Running With Scissors Q&A

Game developer Running With Scissors (RWS) should be no stranger to modern-day PC gamers. The company and the term "going postal" go hand in hand like a hamburger and fries. Over the last 10 years, Vince Desi and the gang have fought off an onslaught of controversy over its Postal games, namely for their content and misunderstood objectives. However, the company wasn't always strong with the dark side.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, RWS originally developed children's titles under the name Riedel Software Productions, which Mike Jaret Riedel and Vince Desi founded. Their first game was based on the infamous Spy vs. Spy license, followed by other well-known franchises including Sesame Street and Tom and Jerry. It wasn't until 1996 when Riedel and Desi decided to switch direction, rename the business and begin to work on one of the most talked-about PC games to date: Postal.

Now RWS faces the upcoming release of Postal 3, slated to hit the PC and next-gen consoles by the end of this year. The developer is also celebrating the opening of a full-blown motion picture based on its Postal series, directed by Uwe Boll, who has become infamous for his video game movies.

Unfortunately, Postal will only be released in about a dozen theaters nationwide this Friday. Desi and RSW, along with Boll himself, campaigned to keep the movie from getting shut out of major U.S. theaters (click here for more), so it's a minor victory that some Postal fans will get a chance to see the film on the big screen. And "Postal's" notorious 9/11 spoof opening scene, which has been viewed over two million times on YouTube, has helped keep the film in the spotlight despite the small number of theaters slated to show it. Tom's Games caught up with RSW and spoke with Vince Desi and Steve Wik about working with Boll, their controversial Postal games and the upcoming sequel Postal III.

TG: You have to admit, Uwe Boll doesn't exactly receive positive feedback on his films, especially those based on video games. Both "Alone in the Dark" (#84) and "House of the Dead" (#30) made IMDB's Bottom 100 movie list. With that said, what made Uwe Boll perfect for bringing Postal to the screen, and are you satisfied with the results?

Vince Desi: He agreed to have us work with him. He actually was very encouraging, and this was very different from others in Hollywood who approached us. And he's funny; he made a comedy, by far his best work. He will tell you the same.

TG: Without having seen the flick, are you and the RWS team actually in the movie?

Vince Desi: I am. I play Krotchy! You know, the circumcised character from POSTAL 2.

TG: Are there any talks about a sequel?

Vince Desi: We've talked about it. I know everyone thinks it's a good idea, so I'm confident it will happen, probably 2009 or 2010.

TG: Speaking of sequels, how is Postal 3 progressing? Is the game still slated to ship by the end of this year?

Vince Desi: No, we're not making cheap suits in China. The more important news is that it's looking f***ing great!

TG: In a nutshell, what should gamers expect from the new installment that will be different from Postal 2?

Vince Desi: A lot. I'll let Steve Wik, our lead designer, get into the details on this one. Just one little note: you can play as a Postal Babe!

Steve Wik: Just to name a few: Expect higher quality and more polish. More detailed and interesting environments to wreak havoc on. Remember how you could get dogs to befriend you in Postal 2? Well, we're expanding that concept to give you even more control over your animal friends! And of course, we're also expanding the "Freewill" aspect of the game by making real payoffs/tradeoffs depending upon how you act in the world.

The Postal Dude and an animal friend in the upcoming sequel Postal III.

TG: What was the prime reason to use Valve's Source technology for Postal III?

Vince Desi: For us it made sense on several levels, from economics to performance; it was that simple. I think too many developers, and for that matter publishers who pay the big license fees, don't really understand the nature of licensing an engine. Engines are made by companies with their own agenda, not yours, so you must be prepared to do a lot of customization, or be happy with another Unreal clone.

TG: In a recent interview, Steve sounded somewhat bitter towards Epic in regards to the company's quest for Hollywood's recognition. Also, some developers have actually complained about the Unreal Engine 3, stating that it's buggy or difficult to use. What are your thoughts?

Steve Wik: I always sound bitter. Really I was mocking them for being so pompous that merely making games isn't enough, now they want to pretend they're Hollywood pre-viz software. Also, considering the bugginess and other issues, the fact that they charge as much as four or five Lamborghinis is just ludicrous. No engine will be without its issues unless you're merely doing a graphics mod, but what I like about Valve is that they focus as much attention on things that enhance gameplay as they do on things that look pretty.

TG: Postal 3 is your first console attempt. How was the learning curve developing for the Xbox 360 in contrast to the PC?

Vince Desi: Some of us have experience on console, so it wasn't as brutal as it could have been. Also, Xbox 360 is not that bad compared to older console development, and the best part is that Valve's Source Engine really works.

TG: Despite the franchise controversy, players are not required to kill anyone in order to complete the tasks at hand. Do you think your games have been unfairly judged by the public, especially by non-gamers?

Vince Desi: Yes, yes and yes. Not only by the general media, but even the game press has sadly missed the point. I am confident with Postal III we will get passed all the bullshit. When you compare Postal to other so-called rated M games, we're like a kindergarten toy. But politics enters every arena including ours. But this time, I think it will be very clear that Postal III is an action comedy adventure.

TG: Is it possible that, with the likes of Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt saturating the market that the Postal series is less controversial now than it was five years ago?

Vince Desi: In reality Postal never was actually controversial; it was the media that scapegoated it to their benefit. Look, this is a big bucks industry and we're a small independent developer. This is why I think we have the greatest fans in the world; our fans are loyal and supportive, and they don't believe in the crap that is said about us, and the proof is in the fact that we just celebrated our 10th anniversary. How many games, or developers can say that? And having done it on our own, without a big publisher behind us, that's called fan support. Now that's priceless.

TG: Now here's a really stupid question: do you think violent video games contribute to the rising angst of our nation's youth?

Vince Desi: Yes, along with many other things. Where do I start? Teen pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, single-parent homes, TV, movies, music, school - sorry, but this would take another interview. If you ever want to talk about social responsibility, I'd be happy to. And I think we should, because it affects all of us.

Steve Wik: I think the things that actually contribute to youth angst have nothing at all to do with entertainment products. If anything, those products are a reflection of the angst, an outlet, an expression. NOT "the cause". I think idiots who try to make that kind of cheap connection are dangerous and ignorant of reality and/or are trying to further a political career (or enhance their lawsuit-generated retirement account). They're dangerous because they distract resources and attention away from solving the real issues. To belittle and simplify the true depth of human issues related to teen violence by blaming videogames, music, movies, or television is contemptible, offensive and abusive. I mean, what kind of abject moron would look at a shooter who had a history of mental illness, was on a dozen different mood-altering medications and had stopped taking a few, and say: "Look everyone! He played counterstrike! Counter-Strike is to blame!"?

TG: Will RWS eventually create another IP outside the Postal series?

Vince Desi: Yes, we have in the past, and I look forward to being in a position where we can actually get started.

Join our discussion on this topic