> What IF..._ - A Conversation with Robert Steggles (page 5)

As far as I know you didn’t leave Magnetic Scrolls on friendly terms. Looking back now - did you ever regret your decision?
The best times in my work career have all come when you have a bunch of people that are on the same wavelength and pulling together in the same direction. It never lasts long because things change, but while it is there it’s a good thing. Though I would have liked a different ending, I just consider myself lucky enough to have been part of the Magnetic Scrolls story when it was like that.

Were there at any point in your career as a writer any job offers from other IF-developers, like Infocom, Level 9 or the likes?
Not that I’m aware of. And, back then, I probably wouldn’t have considered them if they did. I had honestly never even thought about it until you posed the question.

Do you know of any Magnetic Scrolls titles that never saw the light of day?
Anita was working on one called Upon Westminster Bridge. It was a shame that one never got off the ground.

It's completely understandable if you don't feel like talking about someone else's brainchild, but I simply have to ask: what was Upon Westminster Bridge about?
You’d need to ask Anita that one. Actually, now I think about, we were also considering doing a version of Journey to the Centre of the Earth (it had just come out of copyright). I even read the book, but that’s as far as it got (for me, anyway).

From your perspective, what do you think were the long-term strategies for Magnetic Scrolls and where did they want to go as a game developer?
The obvious step was to move into graphic adventures but it was never going to happen, even though some people went on into that field after Magnetic Scrolls finished. Magnetic Scrolls was text adventures with added artwork, not graphical adventures, so it stopped producing text adventures when there was no more market for them.

Design-wise, would you want to re-visit any of your old Magnetic Scrolls titles?
No no, much better to let these things be. They had their time. They were great fun. They all had flaws but much better to let these things stay good in the memory. I did once think about a 25th Anniversary edition of The Pawn but I lost interest after about 30 minutes – couldn’t really think of what to do with it.

Have you actually sat down and played a Magnetic Scrolls game recently?
Yes – my 8 year old son wanted to see them. I was gobsmacked. I’m glad that Magnetic has been developed (thanks Niclas Karlsson and all those that ported it) otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to show him. I was so proud. Unfortunately, he took one look and said ‘Is that it?’ then went back to Lego Star wars or something. Ho hum, the joys of being a parent.

OK, last question for you then. Do you sometimes visit any of the Magnetic Scrolls tribute websites?
Yes, and I’d like to say Thank You to all those that played the games and wrote about them and voted for them as well as those that keep the memories alive. It really is incredible to me that what we did nearly 25 years ago generated and still generates such interest.

Rob, thanks again for your answers. It was certainly a pleasure talking to you.
And thanks to you for taking the time and trouble to keep these things alive. Your dedication is impressive…