Editing The Dig (video game) (section)

==Development==
''The Dig'' was originally conceived by [[Steven Spielberg]] as an episode of ''[[Amazing Stories (1985 TV series)|Amazing Stories]]'', and later as a film, but was later concluded that the concept would be prohibitively expensive to film.<ref name=kotaku-2011>{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/5855469/so-a-giant-asteroid-is-heading-for-earthagain | author=Plunkett, Luke | title=So, a Giant Asteroid is Heading for Earth... Again... | publisher=[[Kotaku]]. [[Gawker Media]] | date=November 2, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104214612/http://kotaku.com/5855469/so-a-giant-asteroid-is-heading-for-earthagain | archive-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> As a result, the idea was temporarily shelved. Eventually, it was decided the story could be adapted into the adventure game format. The initial video game design meeting was held in 1989 at [[Skywalker Ranch]]; it included Spielberg, [[George Lucas]], [[Ron Gilbert]], and [[Noah Falstein]], the latter two of whom had created a [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure|video game based on ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'']] that had impressed Spielberg.<ref name=pcgamer2015>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reinstall-the-dig/ |first=Andy |last=Kelly |title=Reinstall: The Dig |work=[[PC Gamer]] |date=February 4, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313042615/http://www.pcgamer.com/reinstall-the-dig/ |archive-date=March 13, 2016}}</ref> Writing is credited to Spielberg, author [[Orson Scott Card]], who wrote the dialogue,<ref name=ag2011/> and [[interactive fiction]] author [[Brian Moriarty]], whose previous LucasArts engagement was with ''[[Loom (video game)|Loom]]''.<ref>[http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/crew.html The Dig Museum: Cast and crew of The Dig] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916051817/http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/crew.html |date=2010-09-16}}</ref> [[Industrial Light & Magic]] (ILM) created some of the CG imagery.<ref name=billboard/>

''The Dig'' had by far the longest development time of all LucasArts adventure games. The game's design team met for the first time at the Skywalker Ranch on the day the [[Loma Prieta earthquake|1989 San Francisco earthquake]] struck.<ref name=aventura>{{cite interview|url=http://www.aventuraycia.com/entrevistas/en/brian-moriarty/ |author=Moriarty, Brian |interviewer=García, Paco |title=Interview with Brian Moriarty |work=Aventura y CÍA |date=March 2006 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200326/http://www.aventuraycia.com/entrevistas/en/brian-moriarty/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> The game was not released until 1995.<ref name=kotaku-2011/> During its development there were four successive project leaders, starting with Falstein, followed by Moriarty, then [[Dave Grossman (game developer)|Dave Grossman]]. ''The Dig''{{'}}s final project leader was LucasArts' [[Sean Clark]].<ref name=billboard>{{cite magazine | author=Gillen, Marilyn A. | title=CD-ROM Pack-Ins Move Soundtracks | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | volume=107 | issue=48 | publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media, Inc.]] | date=December 2, 1995}}</ref>

The original production involved a story that took place in the distant future. In this story, a crew of explorers in a spaceship visit an abandoned planet, discovering signs of an extraterrestrial civilization that left behind technological artifacts. The explorers initially assume that the occupants of the planet had died off, seeing no sign of them, but as the story progresses, the player was meant to discover something very different. This premise is similar to the finished game's story, but contains clear differences.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

When Moriarty took over, he decided to start again from scratch. This version of the production was more similar to the released game, but it contained one extra character: a Japanese business tycoon and science-hobbyist named Toshi Olema, who uses his money to buy his way onto the Attila project crew.<ref name=aventura/> Toshi would have met a gruesome death when he stumbled into a cavern with acid dripping from the ceiling, and the other astronauts would have been unable to safely retrieve his body and bring him back with life crystals. He was later removed from the story. This version of the game was very bloody and intended for an adult audience. Initially, Spielberg thought this feel was very fitting. After the release of ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' in 1993, Spielberg received numerous complaints from parents who had ignored the [[PG-13]] rating and brought their young children to see the film, only to discover that it contained some sequences of horror, blood, and violence. Thus, worrying that parents would make a similar mistake and purchase ''The Dig'' for their children, Spielberg requested the violence be toned down.<ref>[http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/history.html The Dig Museum: History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006071526/http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/history.html |date=2006-10-06}}</ref> Other notable design ideas which were dropped during the game's production include a [[survival game]] angle, which forced the player to keep water and food supplies for life support, and exploration of cities on the planet.<ref>[http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/interview_falstein.html The Dig Museum: Noah Falstein interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127100333/http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/interview_falstein.html |date=2010-01-27}}</ref> Although ''The Dig'' was announced for release in Q2 1992, it ultimately did not launch until December 1995.<ref name=vaporware>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205015601/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vaporware/ |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vaporware/ |title=Vaporware Hall of Shame |author=Poole, Stephen |date=1996 |archive-date=February 5, 1997 |work=[[GameSpot]] |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The game was re-released using the [[Steam (service)|Steam]] content delivery system on July 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucasarts.com/company/vip/catalog/lec_backcatalog_2009.pdf |title=LucasArts Continues Initiative to Revive Classic Gaming Titles |publisher=[[LucasArts]] |date=July 6, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710210606/http://www.lucasarts.com/company/vip/catalog/lec_backcatalog_2009.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2009}}</ref>