I don't want to see it in an alternate timeline, and I don't see why anyone else would either. There's no way you can honestly convince me Ron can't fit his story into the stories that have already been made, and just ignoring the other three games is an insult to all the people who worked so hard on them.
However, creating an "alternate timeline" would just be an insult and would make no sense. I just put that option there for the people who would want it.
Indeed. Besides, boys and girls, there's no guarantee that Ron would make MI3 now the way he might have made it if it were told 18 years ago. I would imagine he'd change a few things as different ideas occurred to him, so why can't he fit it into the current canon? (With the slight possibility of, as mentioned, making Herman out to be a crazy old coot.)
Wait... how could it even be MI6? There have only been 5 games.
Because TTG said that ToMI doesn't take places right after EMI, but rather indicates that there was at least one adventure that occurred between the two games (the purpose being that TTG could start with a storyline unrelated to EMI.)
EDIT: I think they said that MI5, in their minds, would be an adventure game of epic size like the previous MI games, but TTG is making it episodic, and not right after EMI, so it's not technically MI5. MI5 sort of is like Leisure Suit Larry 4: The Search for the Missing Floppies (which also doesn't exist)
MI3a is going to be awesome. I have total faith in Ron Gilbert producing something that will be able to live up to all expectations. I'm sure it'll be the best game since the latest smash hit from Cavedog Entertainment, Freddi Fish - On A Motherf**king Boat.
All the doubters suck. Sure, it's been two decades since MI2...but Ron has been doing so many great and amazing things since then. Who hasn't played Penny Arcade adventures?
I can't see how a game released twenty years later than originally intended that would primarily focus on solving a ridiculously complex dues ex machina could be anything but satisfying and totally appropriate for the series.
I smell sarcasm. Maybe you should be less subtle, since I know that some people probably didn't catch it.
Because TTG said that ToMI doesn't take places right after EMI, but rather indicates that there was at least one adventure that occurred between the two games (the purpose being that TTG could start with a storyline unrelated to EMI.)
EDIT: I think they said that MI5, in their minds, would be an adventure game of epic size like the previous MI games, but TTG is making it episodic, and not right after EMI, so it's not technically MI5. MI5 sort of is like Leisure Suit Larry 4: The Search for the Missing Floppies (which also doesn't exist)
What... They said it at E3, I think. It doesn't have any bearing on anything more than that they were just illustrating that it's a new and different type of adventure.
I'm sure I missed it somewhere, but did Ron even have plans to do third? My understanding was that the way Lechuck's Revenge ended was originally supposed to be the ending to Secret, but was cut due to time constraints and because it would require more floppies that Lucasfilm Games wanted. Voodoo Lady even hints at it when she says something about "the truth about the world around you" in MI1.
I always inferred that "it was all a dream lol" was THE secret of Monkey Island as planned by Gilbert, though I've never seen that confirmed anywhere. That wouldn't be a bad idea if it was a stand-alone game, it's actually a pretty great twist. It doesn't seem as awesome at the end of the second in the series if it's to be taken literally as "this was all escapism and Guybrush is really a child at the fair grounds."
I think they missed the boat with having that be a satisfying ending when it didn't make it into the first game. Even if you want to believe that ending is canonical because it was Ron's intention, I don't see there's any story to be told after finding out you've been playing some kid's escapist fantasy. A failing on my part, no doubt.
I just recently read an old interview of Ron Gilbert, ill paste so extract and see what you think.
If you never get the opportunity to make your own version of Monkey Island 3, will we ever learn the real story of what happened to Guybrush, LeChuck, and Elaine?
Yes, oh yes! And it will...blow...you...away.
Is the idea for Monkey Island 3 just in your head or do you have the script lying in a drawer somewhere?
It's mostly in my head, but I did write out the basic story line, which I've probably lost by now. But it's still in my head.
We know you like CMI, except you would have handled the Guybrush & Elaine relationship differently. Could you explain how you see their relationship?
Elaine sees Guybrush as her annoying little brother.
Some fans would like to see MI1 remade with today's graphic and voices. Is that something you think is a good idea or do you feel it should be left as it is, for nostalgic reasons.
Remaking MI1 would be a huge mistake and wouldn't add anything to the game. Having recently played the game again, it's just fine.
