Countdown to Ep 3 - "They Stole Max's Brain!"

[tbm1986]

Wow Flint Paper, eat your heart out! There's only one heartthrob in the world of S&M and that's Sam, when he goes off the rails.

[Remolay]

looks to me more like "This guy couldn't hit the broad side of a barn" mixed with Bugs Bunny "Aint I a stinker" than Caffeine rush

[Avistew]

Yeah, it's a common cartoon pose anyways, I was just feeding the Poppers hate here :p

[unknownrightnow]

Yeah, it's a common cartoon pose anyways, I was just feeding the Poppers hate here :p

Sameth & Maximus actually do that in 302, when they take Charlie.

If no one noticed.

[jmm]

Yeah, it's a common cartoon pose anyways, I was just feeding the Poppers hate here :p

You Fiend!
How dare you give out funny ideas about the Poppers?! THEY SHOULD STAY DEAD!

Happy?

[SpaceGoofs4Ever]

They released a trailer finally, and the episode does look awesome indeed....love Sam's interroating technics <X)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4crlTt0at_g&feature=player_embedded

well, even if I would had loved the idea of a Sodda Popper brain (guess I'm the only one missing them ;^; ) looks like we get a hint of who is the brain from :B

[Hungryfreak]

Oh wowie zowie, I'm psyched! Not that I wasn't already.

Is that Baby Amelia Earhart's brain in Max?

[Omali]

Is the game being released on Wednesday June 23rd, or Tuesday June 22nd?

Because right now it says "Wednesday June 22nd."

[Avistew]

Is the game being released on Wednesday June 23rd, or Tuesday June 22nd?

Because right now it says "Wednesday June 22nd."

The PSN episodes are released on a Tuesday, apparently, so Tuesday 22nd IMO.

[Iryon]

So my guess:

Max needs a new brain.
The voice does not sound like Gordon, so it's another one's brain.
The Egyptians took out the brains of the bodies before mummifying them, so ...

[The Highway]

So my guess:

Max needs a new brain.
The voice does not sound like Gordon, so it's another one's brain.
The Egyptians took out the brains of the bodies before mummifying them, so ...

And where does Max walk around?

[Iryon]

Aaand reading through the series discussion I'm obviously not the only one who believes this.

[eriktorbjorn]

Is the game being released on Wednesday June 23rd, or Tuesday June 22nd?

Because right now it says "Wednesday June 22nd."

I believe June 22nd will be on a Wednesday next year, but let's hope it doesn't take until then. ;)

[Zeek]

I"m just happy they are doing a detective noir parody finally, complete with Sam's VO. :D

[PISLIX]

The trailer is awesome. Can't wait to see Noir Sam.

[tabstis]

They released a trailer finally, and the episode does look awesome indeed....love Sam's interroating technics <X)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4crlTt0at_g&feature=player_embedded

well, even if I would had loved the idea of a Sodda Popper brain (guess I'm the only one missing them ;^; ) looks like we get a hint of who is the brain from :B

OMG even tho I suspected he was coming back - Skunkape looks AWESOME here! This episode looks SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

Just 6 days people

[tbm1986]

I wondered if 302 was to be the best but after seeing the trailer I think 303 could give it a run for its money! Can hardly wait! David Nowlin knows how to change Sam's voice to the point where we can tell it's still Sam but not as we've always known him. Nailed it.

[jaden551]

5days!!!

[BoneFreak]

Is this episode going to work out the same as episode 1 (i.e regular driving around) or will it be something different, as how episode 2 used the reel system?

[Jake]

The world navigation structure is more familiar this time around, but people on the team are always trying to find something to mix up and play with. Only a few days left.

[Icedhope]

My only question why isn't max's skull threaded for easy Acess?

[Remolay]

maybe it is. It might be just be on a hinge this time

[jaden551]

Or a twist on.

[tabstis]

4 days now guys...

I can't wait...

[jaden551]

Weekends are why I liked sbcg4ap, released at the end but this season just torures me with nothing to do...

[yoshimickster]

Will we get to play as Maxes brain, and is Maxes brain able to uses his psychic powers without a body? Also, is They: T-H-E-Y, like T-H-E-M?

