CSI 4: Hard Evidence announced!

[Jake]

Hey guys -

Ubisoft just put up the press release (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/061212/20061212005886.html) announcing a new upcoming Telltale-developed CSI game, called "CSI: Hard Evidence."

Developed by Telltale Games, CSI: Hard Evidence will continue the crime-solving experience of Ubisoft's CSI video game series. Players will join Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows and the rest of the Las Vegas cast to help solve crimes using realistic techniques and lab equipment. CSI: Hard Evidence features forensic reconstructions and atmospheric crime scenes taken directly from the television show, including an all-new garage lab for analyzing large evidence such as cars and boats*, improved evidence gathering, review and lab mini-games, and more areas to explore, resulting in longer play experiences.

I'm sure Emily will be on top of a blog post about it later today, but for now here are a few screens:

http://files.telltalegames.com/csi4/screenshots/warrick_studio.jpg

http://files.telltalegames.com/csi4/screenshots/brass_nightfall.jpg

http://files.telltalegames.com/csi4/screenshots/victim_bedroom.jpg

http://files.telltalegames.com/csi4/screenshots/morgue.jpg

Anyway, woo! More info soon.

One note: We're unsure where the notion of putting boats in the garage came from. You do get to poke around stripped down vehicles you recover from crime scenes in the garage, but never specifically a boat. Minor point!

[Udvarnoky]

Excellent news! Can't wait.

[jannar85]

I'm really happy to know that TTG are developing the new CSI game, I hope it'll become a trend :) Can't wait to get my hands on it!

I'm really happy on your behalf as well! The CSI games haven't been better than they are now, that their under your belt :)

Good luck again!

[Poseidon]

I am overjoyed. Can't wait. However, it wasn't until Kay answered my email that I find out about it. I've been busy playing the Mystery Game:Sleuth Noir. About the upcoming game , there is one thing I'm concerned about:the representation of Nick!

[Dangerzone]

do those screenshots reflect the characters "new" appearances, or are those shots using the character models from the old game (i know the nature of screenshots, and the fact that most do not reflect the final look of a game)

oh, and what about the csi lab, and the mobile analysis unit................did they get a visual makeover and overhaul as well

and what about the system requirements, will it run on older machines with video cards that do not support T&L like the previous csi game does (i hear that sam and max has problems with non 3d compatable video cards, and starforce infected computers)

[Jake]

The look of the main cast members has been updated to match their appearance in the current season since these screenshots were taken, so these are already a it out of date. I know the labs have also been revised since CSI:3DM but I don't know to what degree.

As for system reqs, someone smarter than me will have to answer.

[sirilluminator]

Case 1 was brilliant! Can't wait 'till it comes out so I can play the rest :).

[Bucky1990]

Hey, where did you find a demo for it!!! this has got me all excited!

[tabacco]

There is no demo right now. We held a focus test this past weekend in our office, though, and sirilluminator came in to play.

[Steve2000]

How do you get to be part of a focus test? I live in the Bay Area - I could be at Telltale Headquarters in 20 minutes!!!

[tabacco]

We posted an announcement in the forums a few days in advance. Gotta pay closer attention next time ;)

[Dangerzone]

i have a few more questions..............are there any unlockable extras that you get by achieving 100% on a case, things like test renders, conecpt art, and maybe a behind the sceenes making of video
(this was something that a lot of people were sad to not see in TDOM)

and what about the voices of the cast, will we hear the actual voices of the entire core cast.............or will there be a bunch of sound alikes mixed in again

finally, will we get to work with more than one character on each case (like i suggested a while back) or will it still one csi per case with grissom and catherine appearing every now and then

[DesignerGreg]

Dangerzone, glad to see you around again!

Yes, we are very happy to be re-adding the Unlockable Bonus Items! That was very important to us, and of course our fans. There are also extra new gameplay features, so for players like you that have already mastered the franchise, you can expect to see new challenges and extra rewards!

For voices, we are proud to have all of the male actors from the show back again for this game. They all sound great. Naturally, we also hoped to work with the women on the game, but some things are beyond our control. However rest-assured, you can expect the same high-quality from our two sound-alikes. Side note - the sound-alike for Catherine is the professional sound-alike for the TV show!

And as for the CSI Teamwork, don't forget how CSI:3DOM featured both Grissom AND Catherine as co-investigators with you in the final case! I definitely recall your request for more of this a while back. We were also thinking along these same lines, so in CSI: Hard Evidence you can expect to see a LOT more teamwork with other CSI's throughout the game. It really feels like the show.

Plus, there are many new surprises that I know you'll love...

Have a great holiday everyone!! I'm headed out on vacation!

- greg

[RMJ1984]

Very nice telltale got a few series going for them. Now when you are done with CSI hard evidence, i really hope that later on you will have the chance to maybe making addons, its still possible :) instead of having to make a new game for every 5 missions. 5 more missions later on. Shouldn be impossible :)

[Dangerzone]

well it seems that this thread has gone cold................ is there anything new to offer on the game, the trailer, more screenshots, a website, etc...

i would like to hear/see more of this game to whet my appetite for another couple of weeks

[DesignerGreg]

Hmm... I will have to check with Ubisoft to see what information we can share...

Our goal was to make the BEST CSI GAME EVER and I can't wait to see what people think of it!

[Dangerzone]

.

Our goal was to make the BEST CSI GAME EVER and I can't wait to see what people think of it!


Honestly, if this game is longer (and has some replay value), has better graphic detail (but sill runs on older computers with non 3d cards) and has the same unique stories as the last game.................it is an easy sell for most of the cai fans

the only 2 problems i had with the last game were the lack of detail in the scenes and characters....................as well as the fact that all 5 cases delt with a murder of some sort (case 3 was was somewhat different) but all the other cases were sill the same who/how-doneit................i hope that this game has something other than 5 murders, like an arson, or a bomb, maybe even a highend robbery case mixed in with 2 or 3 murders

because csi means crimescene investigation, not just murder scene investigation

[DesignerGreg]

Dangerzone, I think you and all of our fans will be pleased with the overall story variety, graphics, and replayability...

BTW - Good memory on the non-murder in case 3. I also liked the arson case in the very first CSI game... that was cool.

[Tarahiro]

I can't wait for the release of this game!

3DOM was absolutely fantastic!

Keep up the great work guys

[Emily]

has better graphic detail (but sill runs on older computers with non 3d cards)

Kind of hard to do both of these things at once. ;) CSI4 will require a 3D-accelerated video card, just like CSI3 did.

The graphics in CSI4 are really nice. I have to pause and look every time I walk past the desk of someone who's working on this game.

[Bones]

I am so looking forward to this game since I read about it. I loved the other ones and could not put them down once i started playing them.

CSI3 was awesome with the graphics so i am sure the new game will be just as good if not better.

Be nice to have a few more than 5 senarios though...even though they take a little while they seem to be over to quick

[DesignerGreg]

Thank you Tarahiro and Bones!

It's so nice to hear that it's addictive to others - we're so close to it that I miss having that perspective...

[Dangerzone]

are you going to add a few new cases as the year goes on, and make them avalable over the internet (like sam and max) or will the five cases on the disc be all we see of interactive csi untill 2008

[DesignerGreg]

DZ - that is a great question to ask Ubisoft!

[Dangerzone]

it seems that this thread has gone cold, again
so i contacted ubisoft and i got the usual bull "we are glad you have taken an intrest in our future csi projects..................blah, blah, blah"

so i contacted penelope, a friend of mine in the ubisoft P.R. department, and while she is not directly involved with the csi franchise............she did tell me this,

- Hard evidence and the ps2 version of TDOM are the only two currently planned csi games for 2007

- it is unlikely that new cases will be released for the csi games over the internet because they will not get as much exposure as the game itself (because most players do not go searching the internet for new cases) and because loose files (not on the original disc) are easily lost if the user ever deletes the game and must be backed up or re-acquired

- it appears that the voice alikes for sara and catherene are not the same as in the last game, the new voice alikes are used in the actual tv show for dialoge re-recording all the time

it also seems that ubisoft may persue the cast of csi new york for a future csi title because they may have access to the entire cast, which is smaller and thus less expensive than the vegas cast..............and the ubisoft already has the gaming rights over csi and csi miami so it would not be hard to get the rights to csi ny as well, so a NY game is indeed possible (i know a lot of people have been curious about this)

i also found out that telltale is not alowed to release or say anything without ubisoft approval under threat of fines or loss of the franchise rights, so do not pressure them to give us any new screenshots of the game...............they will give us what they can when they can untill the game is released, and it seems that they are in the dark on some things just like us (P.S. i am sorry for pressing so hard earlier, i did not know this)

[rudyst1]

im so pyshed about the new csi game. it sucks that telltale is keeping everyhing a secret and wont tell us anything yet. i mean, there isint even a trailer for the game. the game is going to come out in about a month. there hasnt even been new screens for the game since december. and about the csi new york game dangerzone mentioned, how come they havent made a csi ny game. they made a las vegas, and a miami. so why not a new york yet? why does telltale need ubisofts approval to show anything to us. there is nothing bad that can happen if they show us anything that they are working on right now.

