Major League Eating: The Game: The Interview

[Kefkataran]

Hopefully some of you have noted that very rarely do I come onto Evil Avatar and do news posts linking to something I wrote for 1UP (http://www.1up.com). In fact, I've never done so, as I think that's the kind of cheap move our community is built around not standing for. That said, for today and today alone, I'm breaking my personal rule for one simple reason: it's not every day that I get to post an interview that's this damned fun.

During GDC week, I met up with Bill Swartz, the CEO of Mastiff. You may recognize Mastiff from some lesser-known PS2 and PSP games such as Gurumin or La Pucelle, or you may recognize him from an interview he did with Evil Avatar Radio a year ago. Regardless, he now has a much bigger claim to fame: he's the man who will be bringing Major League Eating: The Game into the world.

My interview is located here. (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166724) A short but delicious excerpt:

Swartz: We were looking for a product. We wanted to do a game with a under-appreciated IP that was still known by a large number of people. And the last thing we wanted to do was to try and be a mini-Activision or a mini-EA. I didn't want to do robot soccer or baseball with penguins. And it's Mastiff Production Woof Tom Gaubatz, to his credit, he said, "Why don't we do Major League Eating?" I called them up, frankly not knowing that much about it. I talked to them. And as we started this project, I fell head over heels in love. Major League Eating could be the best thing that has ever happened to me -- as a human being, as a sports fan, as a game developer.

1UP: You're not a fan of penguins playing baseball though?

Swartz: You know, I was watching penguins playing baseball, and not once did they try to eat that ball. Not once! They were just hitting it! Eat that ball! Eat that ball, penguin!

Be sure to check out the full interview, as it includes a discussion of the evolution of civilization, a philosophical quandary as to the true nature of Batman, and, of course, talking about eating.

Regardless of whether or not you actually think the Major League Eating game will amount to much, there's no doubt about it: Bill Swartz is a super-fun and interesting guy.

EDIT: As long as I'm breaking my rule, 1UP (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166750) reports that Major League Eating has been revealed as a WiiWare exclusive.

[LongStepMantis]

So is there a "Fit through the door to get into the restaurant" mini-game?

Also, the guy sounds cool as hell, too bad this game is a complete joke.

[Kefkataran]

So is there a "Fit through the door to get into the restaurant" mini-game?

Clearly you've never seen competitive eating! Most gurgitory athletes are actually surprisingly skinny guys.

[LongStepMantis]

Clearly you've never seen competitive eating! Most gurgitory athletes are actually surprisingly skinny guys.

I've seen enough of them to know that for every skinny Japanese guy, there are 5 big fat white fucks. ;)
It seems to be a clear divide between "My metabolism allows me to eat as much as I want" and big fat asses who just like eating. They're either perfectly fit, or grossly overweight.

[AgtFox]

I remember one other time that you linked one of your stories in a news item. I think it may have been for the first review you did for 1Up. No big deal and I don't mind you pimping yourself out like a whore. ;)

[Kefkataran]

I remember one other time that you linked one of your stories in a news item. I think it may have been for the first review you did for 1Up. No big deal and I don't mind you pimping yourself out like a whore. ;)

I don't recall that. I might have done it in a thread on the forums, but definitely not as a news post (I don't think). Then again, my first review for 1UP would've been a long time ago, so it's possible. :)

[bapenguin]

I've seen enough of them to know that for every skinny Japanese guy, there are 5 big fat white fucks. ;)
It seems to be a clear divide between "My metabolism allows me to eat as much as I want" and big fat asses who just like eating. They're either perfectly fit, or grossly overweight.

Actually, part of the reason skinny people are so good at competitive eating is because there isn't extra weight pushing on their stomach.

[Kefkataran]

Actually, part of the reason skinny people are so good at competitive eating is because there isn't extra weight pushing on their stomach.

Someone's been doing research! When can we expect your competitive eating debut, sir?

[LongStepMantis]

Actually, part of the reason skinny people are so good at competitive eating is because there isn't extra weight pushing on their stomach.

This is true.

I was referring more to why they don't eventually turn into big fat fucks from eating 50 hamburgers at once. ;)

[Dr.Finger]

I remember one other time that you linked one of your stories in a news item. I think it may have been for the first review you did for 1Up. No big deal and I don't mind you pimping yourself out like a whore. ;)Actually he just gets me to post links to his outside work, thereby skirting the letter of his rule. That Kef is a devious one!

[Serapth]

In fact, I've never done so, as I think that's the kind of cheap move our community is built around not standing for.

Wow, dont they teach you writer types that double negatives are wrong? :)

[Kefkataran]

Actually he just gets me to post links to his outside work, thereby skirting the letter of his rule. That Kef is a devious one!

Hey, I never said my morals were flawless!

[Kefkataran]

Wow, dont they teach you writer types that double negatives are wrong? :)

I might be reading that incorrectly, but I'm not sure that I see what you're referring to or how it would be "fixed" so to speak. Either way, I'm not a big fan of the condescending "I thought you were a writer, boy" talk. I have editors for a reason. :p

[Serapth]

I might be reading that incorrectly, but I'm not sure that I see what you're referring to or how it would be "fixed" so to speak. Either way, I'm not a big fan of the condescending "I thought you were a writer, boy" talk. I have editors for a reason. :p


It wasn't condescending, it was smartass!

