In Conversation
Mike HJ Chang and Quinn Gomez-Heitzeberg
This interview was conducted at the California Institute of the Arts on Monday, May 5, 2008 in Quinn’s studio.
Throughout the interview Mike plays Super Monkey Ball 2.
page 1
Mike: Oh, there's no jump button.
Quinn: No there's no control. You just have to roll.
M: That's insane. Should we introduce ourselves? A conversation with Quinn and Mike...that's Mike Chang.
Q: And Quinn Gomez-Heitzeberg. And Monkey Ball.
[Monkey falls]
M: Shit. Can I swear?
Q: Yeah, that's fine.
[Monkey falls]
M: (sigh) Can I just say how amazing this game is?
Q: Yeah, that might be a nice way to start.
M: At first I really dismissed this game. Why would anybody want to play this? (both laugh) But I really like the simplicity this game represents.
Q: Maybe I should briefly describe Monkey Ball.
M: Well, basically you are a monkey in a ball.
Q: Basically
M: Basically.
Q: But you don't actually ever control the monkey.
M: Yeah.
Q: You only control the plane...
M: ...of the universe.
Q: Yeah, yeah, the surface of the universe. And the monkey moves through based on how you...
M: …tilt the plane.
Q: Based on the tilt of the universe, your monkey moves. And at this point...
[Monkey falls]
M: What in the world is going on!
Q: Whoa! Whoa!
M: I almost made it.
Q: There were a lot of goals you could have made it through.
M: Have you ever played that game, it's like a wooden board?
Q: Yeah, labyrinth.
M: Where you tilt the board and you have a metal ball.
Q: Yeah, a little metal marble. That was something that was always at my grandparents' house.
[Monkey falls]
M: Ahhh.