Next Monkey Island should be made by

[thin029]

Telltale or LucasArts?
LucasArts for me, since Telltale's limited episode system means less scenarios and not-so-good soundtrack. (and sound quality)

[Ripcord]

Wha...? not-so-good soundtrack and sound quality??

[Ripcord]

Besides, I don't think LucasArts does anything for the last decade except milk the popularity of 30-year old movies.

[thin029]

Wha...? not-so-good soundtrack and sound quality??

Previous Monkey Island games (specially EFMI) had epic, unforgettable soundtracks, while Tales had good remixes.

[Ne0n]

Agree to Lucas Arts, but again, it would take them 2-3 years to release a game, versus Telltale that would start working asap and release first episode on the 6th month of game development. Telltale and their game engine is improving every day, so a new MI created by Telltale would be great. Maybe they include the monkey island next time?

[thin029]

True, but I wouldn't mind if they were working together like, while Telltale makes Tales 2, LucasArts works on a new, original full-developed Monkey Island game.
Although if I had to choose just one, I'd pick LucasArts, I don't mind waiting, I've been waiting for 10 years

[Scrawffler]

It's more likely to come from Telltale I'd think, but I don't have a preference. Both have done a great job with the Monkey Island series and I'd be happy either way.

As for soundtracks, I agree that the EFMI soundtrack is nice, but note that a lot of it's music is actually originally from COMI. Not all of it of course, but it's pretty noticeable.

[Didero]

You do realise that the last Monkey Island game LucasArts made is widely considered to be the worst of the series, right? Do you really want them to top that? :p

[Uzrname]

Telltale or LucasArts?
LucasArts for me, since Telltale's limited episode system means less scenarios and not-so-good soundtrack. (and sound quality)
Dude... what the hell are you talking about? TTG had almost the same crew working on Tales as LA on the four other games. It's practically same people, just the company changed. How can you even compare them?

I don't know how can this not be obvious, but it's a 0.1% chance that LA would actually come up with the next title of Monkey Island franchise. First of all because the name is practically sold to TTG (with a remaning formality of MISE release in 2009), second because they're not into quests anymore and third because LA has no more talents to work on that (they all migrated to TTG now).

Oh, and with this said, I'm voting TTG, of course.

[Kroms]

Telltale or LucasArts?
LucasArts for me, since Telltale's limited episode system means less scenarios and not-so-good soundtrack. (and sound quality)

The Tales soundtrack is excellent. Excellent. The theme inside the manatee's mouth has been stuck in my head for three days now. I think you just don't like the format the music was presented in. (SMI and MI2 get a pass because that's what the early 90s allowed.)

I prefer live instrument myself. Maybe on the DVD?

[Mermaid]

Previous Monkey Island games (specially EFMI) had epic, unforgettable soundtracks, while Tales had good remixes.

I see what you mean, although for me it was SOMI and CMI which came up with the epic tunes, not EFMI. I don't know if you could call "less scenarios" a typical TTG - thing but I would have liked to see more screens to explore per episode, too.

Anyhow, for me the episodic style really turned out great. If the next MI is to be a full game I already see myself stuck behind the screen for a few days and before I know it, I'm through and the fun would be over for another couple of years. I don't think I'd like that way back.
The monthly chapter release of TOMI had that neat, sadomasochistic touch to it, plus it came with all the people in this forum discussing the cliffhangers - I would SO want that fever for a second time!

[Hassat Hunter]

Haven't we had one of these recently?
Where someone tried convincing me I shouldn't turn down LA just because they have no one left anymore, haven't produced anything "good" (If at all) in-house for the past few years and have no experience, and let them try to prove their first with MI6, to which I politely disagreed?

TTG it is...

[Jen Kollic]

I'm also kinda stunned that anyone would think that Tales didn't have an epic soundtrack, I'm really hoping that we'll get a soundtrack CD with the DVD.

And since Tales exceeded every single one of my expectations, at this point I'd be way more nervous about the series going back to LucasArts...

[apenpaap]

TellTale for me. Lucasarts has gone far downhill since Curse.

[Avistew]

Yeah, the soundtrack was great, music, ambiance, and voice acting. Amazing voice acting.

[MacGyver12345]

i think lucasarts should make a monkey 2 special edition

like they did with the first and release them both on a dvd

[MacGyver12345]

You do realise that the last Monkey Island game LucasArts made is widely considered to be the worst of the series, right? Do you really want them to top that? :p

emi wasnt that bad

[Rather Dashing]

Telltale or LucasArts?
LucasArts for me, since Telltale's limited episode system means less scenarios and not-so-good soundtrack. (and sound quality)
Considering Sam and Max and Wallace and Gromit both had amazing fully instrumental soundtracks, while Tales and SBCG4AP decidedly did not, I'd say it's a lot more likely that the issue is with Wiiware(Note: Not the Wii hardware, the Wiiware content delivery system).

