The Secret of Monkey Island - Cut Random Pirate Behavior Restored

Code still exists in the SCUMM files to have random pirates coming in and out of the SCUMM bar, and walk to and from the entrance to Low Street. Here this code has been restored.
Note: The frequency of pirate spawns was set high for the purpose of a demonstration. We don't know the intended rate for this screen, but it was likely significantly lower, as seen in the rare "Passport to Adventure" demo disk.

[@CarletonTorpin]

I remember seeing the pirates walking in and our of the Scumm bar in the first version of Monkey Island that I played. I also vaguely remember feeling like it was missing from all subsequent Secret of Monkey Island reissues. Great to see it here. :D

[@zummone]

We actually do know the intended rate, because it survived in the Passport to Adventure demo, along with the code for reaching the paparets. (please delete this comment if you feel like it doesn't belong, I just wanted to contribute)

[@GameHistoryOrg]

This is very helpful, thank you! I've personally played that demo multiple times but never noticed.

[@liukang85]

I remember this from my first pirated copy of the game way back

[@sepixsound]

very interesting.

[@fragmentalstew]

I wonder why it was cut

[@StrayGator]

lack of space

[@claguenplague]

Something mentioned in the article was that players might follow a pirate into the scumm bar then be confused as to why they can’t find them inside

[@fragmentalstew]

@@claguenplague good catch

[@fragmentalstew]

@@StrayGator Is that something you know or are you just making a blind guess?

[@StrayGator]

@@fragmentalstew They talked in the recent retrospective with Ron Gilbert about how when the game was finished, they had to cut things to make it all fit. So the animated flame on the intro credits screen had to go, the animated rotating Guybrush head just before the final credits, the animation of the cannibals entering the monkey head. I imagine that the randomly walking pirates will have also been cut for the same reason

[@Planetdune]

Way to many, way to fast... not realistic at all... should also have made it so some pirates go past the bar and up the hill to the lookout area and beyond.

[@Milanesium]

I assume that was just a developer setting to quickly test if it is working at all and not as intended for players.

[@VintageTechFan]

Even back then it would have also annoyed me that:
(a) That likely would have suddenly stopped when inside, since a pathfinding animation of them taking seats, "ordering" stuff (sneaking in the kitchen) and all would have been way to complicated.
(b) Connected with that, that I don't find the guys inside.