With Hulabee you had the concept of selling games online and then download each chapter. Something Telltale is currently doing successfully with the new Sam & Max and the Jeff Smith Bone games. Would it be something you are still interested in doing? Or are you already way ahead and thinking of new ways.
I love episodic. When I left Lucasfilm back in '92 my original idea was to do episodic adventure games (mailed out on floppies!). That idea morphed into going the smaller adventure games for kids.
How was your childhood? Did you often wander off, pretending you were a pirate? (In other words is Monkey Island partly autobiographic?)
I should probably make up a better answer to this question, but no, I did not run around pretending to be a pirate when I was a kid. I always like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which set the stage for Monkey Island. Mostly when I was a kid I pretended to be a nerd.
these are some of the interesting things i found in the interview...maybe how Monkey island 2 ended was really Ron Gilbert experiencing the Pirates of the Carribean ride. and its looks like if Ron did make MI3 then Guybrush and Elaine wouldnt of been married...which is interesting...and looks as if he didnt really want a remake of the game back then...i dunno if his thoughts changed new that the sequel is coming out as a revamp
Some fans would like to see MI1 remade with today's graphic and voices. Is that something you think is a good idea or do you feel it should be left as it is, for nostalgic reasons.
Remaking MI1 would be a huge mistake and wouldn't add anything to the game. Having recently played the game again, it's just fine.
thats slightly diffrent on what he said on that Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition trailer but I suppose thats not much of a good endorsement
thats slightly diffrent on what he said on that Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition trailer but I suppose thats not much of a good endorsement
Obviously you're not considering what "A remake with modern graphics" would have meant at the time. And that he didn't have a decade of nothing to mull the idea over.
Is the idea for Monkey Island 3 just in your head or do you have the script lying in a drawer somewhere?
It's mostly in my head, but I did write out the basic story line, which I've probably lost by now. But it's still in my head.
I believe that, somewhere on these forums, I compared Ron Gilbert to George Lucas and "Ron's MI3" to the concept of the Star Wars prequels before they came out. You know Lucas didn't have the whole thing planned out exactly how it was filmed in the end, and Episodes 1 and 2 kinda sucked in places when it came down to it.
Yeah... I would say that Ron's MI3 would in no way improve the franchise if it were ever made. If you ask me, Dave Grossman and crew did a wonderful job with Tales, and he also helped with SMI and MI2 so I don't see why we even need "Ron's MI3."
Also, Curse was awesome anyway, and Ron never did make his interpretation of MI3, so CMI has to be MI3 by now since there are 5 games already.
What is this MI3? Isn't that Curse? Am I missing something?
Note the lack of a "3" at the end. By Video Game Sequel Rules(GTA, Megaman, Sonic), there is no Monkey Island 3 and the ones without a number next to them don't count(as far as sequel numbering goes).
What is this MI3? Isn't that Curse? Am I missing something?
Yes, but it's not Ron Gilbert's MI3. After MI 1&2, Gilbert was planning a third game, but left the company before he could make it. The plans for his MI3 were different from the finished product of Curse of Monkey Island. So now people are forever wondering what Ron Gilbert's MI3 would've been like and how it would've gone. Ron Gilbert's MI3 was to be the final game of a Monkey Island trilogy, the third game was to be the one that would reveal the Secret of Monkey Islandtm, and would've also given an answer to the bizarre ending of LeChuck's Revenge, but the game never eventuated.
Yeah, that's prettymuch the best way to go about it. I'm with all of the guys who believe it was a spell.
Is that that thing when Guybrush is writing at the start of Curse saying he escaped LeChuck's carnival of the damned? I started that game last night, but I havent played LeChuck's Revenge yet, so I didn't quite get it. I really need that Special Edition!
The funny thing is that if Escape has ended with Elaine and Guybrush sailing off while saying-
Guybrush: (waving bye to citizens and the new Governor) He's not really your Grandfather, is he.
Elaine: (speaking through a fake smile) Not in the slightest.
-things would probably be a lot different now.
That would be a massive improvement in my books. Still doesn't resolve the 'but what if you went back to Melee on Herman's boat in Secret?' plot hole, but it's still much better!
