Maniac Mansion / Day of the Tentacle

[anonima]

Alongside Sam & Max Hit the Road, these were my favourite games ever. Its yet another franchise I think LucasArts neglect. Who would like to see Telltale work some episodic magic on the Maniac Mansion series if Sam & Max is successful?

Some 3D art to give you an idea of what it could be like:

http://www.christerb.com/?page_id=21

Tom

[Emily]

Did you know that Dave Grossman (co-designer on DOTT) is the lead designer on Sam & Max? :D

[Haggis]

And he also worked on the Monkey Island games. *hint, hint*

By the way, I love those 3D images. :)

[jp-30]

Hey Tom, check this thread out (http://www.telltalegames.com/forum/viewthread?thread=875) and in particular;



(Source (http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200607/N06.0724.1923.35414.htm));

GI: A lot of those LucasArts franchises are still very popular – you spoke about Day of the Tentacle. Is there a chance you’ll be able to wrangle a few more of those away for more episodes? Are you working on that at all?

Connors: It’s definitely on our minds and it’s definitely something we think about. Maybe I can give you more information a while from now. It’s definitely something that makes good sense to everybody. For them it’s the same thing. For them it’s "What’s the business model? What’s the retail model?" It’s not their type of game – it’s not Star Wars, it’s not with the movie, with the lightsaber – an action game. When trying to do the two things at the same time it makes it challenging. They’ve been trying to figure out the right solution, and hopefully Telltale is part of it.

[anonima]

Awesome stuff man! I'd love to see day of the tentacle games.. I just have no faith in LucasArts at this point..

[anonima]

How about a Dead Cousin Ted spinoff. Can you see the possibilities?

[jp-30]

How about a Dead Cousin Ted spinoff. Can you see the possibilities?

Grim-Fandango crossover?

[Pvt._Public]

How about a Dead Cousin Ted spinoff. Can you see the possibilities?

Grim-Fandango crossover?

Hell no. It'd have to be an action game. :D

[jp-30]

How about a Dead Cousin Ted spinoff. Can you see the possibilities?

Grim-Fandango crossover?

Hell no. It'd have to be an action game. :D

Glottis vs. Ted vs. Sam in a kart-race spectacular?

[anonima]

Lavern was always my favourite character. She reminds me of a Thrift store employee. I'm getting all teary eyed now...

[Pvt._Public]

How about a Dead Cousin Ted spinoff. Can you see the possibilities?

Grim-Fandango crossover?

Hell no. It'd have to be an action game. :D

Glottis vs. Ted vs. Sam in a kart-race spectacular?

You'd better believe it. Set to some "phat choons" and littered with explosions, violence, sex, gore, drug abuse and rock'n' roll. Ted would be one of the more useless characters as all he can really do is be propped upon the accelerater. No steering. And Sam would have to keep stopping because Max would have to go to the toilet or stop and see stupid road-side attractions.

[anonima]

Ever since the episodic approach of "Sam & Max" got announced, I thought that "Day of the Tentacle" (or "Maniac Mansion" respectively) would lend itself perfectly for sitcom-like episodic games. In fact that's just what the guys over at Maniac-Mansion-Mania.de are doing. Reviving the series with the different episodes having different protagonists every time (like Dave in MM and Bernard in DOTT) wouldn't be too bad of an idea.

[anonima]

Reviving a classic like Sam and Max is fine and all, but I'd rather see some original games come out. There are some amazing storytelling and design possibilities yet to be explored. I want to play adventure games and go "wow, that's a story that's going to stick with me". Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango, Curse of Monkey Island, The Last Express... those games stuck with me, and although revisiting them in extensions of those games is great fun, that nostalgia still pales in comparison to being floored by a completely original, completely brilliant design/tale.

Don't get me wrong, there should still be tributes to the classics and updates, but that is only half the equation.

[anonima]

Reviving a classic like Sam and Max is fine and all, but I'd rather see some original games come out. There are some amazing storytelling and design possibilities yet to be explored. I want to play adventure games and go "wow, that's a story that's going to stick with me". Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango, Curse of Monkey Island, The Last Express... those games stuck with me, and although revisiting them in extensions of those games is great fun, that nostalgia still pales in comparison to being floored by a completely original, completely brilliant design/tale.

Don't get me wrong, there should still be tributes to the classics and updates, but that is only half the equation.

i agree with all my heart !!!!!
i want some new and original stories !!!
they should be in the vein of those old stories with wacky, absurd
and total outrageous humor, maybe even more mature
(monty python ?) and some good art-style. I dont care if it's 2D or 3D.....
2D still could have its place in adventure games. use the gpu-power for antialiasing and really detailed art as opposed
to the more clinical, shiny, sterile lookin 3D-art of today.

[anonima]

Hey! Those are very cool 3D images! You should work at TELLTALE! Like, SERIOUSLY MAN!

Woop!

[anonima]

I'd rather have full throttle. Day Of the Tentacle more of a stand alone game. Everything about it is classic and if a new one was made, complaining for mass destruction would follow.

To avoid it being the same game it would have to be completely different.
It's like giving a sequel to a Tim Burton film (Nightmare, Sleepy Hollow). It won't work unless it's a rehash.

[anonima]

I'd rather have full throttle. Day Of the Tentacle more of a stand alone game. Everything about it is classic and if a new one was made, complaining for mass destruction would follow.

To avoid it being the same game it would have to be completely different.
It's like giving a sequel to a Tim Burton film (Nightmare, Sleepy Hollow). It won't work unless it's a rehash.

The major characters of Day of the Tentacle are alive at the end of the game. Maniac Mansion III would probably not deal with a crazed tentacle taking of the world, but it would probably feature much of the same humour, style and characters. It's not like there's some central theme that would be undermined if a sequel was created. Since the first game was just the mansion, the second was about the mansion in different eras, I suppose the third one would be about the mansion in various parallel universes. There'd be a pretty good story to eke out of that premise.

[anonima]

To be perfectly factual, DOTT is not really a stand-alone game, because it's a sequel...

For what it's worth, I actually think DOTT is a better game than Sam & Max Hit the Road. It's not nearly as funny, of course, but... Well, it's kind of like comparing Lord of the Rings to Airplane, if you know what I mean.

Although the Sam & Max revival has far more potential than a DOTT revival, don't get me wrong. Not that we can't have both.

[anonima]

To be perfectly factual, DOTT is not really a stand-alone game, because it's a sequel...

For what it's worth, I actually think DOTT is a better game than Sam & Max Hit the Road. It's not nearly as funny, of course, but... Well, it's kind of like comparing Lord of the Rings to Airplane, if you know what I mean.

Although the Sam & Max revival has far more potential than a DOTT revival, don't get me wrong. Not that we can't have both.

Day of the Tentacle and Sam and Max were definitely not as dissimilar as Lord of the Rings and Airplane. Not even close.

As for which one's better, I think Day of the Tentacle more varied settings, three different characters, and slightly more sensical puzzling made it the better game. But you're right. I'd rather have a Sam and Max follow up, because I think the duo are among the most delightful ever conceived.

[jp-30]

To be perfectly factual, DOTT is not really a stand-alone game, because it's a sequel...

It's a stand-alone game! I played it before playing Maniac Mansion, and didn't suffer one bit for it. Aside froma couple f in-jokes there's really nothing in MM that's needed to be known to play / enjoy DOTT.

[anonima]

DOTT is what made the series popular. MM would be just an old game that not as many poeple would remember if it wasen't for DOTT.

Everything would be compared to DOTT instead of Maniac mansion if a 3rd game was conceived. I just can't see it working.

Plus the original voice actor's would most definatly not return causing mass hysteria.
I cringe thinking about someone imitating the characters. Especially Lavern.

[anonima]

I just found this german site about a dott 2 fan game.

It's got actual screenshots from their game that look pretty decent. They're pretty much redone rooms from the original. Most of them are too bright but it's cool to see them in a higher resolution.
It seems they added a few cameos from other classics in there too.

http://www.dott2.de/

[anonima]

DOTT is what made the series popular. MM would be just an old game that not as many poeple would remember if it wasen't for DOTT.

Everything would be compared to DOTT instead of Maniac mansion if a 3rd game was conceived. I just can't see it working.

Plus the original voice actor's would most definatly not return causing mass hysteria.
I cringe thinking about someone imitating the characters. Especially Lavern.

Popularity? Eh, so what? It's still the second game in the series. It's not like the story is untouchable.

The comparisons, eh? What about Majora's Mask, then? That game wasn't sunk by comparisons to the incredibly acclaimed Ocarina of Time.

If not having the original voice actors in a sequel to a popular graphic adventure game caused mass hysteria, why haven't we seen any since the release of Sam and Max: Episode One? Well, the voice acting was actually appropriate, for one...