Considering that Monkey Island's pedigree resides almost entirely outside of LucasArts, I have no idea how anyone could possibly think of LucasArts as anything more than just a name in terms of the Monkey Island franchise.

[Remolay]

I think SBCG4AP was like that because It was like that on the site.
I think they still do a bunch of music with an old Casio.

I vote Telltale because it was a good storyline and (and I'm pretty sure most of us will agree) it was 200% better than Escape from Monkey Island

[Yohmi]

Sound quality of Telltale games is, since the middle of ToMI, ok. No need to be better at all.
However, about the soundtrack, I agree about ToMI’s one not being so great. Sam&Max was a lot more interesting. I was disappointed of this part, because when I hear Sam&Max’s soundtrack and of course CoMI, I was hoping for something a lot more «*natural*». It’s plain synthetic and perfect in this one, there’s an evident lack of sensitive approach. However, it’s not that terrible. It’s just… ok, but next time, it could use some more texture in the sound, some more real instruments, more freedom.

I don’t think LA will do any adventure game except reediting Lechuck’s Revenge. And it’s okay, TellTale is a dynamic company and they’re in constant progress :)

[GuruGuru214]

One thing that seems to be ignored here is that Michael Land composed the soundtracks to all five games. If that continues, will it even matter that much whether LucasArts or Telltale does it, as far as the soundtrack goes?

[thin029]

You all have to admit Lucre Island alone (EFMI) had more screens and better background music than the entire Tales thing.
I'm not saying Telltage artists can't do it, I'm saying telltale episodic system and fast-devoloping method probably can't allow them

[GuruGuru214]

Also, I'd like to remind everyone that LucasArts fired its whole adventure game team, many of whom founded or were hired by Telltale. We've never seen anything like a point and click adventure from today's LucasArts, so there's nothing that can be said about them, good or bad. At this point, Telltale is the only one of the two companies who has shown what sort of Monkey Island game they're capable of producing. Saying LucasArts should do it is basically taking a shot in the dark with no way of knowing what you can expect them to produce.

[Spooky666]

I think the problem is, that Telltale has not so much budget than Lucas Arts. I think the best thing could be, if Lucas Arts gives 60 Million Dollars to Telltale, for developing the next Game. :rolleyes:

[apenpaap]

You all have to admit Lucre Island alone (EFMI) had more screens and better background music than the entire Tales thing.

Yes, Lucre had some pretty good background music and was big, but it also had highly illogical annoying puzzles. It also didn't feel remotely as piratey and adventurous as even chapter 1 of Tales. Still, IMO the first two chapters of Escape are OK, and pretty enjoyable.

[Hassat Hunter]

I think the problem is, that Telltale has not so much budget than Lucas Arts. I think the best thing could be, if Lucas Arts gives 60 Million Dollars to Telltale, for developing the next Game. :rolleyes:
Okay, explain me what's the difference between LA spending X on MI, or LA spending X on MI, but through TTG. Where does the money evaporate in situation #2 that would remain in option #1, as you state would happen?

[Secret Fawful]

I would rather give my money to Telltale to fund their projects, AND get another wonderful Monkey Island game out of it, then to give my money to LucasArts to fund more Star Wars games.

[Spooky666]

The difference is: Also, I'd like to remind everyone that LucasArts fired its whole adventure game team, many of whom founded or were hired by Telltale.


TellTale should make the better MI-Game. But they should make it even more better with LA's money. ;)

So they could leave this fast episodic production behind

But LA would not do this.

[Hassat Hunter]

Right. Probably mis-interpretated your post.

But yeah, that would be nice. Although I assume the more money LA pumps into it, the more they need back too, meaning they might get a bigger cut of MI sales, which would be worse for TTG.

Bloody finances! :(

[Ripcord]

I think Michael Land is very talented.

I also think the soundtrack is great, just...out of character for a MI game. The song that especially loses me is the one that's played at the Merfolk home in Episode 2 (and a couple other scenes later on). It's great game music but so out of character for the series. The songs in Ep 3 were great (especially the Manatee's mouth and as Guybrush dives) and one of the reasons that's my favorite episode of the series.

[Ripcord]

Okay, explain me what's the difference between LA spending X on MI, or LA spending X on MI, but through TTG. Where does the money evaporate in situation #2 that would remain in option #1, as you state would happen?

