Can you present yourself?
Chris DavisHey, I'm Chris Davis aka Mouldy Toof Studios, the developer of The Escapists.
How and when did you get the idea to make a game like The Escapists?
C.D.Couple of things sparked it really. I think I was watching a prison show at the time and thought “why has this never properly been done in a game?”. There was also a game on the ZX Spectrum I used to play as a kid called Skool Daze. Although it wasn't set in a prison, it had a similar style of following routines and evading trouble in a sandbox enviroment.
Why is there no script in The Escapists? Is it an artistic choice?
C.D.Giving it a script would change the genre and flavor of the game. I wanted it open to allow more randomness. Could decide how to get out, rather than being story driven and on a set path.
Nowadays, entertainment is king. Did you hesitate when incorporating boring and routine aspects in The Escapists?
C.D.A prison without the boring routine aspects wouldn't be a prison. I guess it's about adding ways to use them to the players favour. As an example, a new player might just think during lunch they have to just grab a tray and sit there until the clock ticks over, but really it's a good chance to talk to inmates to raise rep, or scout out merchant wares or available favours.