[Dangerzone]

first i suspect that the release of hard evidence will be similar to the release of TDOM, so we will not see the game trailer or website untill a few weeks after the release date.................we will definately see 1 or 2 more sets of screenshots in febuary, but i think that will be it

second, telltale faces fines if they give us screenshots of the new csi game that are not approved by ubisoft, because ubisoft controlls the franchise and telltale just has creative control. so in short every thing goes through ubisoft, and they are notorisly stone faced................but do not worry there will be more shots to come, ubisofts usual M.O. is to release about 15 screenshots of a new game over a 3-5 month period before release

why hasnt there been a csi ny game?...................because the show has only been on for 2-1/2 years, and if you recall the miami game was nat made untill that show was in its 3rd season...............so if a new york game is ever made, it will most likely be next year, and mind you this is still just heresay, A CSI NY GAME HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED YET. as far as i know, any 2008 csi game has not been ordered by ubisoft yet

but we are getting ahead of ourselves here.............lets keep the discussion to hard evidence untill after it is released, then we can discuss the 2008 game

[rudyst1]

hey dangerzone will u keep me posted if u get new screens for the csi game?
and will u keep us updated on anything new u find out about the game or telltale

[Dangerzone]

sure thing, but i think that the telltale staff will be the first to post anything if anything new is approved.................. they even posted the 4 screenshots on my forum when they were released

if you want to you can check us out at www.csigamer.com/forums
we are a small site devoted to the csi videogames, where people can go to chat about and ask for help on the csi games................. we heven have some of the telltale staff drop in on us from time to time, feel free to drop and look me up (i am a moderator over there)

[rudyst1]

k thanks very much

[rudyst1]

hey dangerzone do u think that the garage lab and lab mini games are gonna be what really makes the csi fans heads spin? i mean, do u think its actually gonna be a pretty good feature added on?

[Dangerzone]

yes i do, most of the fans like a lot of added features and interactivity like mini games, puzzles, and activites to immerse themselves in the game and lengthen the time it takes to play a case

i think that the garage is a cool idea, if we get to thoroughly search through cars.................look in gloveboxes, under seats, check the trunk, look under the car, and maybe even take the car apart a little (like they do in the shows sometimes)

and given the csi lab in the previous csi game, i wonder how they are going to top it this time around.............. my idea that i pitched them last year was for them to have the lab be a free roam area with seperate lab rooms with diffrent equipment in each room, rather than have everything in just one room

it also sounds like the moble lab is returning for this game as well, i know that this was a hit last year, and i hope that we see it more than just 1 or 2 times this time around (hopefully it will always be avalable)

i also recall talking last year with one of the games creators and he said that they may try to make an entire 3d crime scene kit that opens and you drag things out of this year, rather than just have a wheel with tool icons on it again................. but if they implicated this or not is unknown

[rudyst1]

hey dangerzone do u think its cool to have a csi game where it is a third person and u could customized your look in the game. it could also be cool if u could actually drive the moble lab to your crimescene. instead of having 5 cases to solve, there can be a free roam world of las vegas, and u could drive to ur crimescenes when a crime happens. or maybe take it to the next level. there are endless possiblilities. maybe when your at your crimescene and a suspect comes out with a gun, you could use your gun to kill that person.

[Dangerzone]

one thing that quite a few of fans have been somewhat disappointed at is the fact that your character is nameless, faceless, and voiceless............... they do this to put you in the perspective of a csi, and to suggest that the main character is you. but i think that it will be a welcome change to have a main character created for the games (one not in the show), and for us to get to play that person. and maybe they can even have a backstory for that character as well, but have his story be mysterious, and have us learn little bits and peices about him as we progress through the cases................. and maybe have the final case deal directly with him (maybe he was the victim of a unsolved shooting years earlier himself, and in the final case he discovers who did it)

i also like the idea a 3rd person free roam game, because some of the sets in the game are just too beautiful to be limited to just one limited semi-panoramic view .................. but i also like the cinematic quality of the first person cameras, so i would like to see a blend of both camera types.............. 3rd person while in the lab and during free roams, and 1st person while processing crime scenes, examining evidence, and interviewing people

the idea for a partial city that you can drive around is neat as well, but i think that driving back and fourth from locations to the lab will get annoying after a while................ so i think that that idea is a no go, although i like your idea about clearing a location the first time you arrive by going though with your gun drawn and checking for anyone/anything in the rooms

[rudyst1]

hey i just thought of something. why cant they make a csi game where u go to court and present your evidence to the jury just like the law and order game. and based on how u present your evidence, the jury decides if the suspect is guilty or not guilty. it would also be pretty cool to help doc robbins perform an autopsy just like david does in the show.
and for exampe it would be pretty cool if u lose in a murder trial and the suspect goes free, and in another case the suspect returns and tries to target you for testifying against him.

[Dangerzone]

your idea for the virtual autopsy sounds familiar............... because i pitched the idea myself last year, but since then i have come to realize that a 3d autopsy may be too much for some people, although it may be cool to have a limited version of this where you pull a bullet out of a victim as dr robbins, but nothing too gross or over the top

another cool feature that they could add is a layout room where the victims clothes and personal effects are spread out on a table for you to process

and the csi shows rarely show the court side of the justice system.............. because csi is about the mystery of who did it (and because most people find court cases boring) . but it may be interesting to have a story where we work on a cold case, and have all the old evidence spread out on the layout table and we have to search it for new clues that were not possible to find when the case was originally committed

[rudyst1]

hey what u said about the 3d kit that they might put in csi is a great idea. i wonder how it would look like if they do this feature for hard evidence.

hey it would be cool if u could ask the interigating questions in csi instead of just the pop up questions. of course if u need help, there could be pop up questions if u need help. hey it would be cool to have a csi 3-d game. u know kinda like 3-d movies. when they are showing the flashbacks, it would be cool if you could see the flashback and almost the whole game in 3-d. that would for sure i think blow peoples minds off.

[Dangerzone]

no i think that typing your own questions into the game is somewhat long and troublesome............. but i think that it would be cool if you get to choose the tone of how you ask the questions, and to have the characters respond differently to certain tones of voice, and lines of questioning

i also found the U.K. cover art for hard evidence
http://i12.tinypic.com/4hauxb7.jpg

[Jake]

Heh hey nice.

That looks like temporary art though, something Ubisoft whipped up just so online retailers will have some box art to post on their "Coming Soon" pages.

I'm pretty sure the final one will have some pictures of the cast on the cover and stuff.

[Dangerzone]

you mean like this....................

http://i12.tinypic.com/42s7djd.jpg

i remember last year when the pre-release shots of the TDOM cover looked like the one below (the similarity is shocking to the new hard evidence cover huh?)............ so i am expecting the hard evidence cover art to change as well, i should have noted this in my earlier post

http://i1.tinypic.com/o8xboh.jpg

[rudyst1]

hey that uk cover for hard evidence looks sweet. though i have one question: in hard evidence are the characters going to look the same as in the new season on tv. like grissom with the beard shaved off?

why cant the csi games that they have released so far have something unexpected that happens at a crimescene like in the fourth season of las vegas when a bombing occurs out of nowhere. or it would be cool if they made a very long case in the game kinda like the kidnapping one of nick, and u have to go through different places and procces different types of evidence to find him.


hey does telltale need ubisofts permission to put kinda like a pre-release demo on one level just to see what telltale had been working on?

[DesignerGreg]

Hey Rudyst1 -

Grissom's beard is indeed shaved off in our game!

Yes, ubisoft handles all of the marketing and promotion. They determine when the demo will be released, when screenshots are released, and which screenshots are shown.

[Dangerzone]

hey greg, are you able to comment on the interface, as to what has changed this year to make it an "all new and improved interface"................... and could you tell us if you implemented that 3d crime kit that you said was a cool idea last year

[rudyst1]

yea is the 3d kit gonna work

[rudyst1]

hey it would be pretty cool if there was a csi game where a csi in the lab was a mole like in csi miami and that mole turned against the lab and started killing people. then u have to take down the mole of the department.

[DesignerGreg]

Hey guys -

We're not able to comment on the details of the interface... You'll have to wait and see!