What? This thread is nonsense. It's like reading this post on some car site:


"hey it would be cool if gm gave lamborgeeni a bunch of money so they could beuild and awesome car and then it could be electic because they would have so much money to work on the car. all you need to beuild a good car is lots of money so it would be aawesome did you see that episode of the simpsons lol"

[Yohmi]

I don’t see what you find so fantastic in EfMI’s soundtrack, I listened to it again after reading your post and well… for me it’s juste like Tales. Synthetic. Ok, but cleaned up of any human touch.
Music in adventure games are very important.

Some masterpieces to me…
The Enlightened Florist (http://www.grimfandango.net/files/soundtrack/27%20-%20The%20Enlightened%20Florist.mp3), from Grim Fandango (Peter McConnell)
Clockwise Operetta (http://yohmi.free.fr/bordel/03%20Clockwise%20Operetta.mp3), from Machinarium (Tomas Dvorak)
The Office (http://files.telltalegames.com/samandmax/music/theoffice.mp3), from Sam&Max Seasons (Jared Emerson-Johnson)
And of course Mocking the Voodoo (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/12%20-%20Mocking%20the%20Voodoo%20Lady%20&%20Voodoo%20Jazz.mp3), from Curse of Monkey Island
Michael Land has never been better, this tune is just insanely good. And far away from what you can hear in the last two MI branded games.

What they all have in common, is an analogic feeling, harmonics, rubbed strings, air pulled, scratches… Even Machinarium, with purely digital ambiance seems analogic. That’s the feeling I’d love to find again in the next MI. He’s done it with Curse, I’m sure he can do it again. I just hope it’s not budget restriction… but I don’t think MI have a smaller budget than Sam&Max Seasons.

[Secret Fawful]

TOMI did have some great tracks. Not all of them were great though, which is disappointing compared to the first three. However, none of the fourth games tracks were good at all, so TOMI was a step back up.

Notable tracks were Human LeChuck, God LeChuck, The Crossroads, DeSinge (my favorite), DeCava, Diving, Club 41, Voodoo Lady, and the death of Morgan.

[Uzrname]

You all have to admit Lucre Island alone (EFMI) had more screens and better background music than the entire Tales thing.

Once again, I don't think you can compare them as in EMI screens were actually 2D, and they weren't hand drawn, hence a lot easier to make that even those of CMI. Tales has a complete 3D environment, fully animated and camera-relative. If something, this doesn't feel at all like the devs just didn't care (which they probably really did not about making EMI).

[Ripcord]

Yeah, don't even compare the EMI graphics to ToMI. They're totally different classes.

ToMI's visuals are very strong, and it's one of the rare 2d-games-represented-in-3d that I really like graphics-wise (Sam+Max is another. Heck, so is Homestar Runner).

The ridiculous EMI makes me throw up a little each time I try to play it (made back when EVERY game was going 3d simply because it was trendy, even though the graphics and gameplay were much, much worse as a result).

[Ash735]

You all have to admit Lucre Island alone (EFMI) had more screens and better background music than the entire Tales thing.


I get the feeling this guy is just trolling us, The main Lucre town had good music as was the main map theme and underwater theme, but every interior in Lucre Town was the same song in a sense just arranged differently.

Also complaining about the score is kind of idiotic as Michael Land has worked on them all, saying that LucasArts did it better doesn't actually make sense since it's the same guy scoring (even though he was reduced to just Melee Island in Escape).

I would like however if Telltale could continue the series, but get to use LucasArts sound studios for vocal recording and scoring.

[Ripcord]

Agreed. And this is actually a good reason why this entire thread is ridiculous. "LucasArts should do it because we liked game X" - as if the company autonomously produced the game on its own. As if the output of the game wasn't tremendously to do with the talent and creative environment available. As if LucasArts isn't 100% different now. And as if ANY of the people that worked on the earlier game would be working on it, or that many of the people responsible for those other games aren't involved already.

They might as well just say "should be done by EA".

One argument is that LucasArts would supply more money and this would somehow make things better. Though I'll bet the TT resources are stretched pretty thin, LA or ANY company would not necessarily help with that problem unless they thought the payout would be worthwhile.

And all this is based around the idea that ToMI guys are somehow WORSE than the originals. That's subjective, but I don't think that's true at all.

(Though I bet they ARE a bit stretched on resources, and helping with that might help produce EVEN BETTER games). One way to help with that? Directly? BUY MORE GAMES AND STUFF. Get your friends to buy them. Talk to Mac friends that may not even know TT exists, and point out the new games they just released for Mac. If you know people that "borrowed" or pirated the game, convince them that it's a bad idea, and to support TT. Order the physical DVD. And so on.

[Uzrname]

The ridiculous EMI makes me throw up a little each time I try to play it (made back when EVERY game was going 3d simply because it was trendy, even though the graphics and gameplay were much, much worse as a result).
Umm well, I wouldn't say it's that bad, but compared to Tales it still sucks.