[anonima]

Hi all,
I would absolutely love to play another MM/DOTT game too.

And the more in-jokes with both Maniac Mansion and DOTT the better. I especially would love to see references to the first one, and maybe even to its characters (Razor anyone? ;) )

I found the art linked by the thread opener very enjoyable, and the idea of parallel dimensions' mansion is intriguing. :)

Bernard and the tentacles are of course irremissible. ;)

To have it playable with different set of charactes, like Maniac Mansion, would be awesome, but I'm not sure how well this would fit in the TT's episodic model.

[Guybrush_Threepwood]

To have it playable with different set of charactes, like Maniac Mansion, would be awesome, but I'm not sure how well this would fit in the TT's episodic model.

The Great Cow Race showed us that it would fit PERFECTLY.
I mean, the episodic format allows to switch between characters as well as a full-lenght game as DOTT.
Also, I think that the possibility to use different characters makes things and puzzles a bit more interesting, and that's VERY important for games that are supposed to be so short. :)

[anonima]

Hell yeah. I'd be even more excited about a DOTT2 than Sam & Max...AND I LOVE SAM & MAX!

DOTT in 3D. Did you check that dude's 3D renders of Bernard and the portapotty? MAN that was great! I reckong he should get a contract with Telltale to work soley on DOTT. He'd ROCK!

[anonima]

If a 3D DOTT game was made it wouldn't have the same quality of those renders. Unless it came out on PS3....

[Guybrush_Threepwood]

Did you check that dude's 3D renders of Bernard and the portapotty? MAN that was great! I reckong he should get a contract with Telltale to work soley on DOTT. He'd ROCK!

You know, that guy let me think a lot with those renders!
Imagine if someone/some company had the guts, money and time to re-style in 3D some of the masterpieces we all love.
That would probably attract young gamers who never tried those games because they're "old and with bad graphics".
And this would mean a huge number of new graphic adventure fans and a new youth for this kind of games.
It may sound crazy, but it's becoming usual to remake old games in a modern style (though WITHOUT CHANGING ANYTHING in the plot or whatever).

[anonima]

Well, I'm pretty sure SQUARE-ENIX is doing that with FINAL FANTAST 7 - remodelling the entire game for PS3.

That's EPIC brother.

[anonima]

Well, I'm pretty sure SQUARE-ENIX is doing that with FINAL FANTAST 7 - remodelling the entire game for PS3.

That's EPIC brother.

Yeah, I never played FF7 so the movie was confusing. Things were just.... happening....

[anonima]

Man - Those 3d models were amazing!

[anonima]

Well, I'm pretty sure SQUARE-ENIX is doing that with FINAL FANTAST 7 - remodelling the entire game for PS3.

That's EPIC brother.

They're going to have to do more than that. Fixing the gameplay and the translation might even make the game as high quality as everyone suggests it is.

[anonima]

NOO!! DOTT was such a perfect game, a modren version of it would probably ruin it! i'm not saying i don't trust telltale on making great games, i'm just saying i'm not sure if it's possible to even MAKE a better game than the original DOTT... The only thing that needs a makeover to make it competable in the modren market is the graphics... Kids just love cartoony CMI styled graphics!!

[anonima]

NOO!! DOTT was such a perfect game, a modren version of it would probably ruin it! i'm not saying i don't trust telltale on making great games, i'm just saying i'm not sure if it's possible to even MAKE a better game than the original DOTT... The only thing that needs a makeover to make it competable in the modren market is the graphics... Kids just love cartoony CMI styled graphics!!

Day of the Tentacle is an odd game to put on a pedestal. Some of those puzzles were just utterly incomprehensible. It could be improved.

[anonima]

NOO!! DOTT was such a perfect game, a modren version of it would probably ruin it! i'm not saying i don't trust telltale on making great games, i'm just saying i'm not sure if it's possible to even MAKE a better game than the original DOTT... The only thing that needs a makeover to make it competable in the modren market is the graphics... Kids just love cartoony CMI styled graphics!!

Day of the Tentacle is an odd game to put on a pedestal. Some of those puzzles were just utterly incomprehensible. It could be improved.

To what? I know some puzles were more or less "try using all items in your inventory with that item" ... but that's the fun in it! An updated version would be a story guided advanture... whitch is not the case in DOTT...

[anonima]

Not me thats for sure. The episode games just doesnt work in the kinda game.. Most people will see that when we play the sam&max episode 1. The game is good yes. But its way to short and easy. because there are so few items and npc involved.. I for one. Like the idea of a hole game.

So if telltale gets big enough or rich enough and the experince of what people like. I hope we get more of the good Point and click games but in there normal Full Version..

[anonima]

NOO!! DOTT was such a perfect game, a modren version of it would probably ruin it! i'm not saying i don't trust telltale on making great games, i'm just saying i'm not sure if it's possible to even MAKE a better game than the original DOTT... The only thing that needs a makeover to make it competable in the modren market is the graphics... Kids just love cartoony CMI styled graphics!!

Day of the Tentacle is an odd game to put on a pedestal. Some of those puzzles were just utterly incomprehensible. It could be improved.

To what? I know some puzles were more or less "try using all items in your inventory with that item" ... but that's the fun in it! An updated version would be a story guided advanture... whitch is not the case in DOTT...

Trial and error is not fun. It's a long, drawn out process that involves little thinking, and a whole lot of legwork.

[anonima]

NOO!! DOTT was such a perfect game, a modren version of it would probably ruin it! i'm not saying i don't trust telltale on making great games, i'm just saying i'm not sure if it's possible to even MAKE a better game than the original DOTT... The only thing that needs a makeover to make it competable in the modren market is the graphics... Kids just love cartoony CMI styled graphics!!

Day of the Tentacle is an odd game to put on a pedestal. Some of those puzzles were just utterly incomprehensible. It could be improved.

To what? I know some puzles were more or less "try using all items in your inventory with that item" ... but that's the fun in it! An updated version would be a story guided advanture... whitch is not the case in DOTT...

Trial and error is not fun. It's a long, drawn out process that involves little thinking, and a whole lot of legwork.

Trail and error is VERY FUN.. so dont play it. There is a reason why it was go great. And many other more complex adventure games failed..

[Haggis]

Trial and error is not fun. If I want to click a lot of times in a row, I'll play Minesweeper.

[anonima]

Trail and error is VERY FUN.. so dont play it. There is a reason why it was go great. And many other more complex adventure games failed..

Yeah. I'm not sure how you could possibly have a mental construction that enjoys trial and error, but if you do, realize you're in a tiny minority. Believe it or not, most adventure game fans would rather have something that forces them to think.

And if I stopped playing every game I had a problem with, I wouldn't ever play a videogame.

[anonima]

Trail and error is VERY FUN.. so dont play it. There is a reason why it was go great. And many other more complex adventure games failed..

The logic of this statement just doesn't really make sense... here is how I interpret it: trial and error is very fun; more trial and error = more complex; more complex = more likely to fail.

Anyway, one major point that just needs to be made:
If the old design and model of adventure games were so successful, why did fewer and fewer consumers buy them? Yes, there is still a group of hardcore adventure game players, but you just need to look at recent history to realize that this group is a minority of consumers that is not enough to make such games as profitable as they can be. The "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" argument really needs to be retired.

[Udvarnoky]

NOO!! DOTT was such a perfect game, a modren version of it would probably ruin it! i'm not saying i don't trust telltale on making great games, i'm just saying i'm not sure if it's possible to even MAKE a better game than the original DOTT... The only thing that needs a makeover to make it competable in the modren market is the graphics... Kids just love cartoony CMI styled graphics!!

Day of the Tentacle is an odd game to put on a pedestal. Some of those puzzles were just utterly incomprehensible. It could be improved.

Actually, I think Day of the Tentacle is a pretty good example of great, well reasoned puzzles, at least in the context of "the old days". You're right in that they could be pretty wacky, but they were mostly logically wacky. They had a very cartoonish logic behind them, but it was a kind of logic nonetheless.

Compare Day of the Tentacle's puzzles to the puzzles in Sam & Max Hit the Road. I thought the Sam & Max puzzles were in general much more difficult because they were insane not just directly but in the reasoning behind them. I found myself using trial and error much more often in that game than I did in DOTT.

Obviously there were exceptions. DOTT had its fair share of quirks and Sam & Max had its gems. But I think the puzzle design is much stronger in DOTT. What made Sam & Max a classic to me were more the characters, the humor, the art style, the general wackiness (of the story), etc. I think that's mainly what made all the LucasArts adventures classics, and I think this emphasis on more superficial elements of the old adventure games resulted in a lot of the...er...less-than-good ones we tend to get nowadays.