-greg

[Dangerzone]

the fact that you cannot comment on the interface means that it is very different from last years game, meaning that you guys made more than just some simple cosmetic changes to it.................... so i cannot wait to see what you have done with it

anyway, can you tell us if hard evidence will have widescreen support and the ability to make the resolution higher than 800x 600 for us with above average computers

just wondering about this, but how much time is between a game release date, and when the game has to be finished and sent over to ubisoft to be mass produced?............... i have always wondered how much time is between a game getting handed off and the release date. lastly, can you tell us how many months it took to make to make CSI:3DM and how much time have you currently spent on Hard Evidence

i want to know this because i have always been interested in how video games are made, because one of these days i plan to use my talent for story telling to create the plot lines for video games (as a hobby, not a full blown job).................. and after seeing some of the most recent video games for PS3, X360, and PC i an seriously considering actually doing this, however my friends say this is stupid and they tell me that i should write for tv shows instead................ but i guess i am still a kid at heart and i find video games more appealing than the film industry (not to mention a lot less games than tv shows get canned) i guess my only problem is getting the door somewhere

[jannar85]

I wonder if it'll be on a DVD or a CD this time around! :o DVD would mean that it gets a higher overall quality. I'll head back now to play Sam & Max :p

[rudyst1]

hey designer greg do u know when there will be more screenshots of the game

[Dangerzone]

from what i gather this game will be on cd as well, and do not compare the size of the media format to the quality of a game

compare the first two csi games to CSI:3DM, the first 2 games were composed on 3 cds and only had "flat" graphics. compare that to CSI:3 which had better "full 3D" graphics and it was able to fit on one cd

so how can you tell me that the games will be better if they are on dvd vs cd, the only improvement that increased medium size will yield is a longer game, not a better looking one. because the graphic quality of a game is determined by the census of what the average computer hardware is that most of the general public has access to

[Emily]

I think what he meant was that if you compare a Telltale game on 1 CD to a Telltale game on 1 DVD, the DVD version would have more room and therefore more "stuff" could be included (whether it's more gameplay, bonus features, etc.)

Regarding the release of assets, that's really not up to us. Ubisoft will release more screenshots when they decide it's the right time.

[rudyst1]

is the game trailer gonna be released after or before the game and if before when?

[Poseidon]

Greg,
What are the specs of the game....?

[DesignerGreg]

So many great questions! So few I can answer legally!

We really appreciate that you guys are so interested in the game, and want to know the details! I wish we could answer them...

Dangerzone: Once a game for the PC is finished and approved by the publisher (a gold master approved by Ubisoft), under "ideal" conditions it will take a few weeks for Manufacturing and Distribution before it reaches stores and consumers. However, sometimes publishers may decide to keep a "finished" title longer, for a variety of reasons. One example is that they may want to take better advantage of marketplace. (Like the way movies do if similar titles are coming out at the same time) NOTE that this doesn't necessarily mean they would keep working on the game in the meantime. There are many factors involved. Basically it boils down to how much does it cost to make the game, vs. how much they expect to make in return.

If the game is released on a console system, there's usually a longer approval process with the console makers (e.g. Microsoft for the Xbox, Nintendo for the Wii, etc.) before manufacturing happens. They need to ensure that all the system specifications and requirements are ahdered to. they may also sometimes have a say as to when it can be released.

As for Writing for TV or Video Games, there are benefits to both, depending on which medium interests you more, and which process is most fun. The process for making each is very different. Keep your eye on Gamasutra.com for contract writer jobs!

[rudyst1]

oh my god i just found out that the game is not going to be released until may the 2nd.
i thought it was going to be released in march the 7th or something.

[Jake]

Where did you get either of those release dates? I don't think Ubi has made any announcements yet. If you got those from a retailer site like Amazon or GameStop or EB, odds are they made them up (which sites like that frequently do).

[Dangerzone]

i have no idea why anybody cannot get this right.................. the release date is Tuesday march 13th, that is the date that ubisoft set

if the date ever changes, it will not be moved untill the first week of march rolls around................. because there is no reason for the date to be moved unless production of the game falls behind for some reason, so thus the date will not be moved untill the intended date rolls around

as far as i can tell, ubisoft approved the final cut of the game the first week of January, and it takes about 8 weeks for a game to be fully published and sent out to stores............. so the game should be on time

(also i noticed that everyone here involved in the production of the game, talks about it in past tence............... so that tells me that it has already been handed off, thus confirming my sources)

[Emily]

What are the specs of the game....?

I'm not sure of the exact specs, but they will be similar to the specs for the last game and for Sam & Max.

because there is no reason for the date to be moved unless production of the game falls behind for some reason, so thus the date will not be moved untill the intended date rolls around

There are plenty of reasons a date can shift and not all of them have to do with production -- there are also marketing considerations, desires to release the game at a certain time of year or to coincide with the release of another game (or to NOT coincide with the release of another game so it doesn't compete!), etc. Jake's right that places like GameStop and EB often guess at a release date. As far as I know Ubisoft has not announced an exact release date, in spite of the fact that some retail outlets said it would be some specific day in March.

[rudyst1]

o ok my bad its because i went to gamespot.com and it said that the game was coming out may 2

[jannar85]

If released 13th March, that means it's only 1 month and 11 days left! Wooohoo! This means we might get to see lots of stuff in February ;)

Btw, I actually love the plain look on the cover instead of having the CSI crew on the front, but maybe that's just me :p Is there any way to get a full size of that plain 3DOM art, so I can print it myself?

[axelkothe]

Ubisoft Germanys release list says just march

[Dangerzone]

lets not forget that the 3 previous csi games all came out in march as well (although i forget the specific dates) with the exception of the miami game, which came out in november

since TDOM came out on march 6th, i guess they assume that this years game will fall on the same date (as many big title games do)

but from what i can sift, hard evidence will be released a week or two later than the TDOM release date (for unknown reasons)

[Jake]

We don't have that cover art, because Ubi makes those, not us :) That said, I also really like the more minimalist look for the CSI box; It looks like a nice classy DVD box set. That said, I think the photos of the cast are what help catch peoples eye on store shelves, so I imagine they'll be appearing on the final box.

And, despite pleas to the contrary, if Ubisoft hasn't officially announced a release date anywhere (in a press release, on their website, in an official published interview), then there is no official release date. As with all rumors on the internet about our games, we can only confirm that that release date is in fact just a rumor. When we know for sure what the official release date is, we'll plaster it all over the site, forums, and blog so you'll all know when you can get your next CSI fix.

[rudyst1]

hey sice the game is set to look like the new season on tv, it would be cool if keppler appeared for one or two cases of the game

[jannar85]

Hey Jake, as they are making those minimalist art stuff, could you or someone else contact Ubisoft asking if they can release that DVD art as well? It sure would be a lot nicer to look at my CSI collection then :) I didn't find any e-mail addresses so...

[axelkothe]

And, despite pleas to the contrary, if Ubisoft hasn't officially announced a release date anywhere (in a press release, on their website, in an official published interview), then there is no official release date.

March IS official for germany (but no specific day), here you can download the release list from ubi:

http://www.ubisoft.de/bv/presse/release

[jannar85]

Oooh, would that mean that an English release will be released before the German?:D Either way, I've heard from someone talking to Ubisoft, that it should be out in Scandinavia 9th March.

Hey, that reminds me.. That's the same day the fourth episode of Sam & Max is coming out :D

[Dangerzone]

usually the us gets their hands on a game first and then a game goes worldwide over the next few weeks

from what i can sift the us release date is march 13th, and the uk release date is march 30th.................... so most other countries will see the game sometime inbetween those dates or in the begining of april

and even though none of those dates are set in stone yet................ i do not see any reason for them to change, although i can tell you that if the dates have not changed by mid febuary, then they most likely will not change at all

also i do not think that keppler will not be in the game, because the story of the cases were written months ago (exactly when i am not sure) and the time up untill now has been on production of the game itself, animating, 3d modeling, texture artistry, dialoge recording, coding, and testing.................... this is a process that takes many months and people to complete, and even though there is usually only one new game a year, only a few months are spent on each new game (except some major companies that have the an entire office working on a new game all 12 months of a year) but it seems that telltale likes to devide their time and workforce over more than one project, so we get more than just one game type of game every year (sometimes we even get episodic games)

as for the boxart, this is just wishfull thinking, but i hope that the case will be exactly like a dvd boxset, it should compose of a cardboard folder with a cd holder glued inside, and a folder like pocket on the other side to hold the instruction booklet, the folder should come in a vynal cover with the game art and the csi cast on it. the outside of the folder itself will look just like a black case file. the inside will be a college composed of screenshots from the game, scattered papers, and grissoms id badge, the artwork will cover the entire interior of the folder because the cd holder is clear. the game manual will look like a vanilla file folder, the pages will appear to be lab and autopsy reports (although it is really just an instruction manual) with in game photos that appear to be clipped to the sides................ although i know the chances the game case looking like this are slim to none

most likely the game case will be the same as last year, a large dvd style case under a cardboard cover with a small openable flap containing info on the game, but we can still hope *Sigh*

[davech1987]

i am very happy to know they r bringing out a new game but i live in uk so i wnt get it till september :( but the last 2 csi games that where made csi-dark motives and csi 3 dom where brillent the cases were very cool csi the 1st game cases where good but way too short.

