James Purple Hampton Interview - Atari Jaguar & AVP

[Adriano Arcade]

Dear all,

 

Please enjoy my lovely podcast interview with the legendary James "Purple" Hampton - he is probably best known for being the producer of arguably the Jag's best game - Alien Versus Predator:

 

http://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/podcast-march-2-2018/

 

The interview also includes lovely info and stories on his work at LucasArts, the legendary people he worked with, his views on the Jaguar, a lovely tribute to Lance Lewis and much much more...

 

There is also a streamlined written version of the interview here:

 

http://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/james-hampton/

 

Audio version can also be found on the following links:

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arcade-attack-podcast/id1174983594

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/arcade-attack-retro-gaming-podcast

http://arcadeattackpodcast.podbean.com/?source=pb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNUtmwXTq_4

 

[ls650]

That's a very interesting interview to read: http://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/james-hampton/

[Adriano Arcade]

That's a very interesting interview to read: http://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/james-hampton/

Thank you for the kind words! FYI the audio version is more in-depth with added content. Feel free to check both out!

[MAYAman]

Great read, and oddly enough he and I drove the same car during that period. My 79 Saab 99 was also purple but not streaked, it was purple or “plum” from the factory. Great times in that car. Thanks for the write up!

[Lost Dragon]

Simply superb.

 

Very open and honest comments about Atari's thinking (and how outdated it was) and the very real issues Rebellion faced and why the game was delayed.

 

Plus, we learnt a bit about 2 more lost games...

 

I've posted links to it on AVP Galaxy and Unseen64 etc.

 

Plus left feedback on your site.

 

Please keep up the fantastic work,your doing great work for the community.

[JagChris]

His remarks on Lance Lewis were much more poignant in the podcast than is captured in the text summary.

 

Perhaps that part could be isolated and separated from the rest of the podcast and posted on Lance Lewis' FB page. His family would probably appreciate it.

[PeterG]

Interesting interview, thanks for that. Also if he is the guy who came up with the ending for Monkey Island 2 that is also quite something.

Must have been weird to come from such a successful company at Lucas to go work for Atari and having to explain that you need more people and resources to create cool games like the others do. :-)

[Adriano Arcade]

Great read, and oddly enough he and I drove the same car during that period. My 79 Saab 99 was also purple but not streaked, it was purple or “plum” from the factory. Great times in that car. Thanks for the write up!

Thank you for the kind words. I have to say, James (and yourself) had great cars!!! Certainly beats my old Toyota!

[Adriano Arcade]

Simply superb.

 

Very open and honest comments about Atari's thinking (and how outdated it was) and the very real issues Rebellion faced and why the game was delayed.

 

Plus, we learnt a bit about 2 more lost games...

 

I've posted links to it on AVP Galaxy and Unseen64 etc.

 

Plus left feedback on your site.

 

Please keep up the fantastic work,your doing great work for the community.

Thank you my friend. Your support and kind words mean a lot and give me (and the rest of the AA team) incentive and motivation to keep working hard for the retro community. Thanks for also sharing the interview on other sites.

Edited March 16, 2018 by Adriano Arcade

[Adriano Arcade]

His remarks on Lance Lewis were much more poignant in the podcast than is captured in the text summary.

 

Perhaps that part could be isolated and separated from the rest of the podcast and posted on Lance Lewis' FB page. His family would probably appreciate it.

I agree, James was very sincere and came across very well and meaningful in the podcast. I will share a link on Lance Lewis' FB page. RIP Lance Lewis.

Edited March 16, 2018 by Adriano Arcade

[Adriano Arcade]

Interesting interview, thanks for that. Also if he is the guy who came up with the ending for Monkey Island 2 that is also quite something.

Must have been weird to come from such a successful company at Lucas to go work for Atari and having to explain that you need more people and resources to create cool games like the others do. :-)

I agree! James is a true legend and learning that Monkey Island 2 snippet was quite extraordinary!

[stirrell]

Great interview! I really enjoyed it and have been exploring the back catalog of the podcast. Keep up the great work!

[Adriano Arcade]

Great interview! I really enjoyed it and have been exploring the back catalog of the podcast. Keep up the great work!

Thanks Stirrell for your kind words and I hope you enjoy the previous pods also! That means a lot!

[Lost Dragon]

Just an idea but as a follow up:

 

Andrew Whittaker?

 

If so, could you ask him if he still has the Jaguar code for his version of AVP where the Predator stops chasing you to light up a cigarette?

 

 

 

If he was serious when he made the comment, i would love to see it in motion.

 

Update:Actually strike that..

 

Further investigation has shown there is a lot of potential open wounds festering away between those involved in making AVP...

 

little love lost between Andrew Whittaker and Jason Kingsley to start with.

 

Rebellion saying they had no plans to re hire Andrew, he'd done the Alien A.I and that was his role..

 

 

Andrew made allegations Atari never paid him for AVP sales, after Atari fired him. ..

 

Don Thomas of Atari disputed that saying the claim was completely untrue.

 

It's perhaps best left where it ended up.

Edited August 3, 2018 by Lost Dragon