[jaden551]

stop overthinking it is just to simbolise multiple people without compromising their names

them.

[tabstis]

3 more days people

[Didero]

I already posted it in the main section, but the icon for this episode was uploaded:
http://www.telltalegames.com/images/productshots/samandmax-303.png

[MarkoH01]

In the trailer you can see that future vision is back.
Love the noir style of the new episode :)

[tabstis]

In the trailer you can see that future vision is back.
Love the noir style of the new episode :)

Apparently, there's a new talk option where you can make Sam go off onto random 'Noir' speeches. Sounds funny...

[The_Hamburgaler]

Apparently, there's a new talk option where you can make Sam go off onto random 'Noir' speeches. Sounds funny...

That sounds awesome sauce. Where did you see that?

[tbm1986]

That sounds awesome sauce. Where did you see that?

Maybe he knows someone with a press copy

[The Highway]

I already posted it in the main section, but the icon for this episode was uploaded:
http://www.telltalegames.com/images/productshots/samandmax-303.png

http://www.convertico.com/images/1277013909.51/sal%20icon.png

Here's a .ico (http://www.convertico.com/images/1277013909.51/sal%20icon.ico)

(I also posted this in the Legendary Fanart thread)

[Emo Hoe]

Maybe he knows someone with a press copy

Or it could be pure speculation and not exactly a huge leap given pretty much the basis of 90% of the unnecessary dialogue options in all the games so far is to set someone off on a random speech to fit their theme.

So with noir Sam some pointless noir speeches are to be expected.

[tabstis]

It said here:

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/110/1100122p1.html

I quote:

To get to the bottom of the mystery, Sam must interrogate his suspects (we got to see him grill a couple of molemen, a space gorilla, and a rat in our demo), and he'll have a variety of questioning tactics to choose from, whether interrupting or threatening or accusing them of lying. There's even a noir option, where Sam will go on long, dark Sam Spade-esque rambles; it usually doesn't do much other than depress the subjects, but it's great comic relief.

EDIT: two days left now guys

[Detective]

It said here:

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/110/1100122p1.html

I quote:



EDIT: two days left now guys

Oh man I'm so excited now! Just from the trailer it seems like this episode is gonna be the most atmospheric out of all the previous games.

[OzzieMonkey]

Is it just me or does the "foreign guy" in the trailer sound like Majus?

[MarkoH01]

But if this is gonna be a real noir game...then where (and who) is gonna be the dame? Baby Earhart? Don't let it be!

[OzzieMonkey]

But if this is gonna be a real noir game...then where (and who) is gonna be the dame? Baby Earhart? Don't let it be!

It's probably the same voice actor/actress, Don't worry.

[The Highway]

Is it just me or does the "foreign guy" in the trailer sound like Majus?

I think it is! Everybody remember to check the credits!

[tbm1986]

Majus is a TT intern now, I believe. This makes it very possible!

[Avistew]

Majus is a TT intern now, I believe. This makes it very possible!

Majus also said on his facebook account that the character "sounded like him".

[The Highway]

Majus also said on his facebook account that the character "sounded like him".

What an incredible coincidence! A foreign guy in a Telltale game sounds like a foreign guy who works for Telltale Games!

[Avistew]

If the quotation marks didn't make it obvious enough, that was a way of saying he voiced that character.

GUT NEWS EVERYONE! First, the new Sam&Max-Trailer: »THEY STOLE MAX’s BRAIN!«, starring a foreign guy, who has my voice, weird!

Okay, I guess I repeated it wrong, and might have sounded like I was saying it was a coincidence.

[The Highway]

If the quotation marks didn't make it obvious enough, that was a way of saying he voiced that character.



Okay, I guess I repeated it wrong, and might have sounded like I was saying it was a coincidence.

No, i was being sarcastic. of course i knew what you meant!

[jaden551]

http://www.convertico.com/images/1277013909.51/sal%20icon.png

Here's a .ico (http://www.convertico.com/images/1277013909.51/sal%20icon.ico)

(I also posted this in the Legendary Fanart thread)

I NEED the OTHER TWO!