Huge difference!
:)

[Kefkataran]

It wasn't condescending, it was smartass!

Huge difference!
:)

Whatever, let's get to the point, Serapth: You, me, hot dogs and buns. Eat-off. High noon. See you there, punk!

[Serapth]

Whatever, let's get to the point, Serapth: You, me, hot dogs and buns. Eat-off. High noon. See you there, punk!

That was strangely erotic...

[Kefkataran]

That was strangely erotic...

Sexuality and its relation to competitive eating is also discussed in the interview. (So fucked up that I'm serious about that.)

[LongStepMantis]

That was strangely erotic...

Like when a 500 lb. guy watches the food network.
For him, I mean...unless you have some weird fetishes.

[Baron Samedi]

That was strangely erotic...

According to Schwartz, it's sensual.

Edited for Kef! Now go read the damn interview.

[Serapth]

Sexuality and its relation to competitive eating is also discussed in the interview. (So fucked up that I'm serious about that.)

Damnit, now I actually have to RTFA!

[Kefkataran]

According to Schwartz, it's sensual.

Gasp! SPOILER TAGS, OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Baron Samedi]

Gasp! SPOILER TAGS, OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to Schwartz, it's like fucking a pig - a huge, overweight, fat fuck of a pig

Fixed!

[Tyler Durden84]

nice interview!

btw, i hope there ARE some steamy sex scenes in this game.
all those hot dogs and hungry japanese people are just fueling the sexual innuendo fire.

[Deadend]

the right stick is the Mastication stick.

Really, my expectations have been raised to expect the quirkiest game of the year.

[Kefkataran]

Really, my expectations have been raised to expect the quirkiest game of the year.

Big announcement about the game coming today too if I recall correctly. :)

[Karmakin]

The reality is, if they come up with some good mechanics for the gameplay this could be a really quirky fun game.

[Kefkataran]

The reality is, if they come up with some good mechanics for the gameplay this could be a really quirky fun game.

Agreed. I haven't really seen (much of) the game or played any myself, so I can't pass any real judgment, but it's good to know that at least some people aren't leaping to conclusions that the game MUST suck. Mastiff's done some good stuff in the past, so I'm hopeful.

[Mr.Green]

Competitive eating?

For fuck's sake.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I don't recall that. I might have done it in a thread on the forums, but definitely not as a news post (I don't think). Then again, my first review for 1UP would've been a long time ago, so it's possible. :)

You didn't even tell us when you used my picture. :)

[Kefkataran]

You didn't even tell us when you used my picture. :)

Ah, good memories.

[Spigot]

I said this last night when I was talking to you about this, and I'll say it again.

They need to use the Fight Night Round 3 engine for this game. Stat!

[cppcrusader]

That was quite the interesting interview Kef. This may turn out to be a fun game after all.

I didn't realize you were going to be out at GDC. We could've met up for some expense account cold ones.

[Kefkataran]

I didn't realize you were going to be out at GDC. We could've met up for some expense account cold ones.

Aw, damn, too bad. I actually only found out a couple of weeks before, so my preparations were kind of rushed. Next time?

[MrSatan]

As long as I can be that crazy Japanese guy who can eat more than he weighs, I will be a happy gamer.

[Sl1pstream]

gurgitory athletes

That made me laugh.

[Kefkataran]

That made me laugh.

Haha, yeah, Bill kept using that term. Dictionary doesn't seem to think it exists, but I guess it's commonly used in Major League Eating, so I figure it should become a greater part of the lexicon.

[Spigot]

As long as it's not a reguritory athlete.

[Kefkataran]

WiiWare exclusive, you say?

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166750

[mister_slim]

Nice interview Kef.

[Sl1pstream]

Haha, yeah, Bill kept using that term. Dictionary doesn't seem to think it exists, but I guess it's commonly used in Major League Eating, so I figure it should become a greater part of the lexicon.

The gurgitory doesn't even bother me. It's the athlete part. They sit down and eat a ton of stuff. They're athletes?

[cppcrusader]

Aw, damn, too bad. I actually only found out a couple of weeks before, so my preparations were kind of rushed. Next time?

Next time indeed.

[Headcase]

This interview really didn't get into the gameplay much. the premise might be interesting, but that doesn't have a big effect on how fun the game is to play.

It was a fun interview though. No mistake about that.

[Kefkataran]

This interview really didn't get into the gameplay much. the premise might be interesting, but that doesn't have a big effect on how fun the game is to play.

It was a fun interview though. No mistake about that.

Appreciate the kind words. It was a news interview rather than a preview interview, so that's the main reason we didn't talk about gameplay too much. Well, that and I was fairly certain Swartz didn't have much to say besides when he was talking about it being like a fighter.

[TurboKinny]

I still think you did a great job on the interview, Phil! Not that I didn't tell you that the first time I read it :)