Something miraculous happened last year. Tim Schafer of Double Fine Productions asked for $400,000 on crowd funding site, Kickstarter, to make an old school point and click adventure game, and the world gave him $3.3 million. In doing so, he and his company bypassed the usual publisher route needed to secure funding for a game, and maintained full creative control of their project. People just about everywhere took notice. Among them, a number of past and present game developers from such origins as Access Software, LucasArts, Revolution Software and Sierra On-Line. They all wanted a chance to take another stab at the adventure game genre, which until then, had been regarded by publishers as a genre that did not typically generate a significant amount of revenue. Translation: It did not make as much money as Call of Duty. Could lightning possibly strike twice? Not only did it strike twice. It struck again and again and again. It was a bit like the end of It's a Wonderful Life, with an angry CEO at Activision, Electronic Arts or some other such place playing the part of Mr. Potter. And as a teacher once said, every time a bell rings, an adventure game developer gets his paycheck.
With that said, Happy New Year! This year is going to be very special because all those adventure games that we Kickstarted last year are going to be released this year. To celebrate, I decided to put together a list of adventure games being released in 2013, including a few that were funded beyond Kickstarter.
Showing posts with label Telltale Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Telltale Games. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, July 26, 2010
Back to the Comic-Con (Part 3 & 4)
Part 3: Focusing on the Positive
My first assignment for Comic-Con 2010 was given to me via Twitter the night before I left. LucasArts would be giving away free Monkey Island Voodoo Dolls to those that asked for fine leather jackets. As soon as I had acquired my badge, I rushed over to the LucasArts booth, where I found Chris Cook holding a box full of the little guys. I gave him the secret password, and just like that, one of them made their way into my possession. It was just like magic... I mean, voodoo.
Signed Stuff #1: Monkey Island Voodoo Doll (By Dave Grossman)
My next stop would bring me to the Telltale Games booth. Once there, I learned that Graham Annable would be signing books from 11 AM to 12 PM. I had been told that he would be there, so I packed my copy of The Book of Grickle in advance. Graham was happy to sign it, and we even had a brief discussion about his gaming career. He worked on Sam & Max: Freelance Police before the time of its cancellation, and had an artistic hand in a few other LucasArts games, as well. Many fans may recall that he also worked at Telltale Games for awhile.
My first assignment for Comic-Con 2010 was given to me via Twitter the night before I left. LucasArts would be giving away free Monkey Island Voodoo Dolls to those that asked for fine leather jackets. As soon as I had acquired my badge, I rushed over to the LucasArts booth, where I found Chris Cook holding a box full of the little guys. I gave him the secret password, and just like that, one of them made their way into my possession. It was just like magic... I mean, voodoo.
Signed Stuff #1: Monkey Island Voodoo Doll (By Dave Grossman)
My next stop would bring me to the Telltale Games booth. Once there, I learned that Graham Annable would be signing books from 11 AM to 12 PM. I had been told that he would be there, so I packed my copy of The Book of Grickle in advance. Graham was happy to sign it, and we even had a brief discussion about his gaming career. He worked on Sam & Max: Freelance Police before the time of its cancellation, and had an artistic hand in a few other LucasArts games, as well. Many fans may recall that he also worked at Telltale Games for awhile.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Back to the Comic-Con (Part 1 & 2)
Part 1: A Lament on Comic-Con
Comic-Con. Just a few short years ago, I would have never dreamed of attending such an event, but in October 2007, I was given my first taste of a convention experience when Telltale Games offered free passes to E for All Expo. That particular event was a bit of a flop, but it still managed to wet my appetite for that following year's Comic-Con. I was excited and terrified at the same time. I had never attended anything of this magnitude. Eventually, I overcame my nerves, though, and found that it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. When I met the Telltale Games crew for the first time, I could feel a certain degree of magic in the air. That may sound weird, but I can think of no better way to describe that feeling.
Well, here we go again.
However, in the years since, I have begun to tire of Comic-Con. First off, the massive crowds are beginning to drive me insane. If someone handed me a lightsaber, I might actually think about using it to cut through some of the excess limbs in the convention center. Nausea-inducing crowds aside, I often times find myself wandering the show floor aimlessly in an effort to find something that sparks my attention. I *could* just hang out with the friendly folks at the Telltale Games booth all day, but sooner or later, I am going to overstay my welcome. Honestly, though, the worst part is that, in the past, I have always made this trip alone, and this year would be no different, but I will cover that in greater detail with the next chapter.
Comic-Con. Just a few short years ago, I would have never dreamed of attending such an event, but in October 2007, I was given my first taste of a convention experience when Telltale Games offered free passes to E for All Expo. That particular event was a bit of a flop, but it still managed to wet my appetite for that following year's Comic-Con. I was excited and terrified at the same time. I had never attended anything of this magnitude. Eventually, I overcame my nerves, though, and found that it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. When I met the Telltale Games crew for the first time, I could feel a certain degree of magic in the air. That may sound weird, but I can think of no better way to describe that feeling.