I never had any problem with the plot of Escape of Monkey Island due to the voodoo overtones all the games have had. I have a completely different theory on Herman's motives other than him just being a crazy old man. There's a lot of spoilers from all the games in here, so I'm going to use the spoiler tag.
I think he's not being honest with who he really is. I think the Voodoo Lady wants him in a position of power for her own needs. I don't know if he's truly evil, although it's possible, since his shipmate seemingly committed suicide on Monkey Island. Perhaps it wasn't suicide? If that was Captain Marley, I doubt he'd kill himself just because he was annoyed that he was stuck indefinitely on an island with Herman. That would seem to go against his character, especially with his importance (he held a Big Whoop map piece) and the fact he had a family at home.
He always seemed like a shifty, untrustworthy character. He seemed stranded on Monkey Island in the first game, yet it's revealed he had a boat. He is on Dinky Island in the second game, seemingly out of nowhere, although if I remember correctly it's later revealed that there's tunnels connecting the two islands together. But, considering the importance of Dinky Island in the second game, it would seem odd that Herman would just be there on that particular island out of all the islands in the Caribbean, regardless of how he got there.
Then there's Escape from Monkey Island, which is where I think the bad juju comes in. I think the Voodoo Lady was pulling Ozzie's strings, just like it was revealed in Tales of Monkey Island that she's been doing all along with Guybrush and LeChuck. I think the Voodoo Lady had Ozzie put a voodoo spell on Guybrush to make him open to her suggestions, probably given to Ozzie by LeChuck, since I don't think the Voodoo Lady would do it herself. Guybrush didn't seem to know anything about Australia when the game started, but when he reached Ozzie's house he knew more about it than he should, such as the names of Australian animals. Later, when he talked to Herman he said that everyone knows Captain Marley disappeared in a boat race off the coast of Australia, despite the fact that was the first time it had been mentioned.
I also think Elaine was never truly fully uncursed in The Curse of Monkey Island. Now we know the Voodoo Lady isn't so nice, it would seem strange if she didn't have any benefit of her own from the events in the third game. I think the Voodoo Lady put the same voodoo spell on Elaine to make her open to the Voodoo Lady's suggestions, and I think Elaine's engagement ring is how she did it.
On a side note, that would also open up the door to the possibility that Elaine might not have married Guybrush by her own free will, which would make the one thing that Ron Gilbert didn't like about Curse of Monkey Island more in line with his original intention for her character. If this turns out to be true, it should be interesting to see how things turn out. Elaine has always seemed like a genuinely caring person, so I doubt she'd leave Guybrush after all they've been through since the events of the second game. Especially, considering that Guybrush has grown up a little and now seems to genuinely care about her more than his pirating.
I never had any problem with the plot of Escape of Monkey Island due to the voodoo overtones all the games have had. I have a completely different theory on Herman's motives other than him just being a crazy old man. There's a lot of spoilers from all the games in here, so I'm going to use the spoiler tag.
I think he's not being honest with who he really is. I think the Voodoo Lady wants him in a position of power for her own needs. I don't know if he's truly evil, although it's possible, since his shipmate seemingly committed suicide on Monkey Island. Perhaps it wasn't suicide? If that was Captain Marley, I doubt he'd kill himself just because he was annoyed that he was stuck indefinitely on an island with Herman. That would seem to go against his character, especially with his importance (he held a Big Whoop map piece) and the fact he had a family at home.
He always seemed like a shifty, untrustworthy character. He seemed stranded on Monkey Island in the first game, yet it's revealed he had a boat. He is on Dinky Island in the second game, seemingly out of nowhere, although if I remember correctly it's later revealed that there's tunnels connecting the two islands together. But, considering the importance of Dinky Island in the second game, it would seem odd that Herman would just be there on that particular island out of all the islands in the Caribbean, regardless of how he got there.
Then there's Escape from Monkey Island, which is where I think the bad juju comes in. I think the Voodoo Lady was pulling Ozzie's strings, just like it was revealed in Tales of Monkey Island that she's been doing all along with Guybrush and LeChuck. I think the Voodoo Lady had Ozzie put a voodoo spell on Guybrush to make him open to her suggestions, probably given to Ozzie by LeChuck, since I don't think the Voodoo Lady would do it herself. Guybrush didn't seem to know anything about Australia when the game started, but when he reached Ozzie's house he knew more about it than he should, such as the names of Australian animals. Later, when he talked to Herman he said that everyone knows Captain Marley disappeared in a boat race off the coast of Australia, despite the fact that was the first time it had been mentioned.
