New BTTF website info - discussion (SPOILERS)

[markeres]

Some thoughts on the new info that was released on http://www.telltalegames.com/bttf tonight (I'll spoiler tag the rest of this post for those who don't want to know any info about the game before they play, and I encourage any posters after me to do the same):

- For months, I assumed that each episode would take place in a brand new time period, but now I guess that's not the case (that's the problem with assumptions, you make an ass out of... well, you know). It sounds like it'll be:

Ep. 1: 1931
Ep. 2: 1931
Ep. 3: 1986-A
Ep. 4: 1986-A and 1931
Ep. 5: ???

Honestly, I don't have any problems with this, since the first movie took place mostly in 1955, and the third mostly in 1885. So, it sounds like the game will take place mostly in 1931 and 1986-A. I guess doing four or five unique time periods would have just made the game and story too complicated to make.

- Who's the woman pictured on episode 4? Clara? It doesn't really look like her. A new character, then?

- I like Young Doc's voice better in the new sound clips than the ones we saw in the GameTrailers show. These new lines sound more Doc-ish to me.

- I still like George's voice.

- I'm lukewarm on Biff's voice, but only because the lines are of "Wimpy Biff". Once we hear "Bully Biff", I'll be able to make a better assessment. The concept art for Biff and Kid Tannen both look great, though.

- Doc's line about the tremendous explosion made me laugh, even though it probably wasn't supposed to.

- The description for episode 1 says that the DeLorean that reappears is the one that Marty "saw destroyed by a speeding train". So, it is the same DeLorean?!? That just makes things even more confusing than if it was a new DeLorean.

[Origami]

I still think we get to visit more than 3 time periods.
In the behind the scenes vid the director said "...you get to go throuw all kinds of different time periods".

I still think we get to see 1885. Judging from the Facebook Blitz Game.


I also think we're going back to 1985 judging from the Twin Pine Mall and Lone Pine Mall art.
And why the hell are there Art designs for both periods?

You know what I think? I think there is a chance Doc took the car right around or after Btt1.
So everything that happened in BttF2 and 3 is undone for the moment.
Then at the end of the game Doc has to return the DeLorean to the time he got it from.

Drat...not possible. The wedding ring still indicates he got married.


Bottom line: I am sure there is more in store for us than only 2 time periods.

[Meta Ray Mek]

I'm *really* curious about who the woman is in the episodes section. My gut reaction was Clara as well (because let's face it, the only other prominent women in the series are Lorianne and Jennifer and they're... hm), but who knows. I'm kinda hoping it is her, though.

[Origami]

Are the spoiler tags necessary?
The topic title already has a warning and we're just discussing pre-release stuff.


And I think the woman is related to Marty. Maybe Lorraine's mom. The eyes look the same. :P

[markeres]

Are the spoiler tags necessary?For us? No. I just did it as a courtesy for those who want to avoid all info about the game before playing and might stumble upon this thread somehow. Especially because the episode descriptions are major spoilers of what happens in the game, and I kind of wish I hadn't read them myself. :cool:

[OzzieMonkey]

I have a problem; this didnt happen on my laptop, but it is happening on my desktop, and I'm using the same internet browser. When I click the About, Characters or Episodes buttons they don't do anything! What's the problem?

[Jtucker1789]

More importantly than all of that..who is "First Citizen Brown"??? Is this a different Doc? The synopsis also says in episode 5 we will go through Hill Valley's past, present and future. These episodes must be huge! I'm so excited for this game!

[captainjackbano]

I have a problem; this didnt happen on my laptop, but it is happening on my desktop, and I'm using the same internet browser. When I click the About, Characters or Episodes buttons they don't do anything! What's the problem?

I'm having the same problem only I'm on a laptop. Anyone know whats wrong?

[Sausy Gibbon]

I thought the women may be some relation of Jennifer, since episode two mentions that Marty's girlfriend may be 'erased from the future'.
I have to say the young Doc voice is much better too bad I can say the same thing about Biff's.

[jp-30]

Maybe you guys having problems need to download the latest version of Flash?