[Chyron8472]

EMI has a good soundtrack? ...as opposed to what? Okay, sure it's decent but CMI is way better.

okay, listen to CMI's Title Theme (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/01%20-%20Introduction%20&%20Main%20Titles.mp3) (start @ 50 seconds) and then to EMI's Title Theme (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI4-CD1/01%20-%20Main%20Titles.mp3). They sound almost identical.
CMI for the win.

I could go on and on about listening to CMI music and knowing right where it comes from.... like the Quicksand (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/25%20-%20Quicksand%20&%20Papapishu.mp3), or Shooting the cannon at Murray's boat (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/06%20-%20Firing%20the%20Cannon.mp3), or The Blood Island Map (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD2/19%20-%20Blood%20Island%20Map.mp3)...

and how about the most addictive song in the universe: A Pirate I was meant to be! (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD2/04%20-%20A%20Pirate%20I%20Was%20Meant%20to%20Be.mp3)

Can anyone tell me they remember exactly what Ozzie Mandrill's Theme from EMI sounds like without looking it up first? No, I didn't think so.

EDIT: I voted for TTG.

[LowMoralFiber]

Can anyone tell me they remember exactly what Ozzie Mandrill's Theme from EMI sounds like without looking it up first? No, I didn't think so.

EDIT: I voted for TTG.

What's really bad is as soon as I tried to think of this, my brain immediately went to DeSinge's theme... Heh heh.

[Ash735]

EMI has a good soundtrack? ...as opposed to what? Okay, sure it's decent but CMI is way better.

okay, listen to CMI's Title Theme (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/01%20-%20Introduction%20&%20Main%20Titles.mp3) (start @ 50 seconds) and then to EMI's Title Theme (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI4-CD1/01%20-%20Main%20Titles.mp3). They sound almost identical.
CMI for the win.

I could go on and on about listening to CMI music and knowing right where it comes from.... like the Quicksand (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/25%20-%20Quicksand%20&%20Papapishu.mp3), or Shooting the cannon at Murray's boat (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD1/06%20-%20Firing%20the%20Cannon.mp3), or The Blood Island Map (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD2/19%20-%20Blood%20Island%20Map.mp3)...

and how about the most addictive song in the universe: A Pirate I was meant to be! (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD2/04%20-%20A%20Pirate%20I%20Was%20Meant%20to%20Be.mp3)

Can anyone tell me they remember exactly what Ozzie Mandrill's Theme from EMI sounds like without looking it up first? No, I didn't think so.

EDIT: I voted for TTG.

Actually, I can, I also remember Outside The Governors Mansion, Melee Town, Melee Docks, Talking with Carla and Otis, The Scumm Bar, Meathooks Place, as well Lucre Map, Boulder Beach (even though it was a re-arranged version of King Andres Hideout). Michael Land (Melee Island), Peter McConnell (Lucre Island) and Clint Bajakian (Character Scores) actually did good jobs with the music, it's just when the game got Jambalaya onwards, the music took a dive, especially Monkey Island, it just felt flat and boring.

Escape does a lot of things wrong, but the Music for the first half of the game isn't one of those things. I do feel Curse has the better soundtrack (Goodsoup Hotel Corridor still chills me) but Escape shouldn't be knocked on its soundtrack as it isn't bad, it just feels half complete.

[Avistew]

and how about the most addictive song in the universe: A Pirate I was meant to be! (http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/MI3-CD2/04%20-%20A%20Pirate%20I%20Was%20Meant%20to%20Be.mp3)

I feel cheated: this song doesn't exist in the French version! I looked it up, wondering how I could have missed it considering how many times I've played Curse, and it turns out it was just edited out because it was too hard to translate.
Now I have to play the game in English and see if there are other things I missed :S

[Uzrname]

I feel cheated: this song doesn't exist in the French version! I looked it up, wondering how I could have missed it considering how many times I've played Curse, and it turns out it was just edited out because it was too hard to translate.
Now I have to play the game in English and see if there are other things I missed :S
How in the world did they edit that out? You can't just esc it to the insult swordfighting, as far as I remember. In the English version, that is.

[Avistew]

How in the world did they edit that out? You can't just esc it to the insult swordfighting, as far as I remember. In the English version, that is.

It was removed from the game altogether. I don't know how they did it, but it just doesn't appear at all.
Since I don't know exactly WHEN it occurs in the original game I can't be more specific...

[Chyron8472]

maybe this will help to place it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-9my0tsutw

The song starts at 2:50. Just watch the whole thing.

[Avistew]

Thanks!
The cutscene is the same until "thanks a lot, guys", then you're in control of Guybrush again, either with everyone looking at the map, or in the "over the boat" view, I'm not 100% sure.