I also think Elaine was never truly fully uncursed in The Curse of Monkey Island. Now we know the Voodoo Lady isn't so nice, it would seem strange if she didn't have any benefit of her own from the events in the third game. I think the Voodoo Lady put the same voodoo spell on Elaine to make her open to the Voodoo Lady's suggestions, and I think Elaine's engagement ring is how she did it.
On a side note, that would also open up the door to the possibility that Elaine might not have married Guybrush by her own free will, which would make the one thing that Ron Gilbert didn't like about Curse of Monkey Island more in line with his original intention for her character. If this turns out to be true, it should be interesting to see how things turn out. Elaine has always seemed like a genuinely caring person, so I doubt she'd leave Guybrush after all they've been through since the events of the second game. Especially, considering that Guybrush has grown up a little and now seems to genuinely care about her more than his pirating.
It always astounds me how some people can write massive posts like this. I never read them all the way through, but they're pretty well educated or well written from the bits I've read.
Is that that thing when Guybrush is writing at the start of Curse saying he escaped LeChuck's carnival of the damned? I started that game last night, but I havent played LeChuck's Revenge yet, so I didn't quite get it. I really need that Special Edition!
What he's writing about is remotely related to the ending of LeChuck's Revenge. The ending of Revenge and the beginning of Curse aren't directly linked, there's a very blurry period between the two with many unanswered questions. This is mainly due to the strange ending of Revenge which was basically just swept under the rug. It's almost as if Curse ignored the ending of LeChuck's Revenge entirely and just skipped loads of events that happened between the ending of Revenge and beginning of Curse.
It's sort of hard to explain without just telling you everything that happened in great detail, thus spoiling a lot for you. Yes, I agree, you do need that Special Edition.
I never had any problem with the plot of Escape of Monkey Island due to the voodoo overtones all the games have had. I have a completely different theory on Herman's motives other than him just being a crazy old man. There's a lot of spoilers from all the games in here, so I'm going to use the spoiler tag.
I think he's not being honest with who he really is. I think the Voodoo Lady wants him in a position of power for her own needs. I don't know if he's truly evil, although it's possible, since his shipmate seemingly committed suicide on Monkey Island. Perhaps it wasn't suicide? If that was Captain Marley, I doubt he'd kill himself just because he was annoyed that he was stuck indefinitely on an island with Herman. That would seem to go against his character, especially with his importance (he held a Big Whoop map piece) and the fact he had a family at home.
He always seemed like a shifty, untrustworthy character. He seemed stranded on Monkey Island in the first game, yet it's revealed he had a boat. He is on Dinky Island in the second game, seemingly out of nowhere, although if I remember correctly it's later revealed that there's tunnels connecting the two islands together. But, considering the importance of Dinky Island in the second game, it would seem odd that Herman would just be there on that particular island out of all the islands in the Caribbean, regardless of how he got there.
Then there's Escape from Monkey Island, which is where I think the bad juju comes in. I think the Voodoo Lady was pulling Ozzie's strings, just like it was revealed in Tales of Monkey Island that she's been doing all along with Guybrush and LeChuck. I think the Voodoo Lady had Ozzie put a voodoo spell on Guybrush to make him open to her suggestions, probably given to Ozzie by LeChuck, since I don't think the Voodoo Lady would do it herself. Guybrush didn't seem to know anything about Australia when the game started, but when he reached Ozzie's house he knew more about it than he should, such as the names of Australian animals. Later, when he talked to Herman he said that everyone knows Captain Marley disappeared in a boat race off the coast of Australia, despite the fact that was the first time it had been mentioned.
I also think Elaine was never truly fully uncursed in The Curse of Monkey Island. Now we know the Voodoo Lady isn't so nice, it would seem strange if she didn't have any benefit of her own from the events in the third game. I think the Voodoo Lady put the same voodoo spell on Elaine to make her open to the Voodoo Lady's suggestions, and I think Elaine's engagement ring is how she did it.