Edit: Also, Biff sounds perfectly fine to me, just to add a little balance to the discussion. When I say a word, I don't say it the exact same way every time, so KidBeyond not saying 'butthead' exactly like Tom Wilson doesn't bother me.

[presidentmax]

I'm taking the 'past, present, future' comment from the episode description as proof we'll get to return to 2015 :D

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it. However, if they rehash previous timeline periods then I feel 2015 is the one with the most potential.

I mean we only get to see like 20 minutes of that amazing timeline.

[Sausy Gibbon]

In the concept art of Biff and Kid Tannen they look like a dog chewing a toffee.

[Origami]

I'm taking the 'past, present, future' comment from the episode description as proof we'll get to return to 2015


Doesn't necessarily have to mean we'll be heading to 2015.
It could be they are referring to the future of any period you have visited in the game.
Like 1986 being the future of '31. So the sentence could be interpreted that you are going back and forth through all periods.

[markeres]

so KidBeyond not saying 'butthead' exactly like Tom Wilson doesn't bother me.Yes, and also to be fair to him, we never heard "Wimpy Biff" say "butthead" in the movies, so we don't know how "Wimpy Biff" would say it. Now, if "Bully Biff's" "butthead" is off... then we have a problem.

In the concept art of Biff and Kid Tannen they look like a dog chewing a toffee.And George McFly looks like he got hit in the face with a frying pan. But as we saw in the trailer, the 3D model looks fine. I wouldn't read too much in to the faces on the concept art.

[Origami]

^
And people said Doc looks like a zombie. :D

[Secret Fawful]

I find myself very critical of this new Biff. I feel that the voice actor is a slacker of the highest degradation. I'll not stand for such toddlewagging, harumph harumph harumph harumph, wot wot. It curls my whiskers, but I shall suffer through it because everything else looks to be of the highest caliber. Keep up the good efforts, mentlegen, gibbity gibbity.

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5768/699740-monocle_large.jpg

[presidentmax]

Doesn't necessarily have to mean we'll be heading to 2015.
It could be they are referring to the future of any period you have visited in the game.
Like 1986 being the future of '31. So the sentence could be interpreted that you are going back and forth through all periods.

Like I said I'm jumping to conclusions out of sheer love for that time period :D

Heck I've been tempted to buy the back to the future hoverboard replicas for a while now.

But I think your right, however, if the 1930's is the only new time period for 5 episodes then I'm not going to be very excited, it isn't even that interesting a time period for me anyway, they could try a whole new century. But I guess it is limited to the United States history, so I guess we will never see Marty in the Edo period or the Momoyama period of Japan.

[Origami]

Marty in the Edo period....wow....I do see that work somehow.


Owh and no I don't think 1931 will be the only period we'll be visiting and I am not ruling out a 2015 time period.
In the Facebook Blitz Game you see images of a 1986, 1931, 1885 and 2015 Hill Valley.

[markeres]

Why do both George and Marty say "Believe me, I can handle him"? A bit repetitive, eh? Especially since they're talking to each other about the same subject. :confused:

[Sausy Gibbon]

A puzzle setup perhaps? The lines 'butthead' and 'try something' sound like they may be from a time based puzzles.

[Shadowknight1]

The DeLorean still seems to be a wild card as to where it comes from. I know it says on the site that Marty sees the DeLorean he saw destroyed reappear, but there are far too many logistical problems with it being the same car.

Biff...ehh, I kinda wish it was Tom Wilson, but this guy isn't bad.

And that looks like Clara as the picture for Episode 4.

I'm getting the feeling that Doc was exploring something in the past and inadvertently began to undo history and sent for Marty to help get things back together. But we'll find out soon enough! :D

Oh, and AJ's "I hope you know what you're doin' Doc" is spot on perfect.

[LuigiHann]

Yeah, I'm guessing only one instance of "I can handle him" would occur in each iteration of some puzzle, where you can either confront Biff yourself or send George to do it. You might end up hearing both lines but probably not in the same conversation.

Also, based on the survey they did with a few plot ideas for the series, and based on the episode description that it's linked up with, I'm fairly sure that the unknown girl is Young Doc's dangerously distracting potential love interest, who might prevent him from pursuing a career in science. There are a few directions that they could go with that character, so I'm curious to see how it's handled.