[rudyst1]

wow! february! hopefully this is the month that ubisoft allows telltale to release new screenshots for the game

[Dangerzone]

so the thread has gone cold yet again

hey is it possible for you to add a "whats going on with csi" page like you did with sam and max............... or at least put something for us to ponder over on the telltale website (becuase hard evidence is not mentioned at all on the telltale website, except for that one blog post)

P.S. as long as we see at least one tidbit of info per month, we are fine........... otherwise the fans get restless, and when we are restless we get angry, and when we get angry, the sun turns blue, puppies stop being cute, and fish start drowning

and if you cannot say, post, or release anything new............... can you at least tell us what penalty is keeping you from doing so (I.E. ubisoft will take you into the back room with a one eyed knife thrower named squiggy or castrate you)

[rudyst1]

no ya serioulsy dangerzone is right. its been since december since there has been alot of kool things announced about the game however, its february. i understnad ubisoft has to go over everything that telltale releases but come on. at least 1 new screen or a comment or something about the game will be gladly appreciated

[chiller_2k7]

i don't want to scare anyone but it looks like the release date has postponed to september 2007. this is on game.co.uk & gamespot.com as well as others. can anyone confirm it?

[Emily]

Ubisoft is not holding us at knifepoint or threatening to kidnap our firstborn children if we say anything about Hard Evidence. It's Ubisoft's game to promote (unlike Sam & Max, which is our game to promote) and we have to respect their marketing decisions. They have plans for how they want to promote the game, and it wouldn't be right for us to reveal anything about the game before they're ready.

As we've said many times - when we CAN talk about it, we WILL talk about it. ;)

[numble]

As we've said many times - when we CAN talk about it, we WILL talk about it. ;)

Can you talk about what the team that worked on CSI is now up to? =P

[Dangerzone]

ok............. i can see how you are respecting ubisofts marketing strategy (although i like telltales market campaigns better :rolleyes: ) anyway, can you at least give us the courtesy to confirm that the game is complete and has been handed off

because if it has, then that means that the march release date is correct

[tabacco]

Seriously guys... when we can say something, we will say it, believe me. Asking randomly in hopes that there's some piece of news we forgot we could reveal probably won't work :)

[Jake]

I've been accused of speaking in hyperbole in regards to this stuff, but I'm pretty sure that when we can make more CSI 4 announcements, you'll know because Emily will have blown up the Earth.

[Emily]

I've been accused of speaking in hyperbole in regards to this stuff, but I'm pretty sure that when we can make more CSI 4 announcements, you'll know because Emily will have blown up the Earth.

Never know... one of these days I might blow up the earth, just because I think it would be fun.

...either that or dye my hair pink. Hmm...

[Dangerzone]

i am sorry, and i did not intend to be a pest............... but you have to see this from our perspective. you announce a new videogame based on a long running and successfull series (in both tv shows and video games) and then because of ubisofts gag on telltale, you go cold turkey on us. you say nothing for months when a steady stream of info on a title close to its release date is expected.................. it almost seems like ubisoft is taking advantage of telltale, and simultaniously not even trying to push this game and make it successfull. so you have no idea how much this pisses me off (because i want this game to be successful just as much as you guys do) and i am sure others feel the same as i do

adding to my frustration, you have a forum with top notch customer service giving good info and prehype on all of your other games. but you cant take advantage of it on this game because of ubisoft............this is like dangling a peice of bait just out of our reach, and so far the game is not mentioned on the ubisoft site at all............. no coming soon page, no forum, no replys from customer service, not even a preorder page.............so needless to say, their customer service department sucks. thus we are not getting anything from them

if their ad campaign for TDOM (there really wasnt one) is any indication of how hard evidence will be handled................ then we will not see anything else untill after the game is released, and most of what we see........will be from telltale

a proper game ad campaign should contain, ad banners on sites, a website set up months before the launch, multiple screenshots, a gameplay video or two, and maybe even a demo of the game a few weeks before the release date................ we saw none of this before TDOM, (the website came almost a month and a half after the game was released) and it looks like we will get the same treatment from ubisoft with hard evidence

normally i do not like to rant and rave like this (i am usually a cool tempered person) but i hate being treated like crap by ubisoft..............all i can say to you telltale, is try to get involved in the advertising for this game

because i will buy this game no matter what, but i know some people that are not as attached to csi and as open minded as i am..............and the market campaign for a game is more powerfull than the game itself, and as of right now.............. your hard worked on product has almost no representation, when it should be featured on multiple gaming websites and also be one of the most talked about upcomming video games of the spring (alongside sam and max)

[Jake]

I assure you that eventually you'll be a very happy man, but for now you've got to hang tight and be patient. :)

[chiller_2k7]

got good news people i emailed ubisoft and the estimated release date is april and june 2007.

[rudyst1]

no offense but are u kididng? thats not good news the original date is said to be released march

[chiller_2k7]

i mean according to what i said before (that it might be coming out in september), it's good news. obviously not compared to it being released in march as i can't wait for it to come out and it's ridiculous we keep getting messed around like this.

[rudyst1]

awww man its already basically the end of feb and no screens yet
o well i guess maybe in march

[rudyst1]

hey is hard evidence still going to be first person cuz in some game website i forgot it said that hard evidence was goin to be third person

[Jake]

It's still first person. :)

[rudyst1]

hey remind me again anyine.... is hard evidence goin to come out still in march as planned, or is it goin to come out in a later date



just wondering

[Dangerzone]

who the hell knows.............. no one here is giving us any straight answer (yet) and most of the retailers have april listed as the release date, but ubisoft listed march was the indended release month................ however i think that the game was delayed for some reason (either that or the march release date was incorect)

if march is the intended release month................ we will hear about it around the time sam and max episode 4 goes worldwide

[Emily]

Hey guys,

I'm really sorry that we can't tell you anything. (We don't even know for sure when the release date will be.) As soon as we have any information that we can share with you, we'll let you know.

[Dangerzone]

this thread has gone cold.............. when you guys made CSI:3DM how long long before the release date did ubisoft reveal it to you, was it a few weeks prior, or was it a spur of the moment "the game is being released today" type deal

because if the release date was going to be next week like most of the internet sites orignally posted.............. we should have heard about it by now, right?

(i have now accepted the fact the the game may come as late as april or may, but i dont mind waiting as much anymore............ sam and max has all of the crime i can handle right now, and it would be conveinent to have the game released right after the final episode of sam and max gets released)

P.S. is episodic csi ever going to be considered, or is ubisoft real strict about a once a year cd only release

[tabacco]

Dangerzone, I know you're excited about the game, and I sincerely wish there was something we could tell you, but there really isn't. Like Emily and Jake and I have said a couple of times, the very instant we have something that we can tell you, we'll post it everywhere we can think of. Honestly.

[Dangerzone]

i wasnt asking about this years game............... i was just asking about last years game, you mean to tell me that you cannot talk about CSI:3DM when it has been out for almost a year already?

i guess i just want a clue as to how far ahead of time ubisoft announces a games release date................ thats all (you people act like i asked for more screenshots or something)

(i know that no one, including you guys knows the hard evidence release date yet)

[DesignerGreg]

DZ, you crack me up, little buddy!

[Dangerzone]

just wait untill you have seen one of my world famous blow-outs, they are funny to anyone but the person they are aimed at (in which case they are humilating) a few of them are preserved for future generations over at csigamer.....

although i doubt that i will ever go off here on the telltale forum......... i tend to mind my words in someone elses house

P.S. if you need any stupid or mindboggleing stories, i am full of them.......... because of my constant involvement with several local law enforcement agencys, i have some doozies.

like this one guy who spent over a month planning to kill his wife.......... he had a gun, duct tape, gloves, zip ties, plastic bags, the whole deal, he knew that the neighors were away.............. the only thing he forgot, were his car keys, which were still in the ignition of his locked car............ and he was now also locked out of his house as his house keys were on the same ring as his car keys

he was picked up by a passing police cruiser while waiting for his roadside assistance servive to arrive............... i wonder what tipped the cop off, it was either the blood on his clothes or the fact that he was out at 3 in the morning

the fact that the garabage bag he was holding ripped open revelaing his wifes lifeless body while the officer was talking to him may have also lead to his arrest

he pled not guilty............... the jury reached a verdict of guilty in less than 10 minutes, he has yet to be sentenced

[DesignerGreg]

He called for Roadside Assistance?? That's classic!!