On a side note, that would also open up the door to the possibility that Elaine might not have married Guybrush by her own free will, which would make the one thing that Ron Gilbert didn't like about Curse of Monkey Island more in line with his original intention for her character. If this turns out to be true, it should be interesting to see how things turn out. Elaine has always seemed like a genuinely caring person, so I doubt she'd leave Guybrush after all they've been through since the events of the second game. Especially, considering that Guybrush has grown up a little and now seems to genuinely care about her more than his pirating.
You know, you've got some pretty good ideas there. I like this explanation. Although, being a married man myself, I'm not crazy about Elaine having married Guybrush because the Voodoo Lady made her do it.
To be honest, I don't really care what Ron would do with his MI3. I like where the story has gone so far already, and even moreso if this sort of explanation about Herman and Captain Marley actually made it into a game.
You know, you've got some pretty good ideas there. I like this explanation. Although, being a married man myself, I'm not crazy about Elaine having married Guybrush because the Voodoo Lady made her do it.
Same hear. It makes me uneasy and uncomfortable. It's too close to "she did other things unwillingly".
However if the ring is something that was keeping power on Elaine, that would change things. I mean she gave it to Guybrush to protect him, and your theory would say that instead of protecting him it's putting him under a spell?
On the other hand, Elaine is the VL's main obstacle, so it would make sense that she'd try to keep her in her control. That would also explain why although she suspected the VL, she said nothing: the ring prevented her to in some way.
That could also explain why GB keeps doing whatever the VL says in Tales, even after it's revealed she has been manipulative. Maybe the ring is influencing him.
But I'm not sure how it fits with what happens at the very end of Tales with the ring.
I like the rest of your theory, though.
Same hear. It makes me uneasy and uncomfortable. It's too close to "she did other things unwillingly".
However if the ring is something that was keeping power on Elaine, that would change things. I mean she gave it to Guybrush to protect him, and your theory would say that instead of protecting him it's putting him under a spell?
On the other hand, Elaine is the VL's main obstacle, so it would make sense that she'd try to keep her in her control. That would also explain why although she suspected the VL, she said nothing: the ring prevented her to in some way.
That could also explain why GB keeps doing whatever the VL says in Tales, even after it's revealed she has been manipulative. Maybe the ring is influencing him.
But I'm not sure how it fits with what happens at the very end of Tales with the ring.
I like the rest of your theory, though.
The ring could still have the bond of love. Even if Elaine's devotion to Guybrush in The Curse of Monkey Island was manipulated by the Voodoo Lady, it's been many years now since the events in that game. Guybrush has grown up, and he and Elaine have grown closer. It's very possible their love for each other is now real, regardless of how it originally came about.
The ring could still have the bond of love. Even if Elaine's devotion to Guybrush in The Curse of Monkey Island was manipulated by the Voodoo Lady, it's been many years now since the events in that game. Guybrush has grown up, and he and Elaine have grown closer. It's very possible their love for each other is now real, regardless of how it originally came about.
Comments
WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! I wanted the option to say "It shouldn't be made!" *sniff*
Indeed. Besides, boys and girls, there's no guarantee that Ron would make MI3 now the way he might have made it if it were told 18 years ago. I would imagine he'd change a few things as different ideas occurred to him, so why can't he fit it into the current canon? (With the slight possibility of, as mentioned, making Herman out to be a crazy old coot.)
Wait... how could it even be MI6? There have only been 5 games.
You have something against gay fish?
Because TTG said that ToMI doesn't take places right after EMI, but rather indicates that there was at least one adventure that occurred between the two games (the purpose being that TTG could start with a storyline unrelated to EMI.)
EDIT: I think they said that MI5, in their minds, would be an adventure game of epic size like the previous MI games, but TTG is making it episodic, and not right after EMI, so it's not technically MI5. MI5 sort of is like Leisure Suit Larry 4: The Search for the Missing Floppies (which also doesn't exist)
Dude, PK, don't make fun of him. He's a mutha f**kin lyrical wordsmith.
I smell sarcasm. Maybe you should be less subtle, since I know that some people probably didn't catch it.
In any event, I agree.
