Down Mean Streets: An Interview with the Controversial Man Behind Police Quest: Open Season and a Look at the Game

Daryl F. Gates spent over 40 years of his life on the LAPD, almost 15 years of which were as Chief of Police. His book, Chief: My Life in the LAPD, was a #1 bestseller and is currently available in paperback. "The Chief" now hosts a two-hour radio talk show in LA every weeknight which constantly tops the ratings, and he makes speaking engagements across the country.

So how did Gates, an admitted computer novice with little experience beyond large communications systems and police force budget programs, become the author of the latest in Sierra On-Line's Police Quest series?

The story starts back around the time Gates prepared for retirement from the LAPD. Ken Williams, president of Sierra On-Line, contacted Gates and asked if he might like to participate in the design of the latest Police Quest. Gates at first dismissed the possibility because he felt he didn't have the hand-eye coordination for video games, as he thought Police Quest games must be. But after looking at Police Quest 3 and a few other Sierra products, he realized that "these were not hand-eye coordination games, but a very sophisticated type of product."

Gates had his mind set on realism in the series even then. "There were things in PQ3 that didn't quite match up with reality. So we pledged that when we did PQ4 that, inasmuch as you can possibly do it, we would make a realistic game and align it closely with police life."

The Chief decided to tackle the challenge of game authoring and helped producer/designer Tammy Dargan decide on a plot from available plot lines already proposed. The final product is a gritty, fast paced adventure in which the player takes the role of an LAPD detective as he investigates a series of serial murders in the course of a few days. "This is a real whodunit," Gates promises. "Everyone comes under suspicion. Detective work most often does not involve the use of your weapon, but instead the use of your brain."

Gates was able to embellish PQ4 with a realism that even other police officers would not have been able to add, specifically because of his familiarity with police life in Los Angeles. He even made use of a location that made him cringe as Chief: a "cop bar" called the Shortstop.

"The Shortstop was a bar I was always bothered by because police officers would go in there and get in some kind of trouble. So the owner couldn't believe when I sent Tammy there with her film crew to film it. That's only one example of the kind of realism that I was able to provide."

Gates provided Dargan with a policeman's manual, as well as the homicide manual, as sources for facts and procedures. He also arranged access to a number of locations, especially the LAPD stationhouse (Parker Center) for filming game scenes.

From the procedures to lifestyles, Gates opened up the library of knowledge that forty-plus years on the force had accumulated in his head to the design team. "For example, PQ4 gave me the ability to talk about what really takes place at crime scenes. I love police work and wanted to see what was going on in the field whenever possible."

Although many might find police work dangerous, harrowing, and overly frustrating, the Chief looks back fondly on those many years. "It's a fascinating life. Some days can be routine and very boring. On the other hand, there's enough excitement scattered around to last a lifetime. You can't be in that business without having at least on interesting story almost every day of your life," he remarked. In PQ4, players will be able to experience much of the frustration and challenges of detective work.

Besides his computer game input, Gates keeps busy with his radio show and frequent talks. "I enjoy speaking to various groups. I get out and meet different people and enjoy answering their questions.

"Meeting groups all over the country can be very revealing about our nation," he commented. "One of the things about me I've found is that no one 'sits on the fence.' They're either on one side of the fence and think 'he's great' or on the other side and think 'he's an ogre.' It's fun in terms of my radio show because we actively search out people who are antagonistic about me and also influence their opinions of police officers."

Gates readily admits that he has little hands on experience with PCs, but that is sure to change. "I'm just starting to learn about computers. I've been doing a lot of reading, talking to my show's producer, who built his own computer, and also playing some games," he revealed. Actually, the Chief's quite taken with Aces of the Pacific.

If he can get a handle on computers through games, that's even better. His wish is that players like PQ4 too: "I hope they're excited about the game itself. I hope they'll also see how difficult a detective's job can be - just working from a crime scene, a body and very little evidence. I'm sure players will be frustrated too as the bodies show up."

Gates has left wide open the prospect of another Sierra project. Some have already reached the proposal stage. "I'd be delighted to do another Police Quest game," he said. "There are thousands and thousands of possible stories."

"I'm intrigued by this whole design process. This game has stimulated me to be more creative and I'm sure future games that I could have a part in would be more realistic and exciting after my initial exposure to game design." The Chief will surely infuse any project with the reality of police life and the respect and love he so obviously has for the occupation.

"I always enjoyed being a police officer, even the toughest parts," Gates concluded.

Note: This interview originally appeared in Electronic Games magazine in October 1993. It was later reprinted by Sierra.