Video game fans of the 90s still fondly remember Melee Island to this day. Here Guybrush Threepwood begins his pirate adventure in The Secret of Monkey Island, visits the Scumm Bar, meets the Swordmaster and lays the foundation for one of the most popular point-and-click adventures of all time.
For years, players have been asking themselves an exciting question: Did the small Franconian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber serve as a template for Melee Island (view on Google Maps)?
Why fans think of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Anyone who has ever walked through Rothenburg ob der Tauber or looked at some photos will quickly notice striking similarities. Narrow cobblestone streets, medieval half-timbered houses, historic city gates and winding squares: the landmark, the Plönlein, is particularly reminiscent of the setting in Monkey Island.
So it’s no wonder that fans of the adventure game series like to pay a visit to the place.
Ron Gilbert was actually in Germany
Was the location really recreated in The Secret of Monkey Island? The most important building block of the theory is that Monkey Island creators Ron Gilbert traveled to Europe in the late 1980s. In interviews he reported several times that he was inspired by historical cities on his travels.
At that time, Rothenburg ob der Tauber was already one of the most famous medieval cities in Germany and was a popular travel destination for international tourists. It is therefore entirely possible that Gilbert visited the place or at least saw photos of it.
The inspiration was never officially confirmed
As exciting as the theory sounds: There is no proof yet.
Neither Ron Gilbert nor other former LucasArts developers have ever confirmed that Rothenburg was the direct template for Melee Island. Instead, the developers explained several times that numerous impressions from the Caribbean, Disneylandhistorical European cities and pirate films were incorporated into the game. Mark Ferrari, the illustrator of the backgrounds in the game, has also already addressed the topic. In his answer, he vehemently defends himself against the rumor, although there could also be a hint of irony and a wink in it, which is also a central element in the Monkey Island series.
Why the theory still holds up today
Although there is no official confirmation, the Rothenburg theory remains intriguing. The visual similarities are unmistakable. For fans, it is precisely this mixture of speculation and comprehensible evidence that is part of the myth surrounding Monkey Island.
In the end, the truth probably lies somewhere in between: Rothenburg ob der Tauber could well have been one of the many sources of inspiration. Was the Franconian city really the sole template for Melee Island? Only the former employees of LucasArts probably know that.