[The Highway]

just one day left!

[Hungryfreak]

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs25/f/2008/067/e/b/Dawn_of_the_Final_Day_by_LuigiIII.png

[tabstis]

So here we go - the final countdown...the following questions will all be answered in 24 hours:

Who stole Max's brain?
What role will Skunk'ape play and how did he escape the penal zone (if he did)?
What is Sal's agenda and is he Stinky's secret love?
Who is the mysterious voice coming from Max?
Will Sam shoot Carol of the COPS?
What will lead us onto the next episode in which we suspect contains hoards of Sam clones?
Will Sam revert to his normal self or will his noir version remain?
and most of all:
Is that Majus voicing that foreign guy and who is he anyway??? Does he have a bigger role to play...

Tomorrow guys...tomorrow...

[henke37]

I realized something, it is a special brand of crime to attack the president of the united states.

[NeatNit]

I feel that it will pay off that I resisted the nearly uncontrollable urge to watch the trailer.

It sure did pay off that I never saw the name of this episode until the end of 302 - it was SO AWESOME that it came as a surprise rather than "come on, when are we going to see Max brainless..."


Even if the trailer only has parts from the beginning of the episode, I still consider it spoilers, and I'll happily watch it once I'm done with the episode :)

[tabstis]

I feel that it will pay off that I resisted the nearly uncontrollable urge to watch the trailer.

I admire you so much for being able to not watch the trailer...

[tbm1986]

I'm driving myself mad with impatience now! Who feels the same? Not to tomorrow: come here already!

[Gman5852]

I'm driving myself mad with impatience now! Who feels the same? Not to tomorrow: come here already!

Lets all sing a song to get tomorrow to come

Tomorrow tomorrow come here today
tomorrow tomorrow dont come and youll surley pay
22nd 22nd the date weve been waiting for
a game that is a pun
on a film noir.
EVERYBODY

[PISLIX]

I feel that it will pay off that I resisted the nearly uncontrollable urge to watch the trailer.
I controlled my urge after watching the trailer tens of times. Now I'm clean.

Oh wait. Oh no!

"Narrator: The Freelance Police have been...

...Until then my friends, sleep well."

Phew. Now I'm clean.

[lombre]

I controlled my urge after watching the trailer tens of times. Now I'm clean.

Oh wait. Oh no!

"Narrator: The Freelance Police have been...

...Until then my friends, sleep well."

Phew. Now I'm clean.

I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one that has been doing this all day.

[tbm1986]

Indeed, my friends...Sleep well...

[antoniomsg]

Hey, it's already the 22nd over here!

Where's my game?!

[Zhadnost]

Oh no, not again.

[tbm1986]

Hey, it's already the 22nd over here!

Where's my game?!

*sighs* There's always one...

22nd doesn't mean as soon as it goes 0:01 in your timezone, your game is available for download, fool! It will be released sometime during Telltale's office hours, so between 0900 and 1700 PST (or TTT, as I like to think of it). Without knowing where you are, I can't tell you what time that is for you.

[henke37]

Again, why not take an hour and set up an automatic release?

[tbm1986]

Again, why not take an hour and set up an automatic release?

Not only do they like to see the feedback roll in live but also what if there's a major problem? Ppl need to be on hand...

[serializer]

Not only do they like to see the feedback roll in live but also what if there's a major problem? Ppl need to be on hand...

I think it's more like this; the game is ready to be released today. Now they are packaging it and releasing it. If they were to put it on automatic release, that would mean we didn't get it til tomorrow at the chosen hour.

[serializer]

What role will Skunk'ape play and how did he escape the penal zone (if he did)?

Last night I replayed 301 just to refresh myself story-wise (since 302 was more of a side-story to the main arc).

Skunkape isn't in the Penal Zone. He's in an alternate dimension that was created from Sam and Max's office by Momma Bosco's temporal discombobulator or whatever the hell it was called.

So if Sam needs to get back into the office for any reason, he has to deal with Skunkape again (at least, I think so...)

[middletonj24]

What, nobody try to guess who's brain Sam used in the trailer?