EDIT: ...with the sarcasm.
How could I possibly be less subtle?
Haha! Very nice response!
Either people must have a short attention span, or this thread is really about Curse of Monkey Island.
Oh, gee. Not this topic again.
This isn't a phone call, look at the very top of the page. CMI isn't (Ron's) MI3
oh.
wait what? umm... dang it, my attention span is too short to remember what I was going to say.
Ah, but is it really E3??
Oh I got nothin' against it. I just wanted to make sure we had things clear.
I always inferred that "it was all a dream lol" was THE secret of Monkey Island as planned by Gilbert, though I've never seen that confirmed anywhere. That wouldn't be a bad idea if it was a stand-alone game, it's actually a pretty great twist. It doesn't seem as awesome at the end of the second in the series if it's to be taken literally as "this was all escapism and Guybrush is really a child at the fair grounds."
I think they missed the boat with having that be a satisfying ending when it didn't make it into the first game. Even if you want to believe that ending is canonical because it was Ron's intention, I don't see there's any story to be told after finding out you've been playing some kid's escapist fantasy. A failing on my part, no doubt.
If you never get the opportunity to make your own version of Monkey Island 3, will we ever learn the real story of what happened to Guybrush, LeChuck, and Elaine?
Yes, oh yes! And it will...blow...you...away.
Is the idea for Monkey Island 3 just in your head or do you have the script lying in a drawer somewhere?
It's mostly in my head, but I did write out the basic story line, which I've probably lost by now. But it's still in my head.
We know you like CMI, except you would have handled the Guybrush & Elaine relationship differently. Could you explain how you see their relationship?
Elaine sees Guybrush as her annoying little brother.
Some fans would like to see MI1 remade with today's graphic and voices. Is that something you think is a good idea or do you feel it should be left as it is, for nostalgic reasons.
Remaking MI1 would be a huge mistake and wouldn't add anything to the game. Having recently played the game again, it's just fine.
With Hulabee you had the concept of selling games online and then download each chapter. Something Telltale is currently doing successfully with the new Sam & Max and the Jeff Smith Bone games. Would it be something you are still interested in doing? Or are you already way ahead and thinking of new ways.
I love episodic. When I left Lucasfilm back in '92 my original idea was to do episodic adventure games (mailed out on floppies!). That idea morphed into going the smaller adventure games for kids.
How was your childhood? Did you often wander off, pretending you were a pirate? (In other words is Monkey Island partly autobiographic?)
I should probably make up a better answer to this question, but no, I did not run around pretending to be a pirate when I was a kid. I always like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which set the stage for Monkey Island. Mostly when I was a kid I pretended to be a nerd.
these are some of the interesting things i found in the interview...maybe how Monkey island 2 ended was really Ron Gilbert experiencing the Pirates of the Carribean ride. and its looks like if Ron did make MI3 then Guybrush and Elaine wouldnt of been married...which is interesting...and looks as if he didnt really want a remake of the game back then...i dunno if his thoughts changed new that the sequel is coming out as a revamp
............................................
full interview here
http://www.worldofmi.com/features/interview/gilbert.php
thats slightly diffrent on what he said on that Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition trailer but I suppose thats not much of a good endorsement
I believe that, somewhere on these forums, I compared Ron Gilbert to George Lucas and "Ron's MI3" to the concept of the Star Wars prequels before they came out. You know Lucas didn't have the whole thing planned out exactly how it was filmed in the end, and Episodes 1 and 2 kinda sucked in places when it came down to it.
Yeah... I would say that Ron's MI3 would in no way improve the franchise if it were ever made. If you ask me, Dave Grossman and crew did a wonderful job with Tales, and he also helped with SMI and MI2 so I don't see why we even need "Ron's MI3."
Also, Curse was awesome anyway, and Ron never did make his interpretation of MI3, so CMI has to be MI3 by now since there are 5 games already.
Yes, but it's not Ron Gilbert's MI3. After MI 1&2, Gilbert was planning a third game, but left the company before he could make it. The plans for his MI3 were different from the finished product of Curse of Monkey Island. So now people are forever wondering what Ron Gilbert's MI3 would've been like and how it would've gone. Ron Gilbert's MI3 was to be the final game of a Monkey Island trilogy, the third game was to be the one that would reveal the Secret of Monkey Islandtm, and would've also given an answer to the bizarre ending of LeChuck's Revenge, but the game never eventuated.