[markeres]

I think the DeLorean will disappear entirely in episode three ("time-stranded Marty") because "First Citizen Brown" would have never invented a time machine, and the "epic invention" they create in episode four is a new time machine.

Also, is "First Citizen Brown" supposed to be like Big Brother? Are they going to riff on "1984"? The only problem I see with that is there's nothing in Doc's personality that suggests that even if he did have the opportunity to run a society, it would be totalitarian.

[m0r1arty]

Couple of things.

Marty runs to get Jennifer in BttF III before he heads back and sees the D'Lorean hit by the train - so during that period of time it could have been switcheroo'd.

Who is the mysterious, currently unseeable, character on the website?

It's got the same shape as Marty...could it be older Marty as played by MJF himself?!?! (I believe squee is the appropriate noise at this juncture).

-m0r

[Alan Johnson]

That woman? Yeah, it's not Clara.

[markeres]

Marty runs to get Jennifer in BttF III before he heads back and sees the D'Lorean hit by the train - so during that period of time it could have been switcheroo'd.No, it gets hit by the train right away when Marty returns to 1985 (remember, the pretty dramatic scene with Marty jumping out of the DeLorean at the last second?).

That woman? Yeah, it's not Clara.Cool, our first look at a new character!

Also, Alan, I sent you a Private Message. Can you please take a look?

[GeorgeC]

Where are you guys finding this concept art ? I can't find any on the forums or TTG site ;(

[markeres]

Where are you guys finding this concept art ? I can't find any on the forums or TTG site ;(http://www.telltalegames.com/bttf/. Click "Characters" and "Episodes" (though be aware that there are spoilers).

[Vainamoinen]

That woman? Yeah, it's not Clara.

If they regress to the plot ideas from the early survey, it's most likely the "gold digger" woman who tries force Doc into marriage in the late 30s. Worst case scenario, also a Tannen relative. Geez, I hope not. :(

I'm not too happy with the short episode descriptions, but we'll see how it plays out in the episodes. At the time, I fear that this season is getting a distinct "Sliders" feel, or even worse, the feeling of the BTTF Cartoon series.

[GeorgeC]

http://www.telltalegames.com/bttf/. Click "Characters" and "Episodes" (though be aware that there are spoilers).

Thanks, I'll check it out (with my anti spoiler goggles)

[monkeymovies]

Episode 4 sounds like it could be that sample plot we heard of in the survey a few months back. When young Emmett is about to give up science for this woman. Maybe this new character IS that woman, since the description talks about "Marty and 1980's Doc must stop young Emmett from making the biggest mistake of his life."

Also, why do I get the feeling that Nicki Rapp will be voicing that character? This new character has a sort-of...Morgan-Esque feeling to her.

Good to see Kid Beyond/Andrew Chaikin voicing Biff, even though you couldn't get Tom Wilson, Chaikin has made the name for himself as "The man of a thousand voices", so I think he sounds great so far. George also sounds good. I think the repetitive line of "I can handle him" will be similar to the first movie, in which the "rejection" line is used by both Marty and George. Still, I'm most looking forward to AJ's performance as Marty more than Lloyd's. I mean, I expected Lloyd to sound excellent, but AJ is the absolute best Marty voice we could've gotten. James Arnold Taylor as Young Doc sounds...amazing.

This is almost certainly gonna be the best voice cast in a Telltale game. Just throw Dominic Armato in there somewhere and it will be!
:D

[m0r1arty]

No, it gets hit by the train right away when Marty returns to 1985 (remember, the pretty dramatic scene with Marty jumping out of the DeLorean at the last second?).

IT's been a long time since I watched III, I guess I remember it wrong.

Still, how can it be the same D'Lorean?!?

-m0r

[LuigiHann]

IT's been a long time since I watched III, I guess I remember it wrong.

Still, how can it be the same D'Lorean?!?

-m0r

Well, Doc originally wanted it destroyed, but maybe he figured what the hell, and taped it back together

[prizna]

^^

Well maybe it could have been sent to Marty from a time when it wasnt being used in the past, then at some point in the game Marty has to send the DeLorean back to where it came from so it can eventually be destroyed and avoid a paradox.