[Gman5852]

What, nobody try to guess who's brain Sam used in the trailer?

Ummm look around people have been guessing all over.
Some think it is baby amelia airheart some are thinking its sammunmak
and I think it is the Geek.

[GinnyN]

Last night I replayed 301 just to refresh myself story-wise (since 302 was more of a side-story to the main arc).

Skunkape isn't in the Penal Zone. He's in an alternate dimension that was created from Sam and Max's office by Momma Bosco's temporal discombobulator or whatever the hell it was called.

So if Sam needs to get back into the office for any reason, he has to deal with Skunkape again (at least, I think so...)

Which we call the New Penal Zone ^^!

[The_Hamburgaler]

10 minuets guys... NNAGGH! Lets all meet back on the forums the second we finish.

[NeatNit]

10 minutes? Are you sure?!

[Planeforger]

10 minutes? Are you sure?!

In 3 minutes it'll be 8am there. It's unlikely to come out for a while.

[NeatNit]

riiiiight

[GinnyN]

The games normally come up 12:00 GTM -4 (I mean, my time) which mean maybe we will have the game in 15 minutes more.

I guess I have to keep in learning to write USA in Chinese for the moment T_T

[Android1]

It is out now. Check "Your Games" in "My Telltale."

[mathman77]

Downloading now! I'm watching the trailer again as I wait.

[tbm1986]

Download available! Woop woop!

[Picardy Beet]

Thanks to you Telltale, you redeem this sad sad sad day for me. Yep, I'm French.

[tabstis]

Sweet just came online and downloadable!!!!!!!

[NeatNit]

I started downloading the minute it came out. (7:00 for me)
The download speed was around 350 kb/s.

I'm still downloading.

How?

THE FUCKING POWER WENT OUT AT 7:02!!!!!

[Weeblerjake]

when is the episode coming out im impashent whyis telltale gams so meeean.


Kidding, downloading now.

[Hungryfreak]

Brilliant, brilliant episode. Dare I say it was my favorite Telltale episode yet? I dare, I dare!

[tbm1986]

All hail Sammun-Mak! :D


But in all fairness, it got old before it even started. Not my favourite episode, by a long shot.

[BoneFreak]

Well, I finished the episode, and in my opinion, it was an easy 5/5. Best episode of this season, and it's in first place for sam and max games (reality 2.0 being second), and possibly 1st best for all Telltale games, as it's kind of tied with the sbcg4ap finale.
Overall, nice job, Telltale. Make the next games as good (or heck, better) as this one!

[Falanca]

It's tied with The Tomb of Sammun-Mak alright, definitely better than The Penal Zone. But I'm not that sure, since the second episode had Sameth and Maximus and more of a consistency of style in itself, yet this episode has Sal and a Noir feeling.

I also think 3rd episode has more of those 'hard' puzzles. 2nd episode only had two or three.

[Hassat Hunter]

Well, I am sure to write a bigger review in the official thread, but I am somewhat dissapointed.

Worst of the 3 episodes in my book. And features the easiest gameplay of all 3. Okay, SUUUURE, I unwillingly skipped some of Chapter 3 (*sigh*) but I doubt that would have made a difference since I already knew what I had to do for the third part I could no longer do...

A little bit too much dialogue puzzles, which by it's nature aren't really puzzles at all...

[GinnyN]

I was fearing this season will be too Dark and Edgier when suddenly, Sammun Mak is grand!

I loved the WTF! feeling of the second part. Relaxed me a ton. Also, I was wondering what happened with the part of the Max directing an investigation.

But I also loved the whole Noir Style and trying to depress everyone. I hope there's a reprise of the interrogation thingie in the next or last chapter.

Good job sir! Really!

[tabstis]

Said this before but:
MY FAVOURITE EPISODE FROM TELLTALE EVER!!!!!

[Mr Nutt]

Is it me or Sal's voice sounds familiar.

[mathman77]

Loved the story and humor, but it was waayyy too easy. This has been the easiest season ever, so I hope the next episode ramps up the difficulty.

[mynoduesP]

I feel really stupid coming to these forums and discovering that everyone else is loudly declaring "TOO EASY, TOO EASY."

