The original article that I read all of this in, including some Alpha screens, are available below. VERY illuminating. Apparently before Moriarty from LOOM took a crack at it, Noah Falsteen (Co-designer of Sinistar and Fate of Atlantis) had a crack at it for 18 months before getting shitcanned and the project was completely reset from scratch.

http://dig.mixnmojo.com/museum/history.html

Mix ‘n Mojo also has the first script where the main character’s name is (groan) Major Tom. Worth reading. (Password is babypig)

http://dig.mixnmojo.com/downlo.....ersion.pdf

Also, there is an Easter Egg in The Dig where you can get Boston Low to say this:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93f3RuZXPpQ)

Okay, I’m done. Also, I’m groaning at a typo I made, but whatcha gonna do?

The salient elements from Madre are obvious. Humphry Bogart’s personal struggle with greed as the character Dobbs was translated over into Ludger Brink’s brutal addiction to the Life Crystals, as was as his lashing, junky-like suspicion of his companions (a theme that Ren and Stimpy also copied). Also adapted was the premise of a group of explorers in wild, harsh environment and more importantly barren world.

Forbidden Planet’s influence is more subtle. The sweeping vistas that provide the game’s backdrop are not only influenced by the architecture (note the trapezoidal door in 2:50) and matte paintings of the film, but also there is the theme of a world haunted by both the hubris of its creators and by technology gone awry. Doctor Morphius (and by extension Prospero) and the beings that created the Life Crystals come from the same mold—alchemists dabbling in arts that can consume their very souls.

All that mid century influence though, has a toll: the delivery of Boston and the gang sometimes comes off a bit flip and nonchalant, even when Maggie is about to be eaten by a giant spider.

We’re doing a Dig retrospective soon (or did, I think it got canceled). You should join us.

Now I’m gonna go eat a torta.