Is that that thing when Guybrush is writing at the start of Curse saying he escaped LeChuck's carnival of the damned? I started that game last night, but I havent played LeChuck's Revenge yet, so I didn't quite get it. I really need that Special Edition!
He always seemed like a shifty, untrustworthy character. He seemed stranded on Monkey Island in the first game, yet it's revealed he had a boat. He is on Dinky Island in the second game, seemingly out of nowhere, although if I remember correctly it's later revealed that there's tunnels connecting the two islands together. But, considering the importance of Dinky Island in the second game, it would seem odd that Herman would just be there on that particular island out of all the islands in the Caribbean, regardless of how he got there.
Then there's Escape from Monkey Island, which is where I think the bad juju comes in. I think the Voodoo Lady was pulling Ozzie's strings, just like it was revealed in Tales of Monkey Island that she's been doing all along with Guybrush and LeChuck. I think the Voodoo Lady had Ozzie put a voodoo spell on Guybrush to make him open to her suggestions, probably given to Ozzie by LeChuck, since I don't think the Voodoo Lady would do it herself. Guybrush didn't seem to know anything about Australia when the game started, but when he reached Ozzie's house he knew more about it than he should, such as the names of Australian animals. Later, when he talked to Herman he said that everyone knows Captain Marley disappeared in a boat race off the coast of Australia, despite the fact that was the first time it had been mentioned.
I also think Elaine was never truly fully uncursed in The Curse of Monkey Island. Now we know the Voodoo Lady isn't so nice, it would seem strange if she didn't have any benefit of her own from the events in the third game. I think the Voodoo Lady put the same voodoo spell on Elaine to make her open to the Voodoo Lady's suggestions, and I think Elaine's engagement ring is how she did it.
On a side note, that would also open up the door to the possibility that Elaine might not have married Guybrush by her own free will, which would make the one thing that Ron Gilbert didn't like about Curse of Monkey Island more in line with his original intention for her character. If this turns out to be true, it should be interesting to see how things turn out. Elaine has always seemed like a genuinely caring person, so I doubt she'd leave Guybrush after all they've been through since the events of the second game. Especially, considering that Guybrush has grown up a little and now seems to genuinely care about her more than his pirating.
It always astounds me how some people can write massive posts like this. I never read them all the way through, but they're pretty well educated or well written from the bits I've read.
What he's writing about is remotely related to the ending of LeChuck's Revenge. The ending of Revenge and the beginning of Curse aren't directly linked, there's a very blurry period between the two with many unanswered questions. This is mainly due to the strange ending of Revenge which was basically just swept under the rug. It's almost as if Curse ignored the ending of LeChuck's Revenge entirely and just skipped loads of events that happened between the ending of Revenge and beginning of Curse.
It's sort of hard to explain without just telling you everything that happened in great detail, thus spoiling a lot for you. Yes, I agree, you do need that Special Edition.
You know, you've got some pretty good ideas there. I like this explanation. Although, being a married man myself, I'm not crazy about Elaine having married Guybrush because the Voodoo Lady made her do it.
To be honest, I don't really care what Ron would do with his MI3. I like where the story has gone so far already, and even moreso if this sort of explanation about Herman and Captain Marley actually made it into a game.
Same hear. It makes me uneasy and uncomfortable. It's too close to "she did other things unwillingly".
However if the ring is something that was keeping power on Elaine, that would change things. I mean she gave it to Guybrush to protect him, and your theory would say that instead of protecting him it's putting him under a spell?
On the other hand, Elaine is the VL's main obstacle, so it would make sense that she'd try to keep her in her control. That would also explain why although she suspected the VL, she said nothing: the ring prevented her to in some way.
That could also explain why GB keeps doing whatever the VL says in Tales, even after it's revealed she has been manipulative. Maybe the ring is influencing him.
But I'm not sure how it fits with what happens at the very end of Tales with the ring.
I like the rest of your theory, though.
That's actually a pretty cool idea.
A JOKE in a cartoon pirate comedy game? Nahhhhhh!