Well, here we go again.
However, in the years since, I have begun to tire of Comic-Con. First off, the massive crowds are beginning to drive me insane. If someone handed me a lightsaber, I might actually think about using it to cut through some of the excess limbs in the convention center. Nausea-inducing crowds aside, I often times find myself wandering the show floor aimlessly in an effort to find something that sparks my attention. I *could* just hang out with the friendly folks at the Telltale Games booth all day, but sooner or later, I am going to overstay my welcome. Honestly, though, the worst part is that, in the past, I have always made this trip alone, and this year would be no different, but I will cover that in greater detail with the next chapter.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Telltale Games (A Retrospective Blog)
The blog formerly known as Boned: Out from Lucasville...
March 3rd, 2004 is a day that will live in infamy, for on that day, LucasArts canceled Sam & Max: Freelance Police, and thousands of rabid fans weeped openly. The announcement came in the form of the following sentence: "After careful evaluation of current market place realities and underlying economic considerations, [LucasArts] decided that this was not the appropriate time to launch a graphic adventure on the PC." For many fans, this signaled a death blow to the already declining adventure game genre.
What could have been.
However, as it turns out, the cancellation of Sam & Max: Freelance Police was actually a blessing in disguise. The development team went on to form their own company. A company free of the restrictions imposed by LucasArts, which usually resulted in countless Star Wars games being green-lit over more original projects. The name of this new company was Telltale Games.
March 3rd, 2004 is a day that will live in infamy, for on that day, LucasArts canceled Sam & Max: Freelance Police, and thousands of rabid fans weeped openly. The announcement came in the form of the following sentence: "After careful evaluation of current market place realities and underlying economic considerations, [LucasArts] decided that this was not the appropriate time to launch a graphic adventure on the PC." For many fans, this signaled a death blow to the already declining adventure game genre.
What could have been.
However, as it turns out, the cancellation of Sam & Max: Freelance Police was actually a blessing in disguise. The development team went on to form their own company. A company free of the restrictions imposed by LucasArts, which usually resulted in countless Star Wars games being green-lit over more original projects. The name of this new company was Telltale Games.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
From the Graveyard: Worst Side Story (E For All Expo 2007)
This blog has been a long time coming. I chose not to write about E For All Expo 2007 immediately following the event because, quite frankly, it was a bit of a disappointment. There was only one saving grace. A little company known as Telltale Games. You may have heard of them.
Before I begin, I should point out that I was one of the lucky few to receive a free pass from Telltale Games. They posted a blog shortly before the show, and offered twenty free passes to die-hard (not the movie) fans. No contest or anything, just the first twenty people to send them an e-mail with "E For All Pass" in the title.
Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!
Before I begin, I should point out that I was one of the lucky few to receive a free pass from Telltale Games. They posted a blog shortly before the show, and offered twenty free passes to die-hard (not the movie) fans. No contest or anything, just the first twenty people to send them an e-mail with "E For All Pass" in the title.
Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tales of Comic-Con
This is my coup de grâce on Comic-Con 2009. Enjoy!
Here we go again! Has it been a year already? I wrote a blog about last year's Comic-Con titled Comic-Con Adventures. It was, for the most part, a Telltale Games-centric posting. This year, I once again attended the show. It was full of exciting experiences, but sadly, there were no Telltale Games panels. As Jake Rodkin has said, Tales of Monkey Island consumed much of their panel planning time.
You cannot walk five feet without someone bumping into you. At one point, someone told me to move so that they could take a photo. I did, and bumped into a bunch of other people, who proceeded to yell at me. Ah, Comic-Con.
My travel arrangements were mostly unchanged from last year, so I will skip that bit. That information is always mind numbingly boring, anyway. I arrived in San Diego around 10:10 AM on Friday, and picked up my badge. Where did I head first? If you have read this far, that should be obvious. Although the Telltale Games booth was in exactly the same place as last year, it took me a little while to find it. It is as if they hid it in the furthest corner of the convention center. Maybe if I follow the sounds of the jungle?
Here we go again! Has it been a year already? I wrote a blog about last year's Comic-Con titled Comic-Con Adventures. It was, for the most part, a Telltale Games-centric posting. This year, I once again attended the show. It was full of exciting experiences, but sadly, there were no Telltale Games panels. As Jake Rodkin has said, Tales of Monkey Island consumed much of their panel planning time.
You cannot walk five feet without someone bumping into you. At one point, someone told me to move so that they could take a photo. I did, and bumped into a bunch of other people, who proceeded to yell at me. Ah, Comic-Con.
My travel arrangements were mostly unchanged from last year, so I will skip that bit. That information is always mind numbingly boring, anyway. I arrived in San Diego around 10:10 AM on Friday, and picked up my badge. Where did I head first? If you have read this far, that should be obvious. Although the Telltale Games booth was in exactly the same place as last year, it took me a little while to find it. It is as if they hid it in the furthest corner of the convention center. Maybe if I follow the sounds of the jungle?