[Oilers99]

Actually, I think Day of the Tentacle is a pretty good example of great, well reasoned puzzles, at least in the context of "the old days". You're right in that they could be pretty wacky, but they were mostly logically wacky. They had a very cartoonish logic behind them, but it was a kind of logic nonetheless.

Compare Day of the Tentacle's puzzles to the puzzles in Sam & Max Hit the Road. I thought the Sam & Max puzzles were in general much more difficult because they were insane not just directly but in the reasoning behind them. I found myself using trial and error much more often in that game than I did in DOTT.

Obviously there were exceptions. DOTT had its fair share of quirks and Sam & Max had its gems. But I think the puzzle design is much stronger in DOTT. What made Sam & Max a classic to me were more the characters, the humor, the art style, the general wackiness (of the story), etc. I think that's mainly what made all the LucasArts adventures classics, and I think this emphasis on more superficial elements of the old adventure games resulted in a lot of the...er...less-than-good ones we tend to get nowadays.

The logic of some of the puzzles were downright bizarre. Remember having to wash that carriage so it would rain? I was unaware of the idea that it always rained right after you washed your car. Maybe it's a 90's thing. There were some other puzzles I have some issues with, one of them involved a cat I think, but I'd have to go back to it. I wish that the game had implemented a simple mechanic that automatically threw out any items that were no long of use when you flushed them through time.

Saying that Day of the Tentacle's puzzles were good by comparing them to Sam and Max is like suggesting getting punched in the stomach is pleasant because you aren't having your limbs decapitated. Granted, neither game was that bad, but though I had even more issues with Hit the Road's design, they didn't excuse those of Day of the Tentacle. But yeah, Sam and Max's puzzles were frequently really bizarre, and devoid of logic. Even devoid of the twisted, sub-logic of the game's protagonists.

I'm reluctant to call Sam and Max a classic. It's brilliant as a comedy, and a fun world to be in. But the puzzle design is mind-numbingly bad at times. Then again, the puzzles are occasionally fun, and when everything's clicking, it's one of the best times you'll ever have. Probably deserves the label "flawed masterpiece". Day of the Tentacle? Had some issues with it, but on the whole, the puzzles were good, and the structure of the game was entertaining. I don't have a problem calling it a classic. But flawless or perfect? Hardly.

Looking back, I've had fairly major problems with a lot of graphic adventure games, with maybe only a couple of exceptions.

[AGA]

Personally I think Day of the Tentacle has some of the best-designed puzzles of any adventure game. You just have to have the right 'adventure game logic' mindset to solve them. Not that I'm impugning your puzzle-solving skills, but I myself loved DotT's puzzles...

[Oilers99]

Personally I think Day of the Tentacle has some of the best-designed puzzles of any adventure game. You just have to have the right 'adventure game logic' mindset to solve them. Not that I'm impugning your puzzle-solving skills, but I myself loved DotT's puzzles...

The majority of the puzzles, as far as I recall, were fine. But I do remember a fair number of them being unreasonably obtuse. I really should go back and replay the game so I can give you concrete examples. But I will say I played through a bit of Sam and Max tonight, and without getting terribly far into the game, I encountered five questionable design decisions. I'll share them if anybody's interested, or if they just want to call my bluff, but they're not terribly exciting in of themselves.

[AGA]

Well I haven't played Hit the Road in years, so I can't really comment on that.

[Erwin]

Remember having to wash that carriage so it would rain? I was unaware of the idea that it always rained right after you washed your car. Maybe it's a 90's thing.

You either don't own a car, or never washed it before because it's true: It ALWAYS rains after you wash it. It's bloody frustrating, and a reason why I don't wash my car often anymore. :mad:

--Erwin

[Haggis]

You either don't own a car, or never washed it before because it's true: It ALWAYS rains after you wash it. It's bloody frustrating, and a reason why I don't wash my car often anymore. :mad:

--Erwin
That means if you don't own a car or don't regularly wash one, you can't figure out the solution to the puzzle. :rolleyes:

[Erwin]

That means if you don't own a car or don't regularly wash one, you can't figure out the solution to the puzzle. :rolleyes:

True.

And if you were a hermit, and hardly ever went outside, you probably wouldn't be able to solve any puzzle at all ;)

--Erwin

[Oilers99]

True.

And if you were a hermit, and hardly ever went outside, you probably wouldn't be able to solve any puzzle at all ;)

--Erwin

And who is the primary target audience for graphic adventure games? Socially withdrawn hermits, of course. ;)

And for the record, I don't own a car.

[Erwin]

And for the record, I don't own a car.

What does a socially withdrawn hermit need a car for anway, huh? :D

--Erwin

[Haggis]

Well, if the hermit lives in a big house... :D

[Jake]

It would have to be a pretty big house to justify owning a car to transport you around it.

[cp31734]

Perhaps it's worth mentioning that the game designers do throw you a clue for this one.
If Bernard goes outside, and looks at the car's windshield, it says 'Wash Me' on it. Bernard turns to the camera and informs us: "Some people think that washing one's vehicle, will make it rain."
So there you go, nice easy puzzle.

[Oilers99]

It would have to be a pretty big house to justify owning a car to transport you around it.

Not necessarily. As gamers, we've also never had a day of exercise in our lives. :D

[Erwin]

Moving the mouse around is exercise too!

--Erwin

[Haggis]

Moving the mouse around is exercise too!
I've trained a hamster to do that for me. I'm currently training him to think as well, so I won't even have to waste energy solving the puzzles.

[Streets]

What about Zak McKracken?

No love for the Alien Mindbenders?

[Erwin]

Zak McKracken probably has its own statue in Germany. He's considered a hero there ;)

--Erwin

[AGA]

What about Zak McKracken?

No love for the Alien Mindbenders?

Just you wait. Read Adventure Gamers (http://www.adventuregamers.com) sometime soon.

[errorage]

I love coyote and roadrunner logic :D

[xChri5x]

Wow, what a fun thread about games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thom_h]

As much as I loved DOTT, I can't really see where the story would go to. But hey, I'd love to see it happen I guess.
I'm more interested in seeing some new ideas though, to be honest :)
'Sam and Max' works as infinte stories can be made up, just like a series of crime genre shows, if you know what I mean?
Well that's what I think anyway.

[presidentmax]

I know this topic is considered dead but after the announcement of a new monkey island game i felt compelled to bring this up.

What do you think of the possiblities of a day of the tentacle episodic series now that telltale and lucasarts are on good terms?

I feel greedy for asking this as the company has already brought back two of my other favourite p&c games, sam and max and monkey island, however this game has always been such a joy for me and is probably one of my biggest influences as a art student so the thought of maybe one day seeing telltale's intepretation of dot is mind-blowing to me.

Also... if they made it then the circle will be complete for Dave Grossman. Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't dot the last series dave grossman worked on for lucasarts that hasnt been been brought back?

Please forgive my geeky hunger, the upcoming monkey island game has just got me so excited about how other lucasart classics may not have to remain left to dust.

[jp-30]

I was expecting DOTT to be the new series, not Monkey Island. I'd love it. Time travel, switchable characters. Though I wonder if what's his face from WKRP has retired. I don't know if I could stand all the 'bernard's voice is wrong' moaning.

[presidentmax]

I was expecting DOTT to be the new series, not Monkey Island. I'd love it. Time travel, switchable characters. Though I wonder if what's his face from WKRP has retired. I don't know if I could stand all the 'bernard's voice is wrong' moaning.

I could live with voice changes, telltale have a knack for finding great replacements or voices that give a different but faithful approach to the character.

Oh yeah, i was just thinking about it but is the guy who voices purple tentacle the same guy who voices murry or am i going nuts?

[Funktion]

I still consider Maniac Mansion and Day of the Tentacle to be my favourite graphic adventure games, so needless to say as soon as I heard the news about the new Monkey Island episodes, the first thing I though was that the door is now open for a return of the series.
So +1 vote for a series of episodes from Telltale Games. Make it happen, Telltale! :p

[Quadriflax]

I won't miss a chance to add to this sentiment. Another MM/DotT game would probably put me into some kind of nostalgic coma. And with the recent news of the new MI series, I can't imagine this would be out of the question.

I would hug Telltale if I could.

[natlinxz]

I would hug Telltale if I could.

This seems like an appropriate time to quote Max from Abe Lincoln Must Die:
"Hug nothing! I'm getting to third base!"

[doom saber]

lf they do make a sequel, l think they should use a mixture of new and old chars. lt would make the series a sequel to BOTH of MM and D0TT rather than just the 2nd game and would prevent ppl from moaning how Bernard, Hoagie, and that crazy chick sounds diff.

I would also would want to see the game follows the patterns as the other game where it doesn't use a floatin timeline but uses our timeline

For instance, DOTT takes place 5 yrs after mm, which reflects how Day of the tentacle was released five yrs after the original game.

