his first game Harvest.
You can buy Harvest at the website http://members.aol.com/harvestgame

We will start with the background. Who is Michael B. Clark?

I'm a 37 year old native of Washington, D.C. currently living in Alexandria, VA.
I'm single, and have two cats, both of which you saw in "Harvest". Adventure Games are my passion.

How did you come up with the idea of making adventure games?

Ever since I lost myself in "Myst" back in 1995, I knew that one day I HAD to make an Adventure Game. The ability to create an entire, interactive world amazes me.

You mention Myst. What other games have inspired you?

"Cracking the Conspiracy" was the first Independant game I'd played, and that was a big inspiration. It showed me that making a game without the backing of a big company was in fact possible.

What goals do you have for the future?

I want to continue making Adventure games for the forseeable future. I LOVE making them, almost as much as playing them.

You've recently released the game Harvest.
Are you satisfied with the way Harvest have been received by the adventure gaming community?

Oh yes, I'm delighted with how the community has received "Harvest". I've had so many wonderful e-mails from folks telling me how much they enjoyed the game, and how they are looking forward to my next one. And the forum discussions pertaining to the game have been super. I never in a million years would have believed the game would have been as successful as it has been. And I've learned so much, that my next game will be even better.

You are working on a new game with the title The Arrangement. Please tell us all about it. Is it similar to Harvest? Story? When is it going to be released?

"The Arrangement" will be similar to "Harvest" in that it will utilize the same game interface and same inventory system. It will have similar types of puzzles (but I'm leaving out the mazes and sliders). The game will also be taking place in the same fictitious town of Haytown, Virginia. There will be a slight reference to events in "Harvest", but the plot line of "The Arrangement" is totally different. You play an attorney named Richard Sullivan. Your wife is kidnapped. Or so you believe. In your attempts to locate her, you gradually learn the chilling truth. Your marriage was not what it seemed. And your lives may have already been pre-Arranged.

What!!! You are leaving out the mazes and the sliders!? I thought it was rather cool of you to have those kinds of puzzles despite the "fact" that they are the adventure gamers biggest nightmares except for action sequences. Did you recive a lot of negative feedback on those features?

Yes, those were the main aspects of the game people complained about. Actually, there is a part in "The Arrangement" where the player will be given the choice of solving EITHER a slider or maze OR another type of puzzle to get the resulting outcome. I'm still figuring that part out. But the slider and maze certainly will not be required to finish the game.

To an outsider it seems like the number of independent game developers are steadily increasing. Do you have a comment on that statement?

I believe that the real future of Adventure games rests with the Independent developers. The big companies today seem to have somehow forgotten the roots of the genre, and are more interested in making money.

I would say that a company have to make money in order to be able to pay the employees and to be able to invest in new projects. Making money however should not be the goal itself. Is that what you think is happening? The goal shifting from making good games to making money?

Yes. I think the formula that results in a near-guaranteed cashflow is what is used. It's hard for me to say that I blame them, after all, they have to make money in order to survive. But there is no risk-taking, no going out on a limb to produce TOP QUALITY. The "artistic flair" so to speak is lost. Most Adventure Games today seem to have the same general look and feel about them. Sure these games are fun, I play them myself, but it just seems like something is missing. All of this is just my humble opinion of course.

Does that imply that you agree with the doomsday choir that repeatedly chants about the death of Adventures Games?

Oh no, not really. I think as long as there is a market for them, which I firmly believe there is, they will continue to be made. Whether by big companies, or by Independant developers. Either way, I think they will continue to exist.

That statement seems to be a good conclusion for this interview. Thank you, Michael B. Clark for taking the time to answer our questions and good luck with The Arrangement. I am looking forward to it.

Thanks Sara