Friday, August 1, 2008
Comic-Con Adventures - Episode 2
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Peter Mayhew (the man that filled the role of Chewbacca in the Star Wars films)
One of the first places that we stopped by after leaving the Telltale Games booth was LucasArts. While there, we talked to a PR guy, who told us that LucasArts is looking into bringing back some of their back catalog of original game IPs. He didn't specify exactly which ones, but we did bring up the subject of Monkey Island to him. We suggested that they license the rights to Telltale Games. Surprisingly, he didn't seem to dislike this thought completely. He simply said that LucasArts "wouldn't be entirely opposed to the idea." Who knows, maybe something will develop there eventually.
Peter Mayhew (the man that filled the role of Chewbacca in the Star Wars films)
One of the first places that we stopped by after leaving the Telltale Games booth was LucasArts. While there, we talked to a PR guy, who told us that LucasArts is looking into bringing back some of their back catalog of original game IPs. He didn't specify exactly which ones, but we did bring up the subject of Monkey Island to him. We suggested that they license the rights to Telltale Games. Surprisingly, he didn't seem to dislike this thought completely. He simply said that LucasArts "wouldn't be entirely opposed to the idea." Who knows, maybe something will develop there eventually.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Comic-Con Adventures - Episode 1
The Telltale Games Experience
Comic-Con 2008!
On Saturday, I attended Comic-Con. My travel arrangements felt a bit like the old Steve Martin movie "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," except that there were thankfully no planes involved. My parents drove me as far as Fullerton. From there, I caught a 7:50 AM train to Downtown San Diego. Following that, I boarded a light rail bound for Convention Center Station. It was surprisingly easy to get my badge. Allen scared me with his horror story from last year's Comic-Con.
Comic-Con 2008!
On Saturday, I attended Comic-Con. My travel arrangements felt a bit like the old Steve Martin movie "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," except that there were thankfully no planes involved. My parents drove me as far as Fullerton. From there, I caught a 7:50 AM train to Downtown San Diego. Following that, I boarded a light rail bound for Convention Center Station. It was surprisingly easy to get my badge. Allen scared me with his horror story from last year's Comic-Con.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Comic-Con 2007 - Part 2
COMIC-CON 2007 - PART TWO
By Allen Barrett
In this continuation of last week's story of where I attended Comic-Con 2007, I will talk about the weird and wonderful other things that I saw at my local convention center.
After meeting Lord Maddox, I headed over to the Telltale Games booth. Mike Haley and meelWORM had been bugging me to take some pictures of the neat merchandise that they had so I went that extra mile and got one with the team, including that man among men: Dave Grossman. He used to work for LucasArts and brought us such classics as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. He was kind enough to sign my copy of DotT. He is awesome.
By Allen Barrett
In this continuation of last week's story of where I attended Comic-Con 2007, I will talk about the weird and wonderful other things that I saw at my local convention center.
After meeting Lord Maddox, I headed over to the Telltale Games booth. Mike Haley and meelWORM had been bugging me to take some pictures of the neat merchandise that they had so I went that extra mile and got one with the team, including that man among men: Dave Grossman. He used to work for LucasArts and brought us such classics as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. He was kind enough to sign my copy of DotT. He is awesome.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Comic-Con 2007 - Part 1
COMIC-CON 2007 - PART ONE
By Allen Barrett
So I decided to attend Comic-Con this week. I left it too late and missed out on Saturday, but I managed to get tickets for Friday. There'd be a lot more pictures here but for some reason, they've disappeared from my memory card. I was pissed. Anyway.
The train ride to the convention centre was fairly quiet until we got to the penultimate stop. 1500 people suddenly decided that they didn't want to walk the whole 4 blocks to the convention centre and decided to clusterfuck onto the train. One hot, sticky, air-deprived stop later we got there, where I saw people try to cross the road in groups of about 50 at a time. It was incredible. But at least I got there.
The queue to get in took about 20 minutes to get through. There was minimal order to the chaos and the worst part of it all was the fact that the entrance was all the way at the end of the con centre then you had to climb up stairs and go through a mind-numbingly painful experience to finally get in. I couldn't find the way down to the main hall because of poor signing.
By Allen Barrett
So I decided to attend Comic-Con this week. I left it too late and missed out on Saturday, but I managed to get tickets for Friday. There'd be a lot more pictures here but for some reason, they've disappeared from my memory card. I was pissed. Anyway.
The train ride to the convention centre was fairly quiet until we got to the penultimate stop. 1500 people suddenly decided that they didn't want to walk the whole 4 blocks to the convention centre and decided to clusterfuck onto the train. One hot, sticky, air-deprived stop later we got there, where I saw people try to cross the road in groups of about 50 at a time. It was incredible. But at least I got there.
The queue to get in took about 20 minutes to get through. There was minimal order to the chaos and the worst part of it all was the fact that the entrance was all the way at the end of the con centre then you had to climb up stairs and go through a mind-numbingly painful experience to finally get in. I couldn't find the way down to the main hall because of poor signing.
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