[m0r1arty]

Okay, it could have been the D'Lorean whilst old Biff is talking to young Biff about the almanac...somehow Doc is there and sends it to Marty to send back once he's finished with it. Perhaps a note to his 1955 self, or 1985 self, from the 1931 trapped older self to type in certain instructions and make no mention of it to 1955 or 1985 Marty.

That's why 1985 Doc is so late in showing up to free 1985 Marty from 1955 Biff's garage.

It makes perfect sense!

Any update or thoughts yet upon who the darkened Marty is under the characters section?

-m0r

[prizna]

^^

Maybe its Marty McFly Jr from BTTF 2, I mean that did look exactly like each other and they were about the same age.

[m0r1arty]

Could be, but I've a feeling when they revisit 2015 they'll see that iPods are the only difference between 1985 and 2015 - so Marty Junior will be a different character surely?

I think it's future Marty (Voiced by Michael J himself) who will explain something wonderful, surreal and enticing so that we all buy BttF: The Game (Part 2) next year :)

-m0r

[OzzieMonkey]

My theory for the Delorean coming back is that it is a Delorean from a point in time where Doc's invention of time travel was discovered and marketed into a product for civillians so everyone has a time machine Delorean. That just seems to be the most logical explanation for the Delorean reappearing.

[prizna]

what im wondering is how did the DeLorean get to Marty with noone in it?

[m0r1arty]

That remote control the Doc had in BttF has had a few upgrades.

-m0r

[Ghost Rider LSOV]

the mysterious, currently unseeable, character on the website?

It's got the same shape as Marty...could it be older Marty as played by MJF himself?!?! (I believe squee is the appropriate noise at this juncture).
-m0r

Maybe it's just a placeholder shadow?
It's a mystery... :D

[MoRRoW1]

About all that DeLorean back in action thing, who knows where and especially when Doc were travelling after BTTF 1.Is it for sure that he is only travelling to 2015? I mean, he has all the time he wants, he has a Time-Machine.

[monkeymovies]

Aparently James Arnold Taylor doubled for Daniel Radcliffe in the past?

Well, at least Telltale have a Harry Potter voice if they choose to do an episodic HP Series! ;) Pleeeeease! :p

Also, now that Telltale can afford JAT, they can use him for Largo LaGrande in ToMI: Season 2!

It's like JAT was made to be working for you guys.
:)

[Jon NA]

blah blah blah episodic hp series!
nooooooooooooooooo!

[monkeymovies]

Well, I'd love it.
:p

[Jon NA]

^ Well, to be honest, I used to be an HP fan; But after I read the last book, It's case got closed for me.

[Ashki]

I'm *really* curious about who the woman is in the episodes section. My gut reaction was Clara as well (because let's face it, the only other prominent women in the series are Lorianne and Jennifer and they're... hm), but who knows. I'm kinda hoping it is her, though.

I don't think it is, I think that's from one of the options in the polls where Telltale was asking about ideas.

[Meta Ray Mek]

That woman? Yeah, it's not Clara.

*sadface* =[

[Origami]

*happy face* =)

[leon101]

I can't find any of the voice clips people are talking about from gametrailers. I found the ones on the main site for the game but that's it.

[leon101]

Maybe it's just a placeholder shadow?
It's a mystery... :D

Yeah, it is a placeholder shadow. That way you can't guess who it is.

[markeres]

I can't find any of the voice clips people are talking about from gametrailers. I found the ones on the main site for the game but that's it.They weren't separate voice clips, they were lines that played during the episode of GameTrailers TV previewing the game. You can watch it here: http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/gametrailers-tv/110

[Strayth]

Wah, I think it's kinda lame it only takes place in 1931 :/ ...

What about George, Lorraine, and all the actual characters from the movie ? :/

That and, using such a rich concept that is Time Travel, and only showing 3 time periods (1931, 1986, alternate 1986) is kinda lame, beyond belief...

I guess that the last episode will have to do a LOT. After all they did mention we would see the future in it ...