(It's a catchy tune!)

EDIT: well, I found a French video, but they inserted the song in it, so it's not that helpful. Well, whatever is in English isn't in the game in French http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt4VVtgcGh0&feature=related
Seems that you end up directly in the "view from over the boat".

[Otis]

i think lucasarts should make a monkey 2 special edition

like they did with the first and release them both on a dvd

I would also want to see this happen. Wouldnt it be great to have those games also on your shelves!

And, EMI really wasnt THAT bad. And if someone is going to say it was, it was made by LA so it was rubbish, I think they should remind themselves about who made the 3 first games hmmm??

Anyways, as it seems that there are people who worked on previous MI games (including EMI) working for TTG now, i think it would be alright for them to make it. The old LA MI department practically is the new TTG MI department.

[Yohmi]

I feel cheated: this song doesn't exist in the French version! I looked it up, wondering how I could have missed it considering how many times I've played Curse, and it turns out it was just edited out because it was too hard to translate.
Now I have to play the game in English and see if there are other things I missed :S

I suppose they cut it off because there was no soundtrack file for them (instrumental track) to sing upon.
By the way, playing the game in its original language can’t be a bad thing, because even if CoMI’s french dubbing (with french Disney’s Aladdin voice actor) is great, you’ll never beat the original voice acting :)

[thin029]

I would like however if Telltale could continue the series, but get to use LucasArts sound studios for vocal recording and scoring.

You just proved my point again

Once again, I don't think you can compare them as in EMI screens were actually 2D, (blah) Tales has a complete 3D environment

Who cares they were 2D, Tales just NEEDS more screens, 3D or not

[Ash735]

You just proved my point again


I mean however stick with the same people, NOT use the LucasArts composers, stick with Micheal Land but give him access to the LucasArts studios as he proved how amazing he can be with Curse and Escape.

[thin029]

That's what I was trying to say, but you gaiz just hate on me and say I'm the troll

[Chyron8472]

Who cares they were 2D, Tales just NEEDS more screens, 3D or not

Tales has 5 Chapters, and in those collective 5 chapters there are quite a lot of screens. I haven't counted them all compared to the number in those of prevous MI games, but it seemed fine to me.

I think you might just be complaining because in Chapter 1, you can't actually see inside any of the buildings. That didn't bother me. If they combined all the chapters together into one game, you wouldn't be complaining as it wouldn't feel as disconnected because you wouldn't have to exit the game for every chapter.

I also seem to recall that in Part 2 of Secret, the whole of Part 2 only had 6 screens.
Deck, Captain's Quarters, Crow's Nest, Crew Quarters, Kitchen, and Cargo Hold. And THAT game is fricken EPIC. I watched a playthrough of Zak McKracken on Youtube and man is that game complicated and have tons of screens. My point is: Lots of screens do not, an awesome experience, make.



...My only qualm with Tales is that they didn't use the click-any-text-and-say-the-same-dialogue joke properly in Chapter 1 (he's supposed to say something completely different than what you click), and they also used it way too early (first person you talk to in the second scene) and way too often in that same first convo with Nipperkin (it happens like 4 times in a row). Some people also complain about reused character models in Chapter 1, but it either didn't bother me or I didn't notice. Everything else in the whole game is spot on.

[Otis]

I think you might just be complaining because in Chapter 1, you can't actually see inside any of the buildings. That didn't bother me. If they combined all the chapters together into one game, you wouldn't be complaining as it wouldn't feel as disconnected because you wouldn't have to exit the game for every chapter.


That bothered me like hell.

Yeah that is one thing why episodic games are a bad idea. That just ruins the atmosphere and the feeling of continuity.

[thin029]

That bothered me like hell.

Yeah that is one thing why episodic games are a bad idea. That just ruins the atmosphere and the feeling of continuity.

This is where I was trying to get. THANK YOU.

[Chyron8472]

Why can't it be set up so that if you have multiple episodes, at the end of one episode, the game detects whether you have the next one installed and registered and, if so, launches right into it?

Or else, why can't there be clickable menu options for each chapter on one Main Menu? I mean, there's this GIANT SIGN that let's you know you're playing Tales and which Chapter you're on, so why can't it just list the different Chapters and grey out the ones you don't have? That way, when you complete a Chapter, instead of playing credits each and every time, it can just kick you back to the Main Menu and the per-chapter-credits can all be kept until the end of Chapter 5.

I know some would say this might be the way the DVD is made, but I don't like requiring to insert game discs to play them, (nor do I like the idea of creating a 5gig disc image for a game as the DVD would have extra content) so I would like it to also appear on the downloads.