I do not think age would be a turnoff if TT goes with a realistic timeline since the characters in MM were pretty young and a ten year difference would make them still pretty young, abeit in their 30s'. Besides, TT can make new kids and have someone like Razor, be some washed up would still resides with his mom and dad, so a ten-fifthteen yr difference wouldn't affect him at all.

l would love to see a parallel universe plot since the time travel plotline was only used for the 2nd game. The parallel concept would make it different from the other games (if you ignore laverne's placement in an alternate future) yet have the same structure as part 2.

[HatefulCactus]

What would make a good story for Maniac Mansion 3? Personally, I'd like to see a new group of teenagers go to the Edison Mansion. With the exception of Bernard making one last return.

[doom saber]

Because of the episodic nature in adventure titles made by Grossman and company, I would like to see each episode usin different kids as playable characters.

Day of the Tentacle is fairly a short game and most of the rooms are of the mansion.

I can imagine each episode with some invention or creation that fredd edison has concoted goin wrong where a different trio of kids has to fix

Imean, for instance, Bernard and two other kids can be in one episode whereas Dave or Hoagie with two other kids can be playable in the next.

[onemanandhisdroid]

Telltale wants to do Day Of The Tentacle. (http://www.videogamer.com/news/telltale_wants_to_make_episodic_day_of_the_tentacl e.html)

We thought we’d ask Telltale Games CEO Dan Connors if any classic LucasArts franchises were likely to receive the episodic Telltale treatment with brand new games. Here’s what he said:

“We’ll see. It all depends on how it goes. Hopefully it works out for both companies and it just is a no brainer to keep adding the franchises on.”

When asked if Day of the Tentacle was feasible, Connors replied: “I would say feasible is a good word.”

“To me I always think of the big three as, and maybe it’s just because of when I was playing and when I was first starting at LucasArts, I always think of Sam & Max, Day of the Tentacle and Monkey Island as the big three franchises," Connors told us. "Having access to Steve and access to Dave Grossman and everything else… I really love Day of the Tentacle.

If that happens, cool. Unlike Sam&Max or Monkey, this series is about more than just a zany cast of main characters, however. It's all about distinctive concepts. In Maniac Mansion you play a team of "burglars" in a pseudo real-time environment in which characters appear to have a life of their own. And Dott sports the most fun implementation of time travelling in a video game like, ever. Those games couldn't have been any more different.

Probably an episodic nature could lend to another concept all by itself... and I'm not thinking bit-sized-sitcom-narrative-with-overarching-plotlines-for-each-season here. As said, this has never been just about characters.

[Scrawffler]

I agree, story-wise the series could go anywhere, seeing how different MM and DOTT were.

First, let it be known; the announcement of DOTT being even just a possibility from Telltale was what made me decide that I would definitely pre-order Monkey Island and support the company as much as I can.

I personally would love to see a series that is faithful to DOTT. The mansion itself is a bit smaller and manageable - I'd love to see it recreated in 3D. I'd DEFINITELY love to see Bernard, Hoagie and Laverne all make a comeback together. Very quirky, very fun trio and with tons of personality, and I bet Telltale could do wonders developing on their personalities too. I bet the in-game music would also be great.

I know the whole thing with the voice actors could possibly be risky, but Telltale have done well in this department so far. So even if they can't find all the voice actors who originally did DOTT, they could probably find new ones. Heck, they could even make the characters sound intentionally different so long as the voices still suit them!

All in all, DOTT is really in the spirit of what Telltale is already producing. The right kind of humour, the right kind of personality, it's all there. Besides, I don't think we can trust any other company in the world to continue this great series!

[izac01]

Is there any real talk about bringing DOTT back?

[smashing]

You mean all the posts made around here are fake?

[Rather Dashing]

I don't know if there's any talk of bringing Maniac Mansion back. There was talk half a year about bringing back Monkey Island before we knew about it. If there is, and it's a secret, I doubt that the Telltale staff are going to go, "Damn, they asked, now we must reveal our secret plans!"

[smashing]

Monkey Island really caught most gamers off guard. There was literally no clues before they announced about it just a few months back. The grumpy gamer was gloating about how good he could keep a secret back in May too. Geesh!

[SHODANFreeman]

I don't know if there's any talk of bringing Maniac Mansion back. There was talk half a year about bringing back Monkey Island before we knew about it. If there is, and it's a secret, I doubt that the Telltale staff are going to go, "Damn, they asked, now we must reveal our secret plans!"

Actually, I think they were talking about Monkey Island since Rodriguez became president of LEC last April.

[Spadge]

Anyway, I doubt there would a DOTT remake before they redo Maniac Mansion. It's not exactly a famous franchise. It would be interesting if Telltale get the rights and somehow tie the Maniac Mansion and Sam&Max games together.

Haven't heard anything but fantalk though.

[smashing]

Whether or not there will be remake or rights of DOTT or other adventure games under LA will remain at the discretion of LA. Unlike S&M, the other brands belong entirely to LA, and hence they have to make the call whether or not a remake is worth the effort.

I do wish that TTG will resume talks with LA about the rights to Sam & Max: Freelance Police, given the sudden revival of adventure games. It was a real pity a few years back when that project which was on schedule, was suddenly called off.

[harlequ1n]

I'm stuck in the original game... If they do remake the game I wish they add the hint system introduced in Secret SE as I don't want to resort to walkthroughs and all I need is a little push.

[Darkblade07]

I seriously don't think that Maniac Mansion should be in an episode format,but thats my oppinion.

[MussKatt]

I seriously don't think that Maniac Mansion should be in an episode format,but thats my oppinion.

It's an opinion i share, but however, i'd rather have Episodic Maniac Mansion than no Maniac Mansion:)

[Scrawffler]

I'd like to see the Maniac Mansion series return, and according to this article it is apparently a possibility:
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59215

I don't want to get everyone's hopes up just yet, but it seems promising.

Personally, I'd love to see a sequel or episodic series based around Day Of The Tentacle specifically. I'm not so sure it needs a special edition remake though.

I would, however, like to see a special edition of the original Maniac Mansion. I know there's been a version 2 and a fanmade Maniac Mansion Deluxe, but I think the next step is perhaps adding voice overs and definitely a hint system.

[Toothless Gibbon]

I'm stuck in the original game... If they do remake the game I wish they add the hint system introduced in Secret SE as I don't want to resort to walkthroughs and all I need is a little push.


Try this http://www.uhs-hints.com/uhsweb/maniac.php

Should give you the little push you need!

[Toothless Gibbon]

I seriously don't think that Maniac Mansion should be in an episode format,but thats my oppinion.

I think it would be perfect! You can imagine controlling a different character in, say, 4 episodes then all of them for the finale!

[Scrawffler]

I think it would be perfect! You can imagine controlling a different character in, say, 4 episodes then all of them for the finale!
Ooh, that would be cool! And appropriate. They could bring back all the kids from Maniac Mansion and DOTT, and since they all have their own personalities, talents and weaknesses (with a slight exception of Syd and Razor) it would give the creators so much variety to work with. Could spawn some great storylines!

At the same time I love the thing of being able to switch between characters and using them for different things. Either way I think I'd be happy.

[guitarsareboring]

I think it would be perfect! You can imagine controlling a different character in, say, 4 episodes then all of them for the finale!

That would be really good! Telltale... Lucasarts... are you listening?

[Astro Gnocci]

I think episodic would fit REALLY well maniac mansion... Even more than Sam & Max.
It already felt like a TV Show somehow.

[Badwolf]

It already felt like a TV Show somehow.

They did actually make a TV Show of Maniac Mansion once.

[Plunder_Bunny]

I have to confess, Maniac Mansion was not one of my favorite games, however very important in my game lingo library. Since beating MM, I have developed the term "A 'Don't be a Tuna-Head' ending" to express when a game does not have a satifactory ending.

I think a new game with the MM characters and format would be great. I absolutely ADORE DOTT! It is one of my all time favorites and I think that it is perfect the way it is. I think it would be a shame to redo it, but a re-release is a good idea.

[Astro Gnocci]

I don't quite remember what was on the list, but lucasart did announce a bunch of re-releases.
Wasn't DOTT on there ? Or maybe just Maniac Mansion... Don't remember.

[smashing]

I don't quite remember what was on the list, but lucasart did announce a bunch of re-releases.
Wasn't DOTT on there ? Or maybe just Maniac Mansion... Don't remember.

There are a number of re-releases. But then they are simply the same version of the previous games made compatible to the current platform(s).

Think the discussion is more on the line of new games off the old LA franchise, or enhances of the old games like Secret of Monkey Island. Don't think there's any news yet on these plans.

[Astro Gnocci]

i agree, but i was mostly answering to THIS sentence :

I think it would be a shame to redo it, but a re-release is a good idea.

