Before first-person-shooters and its generic clones litter the game store shelves... Before mindless sex and violence replaced wit and originality... There were intelligent and incredibly funny adventure games made by LucasArts between the late 80s to mid 90s that I like to refer to as the 'golden age' of computer games.

During that time, game makers faced two major obstacles. Firstly, personal computers were a relatively new concept. Not many people owned one and for those that wanted one, they were simply too expensive. Secondly, computers were still widely viewed as a business tool and consequently the hardware was more suited for making spreadsheets rather than gaming. It was a market inhospitable to games.

However, the same conditions helped create some of the best games ever made. The small consumer base forced game makers to make wholesome and fun games that appealed to a broad spectrum. Having to cope with inadequate hardware, game makers relied on interesting storylines and humour to attract buyers. One of these games and my personal favourite is LucasArts' The Secret of Monkey Island, a tale of swashbuckling pirates, battles on the high sea, staple removers and a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle ... somewhere deep in the Caribbean!.

In what would of been a futile effort to achieve realism at a time where most computers could only display 256 colours, LucasArts instead abandoned the idea altogether to hilarious results. What pirate adventures would be complete without sword battles? Not a problem in Monkey Island where players' selection of insults and retorts decides the outcome of a fight. Indeed, insults are mightier than the sword! And where exactly does the character keep all the things he picks up? In his pants of course (unless by chance he left it in his other pant)!

The Secret of Monkey Island is in my opinion the best game ever made. But why take my word for it. If you would like to try the game, you could always drop by my house or I could loan you a copy.

In the meantime, a high school in the States was crazy enough to adapt the game into a school play. You can read about it here.
Videos of the play is available below in either small or large format. The last few parts of the play have not yet been released but I will post the links as soon as they become available.

Part 1: Small Large
Part 2: Small Large
Part 3: Small Large
Part 4: Small Large
Part 5: Small Large
Part 6: Small Large
Part 7: Small Large
Part 8: Small Large
Part 9: Small Large