I guess there's a reason he needed to plan ahead - his improv skills are severely lacking! Break your own window, dood!!

[jannar85]

Doesn't seem like the game will be released Friday:p Time for guessing the next release date! Hopefully Ubisoft will give Telltale the green light on Friday, so we might get to expect something new.... Like a release date or something :p

Amazon list it as 27 April 2007, however...

[rudyst1]

looks like there is nothin new to reprt at this time huh?

[Trixie]

It may be on the Second Friday of April, a normal day, Friday the 13th!
Naa... but i'm thinking of a end of April release, as NOTHING but 4 screens and people saying 'yes, it's still in Making' Posts yet This is probbally the least Media, About and utterly the LEAST info in a game that has been on a Unknow RD

[Jake]

It's still more information than there was about CSI: 3DM! Nobody could confirm that the game existed until the it was practically out in stores that time!

[Trixie]

It's still more information than there was about CSI: 3DM! Nobody could confirm that the game existed until the it was practically out in stores that time!
True, True! All i had was the Beta Cover art (the one that just has CSI on the front). We might get a release date, in like a month!

[jannar85]

It's still more information than there was about CSI: 3DM! Nobody could confirm that the game existed until the it was practically out in stores that time!
And that is why we love you.

[Dangerzone]

from what i recall we did not even see any offical screenshots untill just a few weeks before the games release (although it only seemed like a few days before)

and up untill then we just had those cartoonish looking box shots to ponder as well as those shots from amazon that made the game look so much better than it actually was.................. and got our hopes up, remember them.... (for those of you who do not i reposted them below)

at least the screenshots we got this time around are some what representave of the finished game, although i know that most finished games are always a little diffrent from their pre-release screenshots............ but last years amazon screenshots were a total joke when compred to the final build of the game (although i hope the games look this rich one of these days)

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2006/079/930745_20060321_screen002.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2006/079/930745_20060321_screen003.jpg

but enough about that.....

here are 4 suggestions, and if you can pull these off next year............ then you will truely have the perfect csi game

#1 widescreen support
#2 more than 5 cases
#3 Episodic format
#4 get telltale offically involved in the market campaign

[rudyst1]

when will we at least get to see the boxart cover for hard evidence anyone know?

[Dangerzone]

can you put up a small comming soon mini page with the game info and those 4 screenshots on the homepage

you can also post links to the csi forum, press release, and the blog post on the page as well

even though it is nothing new, it will be nice to see hard evidence on the website itself (and it will probably shut most of us up for a while)

[rudyst1]

could we get any new info about the game like for example other features that u forgot to mention or anything thats new besides long gameplay etc.

[DesignerGreg]

Is anyone else getting excited about the Stanley cup playoffs?? I can't wait! GO SHARKS!!

[Jake]

can you put up a small comming soon mini page with the game info and those 4 screenshots on the homepage

you can also post links to the csi forum, press release, and the blog post on the page as well

even though it is nothing new, it will be nice to see hard evidence on the website itself (and it will probably shut most of us up for a while)

We'll do this (and more) when we can. Promise :)

[Dangerzone]

Is anyone else getting excited about the Stanley cup playoffs?? I can't wait! GO SHARKS!!

our penguins are are doing well for a change this year, so as an avid sports nut............... i cant wait for the playoffs to start as well, april 11th can't come soon enough ;)

[DesignerGreg]

Penguins - hope we meet you in the finals! Crosby just passed all the projections from the beginning of the year - I think they said 107 for the season, and he just hit 108 with several games to go!! I hope to see him play...

[rudyst1]

will there be any new screen shots now that its already gonna be the end of march and april is the month of one of the release dates?

[Dangerzone]

no one ever said that the release date was in april :rolleyes: ........... and i am sure we will get another few shots before it is released, but do not count on this

[rudyst1]

o, i thought the original release date was in april but then we started geting other release dates and not a confirmation on which month it was gonna come out in

[Dangerzone]

nothing is offical as of yet, although it does seem that the game is not slotted for release untill late april or early may............... or else we would have heard something by now

[DesignerGreg]

Unfortunately, no new information or new screenshots are available yet.

[rudyst1]

what the hell?!
gamespot is saying the game is goin to release sept. 18

why a bunch of random dates

the game will come out in either april or may right?

[Dangerzone]

the press release said "this spring" and september is most definately not spring............. and without a new press release stating a new release date, gamespot has nothing to base this on

...and we already know how full of crap gamespot is, so do not take them seriously.......... ubisoft (via telltale) has the final word in this, everything else is just heresay

so for right now............ no news is good news, because that means that the game has not been delayed

P.S. i have the feeling that hard evidence will not be released until after sam and max season one is done

[Trixie]

we have a bigger chance of getting a delay press release then some media in the next week

[Udvarnoky]

P.S. i have the feeling that hard evidence will not be released until after sam and max season one is done

And since that happens in only a month, you're probably right.

[DesignerGreg]

Interesting. I'm not sure where Gamespot got their information. Sept 18 is about the same time that the next season of CSI begins, so maybe they are making a guess.

[chiller_2k7]

as i said before, i emailed ubisoft and it is may/june

[Dangerzone]

whenever ubisoft allows you to talk about the game...... is it possible for some of the telltale staff who are involved with hard evidence to come over and have a developer chat on the csigamer forum, i am sure a lot of our users would enjoy that

[axelkothe]

Exclusive: CSI Hard Evidence to the Wii
April 6th, 2007

Well its another update with my distributor contact and CSI: Hard Evidence is listed down for the Wii. The game will be published by Ubisoft for a September release. The game is based on the television series, is in development by Telltale Games (PC Version at least) and is an adventure title. A press release was issued out last year with a description of the game:

“Hard Evidence will feature “forensic reconstructions and atmospheric crime scenes taken directly from the television show, including an all-new garage lab for analyzing large evidence such as cars and boats, improved evidence gathering, review and lab mini-games, and more areas to explore, resulting in longer play experiences.”


from www.codenamerevolution.com

[Udvarnoky]

Neat! This could also be where those sites got September from.

[DesignerGreg]

We are unable to comment on the veracity of a Wii & September release.

Dangerzone, it's very possible we could work out a developer chat on CSI gamer forum. We will probably wait until the game is released so that you have a chance to play it first!

[MarkDarin]

We are also unable to comment on the tenacity, audacity , velocity or obesity of a Wii & September release.

We can, however, comment on the ferocity of the designers... and we're generally pretty tame, except when it comes to pizza lunches.

[Emily]

Yeah, everyone else better watch out on pizza day. Those CSI guys are vicious.

[Squinky]

I miss West Brooklyn Pizza and their complimentary fresh garlic.

[tabacco]

It's fresher than ever. And twice as complimentary.

[Squinky]

So it's now *pinch pinch* "How you doin'? How you doin'?"

[DesignerGreg]

Ey, forgetta bout it

[azza29]

Hey this might sound like a dumb question but... which actors from the show will be recording voiceovers for the game, and who will be replaced by a voice artists?

I know that Catherine and Sara sounded a little different in CSI 3, and it would be cool if they all recorded their own voices, but I guess that costs too much.

[Dangerzone]

amazon uk has the game listed for April 27.... is there any truth to this release date?
LINK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/CSI-Hard-Evidence-PC-DVD/dp/B000M34I08/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-2310580-5187027?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1177185977&sr=8-1)

[fhqwhgads]

I'm betting it gets released before this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-2-Interactive-Nukem-Forever/dp/B00005NCEZ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-0845508-7722866?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1177189256&sr=8-1

[Jostein]

I'm betting it gets released before this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-2-Interactive-Nukem-Forever/dp/B00005NCEZ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-0845508-7722866?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1177189256&sr=8-1
Hehe, You know how to put things in perspective... Bet it gets released before the sun implodes too...;) (but i'm not so sure Duke Nukem Forever will)

[DesignerGreg]

DZ - April 27 is not an official date. Not sure where they got that. No new information on this front is available yet!

Someone should do a forensic analysis of the mysterious Duke Nukem project. Could the delays be due to...murder??

As for voices, you can expect the same or better quality from CSI3. The sound-alikes we use for the women are top notch. The woman who plays catherine is the official sound-alike for Marg Helgenberger.

[fhqwhgads]

Someone should do a forensic analysis of the mysterious Duke Nukem project. Could the delays be due to...murder??


CSI: Murder forever?

[rudyst1]

so anybody no wut happened

anybody no when the game will come out

[Syn]

From everything that I've seen (from Googling myself to death - YA!! That IS as dirty as it sounds) I'm pretty positive that although CSI 4 is completed for the PC they aren't going to release it until the Wii version is done so that they can release them simultaneously. Actually, given track records for previous multi-platform releases, it's more likely that the console versions will be released FIRST and then the "pirate heavy" PC version will be released a few weeks later.