Until TTG can make whole-season Main Menus, my Games will have to be organized like this (unfortunately):

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7533/gameexplorer.png

[Uzrname]

Who cares they were 2D, Tales just NEEDS more screens, 3D or not
How can you possibly want "more screens" in a game that has full 3D environment? It's not a question of "screens" anymore, it's a question of animating locations, and I think that with all the locations Tales visits in all of its episodes, you can't say it's not enough.

EDIT: well, I found a French video, but they inserted the song in it, so it's not that helpful. Well, whatever is in English isn't in the game in French http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt4VVtgcGh0&feature=related
Seems that you end up directly in the "view from over the boat".
It was funny to listen to, on the account that, if you read the French lyrics (of course if you speak French), you'd realize that translating it wasn't hard at all. Maybe it's just because the voice actors found it hard to read all that fast-paced that the song was actually cut.

But it's funny nonetheless to imagine if that song could've wind up with French verses and English chorus =)

Or else, why can't there be clickable menu options for each chapter on one Main Menu? I mean, there's this GIANT SIGN that let's you know you're playing Tales and which Chapter you're on, so why can't it just list the different Chapters and grey out the ones you don't have? That way, when you complete a Chapter, instead of playing credits each and every time, it can just kick you back to the Main Menu and the per-chapter-credits can all be kept until the end of Chapter 5.
Yeah, and it would be even better to just release the whole continuous game with no episode splits whatsoever, so that you could play it in a single shot. But then again, you'd have waited until January 2010 to get it instead of July 2009.

That would've suited me, but many a people here sound like it wouldn't have suited them, so enuff is surely said.

[Avistew]

if you read the French lyrics (of course if you speak French), you'd realize that translating it wasn't hard at all. Maybe it's just because the voice actors found it hard to read all that fast-paced that the song was actually cut.

Well, you might notice that some lines were left in English, or that the French doesn't rhyme or have the right amount of syllables... So yeah, that doesn't really mean much. Translating it poorly was possible, yes. Translating it in a way that kept the rhymes, the rhythm and the meaning though, harder.

That would've suited me, but many a people here sound like it wouldn't have suited them, so enuff is surely said.

I think a lot of people would have been okay with waiting. For one thing we've waited for ten years. For another, waiting for a whole game is easier than waiting after every cliffhanger.
But although I agree I dislike some of the limitations due to it being episodic (instead of a big environment for the whole game, you end up with smaller ones, that are specific to the chapter. So you can't go in some locations and they have to justify it, which can get annoying. Plus, it sometimes feels like you change location for the sake of changing location), I can see advantages to it, too.
For one thing, you can't really beat community involvement. There is the "he dug up my perfectly good X" that made it into the game, although it would have been possible to hold such a contest if the game was one-shot, I believe it would have been harder.
Then there is the "esponja", at the end of the game they rectify the pronunciation, which I'm pretty sure is a nod to the fact people complained about it on the forums.
And of course there is the fact that they can ask us what kind of bonuses we'd like in the DVD before they release it.

And finally, you have to realise that there wouldn't have been IWWH if it hadn't been episodic. And that would have been a shame.

[Hassat Hunter]

http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14313

[Uzrname]

Well, you might notice that some lines were left in English, or that the French doesn't rhyme or have the right amount of syllables... So yeah, that doesn't really mean much. Translating it poorly was possible, yes. Translating it in a way that kept the rhymes, the rhythm and the meaning though, harder.
Sure, but it kinda looks like they started trying and then, probably due to voicing complications, let it go and cut it out. Which is sad, because being more than unilingual, I sometimes like to listen hard to do translations just to know how it was coped with in a different language. And funny thing, I'm seldom disappointed by that.

But although I agree I dislike some of the limitations due to it being episodic [...], I can see advantages to it, too.
Of course I won't be speaking for everybody, but I didn't really play every episode just as it came out. I prepaid the whole game in advance and started playing Launch when it just came out (to see how the game itself feels), then stopped in the very beginning and played the whole thing in one shot like a month ago, when all of them were out. I did it mainly because I don't like spoiling myself with storyline interruptions, plus I'd be forgetting a lot even if I was to play it monthly (I don't have a good memory of such events), so I definitely opted for waiting until the whole thing comes out, then playing it.

It's for the same reason that I wasn't around on the forum, because I saw no point in visiting it a/p spoilers were possible (now I don't care about them). So I have no idea either what is IWWH and what its purpose is. I treat the game as a one whole, not specific episode part, and would've really liked if they released the next adventure in at least less parts, come to think of it. Guess I'm not a social online person and got other stuff to do than to waste my time in await of each episode on a forum and speculating about who and what will change in it.

Sorry if it sounds mean or insulting to those who do, thou.

[Avistew]

Sorry if it sounds mean or insulting to those who do, thou.

