Ron Gilbert talks the untraditional way he got Thimbleweed Park 2 funded, and his frustrations with modern publishing deals
Ron Gilbert, creator of the point-and-click adventure classic Thimbleweed Park, announced that the upcoming sequel, Thimbleweed Park 2, was funded through a private investor arrangement rather than traditional publishing. In comments to Bloomberg, Gilbert elaborated on how this unconventional funding partnership came about and detailed how it contrasts with standard industry publishing agreements. He expressed particular frustration with terms commonly found in modern publishing deals, while characterizing his private investor relationship as substantially fairer.
The announcement is notable given the current turbulence in the video game industry and the perception that adventure games face declining commercial viability. However, Gilbert contested this narrative, asserting that the adventure game genre remains far more sustainable than industry observers typically acknowledge. This alternative funding model exemplifies a growing trend among independent developers seeking both creative control and equitable financial arrangements outside traditional publishing structures. Gilbert’s experience underscores ongoing industry discussions about sustainable developer-publisher relationships and the importance of financial fairness in game development partnerships.