[Rather Dashing]

Maybe a new edition with bearable voice acting that doesn't feel like someone was scraping a cheese grater on your brain would be a nice step in the right direction.

[PariahKing]

Maybe a new edition with bearable voice acting that doesn't feel like someone was scraping a cheese grater on your brain would be a nice step in the right direction.In DoTT I only felt this way about Bernard. Actually controlling Bernard is my least favorite part of the game.

[Rather Dashing]

In DoTT I only felt this way about Bernard. Actually controlling Bernard is my least favorite part of the game.
I actually feel the exact opposite. Bernard was the BEST of the voices, in my opinion. The one that felt the most deadpan and annoying was Hoagie.

[PariahKing]

I actually feel the exact opposite. Bernard was the BEST of the voices, in my opinion. The one that felt the most deadpan and annoying was Hoagie.See I really enjoyed the Hoagie segment and liked but didn't like as much the Laverne one.

Apparently you're my evil twin...?

[TheDude]

See I really enjoyed the Hoagie segment and liked but didn't like as much the Laverne one.

Apparently you're my evil twin...?

agree - hoagie was the best part, didnt like laverne's as much, bernard was in the middle of those two

[Rather Dashing]

See I really enjoyed the Hoagie segment and liked but didn't like as much the Laverne one.

Apparently you're my evil twin...?
I don't know.

My opinion on Day of the Tentacle is that it was horrible. It had good puzzles. This is the one good thing I have to say about Day of the Tentacle. I didn't like a good majority of the humor, I did not like the visual style, I did not like the voice acting.

I also don't like that the original Maniac Mansion is now viewed as a piece of garbage, when I easily prefer the original any day in every respect. Even the puzzles, with multiple solutions, are better than Day of the Tentacles pretty good ones.

How well does that mirror?

Oh, and I don't have a goatee. Maybe you're *MY* evil twin?

[SHODANFreeman]

I didn't like DoTT too much at all, personally. Most of the puzzles I figured out by just randomly doing random things, I had no clue what I was supposed to be doing for most of the game. After a while I just got bored of randomly throwing objects at things and grabbed a walkthrough to finish whatever I hadn't randomly done already.

[LuigiHann]

I loved DoTT and wouldn't want them to change a thing in a remake, short of re-tracing the art into a higher resolution.

If they made a sequel, though, I wouldn't mind at all if they took it in a completely different direction. I actually hope that they would. DoTT was very different from MM, and so should the next game in the series be very different from DoTT.

[Sorak]

telltale games are doing a good job with the revival of much loved classics, i wonder whats the deal with DotT? do lucus arts still hold the license? whats everyones opinion on this would you like to see a revival of DotT?

[Woodsyblue]

Yeah, LucasArts still hold the licence. It is their IP, not one they bought like Sam & Max. I think Telltale have hinted that they'd like to continue DotT and I for one would be all for it. It's good to see Telltale have a good working relationship with LucasArts.

[Majus]

DotT by Telltale would be really cool, but for pure awesomeness Tim Schafer has to be in the designing process… I guess DotT is so famous and beloved because it came out of Tims mind.

[Icedhope]

DotT by Telltale would be really cool, but for pure awesomeness Tim Schafer has to be in the designing process… I guess DotT is so famous and beloved because it came out of Tims mind.

I agree, a new DotT would be awesome, and I don't see why Telltale wouldn't be like..Tim, come over were doing a sequel. I just don't know how I'd feel about it being episodic.

[Woodsyblue]

It was co-designed by Dave Grossman though. I think you'd be hard pressed to put the quality of a game solely on one person.

[ShaggE]

It was co-designed by Dave Grossman though. I think you'd be hard pressed to put the quality of a game solely on one person.

Dave Grossman is part of the Telltale team already. So, Tim can just say "Oi! Dave-O! DotT time! Now!" (Because that's how Tim Schafer speaks in my imagination, and I'm pretty sure that his power is strong enough to get anybody to do anything at his whim.)

Personally, I'd rather Tim sticks with the original IPs for awhile. I want DotT 2 as much as the next guy, but, while franchises are fine, all-new games like Psychonauts and Brutal Legend are...

...

*puts on sunglasses*


Double Fine.

YEEEEEEEAAAAAH!

[Woodsyblue]

At best he could come into the project in a Ron Gilbert like fashion and help plot out the story and the characters. I think everybody would win in that scenario.

[guitarsareboring]

I've said it before... DotT could work as an episodic game if each episode focused on a different character and the last one enabled use of all three. I know it would alter the mechanics slightly but I think that's the only way it could really happen.

My question though, what could they do with the Mansion that hasn't already been done?

[Majus]

It was co-designed by Dave Grossman though. I think you'd be hard pressed to put the quality of a game solely on one person.
Now this is true, I agree.
Still, I was relieved when I knew that Ron was in the brainstorm-team of »Tales of Monkey Island«. Dave, as a co-member of the classic-monkey-island-production, and the team are doing a beautiful job, but still it feels good that the inventor was with them for a while.

[Rather Dashing]

HEY GUYS

There was kiind of a game before Day of the Tentacle.

It was called Maniac Mansion?

I'd say it was far better than Day of the Tentacle, personally.

"Day of the Tentacle 2" would sort of actually be Maniac Mansion 3.

Maybe it's just me, but I really can't stand Day of the Tentacle. I mean, not to insult the people involved because I very much love their other work, but I really can't understand how there are human beings on this planet that enjoy Day of the Tentacle. That's how much I hate it. And it's that much worse that it's so celebrated and was a sequel to a game that is so many times better.

I'd only want a Maniac Mansion 3 as a true sequel to Maniac Mansion. But apparently what I'd like would be a disappointment to more or less everybody else.

[barchetta]

I love DOTT very much, but ... wasn't that game just ... ermm... rounded? I mean, there's not an open ending or anything. More Chron-o-johns (which really made the game)? Don't think so.

I can't think of a good story plot to continue the DOTT universe...

[Rather Dashing]

I can't think of a good story plot to continue the DOTT universe...
There are a TON of stock plots that would fit fantastically with the Maniac Mansion universe. There are a ton of B horror movies a person could rip off. Throw a bunch of kids(maybe one or two from the original two games) into a B movie atmosphere and go from there. You don't really need a compelling narrative, just a B horror-esque reason to go to the mansion.

[Majus]

Hmm… maybe I like it because I’m a huge fan of time-travel-stuff like »Back to the Future«… therefore I fell deeply in love with the puzzles of DotT.

[fhqwhgads]

Now a Back to the Future episodic series would be epic.

[ShaggE]

*blasphemy*

(j/k with the quote summary)

I'm actually of the opposite opinion. I wholly disliked MM, but I find DotT to be a cornerstone of the genre. MM just felt to me like Sierra-lite. (Not to knock Sierra.)

Why do you dislike it, exactly? The setting? The comparative lack of dark humor?

[guitarsareboring]

I also love DotT but dislike MM. I think it's the dying aspect that puts me off it. Same with Sierra games too.

[Woodsyblue]

HEY GUYS

There was kiind of a game before Day of the Tentacle.

It was called Maniac Mansion?

We haven't forgotten, we've more just ignored the fact :p

I'd say it was far better than Day of the Tentacle, personally.

"Day of the Tentacle 2" would sort of actually be Maniac Mansion 3.

Maybe it's just me, but I really can't stand Day of the Tentacle. I mean, not to insult the people involved because I very much love their other work, but I really can't understand how there are human beings on this planet that enjoy Day of the Tentacle. That's how much I hate it. And it's that much worse that it's so celebrated and was a sequel to a game that is so many times better.

I'd only want a Maniac Mansion 3 as a true sequel to Maniac Mansion. But apparently what I'd like would be a disappointment to more or less everybody else.

Wow, what? I'm dumbfounded. Did you enjoy Monkey Island, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, The Dig? They all follow the same formula. I couldn't imagine someone liking one of these games and hating DotT with the passion you exude. I'm not criticizing you, you are free to have whatever opinions you want. It's just... WOW, um yeah... It's just strange. Something I've never encountered before.

I personally found Manic Mansion a bit meh but to each his own.

[Majus]

I loved Maniac Mansion, but it scared the hell out of me. I was 5 years old, and there were this creepy blue-skinned people who are following you!
I was the same way impressed, when you ring the doorbell, you see Ed leaving his room, and you know that he walks all the way down the house. It doesn’t feel like a time-script, it feels 100% like that there is something going on, although you don’t see it. This still impresses (and scares) me today.

Same thing with the finale of LeChucks Revenge… you don’t see him, but you know he walks through the rooms, searching for you… yikes!

And this is why I really don’t see DOTT as a Maniac Mansion Sequel, I think it’s more of a spin-off in the same universe. More Comedy instead of Horror. But the clever timetravel-puzzles still blow my mind.