Mmh, I don't think you sounded mean. But I'm definitely different.

Take the Harry Potter books. I could never understand people who read them all in one go. I did it for book 4 and felt I spoiled must of the experience as a result. So I made sure to read in smaller bits. The last book, I only read one chapter a week (then one a day, then the last few ones at once).
Because for me the experience isn't actually doing something, but the way you feel when you're in the middle of doing it. When you finish a book or a game, you're pulled out of the experience to some extent, while when you're still inside you're living it.
So I really enjoyed being able to experience Tales for several months rather than just once. Wondering what happens next is great. Thinking back about what happens before. All the Harry Potter books I read slowly, I guessed most of what was going to happen thanks to the hints, and that felt great when things happened the way I thought they would, or when a hint I had picked up did end up being important as I thought.
If I had read it all in one go, I wouldn't have had time to even process the hints before getting the solution. Then I guess you can read it again and go "oh, look, there was a hint I missed", but that's really not the same as experiencing it the first time around. You only have ONE first time experiencing something, I don't like rushing it.

I played Tales about the opposite way you did. I also bought it all at once, but at the time I bought it, I didn't have a computer that could play it. I got my hands on one about a week before the second chapter came out, so I didn't have much to wait between chapter 1 and 2. Apart from that I played them around the time they came out, that is within the week or so. I also avoided the forums until I was done with each episode.

IWWH is I Wonder What Happens, which is a series of flash movies, each about an episode of Monkey Island, released before the episode and speculating as to what happens in them. They're hilarious, and have resulted in new German interns for Telltale. I suggest you take a look at them, even if they're less enjoyable when you know what actually happens in the episode.

About the translation, I totally agree. Actually, I'm going to try and find the lyrics to the song and translate it completely myself. That sounds like a neat challenge. Too bad I can't sing, as I wish I could actually record it, too. But who knows, if I release the lyrics, someone else might be able to record it?

[Chyron8472]

Take the Harry Potter books [...] When you finish a book or a game, you're pulled out of the experience to some extent, while when you're still inside you're living it.

Ooh. I never thought of it like that. I waited until the end of the final chapter to buy Tales, because I wanted to be able to play the game back to back without having to wait for the next part to come out. I bought Sam and Max Season 1 while I waited.

I did, however, start reading Harry Potter when only the first 3 books were out, so I remember well what it was like to hang out and discuss what possibly happens in the story as each new book came out. Those were good times. I think you've converted me to playing each episode as it comes out for future stuff TTG does.


I love IWWH. TomPravetz where did you go? You're the man, sir. I watched your "The Secret of Monkey Island" flash film a long while back, the English version because ich spreche kein Deutsch (I don't speak German) and it's hilarious.

[Avistew]

I love IWWH. TomPravetz where did you go? You're the man, sir. I watched your "The Secret of Monkey Island" flash film a long while back, the English version because ich spreche kein Deutsch (I don't speak German) and it's hilarious.

Just a little thing, I think you mean Majus. Tom is emulating Majus, but ehe is NOT Majus :P

[GuruGuru214]

It's still bugging me seeing his name show up as "TomPravetz", when I've been used to seeing "TPravetz" for the last few months. It's also bugging me that I can't figure out how he changed it...

[Macfly77]

It's also bugging me that I can't figure out how he changed it...

I seem to recall that he asked a Telltale employee to do it for him.

[Uzrname]

IWWH is I Wonder What Happens, which is a series of flash movies, each about an episode of Monkey Island, released before the episode and speculating as to what happens in them.Yeah, I just saw them. Quite fun. It's incredible how much stuff can people come up with out of boredom just waiting for an episode to come. This goes in addition to my earlier remark of people with tremendous amounts of free time and me envying them.

Also, I couldn't help but notice that it feels like they all were voiced by only one person. If this is true, this guy must've used Auto-Tune, Diamond Voice Changer and listen to Seth MacFarlane a lot before being able to change his voice like that and sing. This also adds to your comment about singing, so you see, nothing is impossible =)

I guess I'm just not a type of social guy, and I know it feels awkward for a remark like that right in the middle of a social utility called a forum, but I'm used to rotten tomatoes anyway...

Did he also do a "what happens after Tales" movie?

[Avistew]

It was made by a few people, actually (I think there are credits in the end). And there isn't any "I wonder what happens after Tales" that I know of although that would be cool.

[Chyron8472]

idk, but they're all awesome.

SoMI Flash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXoO9JslgBk

"You fight like a SUPER COW!"

[Uzrname]

That Elaine voicing sounded just too... perfect.