I mean, I've gotten stuck on 303, 302, AND 301, which most others here seem to deride as a cake walk.

[GinnyN]

I feel really stupid coming to these forums and discovering that everyone else is loudly declaring "TOO EASY, TOO EASY."

I mean, I've gotten stuck on 303, 302, AND 301, which most others here seem to deride as a cake walk.

Happens. They have practice. Unlike us.

[Hassat Hunter]

Heh. I always get tingly whenever someone claims I am an adventure expert or something.

I am not, I need walkthroughs with SoMI:SE for example, or the earlier 2 seasons of Sam&Max, and pretty much all adventure games really (I really like the genre, despite sucking in it).

Yet S&M303 (and 301, 302 was more like it) still feels unbelievable easy to me. I can only imagine what a cakewalk it would be with someone actually having skills in adventure games.

[Power46]

Heh. I always get tingly whenever someone claims I am an adventure expert or something.

I am not, I need walkthroughs with SoMI:SE for example, or the earlier 2 seasons of Sam&Max, and pretty much all adventure games really (I really like the genre, despite sucking in it).

Yet S&M303 (and 301, 302 was more like it) still feels unbelievable easy to me. I can only imagine what a cakewalk it would be with someone actually having skills in adventure games.

I am sure that it would be harder than you think for a classically-trained adventure gamer, as they trained themselves to use odd solutions using what seem to be unrelated items.

That said, the season so far has been easier; if a classically-trained adventure gamer using their skill gained through all of those years, though, they would have some trouble adjusting, as these are less "use item on this to make a wacky result" puzzles and more logical puzzles.

So thus, in summary, adventure gamers nowadays have to use a bit of a different skill set than was needed for the classics, so it would not necessarily ridiculously easy for them.

[Hassat Hunter]

I would have agreed with such if 303 wasn't basically "smear rhinoplasty on everything" lacking any other objects for interaction (either power, inventory item or set piece affecting other set piece)...

Teleportation and the reel device worked much better for what you describe.

[The Highway]

I would have agreed with such if 303 wasn't basically "smear rhinoplasty on everything" lacking any other objects for interaction (either power, inventory item or set piece affecting other set piece)...

Teleportation and the reel device worked much better for what you describe.

i didn't feel very much for the use rhinoplasty on everything. i dont want the next two episodes to involve something like this.

[Strong Max]

I thought it was easy-ish. My adventure gaming career started with Telltale (although I did play Pajama Sam as a kid),though , so I don't consider myself an experienced adventure gamer.

[Sausy Gibbon]

So you're basically saying it needs to be harder so you can get off the game and read a walkthrough? To be honest that doesn't sound much fun.

[BoneFreak]

Well, I was playing season 2 around christmas-time, so the whole season was out, but I felt "stuck" most of the times, but I don't know whether that was because the season was already done or because I was really stuck, but I think these games in s3 are still good, because anyway, you want to beat these in one sitting, all in game, no walkthrough.

[NeatNit]

Personally I mostly play for the story and awesome cutscenes and dialog, jokes, stuff like that, so it doesn't bother me that much that it was so easy.
Still, I would like it if it were harder, if that is possible. Still we don't want to end up with another episode as buggy as 302, and having too many different puzzles is sure to get quite a few bugs.

[GinnyN]

Changing the theme guys, in which moment we can start to annoy for the "Countdown to Ep 4" Thread? After the release of Puzzle Agent?

[The Highway]

Changing the theme guys, in which moment we can start to annoy for the "Countdown to Ep 4" Thread? After the release of Puzzle Agent?

no, we can start now!

[NeatNit]

I'd at least wait until it's July...

[The Highway]

I'd at least wait until it's July...

no way!

[caeska]

I mean, I've gotten stuck on 303, 302, AND 301, which most others here seem to deride as a cake walk.

Consider yourself lucky. I would kill to be stuck in these games, that would mean they'd last longer! Like the old Sierra games I played as a kid, it was delightful to spend weeks, even months to beat those games.