[Fury]

I never played Maniac Mansion, but I fiddled around with a fan remake of it with DOTT graphics, and it was a different game. I mean there was stealth, you could get trapped in a prison area, and people chased you. It was pretty freaky.

DOTT was an awesome game, and I'll probably replay it on my DS at a later date. The puzzles were clever and funny (except I never thought to shut the door to get that guys keys..) and the characters were great.

I think DOTT could easily be redone by Telltale. If that isn't their next non-sam and max game, I'll be surprised.

[Toothless Gibbon]

This would be my ideal next franchise for TTG.

Although IMO DotT >>>>>> MM, it would still have to be a Maniac Mansion game, and not necessarily have anything to do with tentacles at all.

[doggans]

"Day of the Tentacle 2" would sort of actually be Maniac Mansion 3.

Just like "Dark Forces 5: Jedi Knight 4: Jedi Outcast 3:..." etc. :p

[StansCoffins]

HEY GUYS

There was kiind of a game before Day of the Tentacle.

It was called Maniac Mansion?

I'd say it was far better than Day of the Tentacle, personally.

"Day of the Tentacle 2" would sort of actually be Maniac Mansion 3.

I don't really see Day of the Tentacle as a sequel though. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it doesn't share anything with the previous game thematically (B movie horror vs. cartoon), characterwise (Bernard is the only returning protagonist, and he was a blank slate. The Edisons are given a complete makeover too) and it barely even references the first. It just feels like its own game, a completely self-contained adventure, and because it's such a stellar example of games design people prefer to think of it as Day of the Tentacle rather than Maniac Mansion 2.

I do actually quite like Maniac Mansion, and wouldn't say no to a proper Maniac Mansion series from Telltale, though. Day of the Tentacle is so perfect it doesn't need sequels to dilute it, but Maniac Mansion is a game that was limited by its time, and I'd love to see what Telltale could do with an adventure game where you can die and are constantly in fear of people hunting you down.

[barchetta]

I played MM on Ed's computer and after a few minutes got totally bored of it. I don't like MM, but I <3 DOTT!

[Toothless Gibbon]

Day of the Tentacle is so perfect it doesn't need sequels to dilute it, but Maniac Mansion is a game that was limited by its time, and I'd love to see what Telltale could do with an adventure game where you can die and are constantly in fear of people hunting you down.

A new game could just be a continuation of what DotT did though. Could have some new characters, but still set in the mansion, a new plot unrelated to purple tentacle....

DotT was a sequel whether you think it is or not. MM3 could just be called something else....

http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/showpost.php?p=137830&postcount=895

But dying in-game? Never going to happen.

[Spadge]

Maniac Mansion, Leasure Suit Larry, Zak McKracken and Sam&Max should all share the same universe... And should all get a remake/sequel/whatever.

[Rather Dashing]

I'm actually of the opposite opinion. I wholly disliked MM, but I find DotT to be a cornerstone of the genre. MM just felt to me like Sierra-lite. (Not to knock Sierra.)
I'm pretty sure Sierra-lite is the original 1980s LucasArts mission statement.

(joking, of course. Mostly. ;))

Why do you dislike it, exactly? The setting? The comparative lack of dark humor?
The humor is extremely light. The atmosphere is so much...a "cartoon". And I like cartoons, I like LucasArts adventures, but Day of the Tentacle feels like a synaptic overload. And "cartoon" is far less fun than a B horror spoof. The voice acting always seems to fall really flat, it's like someone took a cheese grater to my brain. Bernard is more or less fine, but pretty much everyone else is excruciating to listen to. The mechanics are far more "plain" than Maniac Mansion's, with only one solution to each puzzle and only being able to use the kids that the game wants you to use.

But dying in-game? Never going to happen.
But then how would you be forced to try out multiple solutions to the same puzzle? I know you can have multiple solutions without death, but in Maniac Mansion there was always this sense of having to use the skills you still had left.

[ShaggE]

The humor is extremely light. The atmosphere is so much...a "cartoon". And I like cartoons, I like LucasArts adventures, but Day of the Tentacle feels like a synaptic overload. And "cartoon" is far less fun than a B horror spoof. The voice acting always seems to fall really flat, it's like someone took a cheese grater to my brain. Bernard is more or less fine, but pretty much everyone else is excruciating to listen to. The mechanics are far more "plain" than Maniac Mansion's, with only one solution to each puzzle and only being able to use the kids that the game wants you to use.



You, sir, must *despise* Toonstruck with all of your might. :p

You make a good point though. If somebody is looking to play a game like Maniac Mansion, then DotT would certainly disappoint. 'Tis a whole different animal.

Side note: Anybody remember the TV show? Now THAT was bizarre.

[natlinxz]

This would be my ideal next franchise for TTG.

Although IMO DotT >>>>>> MM, it would still have to be a Maniac Mansion game, and not necessarily have anything to do with tentacles at all.

Umm.... you do know that Tentacles played a big role in the original MM, right?

[LuigiHann]

I think the thing to do would be to look at the changes between MM and DoTT, then try to apply that level of change on top of that to create a new sequel. A game that feels strictly like a rehash of DoTT wouldn't do the series justice; they would have to come up with a new twist that rivals time travel but isn't just "time travel again."

Also whoever gets to make it should bring Tim in for at least a few brainstorming sessions, like TT did with Ron.

[Icedhope]

You, sir, must *despise* Toonstruck with all of your might. :p

You make a good point though. If somebody is looking to play a game like Maniac Mansion, then DotT would certainly disappoint. 'Tis a whole different animal.

Side note: Anybody remember the TV show? Now THAT was bizarre.

I remember it used to be on the Family Channel, and that somthing about not tying into the game at all..except being 20 years later or somthing like that.

[Toothless Gibbon]

Umm.... you do know that Tentacles played a big role in the original MM, right?


Absolutely but I always saw them as support chatacters and they could be the same in a potential 3rd game.

What I mean is that a "DoTT sequel" would imply that Purple Tentacle would want to take over the world again but a new "Maniac Mansion sequel" would be more open in term sof what the plot could centre around.

[The Jubster]

Waay back, Dan Connors expressed interest in making Day of the Tentacle as a new series, but only if Monkey Island sold well.

Quite a bit later, I think it was a Telltale executive or something (Hey don't ask me I'm don't pay attention to names!) said that Monkey Island was the best selling Telltale series yet. So, does this mean that Day of the Tentacle is pretty much confirmed? Day of the Tentacle was a brilliant game and I would love to see a quality update similar to S&M and MI!

[Javi-Wan Kenobi]

It may be a little difficult now that all news point to LucasArts stopping external developments.
It would be great, though, if it finally happens...

[Hassat Hunter]

Yeah, that would be great, but as mentioned, if the rumour turns out to be true it would be unlikely :(.

[Elvenmonk]

Yeah, it beats bidding on an item on eBay only to find out it's a Mac edition.

Also why not a remake of the orignal Sam and Max game?

[Hassat Hunter]

Ehm, it's talking about a new episodic series, not SE.

And S&M: HtR works just fine under XP (dunno Vista/7) and already has Voice-acting. Although I did notice the highway mini-games goes a bit too fast. But maybe that's because I play from disc with nothing installed on my HD.

[Elvenmonk]

I was getting errors with Hit the Road, actually. I couldn't run it properly. Even a new adventure would be cool, but I'd like to see a remake of the game aswell.
Does anyone know if it's on a digital distribution website?

[Comrade Pants]

Marketing would never let it happen.

[jp-30]

Yeah, it beats bidding on an item on eBay only to find out it's a Mac edition.

Can't you play the Mac versions of Scumm games on PC via scummVM?

[Chyron8472]

I was getting errors with Hit the Road, actually. I couldn't run it properly.

Yeah, don't you use ScummVM?

[Hassat Hunter]

I was getting errors with Hit the Road, actually. I couldn't run it properly. Even a new adventure would be cool, but I'd like to see a remake of the game aswell
Original or re-release. I got the re-release... works just fine.

[Elvenmonk]

I don't know what Scumm is.

[Hassat Hunter]

S Created (for) use (in) Maniac Mansion.

Not quite sure what the S was for again.

[Laserschwert]

It's Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion. And now haul your asses over to the ScummVM (http://www.scummvm.org) site and enlighten yourselves.

EDIT:

Oh, and I wouldn't mind a sequel that looks like this:

http://www.dbasixx.com/ggalla/weltherrschaft/0003.jpg
:D

[Elvenmonk]

Cool, back to bidding I go then.

[Blooglspash]

Cool, back to bidding I go then.

What I sent you didn't work? You should try installing ScummVM (http://sourceforge.net/projects/scummvm/files/scummvm/1.1.1/scummvm-1.1.1-win32.exe/download) then put these items in a folder on your PC (http://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/Datafiles#Sam_.26_Max_Hit_the_Road), and add the game.

