The Postal Dude (Postal)

General CVG character
name=The Postal Dude, Jr.


caption= The Postal Dude
firstgame=Postal (1997)
series=Postal (computer game)
creator=Vince Desiderio
voiceactor=Rick Hunter [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1385520/ IMDB filmography for Rick Hunter] ]
height= 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
aliases=The Postal Dude, Mr. The Dude, P Dude
nationality= American
affiliations=Running With Scissors, Inc.

Postal Dude, Jr. also known as the postal dude is the main character in the video game series "Postal" as well as the film "Postal". Due to his violent nature, Postal Dude is regarded as one of the most controversial video game characters. [cite web | url=http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02453/postal2.html | title=Controversy in Video Games - Postal 2 | author=Duralde, Carlos] In the games he was voiced by voice actor Rick Hunter. Zack Ward portrays the character in the film.

Character

The games reveal small tidbits about the Postal Dude. He is a resident of a trailer park in the fictional town of Paradise, Arizona. He is a Roman Catholic, enjoys reading for pleasure, has a deceased father whom he hated, and he is active in politics (two tasks involve passing out a petition and voting in a local election). He is unemployed, having been terminated from his job at Running With Scissors, Inc. for unspecified reasons. His only family are his live-in girlfriend (identified only as "Postal Dude's Bitch") and his "Uncle Dave," implied to be David Koresh.

Vince Desi, head of Postal creators Running With Scissors indicated in an interview that the character's actions are completely down to the player. There is the option of non violence if the player chooses. The character's personality is such that if the player chooses to play the video game violently, it's appropriate. [cite web | url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/379/379229p1.html | title=IGN PC Interview with Vince Desi | date=2002-12-05 | accessdate=2007-11-30 | publisher=IGN | author=Butts, Steve]

Development

When designing the game "Postal" in 1995, Art Director Randy Briley designed Postal Dude as a dark, brooding character to match the design style of the game. It was intended from the start that the character had no back story at all so to give the player the ability to impose whatever back story or personality onto the character they desired.cite web | url=http://www.postalnation.net/archives/pn0707/0701_articles/DudeHistory.php | title=The Secret History of the POSTAL Dude |publisher=Running With Scissors | date=July 2007 | accessdate=2007-11-30]

"Postal²" was released in 2003 as a fully 3D first person shooter. The increased graphics capability allowed for Postal Dude to be presented in more detail. The final design for the character (visible in mirrors and some pre-rendered third-person sequences) was completed in 2001 by art director Josh Leichliter. Another difference from the first game in the series is that Postal Dude spoke. He is voiced by Rick Hunter. Hunter returned for the expansion pack "Apocalypse Weekend" which was released in 2005 and included some small redesigns of Postal Dude.

The Postal Dude returns as the main character in "Postal III" where the character has moved to a new town. Vince Desi describes the character as "like Clint Eastwood," in that he wants to mind his own business but people won't leave him alone. [cite web | url=http://xbox360.vgcore.com/interviews/10.html | title=Postal 3 First Impression Interview | accessdate=2007-11-30 | publisher=VGCore.com]

Film depiction

Zack Ward portrays Postal Dude in "Postal". Ward describes the character as somebody who just wanted to be liked and accepted. Ward said that he did not base his performance as Postal Dude on the video game renditions as he never played them, but on the script.

Controversy

In 2006 after the shooting in a college by Kimveer Gill in Canada, Postal Dude was singled out as a character Gill identified with. In his blog Gill expressed admiration for Postal Dude, saying that "Postal dude was sad before he became angry and psychotic, that's the part we're never seen in the game. He was normal, but the world made him the way he became." "Postal²" was singled out as one of Gill's favourite games. [cite web | url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features/dawsonshooting/story.html?id=434963ad-d55d-4ba4-a6e9-349db0387e65&k=82668 | title=Montreal gunman admired violent video-game character | author=Macdonald, Don and Rocha, Roberto | publisher=canada.com | date=2006-09-15 | accessdate=2007-11-30]

References

External links

* [http://www.gopostal.com/ GoPostal.com]