[thin029]

Uzrname, do you know when you reach the end of the scenario and you get a black screen for a second or even just a camera angle change until you see what's ahead of you? This is called SCREEN CHANGING, THOSE PERIODS ARE SCREENS
Man, is it THAT HARD to understand. Tales has too few screens, it's a fact

[Uzrname]

Uzrname, do you know when you reach the end of the scenario and you get a black screen for a second or even just a camera angle change until you see what's ahead of you? This is called SCREEN CHANGING, THOSE PERIODS ARE SCREENS
Man, is it THAT HARD to understand. Tales has too few screens, it's a fact
See, you even edited your post and still it was full of rage.
No really, I won't argue with you on that. To me "screens" are angles, even if it's part of the same location. So technically, EMI environment was much easier to make screens of, because you'd just change the angle and snap the pic. In Tales, the camera moves, hence it takes more effort to animate.

Or do you NOT agree?

[Chyron8472]

Uzrname, do you know when you reach the end of the scenario and you get a black screen for a second or even just a camera angle change until you see what's ahead of you? This is called SCREEN CHANGING, THOSE PERIODS ARE SCREENS
Man, is it THAT HARD to understand. Tales has too few screens, it's a fact

Thin, what he was trying to tell you was that, with the 3D environment, Tales doesn't need a ton of screens. In Flotsam Town, the whole town is one screen. At Spinner Cay, the whole area of town except for the Library and the Chieftan's hot tub is just one screen. In Rise of the Pirate God, each area of the crossroads is just one screen.

The camera pans as Guybrush moves, so you don't need lots of screens.

: Oh, and in Curse of Monkey Island (my ABSOLUTE favorite MI game until Tales came out,) The outdoor area in Puerto Pollo Town is also just one screen. More doesn't mean better.



Okay, okay... so let me get this straight. According to you, when this idea is used as far as old NES games go, Deadly Towers is better than The Legend of Zelda because the dungeons have more screens.


okay, so this dungeon map that was hand written bcuz it's so huge:
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/deadly.jpg

is better than this:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6687/level9q1.png

Have you seen the AVGN's review of Deadly Towers? It's terrible.

Tales doesn't need more screens. Uzr is right, the 3D camera panning as you move reduces the need for tons of them.

[thin029]

You're all hopeless.

[Macfly77]

Or maybe just hopeful? ;)
Quick question.
When the poll is currently 60-13 in favor of Telltale, what makes the majority hopeless?

[Hassat Hunter]

We don't like EMI, like the majority. Clearly a sign of "hopelessness" :p.

[Uzrname]

Thou animating Tales was still easier than CMI. Drawing screens - maybe not, but there is no more that much Purcell to just animate every in-game character.

[Atcote88]

Ignoring 'problems' of sound, I'd definitely prefer to see the next Monkey Island game made by Telltale.
Why? Well, they're enthused. They're excited about the properties of making adventures games, games where you point, click and laugh. Lucas Arts has proved in later years that they no longer have any real interest in making those games, and thus, lack the staff for it. Telltale is concentrated on making Adventure games, it's the reason for the company's existence, and so far, they've done nothing but stellar work considering what they're working with.
Also, the episodic, online sales format sits well with me now - not so much when I didn't have broadband, but now it's preferable to waiting for my games store to get it in (or even for it to be released in Australia).

[Chyron8472]

Thou animating Tales was still easier than CMI. Drawing screens - maybe not, but there is no more that much Purcell to just animate every in-game character.

First, I'm not quite sure what you just said in the last part. Try emailing Strong Bad with that and see what he says.

Second, they used software to render 3D environments, they didn't just "draw screens." And anyway, how do you know how much effort it took to animate characters in Tales as opposed to in Curse? There's no evidence to support that it was easier for them to do.

[Avistew]

I think he meant "there is now more than just Purcell to animate"... but that would mean Purcell animated CMI all by himself...

[Uzrname]

I think he meant "there is now more than just Purcell to animate"... but that would mean Purcell animated CMI all by himself...

No, what I meant to say is that Purcell isn't there to animate that much of Guybrush anymore, as he did for CMI. Because it's Purcell who drew characters there, right?

See the debate started because that dude said EMI was a bigger effort (i.e. pain in the lower back side of the abdomen) for the devs than Tales. And I reminded him that EMI was still 2D and that by taking snapshots of different camera views of the same location, you'd actually save on time and needless doodads that you don't when you "stick" the camera to a character in a 3D environment and make it move.

But then, I wouldn't say that doing that is harder than taking a paper, a pencil, and just drawing every screen, once you get of the software you're using. The whole point of computer animation is that today and both less time consuming and less expensive than the good old 2D.

But the gap between animating Tales and CMI is way less considerable than that between Tales and EMI. I.e. the hardest to do was CMI, slightly easier were Tales, and then practically amateur work were the screens of EMI.