It sounds rather conclusive that this will happen around the September/October area.

So, if you mark November down on your calenders then you probably won't be disappointed.

[Jostein]

I understand that you guys and gals at telltale have to keep your mouth shut about everything, but for safety reasons, please, please give us an estimate about the release date, before someone goes mad... We won't be angry if it is november or even next year (I would be a little dissapointed), but please tell us... Is it just around the corner? Is there still much to do? Or are they holding back for other reasons?:confused:

Love you people at telltale, and I hope that someday you are rich enough to develop and sell games without other companies backing you up, so that you may decide things at your own...;)

[tabacco]

You know we can't tell you that. I'm really sorry, but that's the way it is.

I've said it lots of times... if there was anything we could tell you, we would be telling you as loudly as possible. We are excited about CSI, and we like it too... we want to tell you everything there is to know... we just can't.

[Jostein]

You know we can't tell you that. I'm really sorry, but that's the way it is.

I've said it lots of times... if there was anything we could tell you, we would be telling you as loudly as possible. We are excited about CSI, and we like it too... we want to tell you everything there is to know... we just can't.

Yes I know, It was just a cry out in the dark... But could you (or someone else at telltale) at least talk to ubisoft and try to make them give us some information, maby a press release or something. They don't have to give us an exact date or new screenshots, but maby tell us when we could expect it...

Tell them there are lots of people longing for some information about the game. Hope they understand:o

[Sparklechick]

Hi all

I'm from little old New Zealand and seem to be one of the only people in my country that play the CSI games! Well that's what the game stores in NZ would like to believe I think. They're not the best at getting these sorts of games in very quickly.

However ... one of our online game stores is saying this game is being released in June (next month!). I find this a little hard to believe because everyone else seems to be saying September.

I'm very much looking forward to the new CSI game and will buy it as soon as its out, even if I have to buy it from overseas. I tend to have to buy most of my adventurey type games from overseas sellers as NZ just doesn't seem to stock them. For instance CSI - Criminal Intent - still not out in NZ - I bought it a year ago online from the UK! Thank god for paypal.

Aaanyway ... am VERY glad to hear a new game has come out and since it will probably be out overseas before it does in NZ can someone please message me when it does so I can go shopping?

Thanks

[tabacco]

You can always sign up for email updates from our site... we tend to announce stuff like that, since they're our games and all :)

[Sparklechick]

Ah yes, I saw that when I registered so have signed up for the CSI updates. Thanks :)

[Udvarnoky]

I think it's best no one get their hopes up about this game being released in June. The only reason I think that's a shred of a possibility is because 3 Dimensions of Murder was also released with completely muted publicity. Several different dates were thrown about and I didn't even know the game was out until my Ubisoft preorder shipped. And it wasn't until a few days after that that gaming sites caught on that the game was in fact released.

That said, I'm assuming this game's coming out in September at the earliest, so if it gets release next month it will be a pleasant surprise. Since no official word can be said to suggest otherwise my guess is the same as Syn's - that Ubisoft is pushing the PC version back so that that all the versions (including the rumored Wii port) can be released together.

[Trixie]

I'm not helping hopes but a 1.986574836546% (accurate!) chance of seeing CSI in a thing called ubidays, i'm saying, it can be but it will almost guarrenteed it won't be
http://www.ubidays.com to help people

[tabacco]

ubidays sounds like a bathroom fixture :)

[Trixie]

I want it to sound like a wood furninshing type but... there ya go

[Udvarnoky]

Well, it seems as though Ubisoft talked about lots of their upcoming games at the Paris event, but no CSI.

[Trixie]

oh @&^@(i censored it) i want CSI, the one problem with ubisoft is that we have barly anything to be excited about. The elder scrolls were the most hyped game they have EVER made

[Udvarnoky]

I think the majority of Ubisoft's advertising dollars for the CSI games goes toward the TV commercials, which makes sense since that's the best way to let CSI fans know about them.

[Harald B]

They're doing tv commercials CSI 4 already? Can I see one online somewhere?

[Udvarnoky]

No...I never said that.

[Harald B]

Oh.. Ok, my mistake then. Sorry.

[Udvarnoky]

Heh, I just didn't want you getting your hopes up over nothing. :)

[Sparklechick]

Have just been informed by our online game store in NZ that had been advertising CSI 4 for release in June that it will be a September release. They've updated their website now. How deflating!

[DesignerGreg]

As for commercials - I don't think there were any for the previous CSI games. At least, I've never seen one.

It would be ideal if they could advertise the new game with a commercial during the shows ... 20 million plus viewers - even a small percentage of that audience would make it a hit!

[jmm]

Or make it a piece of evidence in the show :D

[Jake]

Or make it a piece of evidence in the show :D

Hahaha, a CSI game product placement within an episode of CSI. That would be pretty weird. "They licensed our likenesses for... a video game?"

[jmm]

(While processing a crime scene)
Warrick: Hey Grissom, look what I found!
(Grissom stares at a copy of CSI: Hard Evidence, then faces Greg)
Grissom: Do you have something to tell us Greg?
Greg: Nothing yet boss, but it seems like a piece of Hard Evidence.

[Udvarnoky]

As for commercials - I don't think there were any for the previous CSI games. At least, I've never seen one.

Really? I just assumed it because the online advertisements surely did a good job of hiding themselves from me.

Also, the "trailers" for CSI3 seemed to me like television promos rather than something made for online viewing only (just the "feel" of them felt like a TV commercial), and I figured that's where they originated. It also just seemed appropriate that Ubisoft and CBS would advertise the game during commercial breaks of the show, since that's where I'd think they'd have the most effect. Not being a viewer, I wouldn't know, but if there was nothing on TV I don't know how anybody found out about the games that didn't already know. Perhaps the series is so popular that just having the CSI name on a store shelf is enough to push units? Obviously whatever they're doing is working if they're selling enough to keep making more.

[Hero1]

As for commercials - I don't think there were any for the previous CSI games. At least, I've never seen one.

It would be ideal if they could advertise the new game with a commercial during the shows ... 20 million plus viewers - even a small percentage of that audience would make it a hit!

I doubt CBS would give Ubisoft a discount on the advertising. :cool:

[DesignerGreg]

It's pretty crazy nowadays - marketing budgets can get higher than the cost of making the games. Hero1 - you are probably correct about no discounts - especially since being a top-rated show their airtime is too valuable to give away!!

However CBS has been very cooperative and helpful to us in making the game, and so have the producers & other folks actually working on the show.

[Hero1]

That's good to hear.. maybe if Jerry Bruckheimer had a word to them... It would make sense to show an add with the credits of the show but even that space is taken up these days.

[Poseidon]

I'm confused! Is the game out?? If not , when?? I can't wait !

[tabacco]

It's not out. Sadly, we can't comment on a release date :(

[Trixie]

i Estimate, a 'when it's done' release date. (guess what i'm meaning!)

[tabacco]

No, there's a release date, we just can't tell you when it is. You'll have to ask Ubisoft for that.

[rudyst1]

could we get some screenshots

i mean the last time we got screenshots was in december
or there cant be like a mini demo of the game right? u have to go through ubisoft to get all that done

[tabacco]

If we could give you screenshots or a demo, we would. We're not holding this stuff back just to frustrate you, that's just how it works when you publish games the traditional way.

[Emily]

I've been in touch with some people from Ubisoft today, and I am officially allowed to say that Hard Evidence is scheduled for a Fall 2007 release. :D

That may not seem newsworthy based on the dates that are being thrown around in this thread, but I'm glad to finally be able to tell you guys something rather than the standard "no comment"...

[Dangerzone]

she breaking, get the hose!!! hehe :rolleyes:

well, i am glad we have an update.... its been months, so thank you for that

oh, will there be a new press release?.... since the old one still says "comming this spring"

[DesignerGreg]

Yeah, there will be a press release. Emily is working with the folks who are writing it.

In case anyone missed Emily's message:

CSI: Hard Evidence is coming in the Fall 2007!

[Hero1]

Do we know who is doing the Wii port of this game? Is it telltale or ubisoft?

[Emily]

Do we know who is doing the Wii port of this game? Is it telltale or ubisoft?

Surely you don't expect us to comment on something that hasn't been announced. :p

[rudyst1]

do u have a cover box art u can show us

like a preview of the cover of the game

[Emily]

Nope, the cover is not final yet.

[piggy3069]

cant wait to get this!!!!

[Trixie]

I've been in touch with some people from Ubisoft today, and I am officially allowed to say that Hard Evidence is scheduled for a Fall 2007 release. :D

That may not seem newsworthy based on the dates that are being thrown around in this thread, but I'm glad to finally be able to tell you guys something rather than the standard "no comment"...

