The Questions

Alcar: Thankyou for taking the time to chat with us, now let the questions roll out!

depthsofodd: Can u tell us a estimate to when the next game will be released? 1 yr 2 yrs?
Alf: I would say we hope that the next game will be released at the end of 2003 but we don't know for sure. We want to make sure we get it right.

Abe Babe: Not that I wanted to be first or anything ... I don't really have a lot to ask. I just want to know how the development of the next game is coming along?
Alf: Hehehe, well..we are having fun and it's gonna be really different. It's going good. I can't say anything til next year.

Alcar: Concerning the Raisin's Cave, what are the paintings, or markings on the walls represent?
Alf: That's native cave art. I believe it's decorative. Scrab, paramites etc. Just like in A.O.

Majic: Will the darker themes of real feeling evil ever return? COmpared to AO, MO looked like a little joke. AO was actualy about slave labor and emotional, ya know? MO was all happyish. Like it was meant to be a farce, a decent story that could have been brought out much better with darker morals. So I take it this time, since we aren't really working with a true blue deadline, you'll be able to incorporate a more realish story in?
Alf: I don't know exactly what you mean by darker themes...but consumerism vs. mysticism will always be an ow theme. We always intended it to be darker but we had a lauch to meet. We are working on a deadline! It costs money to make a game.

Pilot: I love all of the antique earthly technology that is used in your games. For example, the old 1920's era cone speaker used on top of the console in Vykker's Labs. Who's ideas are those? My kudos to them!
Alf: Pilot that's the work of our Production Design staff.

D-Roc: ummm..yea..how did you come to make the rehab?
Alf: Well... you should know cuz the answer was in AE. The rehab was made to help muds get off of brew?

MojoMan220: I got to go, so here I go... What graphical enhancements over Munch's Oddysee are you hoping to allocate for the next game? In terms of bumbmapping, pixel shading, etc.
Alf: Well Mojo...I can't tell ya that. Like I said, no info on the next game.

depthsofodd: Will abe be in the rest of the series, or will new creatures be the stars of the games?
Alf: I would say that we've only touched the surface of what's on oddworld. there will be more to explore : )

FuzzleByte: Hi. :) Are we likely to see any past characters in the next game (including you)?
Alf: I hope so!

Khanz: Can you tell us anything about the Art of Oddworld book? Will it ever hit stores? How about any official oddworld literature?
Alf: Of course we'd love to do books, toys, movies, etc...hopefully in the future all merchandise will be available.

Jacob: Gender is practically non-existant with most inhabitants (In the game of course) but with Gabbits (I pressume) they have sex's. Does that mean that we will see Sexualities and such like in the games? Or are you staying away from the Controversy...etc...etc...and so on and so forth (Boring and un-original i know, but still)
Alf: I believe gender exists somewhere on oddworld, I don't think it's controversial, we hope.

Khanz: The first three games didn't have much replay value and it also lacks a multiplayer mode. Is anything being done about that in the next game?
Alf: Youse tricky Khanz...no question about the next game...let's just say this...it's something very different and you'll think...that can't be from oddworld...then you'll realize...who else but Oddworld! :)

Alcar: Oh God, this is to aching, how do we even know that the next game is ME?
Alf: Alcar...that will be answered in the new faq hopefully soon.

Jacob: Do you have a disclaimer on your website stating you are not responsible for people whom tattoo their body with OW stuff and then regret it 20 yrs down the line (Cos u seem to encourage a certain person in 'Ask Alf' (Dont answer if u dont want to...its sposed to make u think, lol))
Alf: Hehehehe...you know the guy Rich with both arms tatooed...he was supposed to do his back with Munch...but he never did. guess he didn't like the game! Hehehehe. We don't incourage folks to get tattoos.

Max_the_Mug: What kind of way will OWI plan to do canned/suspended games such as Hand of Odd and SligStorm? Are these going to see the light of day anytime?
Alf: Faq....coming soon ok?

Melkaiah: Are meeches still stayin extinct as of right now?
Alf: Yup. They are extinct due to the rupturefarms.

mute_mud: Dear master Alf, after the quintology (games and movies), next projects will be on oddworld planet? By the way do you ever use fan art as inspiration?
Alf: Oddworld is a very large place with infinite stories...

Oddguy_999: How has 9/11 and the more recent the Bail bombings change oddworld... Is Abe not going be called a Terrorest Mud in the future?
Alf: Well...he was called a terrorist by the glukkons.

Oddsville: Can you possibly tell us what the future games will go into, such as new parts of Mudos, what issuses will be brought froth, and if the Quintology will be leading to a different serries like the Quantology and the what not?
Alf: No. I dunno. Yes.

Rick: I was wondering how much of the intended story of Munch's Oddysee had to be cut out due to time constraints (Munch's broken leg, Sam, some kind of introduction to Raisin), and how the people at OWI (including Lorne) feel about those things being missing (disappointed, relieved, etc..)?
Alf: Rick....you answered your own question...We were disappointed we couldn't put everything into Munch that we planned on.

Sapphire: Hello there Alf, I appreciate you coming on in... how do you feel oddworld.com represents the feel and overall tone of the game you are all currently working on? For example, the site features a lot of interwoven Oddworld with Earth's pop culture...will these sorts of things happen in future games, or will it be more of a contained universe?
Alf: I would say that www.oddworld.com represents the fans right now.

Stripe: First, thank you for visiting us! *HUGS!* Questions: have you read any fanstories? Thoughts? And any plans for afterwards when all the oddworld games are finished? Will the movie(s) come out in DVD?
Alf: We don't read fan stories. We got lots of stories to tell so I hope we never stop making games!!!!!

Xavier: On the official site we can see 3 clips of the "Use Yur Imagination" video, I recently get the CD (good music) and watched the video. My question is, why are there some stuff in the clips (like a mud turning while haging to the camera) that are not in the video?
Alf: Probably...Xavier. We did a lot of footage for UYI that didn't get included in the video.

Stripe: Why do Glukkons seem to like / be attracted to the color 'Purple?'
Alf: Purple is the color of royalty...

depthsofodd: Will the new FAQ section of oddworld.com be in the december updates?
Alf: I dunno Hayley...I'm trying to get answers for you all...

Xavier: Alf, when will you come to chat again?
Alf: Next month...

Alcar: Well, thankyou for spending your valuable time with us Alf. We all appreciate what yourself and Oddworld Inhabitants have done for us fans, and we hope to have another chat with you at a later date! :)