(And for those of you who loved the original Age of Empires… keep an eye out. Richard's next book is coming very soon.)
What Is Passport to Adventure?
At its heart, Passport to Adventure is a deep dive into the engine and the games that reshaped an entire genre. We’re peeling back the layers of the SCUMM system — the magic behind classics like Monkey Island, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Day of the Tentacle, Loom, and more.
Think of it as a three-hour, feature-length celebration and investigation, structured with the same energy and storytelling style as an episode of TerrorBytes, but focused entirely on the golden age of LucasArts and Humongous Entertainment adventures.
They’ll be going game-by-game, moment-by-moment, exploring how these titles were made, why they mattered, and how they continue to inspire players and developers today.
Ron Gilbert is already confirmed for an interview. He’s joined by David Fox, Aric Wilmunder, Tami Borowick, and Mark Ferrari, with a final cast expected to reach 20–30 contributors.
Why This Documentary Matters
This project has been living in Richard's head for years. His very first professional article — a history of adventure games for Ars Technica — praised Ron Gilbert’s player-friendly design philosophies and celebrated my favourite SCUMM adventure, the gleefully absurd Sam & Max Hit the Road.
Since then, Richard has explored the stories behind countless classics through The Secret History of Mac Gaming, Shareware Heroes, and most recently TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming. But SCUMM… SCUMM has always been the dream project. The one Richard has been waiting for the right moment to tackle.
With your support, that moment might finally be here.
At its heart, Passport to Adventure is a deep dive into the engine and the games that reshaped an entire genre. We’re peeling back the layers of the SCUMM system — the magic behind classics like Monkey Island, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Day of the Tentacle, Loom, and more.
Think of it as a three-hour, feature-length celebration and investigation, structured with the same energy and storytelling style as an episode of TerrorBytes, but focused entirely on the golden age of LucasArts and Humongous Entertainment adventures.
They’ll be going game-by-game, moment-by-moment, exploring how these titles were made, why they mattered, and how they continue to inspire players and developers today.
Ron Gilbert is already confirmed for an interview. He’s joined by David Fox, Aric Wilmunder, Tami Borowick, and Mark Ferrari, with a final cast expected to reach 20–30 contributors.
Why This Documentary Matters
This project has been living in Richard's head for years. His very first professional article — a history of adventure games for Ars Technica — praised Ron Gilbert’s player-friendly design philosophies and celebrated my favourite SCUMM adventure, the gleefully absurd Sam & Max Hit the Road.
Since then, Richard has explored the stories behind countless classics through The Secret History of Mac Gaming, Shareware Heroes, and most recently TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming. But SCUMM… SCUMM has always been the dream project. The one Richard has been waiting for the right moment to tackle.
With your support, that moment might finally be here.
How You Can Help Shape the Film
Richard is currently building momentum and gauging interest. To make this documentary a reality, he's asking fans to join the waitlist at:
>>scummdoc.com<<
The goal is 1,000 signups — not for funding, but simply to confirm that this is a story people want told. If we hit that milestone, we’ll move forward with a crowdfunding campaign and begin production later this year.
Your signup genuinely helps determine whether this film gets made.
Want to Hear More?
Journalist Laura Cress recently interviewed Richard on her Cressup YouTube channel, where she digs deeper into the project’s origins, goals, and early progress.
Richard is also posting daily SCUMM-related trivia and fun across social channels — Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook — so feel free to follow along.
What Comes Next
To everyone who has already signed up: thank you. It means the world that you’d support this project based purely on a high-level concept.
There’s so much more to share in the coming months — from behind-the-scenes updates to ways you can help shape the documentary’s direction. For now, consider this the first postcard from our journey into the world of three-headed monkeys, purple tentacles, and the largest ball of twine you’ve ever seen.
And if you know anyone — friends, colleagues, or even sworn enemies — who loves LucasArts or Humongous Entertainment adventures, please nudge them toward the waitlist. The more voices we gather, the bigger and better this documentary becomes.
Adventure Awaits.
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