[doodo!]

http://www.dbasixx.com/ggalla/weltherrschaft/0003.jpg
:D

This is almost made my life...my life...

[Elvenmonk]

What I sent you didn't work? You should try installing ScummVM (http://sourceforge.net/projects/scummvm/files/scummvm/1.1.1/scummvm-1.1.1-win32.exe/download) then put these items in a folder on your PC (http://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/Datafiles#Sam_.26_Max_Hit_the_Road), and add the game.

No I meant for Day of Tenticle. For Sam and Max it worked. sorry forgot to respond.

[Mr. Doctor. Professor]

Have TT persued this license? If not I wonder why? Seems like it would be a natural!

[shini]

Hi there,

A little *fan request* topic :p

I would love to see a new set of episodes of maniac mansion/day of the tentacle by telltale!

Honestly, I did not search the forums to check if someone already begged for that, I'm sure i'm not the first, but I have to create my own topic for this!

PLEASE TELLTALE RELEASE A SEQUEL OF DOTT!!!!

[The Highway]

They can't just *do* it. They have to get permission from LucasArts, and there have been SOOOO MANY times that this has been said.

[shini]

Of course I know that they need permissions from lucas arts, but they had the permissions for Monkey Island and Sam & Max, why not for DOTT?

[RAnthonyMahan]

Of course I know that they need permissions from lucas arts, but they had the permissions for Monkey Island and Sam & Max, why not for DOTT?

Sam and Max is owned by Steve Purcell. Telltale never needed (or got) any permission from LucasArts to make the Sam and Max games. Of course, LucasArts does own Sam and Max Hit the Road, which is why no characters from that game (besides Sam, Max, and Flint Paper, all of whom originated from the comics) have ever appeared in the Telltale episodes.

Monkey Island is a different story, however. Could somebody shed a little light about how TOMI came into being? Did LucasArts approach Telltale about it, or was it the other way around?

[Giant Tope]

LucasArts approached Telltale about it. I'm too lazy to get quotes right now.

[WarpSpeed]

Funny, I thought I'd be less lazy about it and go look it up, and then found that most of the Telltale staff doesn't know, either. For example:

http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/showpost.php?p=133308&postcount=590

I think it's going to be one of those things where Telltale had been asking LucasArts for quite some time, so that when the Yes answer finally came, it wasn't really clear who initiated it.

[shini]

LucasArts approached Telltale about it.

Yeah, that's what i've heared. If lucas arts can trust telltale for a big license like Monkey Island, I'm sure they could consider making a new dott :)

[Giant Tope]

Now the important question is why? Is there really a good reason for there to be a sequel?

[Rather Dashing]

You mean a new Maniac Mansion. Day of the Tentacle isn't the series. Attack of the Clones wasn't a new Phantom Menace movie, it was(sadly) a new Star Wars movie. Last Crusade wasn't a new wasn't a new Temple of Doom movie, it was a new Indiana Jones. A "new Day of the Tentacle" would be a new Maniac Mansion. And it would suck.

[thesporkman]

Now the important question is why? Is there really a good reason for there to be a sequel?

Fans want to see more stories in this universe and with these characters. And the Maniac Mansion universe feels like it would lend itself to more stories. It's not like Full Throttle or Grim Fandango where everything wraps up really nicely and it would be difficult to come up with an interesting continuation. After Day of the Tentacle, the Mansion's still there, Bernard and the Edisons are still there. There aren't any major changes or character developments that would make a sequel impossible. And if nothing inherently precludes the possibility of another sequel and the fans want to see one, why not make one if they get the chance?

[shini]

A "new Day of the Tentacle" would be a new Maniac Mansion. And it would suck.

I see no reason why it would suck... The background and characters are so awesome... telltale did an amazing work on Sam&max and Monkey Island, how the hell could a new maniac mansion or dott suck?

[Rather Dashing]

Sorry, personal opinion here. If you enjoyed Day of the Tentacle's conventional and linear gameplay and its Saturday Morning kid's cartoon atmosphere, you'd probably enjoy a Telltale Maniac Mansion sequel. But due to the immense popularity and series-ruining nature of Day of the Tentacle, anyone who actually prefers and enjoys the original game in the series is SOL.

[LuigiHann]

Last Crusade wasn't a new wasn't a new Temple of Doom movie, it was a new Indiana Jones.

To be fair, the first Indiana Jones movie was "Raiders of the Lost Ark," with the "Indiana Jones" title retroactively added to it when "Indiana Jones" became a franchise. So not only is it a terrible example of your point (Temple of Doom wasn't a new Raiders of the Lost Ark movie), it's actually a pretty good example of how a franchise can evolve to emphasize its more popular elements.

In this case, I'll just say that Day of the Tentacle's cover art (http://www.eelco.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/day-of-the-tentacle_box_front_1600x2009.jpg) generally features the phrase "Maniac Mansion" in very, very small letters. If there were ever a third game in this series, I wouldn't want it to be "Day of the Tentacle 2" or "Maniac Mansion 3," I would want it to be an all-new story with its own unique title, preferable a title that doesn't mention mansions or tentacles, and perhaps it would also feature "Maniac Mansion" in very small letters on its title screen.

While I found DoTT to be one of my favorite adventure games, it wouldn't do the series justice to simply replicate it. I've said it before but I'll reiterate here: to make a proper sequel to the series, you have to look at the extent to which DoTT evolved and expanded on the gameplay and story of Maniac Mansion, and then apply that same degree of evolution over and above Day of the Tentacle. So in my mind that would require another reshuffling of main characters, further clever innovation in the character-swapping gameplay, along with another fresh sub-genre of science fiction to both spoof and to draw a new key gameplay mechanic from. Simply making another time-travel adventure with the same 3 kids from DoTT seems appealing on the surface, but I think it would fall really flat because it wouldn't be adding anything new to the series. DoTT added a ton of new characters and some extremely clever new gameplay and story hooks, and a sequel would have to add even more, even if that means that somebody's old favorite character gets phased out.

[Rather Dashing]

To be fair, the first Indiana Jones movie was "Raiders of the Lost Ark," with the "Indiana Jones" title retroactively added to it when "Indiana Jones" became a franchise. So not only is it a terrible example of your point (Temple of Doom wasn't a new Raiders of the Lost Ark movie), it's actually a pretty good example of how a franchise can evolve to emphasize its more popular elements.
I don't think it was a poor example for this reason at all. It works quite well, I think, because:

1. I did not mention or use Raiders of the Lost Ark, but even if I did, Raiders to Temple wasn't a case of a later sequel usurping the naming of the entire series, a la "Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle" becoming "the Day of the Tentacle series", it was applying a series-specific to a series because "Raiders of the Lost Ark" wasn't going to cut it in terms of making a sequel, because nobody was raiding fucking arks. We don't have Raiders of the Lost Ark, then Raiders of the Lost Ark: Temple of Doom, and then Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which would have been a far more apt comparison(if you can find a similar example of a title within a series usurping the naming rights, please mention it)

2. Seriously, it's not like Indiana Jones was a bit player or a side character that was really popular so they thought, "Oh, let's make it about this guy now"(a la an alternate universe in which Boba Fett takes over as the main cast member for the Star Wars films). You can't call Maniac Mansion a "Day of the Tentacle" game, because it doesn't really center around the Tentacle at all. He's just kind of there.

In this case, I'll just say that Day of the Tentacle's cover art (http://www.eelco.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/day-of-the-tentacle_box_front_1600x2009.jpg) generally features the phrase "Maniac Mansion" in very, very small letters. If there were ever a third game in this series, I wouldn't want it to be "Day of the Tentacle 2" or "Maniac Mansion 3," I would want it to be an all-new story with its own unique title, preferable a title that doesn't mention mansions or tentacles, and perhaps it would also feature "Maniac Mansion" in very small letters on its title screen.
Many series don't need to feature "SERIES NAME" in big letters on promotional materials. Notice the poster art for the Friday the 13th movie Jason Goes to Hell (http://kingsheepblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/jason_goes_to_hell_poster_01.jpg), or the Nolan Batman series film The Dark Knight (http://www.starzlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/new-joker-poster-for-the-dark-knight.jpg).

Besides, that, have you ever tried opening the manual (http://imgur.com/hDJif.png)? I understand that Day of the Tentacle fans are apparently afraid of and confused by manuals, but they were meant to be opened to at least the inside cover, generally. The Maniac Mansion 2 title also appears on the reference card. The idea that Day of the Tentacle is not a Maniac Mansion game because the TEXT ON THE BOX ISN'T BIG ENOUGH is absolutely ridiculous.