Good news! But some sad-ish news, The screenshots that are the ONLY media of the game are probbally NOT in the game, graphic updates might of been placed in. If we all remeber, CSI3 had Screenshots, ALL were not in the game.

[Emily]

I can confirm that the screenshots that have already been released are not in the game.* They were posed by Ubisoft's marketing team and they were taken before a lot of graphical enhancements (including new outfits/hairdos for the CSIs) were added in.

That's not a bad thing, because the real game looks even better. :D I wouldn't be surprised if more (real) screens are released sometime this summer.

*Well, they were made using game assets, but they're not in-game screenshots.

[Jostein]

Good to see that some things can be said about the game:p
Thanks for the info Emily:D

I'll wait patiently till fall as long as you deliver a good game. (and I know you will) All I wanted was an estimate about the release, and now I got it:D Tanks again!

[piggy3069]

hey guys
am i right thinking CSI4 is being released in the uk in the fall or am i wrong?

really looking forward to this only thing im on a laptop that runs xp sp2 with an AMD 3000+ processor, 1.59ghz and 896 of ram will this game run on my puter CSI3 did ok?

thanks

[Emily]

What type of video do you have on your laptop?

The game is more graphics intensive than CSI3 was, so if the laptop has below-spec video it's possible that you'll have trouble with CSI4 even though CSI3 worked. You should try the Sam & Max episodes... if those run okay, CSI4 will probably be okay.

[rudyst1]

NICE!!! i found the box art for the wii version i dunno if thats it for sure but check it out
http://www.wiisworld.com/images/news/csibox.jpg
can u confirm if thats the box art for the wii version?

[piggy3069]

hi emily, can you tell me where i will find the sam and max games?
also how do i find out what graphics i have on my computer i can use my computer ok but im not that good yet!!!!
thanks

[Jostein]

hi emily, can you tell me where i will find the sam and max games?

You can download the demo here: http://telltalegames.com/demo/cultureshock

Recommend buying it. It's a really funny game. (Even if you haven't played Sam & Max Hit the road.)

Hope it works out:)

[Emily]

That is a draft of the Hard Evidence box, yes. I don't know whether that is the final box or not. I still will neither confirm nor deny the existence of a Wii version. :p

Piggy - in addition to the Culture Shock demo Jostein linked to, you'll find info about the rest of the episodes and access to the demos at www.telltalegames.com/samandmax

[piggy3069]

thanks guys found it myself in the end looks a bit funky!!!

does anyone here know where and how i find out what graphics card i have on my computer?????

thanks

[Emily]

Right-click your desktop, select Properties, and go to the Settings tab. Under Display it will tell you what type of video card you have.

For example, mine says Dell M991 on NVIDIA GeForce 6200 A-LE. Dell M991 is the monitor and NVIDIA Geforce 6200 A-LE is the video card.

[piggy3069]

hey
i have ati radeon express 200 series? will this support the new game?
sam and max are playing ok on the puter

[Emily]

I can't guarantee it will work, but if Sam & Max is working you might be okay. You might want to wait until the CSI4 demo comes out (if there is one - I don't know if there will be or not) and try that before buying the game.

[rudyst1]

im just wondering

r we gonna be able to get more screenshots doesnt matter how many before the game comes out?

[Emily]

Yes, there will be new screenshots before the game comes out. :p

(Like I said in my post above, probably sometime over the summer.)

[rudyst1]

hey u guys heard of the new csi exhibit that opened in chicago

u can go to http://www.csitheexperience.org/ to check out more about it

[DesignerGreg]

Man, I'd love to to see this... I'm going to have to find a way to get to an exhibit before it comes to California in September of 2008...

It would be great to sell copies of the game at those exhibits too, (when we come out.)

[rudyst1]

i found this image in amazon.com its almost exactly like the wii cover

would u be able to say that this is the boxart

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MKvAKiZRL._SS500_.jpg

[Jake]

That's definitely a cover design for CSI 4. As to whether or not that's the final one that ends up in a store, that is yet to be seen.

[Kaldire]

Sorry it might have been covered but doesnt "hard evidence" sound like a long lost Leisure Suit Larry title? Hehe

LSL X
"Hard Evidence"

Help larry stroll around the crime scenes of bad motel happenings and casino murders. Heck larry is almost qualified to be a csi with all the stuff he has found on the floors!

(How are those crime scene photos coming larry?... fully exposed!)

[Emily]

Heehee...

We were joking around about the title ourselves, when it was first decided.

[rudyst1]

hey i heard of that E3 game show i just didnt have any time to watch it but was there any new info about hard evidence no right? or..

[Trixie]

You better belive that there isn't anything, most know that they will have screenshots of the finished game 1 week before marketing to game stores

[Emily]

Nothing at E3, but something is coming up in the near future. :)

[surbet]

Case 1 was brilliant! Can't wait 'till it comes out so I can play the rest :).

Where did u find it?

[Emily]

He did a play test at our office a while back.

[rudyst1]

oh wow thats kool

man and theres no way u can put only case 1 to the public

or again would u have to confirm that through ubisoft

[tabacco]

No, we can't do that. As usual, when we have some stuff to show you guys, we will definitely show it.

[DesignerGreg]

There is a master plan at work! Mmmmwaa-hhahaaa!

We are working together with ubisoft to decide the right timing for releasing new screenshots, or demos, etc.

As Emily said, there will likely be something soon to whet your appetites for a bit.

[Hero1]

I'm not sure I quite understand Ubisofts strategy of releasing very little details before release.. a slow release of information as the release date gets closer actually builds anticipation and awareness.. Maybe they just think because of the CSI franchise they don't have to do much.. :confused:

[Udvarnoky]

It's annoying for the internet die-hards, but those probably make up a small percent of CSI games audience and as previously noted this is pretty much in line with how the "marketing" of 3 Dimensions of Murders worked (admittedly without the unexplained delay).

So, not to put too fine a point on it, I do think that this is a type of game that Ubisoft feels they don't have to "do much" for, at least in terms of generating online hype. CSI games are popular but I don't think they're thought of as the kind of game that millions of people salivate for every incrementally released screenshot a la Halo 3 or something. Most of the success probably has to do with people simply seeing the game on a shelf while already being familiar with the franchise from TV.

[jmm]

There is a master plan at work! Mmmmwaa-hhahaaa!
As long as it doesn't involve hunting for clues everywhere... oh wait, that already happened :D


We are working together with ubisoft to decide the right timing for releasing new screenshots, or demos, etc.
Riiiiggghhttt! Less words more action, please!



As Emily said, there will likely be something soon to whet your appetites for a bit.
Well, September is not too far away... I hope *soon* means soon in Ubi-lang.

[Mel]

Here's a trailer (http://www.worthdownloading.com/download.php?gid=2793&id=11826) over at WorthPlaying. (I don't know if this is something new or if it's been out a while)

[MarkDarin]

Hey, pretty sweet! This is actually the first chance I've had to see the trailer. The people who put it together did a great job!

[Emily]

CSI news! (http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-233)

[rudyst1]

NICE!!!! not only is the new trailer sweet but also the new screenshots!!

well at least we have something for now

thanks alot!!!:)

[rudyst1]

does anyone no what the difference is between the pc version and the wii version?

or is it just the same and all

[Dangerzone]

here we go again...

nice to finally see some content (thank you for taking on ubisoft and getting this stuff to us)..... looks like we get a few ringers this time around... a burned cabbie, and a dead rocker is all i can make out so far... and it looks as though you can dismantle that cab to look for more evidence, sounds cool

however, i find it sad that this game was announced last fall... and we are not getting it untill this fall, but i am glad that telltale has had the time to put some new technology into the game (Ex. widescreen support, console versions, and what looks like the end of pre-rendered cutscenes) but i will say that i hope this will not become a pattern that the future CSI games will also follow.... because honestly, this was begining to get ridiculous

and by the way.. i dont own a wii, or a X360, i only have a PS3.... will there be a PS2/3 version down the line? (like what is happening with TDOM) or do you have no idea right now :rolleyes:

[Trixie]

For all people (and me!) that thought of no media till very late, We are WRONG!:D Happy days, we have media. NICE detail!:eek: Much more nicer, more better except for the Microscope shot, looks like the fibers need a fix to get them to look right.
Me have Wii, Me wonder, Me ask: Will the case's like? be the same for all games y'know?
Go to www.ign.com (http://www.ign.com) and look for CSI, The trailer has a PS2 for Hard evidence(i think) and the DS version of Game 2, Dark motives

[DesignerGreg]

Woohoo!

Cases will be the SAME on all consoles, so that's good news.

DZ - If you don't have a Wii or Xbox 360, the PC version is your best bet. I know you've got a souped up gaming PC!

I'm glad to see this stuff too - looks awesome!!