[Hungryfreak]

The only puzzle I consulted a guide for was the end of 302 because I didn't know that the torches were clickable, haha. I got stuck in the middle of 303 for a similar reason, not knowing the corn dogs were clickable (I never approached them and they weren't clickable from a distance), but everything fell in place as soon as I realized that I could.

I actually like the difficulty level, though. It may be relatively easy, but it flows really well. There's nothing so completely frustrating that would make you want to put it down and take a break, nothing so incredibly easy that it becomes boring (I still feel that sensation of joy that you get when you finally put everything together), and no completely illogical puzzles that are difficult to figure out unless you're willing to use everything with everything. It would be nice to have some more difficult puzzles to greater challenge our not-so-psychically-gifted minds, but I'm content with how things work as they do currently.

[NeatNit]

The only puzzle I consulted a guide for was the end of 302 because I didn't know that the torches were clickable, haha.Same thing here, except I just checked a thread that I saw before I even got to download the game.
(Steam's late release)

[flesk]

Is it me or Sal's voice sounds familiar.

I think he sounded a bit like Elaine's on-and-off boyfriend Puddy in the series Seinfeld.

[mathman77]

Consider yourself lucky. I would kill to be stuck in these games, that would mean they'd last longer! Like the old Sierra games I played as a kid, it was delightful to spend weeks, even months to beat those games.

I agree, since I like a game to last a while. I took four days on this episode 'cause I didn't want to reach the end too soon!

[tabstis]

I only finished the episode yesterday - took my time over it and in the end, cliffhanger did not make me want the next episode as much as before.

[corruptbiggins]

I took my time with it too, nice to play it over a few days. Just finished it in fact a few minutes ago, now I can read the Sam & Max forum again! Still can't wait for episode 4 mind.

[PISLIX]

Still can't see the 3rd episode poster?

http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmax/thedevilsplayhouse/

[NeatNit]

Hey, this seems like the best place to post this... Would anyone be awesome enough to give me a free episode cupon, pleeease? I want to get Bone: The Great Cow Race :)

Thanks!

[Mr Nutt]

Still can't see the 3rd episode poster?

http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmax/thedevilsplayhouse/
It looks like they stole Max's brain...'s poster.

[NeatNit]

It looks like they stole they stole Max's brain's poster.Fix'd

[tabstis]

Hopefully we'll see a countdown to Episode 4 soon???

[tbm1986]

I think Telltale deserve a rest after getting Puzzle Agent out. But then again, as far as I'm aware, Joe Pinney & Mike Stemmle are confined to S&M and haven't been anywhere near Puzzle Agent, although I could be wrong about that.

Hopefully on Monday or Tuesday, Mike "die-hard Sam & Max veteran" Stemmle will start the countdown to 304 thread.

[Cheri]

That seems likely. I'm thinking Ep.4 will probably be released on the 26th, maybe the 19th if we're lucky

[tbm1986]

My thinking is that some of the programmers, testers and artists might overlap.

[unknownrightnow]

That seems likely. I'm thinking Ep.4 will probably be released on the 26th, maybe the 19th if we're lucky

I'd put a bet on the 19th, but an end of the month release kind of happens when Telltale releases an Episode 4.

[Cheri]

That's kinda what I figured too. The 19th seems too quick to me, 26th is much more realistic.

[light_rises]

Don't forget that it will almost certainly be released on a Tuesday (when the North American PlayStation Store updates). So either on the 20th or 27th. Probably the 27th, going by the pattern set thus far.

[Cheri]

...Oh, whoops. I was totally looking at the wrong day on my calendar. I meant to say what you posted, Light. *fail*

[The Highway]

I only finished the episode yesterday - took my time over it and in the end, cliffhanger did not make me want the next episode as much as before.

:eek: are you kidding? I cant wait for the next episode!

[BoneFreak]

Don't forget that it will almost certainly be released on a Tuesday (when the North American PlayStation Store updates). So either on the 20th or 27th. Probably the 27th, going by the pattern set thus far.


....considering they release the PS3 version and PC versions the same day.

[MRN]

^^ Yes?

[tabstis]

But when will we see a countdown thread - I have a lot of questions.