People We Wish Would Design Games: Jeff Dunham

If ventriloquism was a dying art, then it has been born again thanks to comedian Jeff Dunham. Not only a successful ventriloquist, Dunham is one of the most popular comedians working today, thanks in part to the friends in his suitcase. Jeff and his puppets have skyrocketed to fame, bringing laughter and hilarity with them wherever they go. Having Jeff Dunham design a game would be like getting 5 guys for the price of one, and would definitely be a hilarious experience.

Jeff Dunham with (left to right) Walter, Peanut, and José Jalapeño (on a stick).

Jeff Dunham started performing his act in the late 1980s, and in the ’90s he made some appearances on television, including The Tonight Show with Johhny Carson while touring. His career has really taken off since Arguing With Myself, his first big special on Comedy Central, and since then he’s done two more specials:  Spark of Insanity and Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special. He even has a Christmas album titled Don’t Come Home for Christmas.

The world of Jeff Dunham’s mind must be one wacky place; he’s created characters that include a woozle named Peanut and a talking jalapeño on a stick named José. It makes you wonder what he could do if he applied his talents to creating video games. Well, I wonder about it.

In his recent special, Dunham hinted at the possibility that he (or at least Achmed the dead terrorist) enjoys playing video games, mentioning Guitar Hero and Halo in a sketch with Brian Haner (aka Guitar Guy) leading up to a performance of Achmed’s Christmas song titled “Jingle Bombs.”

Dunham’s game would probably revolve around his own characters, each having their own special powers or roles in the game. For example, Achmed the dead terrorist would probably posses the power to cause explosions. Melvin the Superhero would have X-ray vision and be able to fly, but only as far as you can throw him. All while Walter, Jeff’s old curmudgeon counterpart, guides and insults players throughout the game.

Jeff and the gang from Spark of Insanity

Fueled in part by the various aspects of his personality that have taken form on stage, it would be interesting to see what kinds of ideas Jeff, Walter, Peanut, José, Achmed, Melvin, Sweet Daddy D, and Bubba J could come up with. Jeff’s style and ability as a ventriloquist and a performer has really helped to give these characters a life of their own, enough that each of them could contribute something to a game’s design: crazy levels, weird bosses, and lots of humor.

If you’ve never seen any of Jeff Dunham’s specials, keep your eyes on Comedy Central; with his new special running this Christmas they may show the others as well. Check out Jeff Dunham’s website for more videos, tour information, and more.