[Trixie]

The Confuzing question now!: What's the best version(graphics) out of these? Wii, PC and Xbox 360, Wii and Xbox 360, Pc and Wii, PC or Xbox 360?

[Emily]

Strictly speaking about the graphics, the best would be either Xbox 360 or PC, depending on your PC hardware. The Wii is not known for its graphics capability.

[DesignerGreg]

Wii users definitely won't be disappointed. But the game will look nicer on the other platforms.

PS - the game looks tremendously cool in widescreen!

[Trixie]

I GOT ANSWERS?! WOW! I normally don't get CSI questions full answered!
I would love it for Xbox 360 but i'm getting it for cristmas(and a HD TV) so.... i'll have the PC version and done it all twice before i can get the xbox version!

[ronnodas]

How long before you can post system requirements?

[DesignerGreg]

Not sure when the final requirements will be nailed down, but you can expect the system requirements to be almost the same as CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder. (One main difference is that a DVD drive is required for the new game)

[Dangerzone]

the fact that you guys are now being open and ACTUALLY answering game questions has me concerned that some ubi suits are ready to come in and crash our party, but anyways.... something i know a lot of people are curious about is playtime...

May i ask about the exact length of playtime that the game gives?... for TODM it took me roughly one and a half hours to do each case (i think one or two of them took 2 hours, it was a long time ago now :rolleyes: ) will the new game offer longer cases?, or will the length remain mostly the same (I.E. 2 hours to complete each of the cases)

[DesignerGreg]

Dangerzone, I HARDLY consider you the norm when it comes to playing cases. You played thru the entire last game in like 2 nights and published complete walkthroughs on your website.:eek: Plus you've played every single game...so you know how they work.

However, yes - you can expect the cases to be at least as long or slightly longer than the previous ones. We haven't timed them out though.:)

[rudyst1]

even though ur all not done with the game yet, can u tell us wut the cases r gonna be about or no

im just guessing here but i think we already know 2 cases. the taxi one and the screenshot where it seems like a rockstar is dead. that would explain the screenshot of warrick in some music studio

[JiPi]

Hi,
I am a CSI fan and would really like to play your game next CSI game on Wii. I am comfortable in english, but not my girlfriend...this is why I have this question : are you planning a french version for America (Quebec, Canada in fact) as Splinter Cell Double Agent (also published by UbiSoft....a french company), french tracks included in the same package as the english one.


I hope so, I would probably buy the game if it has a french version !

Thanks !
JiPi

[Emily]

JiPi, I know some localizations are in the works, but don't know the details of which versions in which languages.

I think what the cases are about needs to stay a secret... otherwise where's the surprise when you play it?! :D

Regarding length, I've played through a case in an afternoon during play testing, but that was with some hints from Greg. :D

[Dangerzone]

I found a few more screen shots on some other gaming sites (Re: @ Telltale if any of these are too spoilery, please take them down... because i do see a few things that you may or may not want shown before the game is released),
these look like they are from the X360 version of the game (judging by the menu icons at the bottom of the screen) and graphicly, they look almost identical to the PC version shots that telltale has on the blog

P.S. if you look closely at those last 2 shots you can see the now infamous blue can of turpentine by the fence, near the gate, and yet another can in the 1st shot... which i believe is the fire artists yard

http://i18.tinypic.com/53eo09z.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/4m8ngaf.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/4qqipuq.jpg

http://i9.tinypic.com/4zu3uqu.jpg

[DesignerGreg]

Hi,
are you planning a french version for America (Quebec, Canada in fact)

I hope so, I would probably buy the game if it has a french version !

Thanks !
JiPi

Yes, we are planning a French version for the Wii. Although I'm not certain where it will be distributed. I expect you will be able to order it online easily.

- greg

[DesignerGreg]

even though ur all not done with the game yet, can u tell us wut the cases r gonna be about or no

im just guessing here but i think we already know 2 cases. the taxi one and the screenshot where it seems like a rockstar is dead. that would explain the screenshot of warrick in some music studio

I "could" tell you what all the cases are about, but I don't want to give away the surprise...

[DesignerGreg]

Thanx for the screenshots, DZ.

PS - Those colored menu icons on the screenshots are NOT in the game - they are probably a logo for a website. These look like either the PC or the Xbox, not sure which, but they both look similar.

[Dangerzone]

good to hear when a games writer/designer is unable to tell the difference in versions :rolleyes: (means we all have a level playing feild no matter which version we get)

those shots are from a german Xbox360 gaming site, although i do not know the exact source (as they were sent to me via the CSIGamer forum)

not to drift too far off here, but i think the ads are funny... they give the game a nice realistic touch (its fun to see real things and not just generic telltale made "fake" brands) .... you got HP and Visa so far in here, and i also recall a few others in TODM (Scandisk, GMC, and Nokia)
... i hope these companies reimburse you for advertising for them :D

[DesignerGreg]

[QUOTE=Dangerzone;35564
... i hope these companies reimburse you for advertising for them :D[/QUOTE]

Yes, in fact the whole point is to sell the ad space in our game to the companies. We only put ads in if we get a signed contract. There's a lot that goes into it actually.

It helps offset production costs, and fortunately for everyone it makes it feel more like a realistic world.

[Dangerzone]

something i enjoyed in the old 369 CSI games were the bonus featues, test renders, storyboards, and concept art that you unlocked by getting all the evience in a case, and not missing any details.... will we see the return of this in the upcomming game?

also, will this game have a small, simple "tutorial case" at the begining like TDOM had? (where you learn to use the new interface and tools)

[DesignerGreg]

Yes, we are happy to be putting Bonus Items back in, plus a few other cool surprises.

And yes, we do have a tutorial case. It's great for beginners, and I also think the veterans will enjoy the changes to it...

[rudyst1]

is it true that there is gonna be a new 3d crime kit instead of the picking of the crimescene icons?
if it is, how will it work?

its cuz i read that DG thought it was a great idea

[rudyst1]

r we gonna get to use the mobile analysis in almost every case or only in 2 like in TDOM

[DesignerGreg]

Rudyst1 - You are going to love this game. I don't want to give away too many spoilers - some things are better left to let the experience itself describe...

I'm going to zip my lip on content questions, starting now - I think you guys have plenty to whet your appetites!

"Hopefully" we'll have a demo out before the release that will answer more questions...

Woohoo!

[baardhimself]

I am excited for a new CSI game, I have bought every one for PC on day of release but sadly beat every game within 2 days because they are so good, but so short. I would love to play it on Xbox 360 but the price is £39.99 which is insane for a short game like CSI especially when the PC version is £17.99. I dont suppose you could tell us the achievements for the Xbox 360 version? They may make me buy it on 360 but if they are bad like requiring multiple play throughs I will skip the 360 version.

[piggy3069]

hi guys im just checking is hard evidence being released inthe uk in the fall or US? screen shots look really good too guys!!!!

[davech1987]

syn said
From everything that I've seen (from Googling myself to death - YA!! That IS as dirty as it sounds) I'm pretty positive that although CSI 4 is completed for the PC they aren't going to release it until the Wii version is done so that they can release them simultaneously. Actually, given track records for previous multi-platform releases, it's more likely that the console versions will be released FIRST and then the "pirate heavy" PC version will be released a few weeks later.

what is meant by priate heavy pc version does that mean pc is a priate copy or sumthing and doesnt work as well as console versions ??

[davech1987]

I am just wondering for the pc version will the system requirments be high or are they the same as 3 dimsions of murder i hope they are cozi really wanna play the new csi game :D

also in the last game u got to sorta off see grissom and cath work together will there b sumthing like that is the new game but more intractive ??

[MarkDarin]

what is meant by priate heavy pc version does that mean pc is a pirate copy or sumthing and doesnt work as well as console versions ??

No. What he meant by "Pirate heavy" is that PC games in general are easier to "Crack" and soon many pirate copies become available on the internet (These copies are usually buggy and often incomplete). Some publishers release the PC version after the consoles to ensure that customers are able to get a legitimate copy of the game before being tempted by "Free" pirated versions that may not work so well.

Don't worry though, if you buy your copy from a retail store or through our website, you will get a REAL copy, not a pirate copy, and it will work every bit as well as the console versions!

[rudyst1]

is there goin to be a voice alike for catherine and sara like in TDOM
or will catherines and saras voice actually be jorja fox and marg hellenberger

[MarkDarin]

is there goin to be a voice alike for catherine and sara like in TDOM
or will catherines and saras voice actually be jorja fox and marg hellenberger

See this thread (http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3243) for the official answer! ;)

[piggy3069]

Have heard that release date for uk is 18/09/2007 can anyone confirm this?

[Jostein]

Look at Ubisoft's home page

http://www.ubi.com/UK/Games/Info.aspx?pId=5693

It says 14/09-07:D