While I found DoTT to be one of my favorite adventure games, it wouldn't do the series justice to simply replicate it. I've said it before but I'll reiterate here: to make a proper sequel to the series, you have to look at the extent to which DoTT evolved and expanded on the gameplay and story of Maniac Mansion, and then apply that same degree of evolution over and above Day of the Tentacle. So in my mind that would require another reshuffling of main characters, further clever innovation in the character-swapping gameplay, along with another fresh sub-genre of science fiction to both spoof and to draw a new key gameplay mechanic from. Simply making another time-travel adventure with the same 3 kids from DoTT seems appealing on the surface, but I think it would fall really flat because it wouldn't be adding anything new to the series. DoTT added a ton of new characters and some extremely clever new gameplay and story hooks, and a sequel would have to add even more, even if that means that somebody's old favorite character gets phased out.
They didn't "evolve the gameplay" so much as remove it entirely to make way for another typically-designed LucasArts game. All they did to "evolve" Maniac Mansion was to strip out the ability to pick a team, the ability to play a section with any kid you wanted, multiple solutions to puzzles, a living world based on scripts in which characters actually moved about and lived rather than just standing about gaping at the wall and waiting for you to do something, and the multiple endings of the original game. In its stead, they replaced the original atmosphere with that of a typical kids cartoon, made it another linear adventure game in a static, lifeless world with singular puzzle solutions and very much the same mechanics of their last few adventure outings and every other graphic adventure released at the time, sans possibly death. It wouldn't do the series justice to evolve it? If we're going off the mold and direction of Day of the Tentacle, it would do the series an injustice to not strip it down to remove puzzles altogether, or perhaps to make just another adventure series in the mold of the last few games the developer made, with a Maniac Mansion(sorry, Day of the Tentacle) skin draped over it. If we're going off my standards, though, it's doing the series an injustice that we haven't taken it behind the old barn and shot her yet.

[LuigiHann]

You come across as being very angry, and I'm not attempting to provoke such a reaction. I haven't really played enough of the original Maniac Mansion to have any opinions regarding the relative quality levels of the games, but I will agree that Day of the Tentacle was much more of a "typical" adventure game where Maniac Mansion was (and still is) much more one-of-a-kind.

I'm more interested in discussing the logistics of sequel titles, since I find that interesting.

I still think that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was a pretty weird example in your argument that overall series titles don't or shouldn't change based on the second installment, since the Indiana Jones series is a series that did change its overall title starting with its second installment.

(if you can find a similar example of a title within a series usurping the naming rights, please mention it)

Closest thing I can think of is First Blood => Rambo: First Blood Part II => Rambo III, but that also follows the "main character becomes title character" trend that you've already commented on.

Another bizarre example might be how some of the individual Final Fantasy games have their own sequels (such as Final Fantasy X-2 and the increasing number of Final Fantasy VII sub-games). Of course, that might not be a good example example because the Final Fantasy series is extremely nonstandard in terms of its overall lack of connected elements between titles, so it makes some sense that when a sequel does carry very specific elements from a previous title, it is identified as a sequel to that particular game.

Then there's also Super Mario World => Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island => Yoshi's Island 2...
and similarly: Super Mario Land => Super Mario Land 2 => Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 => Wario Land series...
Those are perhaps more relevant than the Rambo and Indiana Jones ones because the new series title is rarely if ever retroactively applied to the earlier games in the series.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.

[jp-30]

It all comes down to marketing, and I'd say there's bigger recognition 'out there' for DOTT than MM. Hence it makes more sense for a new game in the series to adopt the DOTT subtitle.

See also the Dark Forces series that adopted the Jedi Knight branding as it progressed.

The only thing that counts is generating sales, so the most recognisable title wins. Simple as that.

[GaryCXJk]

To be fair though, the Indiana Jones series is mostly referred to by the directors as the Raiders series.

Also, DotT is a pretty poor name for a series, since the Day of the Tentacle was just one instance that has been avoided. Maniac Mansion would still be the better name, seeing as even DotT still took place in the aforementioned mansion.

[S@bre]

LucasArts approached Telltale about it. I'm too lazy to get quotes right now.

Moving on from all the Rather Dashing-and-others initiated borderline off-topic ranting (yes, you don't like DOTT. We get it already!), can we get a little elaboration on this please? I've not heard about that.

[Rather Dashing]

You come across as being very angry, and I'm not attempting to provoke such a reaction. I haven't really played enough of the original Maniac Mansion to have any opinions regarding the relative quality levels of the games, but I will agree that Day of the Tentacle was much more of a "typical" adventure game where Maniac Mansion was (and still is) much more one-of-a-kind.
Oh no, don't take it as anger. I'm very passionate about Maniac Mansion as one of the greatest adventure games of all time from a design perspective, and I do get annoyed/miffed/perturbed when it's treated like "the imperfect prototype for Maniac Mansion that, God bless them, they just couldn't get quite right", or something of the sort. But I'm hardly *mad*, at least not at you in particular. =p

I'm more interested in discussing the logistics of sequel titles, since I find that interesting.

Then there's also Super Mario World => Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island => Yoshi's Island 2...
and similarly: Super Mario Land => Super Mario Land 2 => Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 => Wario Land series...
Those are perhaps more relevant than the Rambo and Indiana Jones ones because the new series title is rarely if ever retroactively applied to the earlier games in the series.
This is the one you "stuck to" the most(didn't make my argument against it for me), so I'll just say that this one is more of a case of early Nintendo of America localization, and btw isn't Yoshi's Island 2 just called Yoshi's Island DS? Granted, odd, and probably the best example, but still, not exactly "Branded" as a sequel.

Moving on from all the Rather Dashing-and-others initiated borderline off-topic ranting (yes, you don't like DOTT. We get it already!), can we get a little elaboration on this please? I've not heard about that.
To be fair, on this forum "borderline off-topic" is staying relatively really well on-track(not that I *like* that, mind you, but it's at least the accepted norm).

Also, I definitely would have added something if I had something to add to that, but I honestly haven't sen anything of the sort and I couldn't find anything when I looked. I've read so many interviews, and I'm sure I've found a lot that says they'd LIKE to do another Maniac Mansion if they could, but not that there was an actual business discussion about it.

[Jen Kollic]

I'd really like to see a Maniac Mansion sequel where they focus on one of the other kids from the original game. Though when I say that, what I mean is "I want them to make a game about Razor and the Scummettes." It could involve Green Tentacle's band and some kind of crazy music festival being held at the mansion. (well, if they can use it for a novelty salesman convention...)

Or the meteor could always return, depending on the ending you got it's either a successful writer, in meteor prison, or shot into space. None of those really stop it from returning as a villain. Well, the NES ending where it got eaten by the plant might work, but I don't think that would be canon. ETA: Come to think of it, can you feed the meteor to the plant in the standard version of the game as well? I've never gone back to try it.

[LuigiHann]

This is the one you "stuck to" the most(didn't make my argument against it for me), so I'll just say that this one is more of a case of early Nintendo of America localization, and btw isn't Yoshi's Island 2 just called Yoshi's Island DS? Granted, odd, and probably the best example, but still, not exactly "Branded" as a sequel.

Wario Land is the best example, then. The wording is slightly different on the Japanese games, but the numbering and title changeover is identical, including the important Mario Land 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Land_2:_6_Golden_Coins) => Mario Land 3 / Wario Land (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wario_Land:_Super_Mario_Land_3) => Wario Land 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wario_Land_II) transition.

[Sheydey]

My siblings and I used to play Sam & Max: Hit the Road and Day of The Tentacle when we were young'uns and they were SOOOOO amazing!! Especially Day Of The Tentacle because it had the most awesome storyline and brilliant concept of playing characters in the past, present and future and that you had to flush certain items to each other in the time machine toilet in order to use in different time-zones. Also, what you did in the past would affect things in the present and future! It's THE most awesome game ever...please please please make a new one!!

There's LOADS of people here in England that would love to see another Day of the Tentacle as well. We just love tentacles over here! :p

[Sheydey]

It was our (my siblings and I) favourite game when we were little along with Sam & Max Hit the Road. I would love love love to play another one. The concept of DOTT was AWESOME and soooooooo much fun to play!! There's loads of us over here in the UK that would just die of excitement (yes yes, I'm overexaggerating, but only slightly!) if another DOTT came out!!! Love it!!! It would probably be the best thing to happen since sliced bread... xx :p

[RetroVortex]

I want to be a masochist here and suggest that the series involves reality hopping.
I think it would have the potential for lots of cool characters, cool puzzles and lots of cool environments to see.
(Plus can play on the original's idea of having different characters and different endings along with the second one's time travelling puzzles)
However it could also be mind bogglingly insane! >:D BWAHAHAAAA!

[Vainamoinen]

Did some thread merging magic to have quite a lot of DotT requests combined in this here place. Threads from 2006, eh? I think I'll search for the Indy ones as well. I might have to post in these. :D