Interview with the lead programmer of The Last Express
by Jordi "El Bárbaro"
Let me introduce to all our readers the lead programmer of The Last Express, the railway adventure
coming next to your door. He is Mark Moran. Here you're our readers... Get on board before you
hear the whistle blow, please...
I was in high school! :) Actually, I did meet Jordan [1] while a senior in high
school in Los Angeles. At the time I had started a game company with my
friend Noel Marrero and we put together a game prototype/demo by hiring a
half dozen artists/musicians/programmers spread around the globe with money we raised
selling bonds! I started work on Express the summer after I
graduated from school, and Noel joined the team soon after.
[1] He means Jordan Mechner, very known author, for instants, of Prince of Persia videogame.
2) How did you get in the "Smoking Car" team? Who did you have to kill? ;) BTW... Why
"Smoking Car"? Who did think of that name?
In the summer of '93, I called Jordan to ask him if he knew of any artists
we could use for our demo. He said he was looking for a programmer, so I
agreed to meet him next week when I was up at U.C. Berkeley. At the time,
Jordan was working alone in a one man office, and Tomi was working on other
stuff in a nearby office. Jordan bought me lunch and explained what he
wanted to do. I showed him our demo, which was as far along as we were
willing to take it, and told him I could do his game. He said I reminded him
of himself ten years earlier and convinced me to move to San Francisco and
help him build this game.
As for the name, "Smoking Car" is what the salon car on a train was called,
where many intriguing meetings and discussions have taken place throughout
history. It also sounds very visual as in a flaming car.. Also since
"smoking" is so politically reprehensible these days, at least here in the
U.S., Jordan couldn't resist a little mischief. (Although very few people on
the project smoked!)
3) What are your experiences working with that huge team of programmers and designers? What
were you responsible for, what were your tasks?
I was the lead programmer and the primary technical designer of the game.
As one of the first people on the project, I was able to do a wide range of
tasks, from helping to design the game to directing the technical aspects of
our film shoot. With the other key team members, I designed how all the
game systems and logic would work, and how all the art and sound would be
created and processed. Smoking Car was very fortunate to attract so many
talented and dedicated people that it was a wonderful experience working
with everyone. The hours were very long, but everyone was committed to
making something totally unique.
1) Tell us about you. What's your background on videogames? What's your curriculum vitae? What
you've done before The Last Express?