[markeres]

That and, using such a rich concept that is Time Travel, and only showing 3 time periods (1931, 1986, alternate 1986) is kinda lame, beyond belief...I, too, wanted more than three time periods throughout the game. I figured they would be doing a story that covers the same breadth as the entire trilogy, which has five distinct time periods. But it seems instead the game will only cover the breadth of one of the movies, which only had three distinct time periods at the most. So, there's precedent.

[Strayth]

Thing is, I could be ok with only a few time periods.

But I'm not OK at all with 1931 being this time period. Seriously what about every single character from the movies ?!

We're just gonna see them briefly in 1986 and that's it ? Who cares about alternate selves that will cease to exist at the end of the same episode they were introduced ?

And I'm not fond of having clones models for everyone and say "it's their ancestors from 1931" ...

Meh, seriously.

I was fine with 1931 when I thought it was just for episode 1... I really don't like that at all. It really feels forced O_o I don't see how it feels like "BTTF 4" but hey, let's not be negative and let's wait for the actual episode...

Moreover, by writing the game as a whole and episodes as chapters only and not actual episodes that you could enjoy separately, they seriously ruined the concept >_< .

[Farlander]

I think it's too early to judge anything. For all we know, 1931 and 1986 (normal and alternate) are just very important and dominant year in the game-verse just as 1955 and 1985 were very important and prominent in the movie-verse (2015 and 1885 got not so much treatment), that doesn't mean we'll not see any other eras.

[markeres]

We're just gonna see them briefly in 1986 and that's it ? Who cares about alternate selves that will cease to exist at the end of the same episode they were introduced ?

And I'm not fond of having clones models for everyone and say "it's their ancestors from 1931" ...But, isn't that exactly what happened in BTTFIII? :confused:

[Alan Johnson]

And I'm not fond of having clones models for everyone and say "it's their ancestors from 1931" ...


There are no clone models of anything in the game. Characters and their ancestors are completely new characters.

[Alan Johnson]

And I'm not fond of having clones models for everyone and say "it's their ancestors from 1931" ...


There are no clone models of anything in the game. Characters and their ancestors are completely new models.

[Strayth]

There are no clone models of anything in the game. Characters and their ancestors are completely new models.

Phew. Thanks for clearing that up, I was affraid after ToMI that this could be the case. Well it makes everything more interesting then.

I just hope we can have a few things to do in 1986 before "starting our quest" in 1931 so we can interact with actual people from the movies.

[Shadowknight1]

Phew. Thanks for clearing that up, I was affraid after ToMI that this could be the case. Well it makes everything more interesting then.

I just hope we can have a few things to do in 1986 before "starting our quest" in 1931 so we can interact with actual people from the movies.

I'd say that's likely considering you see Marty walking down the street in 1986.

[serializer]

Wow, it amazes me the conclusions some people jump to :)

Of course they'll have more time periods than they specify in the synopses. They want to leave some surprises for when you're playing the game don't they?

...And I'm fairly sure the missing character from the lineup will either be that mystery woman y'all keep talking about, or First Citizen Brown. Most likely the woman, since she's already been seen in released media she's probably a fairly significant character. Bringing MJF into the discussion really is just setting yourselves up for disappointment.

[Rather Dashing]

Back to the Future Part 1 sucks. I mean, you take such a rich concept like time travel and only have 2 time periods?! With only a HINT at a third, thrown in at the end? Talk about anticlimactic! I might even be okay with two time periods, but 1950s? That's lame!

Morever, writing the series as a whole and the movies as parts only rather than as films you can enjoy separately, they seriously ruined the concept. >_<

-------------------

Personally, I'm REALLY interested in the alternate Doc Brown proposed in this synopsis. Really takes the Back to the Future model in the right direction, exploring what we *can* be, using time travel as a PERSONAL way to explore PEOPLE, that's what Back to the Future is all about. Haven't we all wondered, "If I did this thing in the past, who would I be now?" I think there's some really rich character-driven story that could come from this.

[Strayth]

Back to the Future 1 sucks. I mean, you take such a rich concept like time travel and only have 2 time periods?! With only a HINT at a third, thrown in at the end? Talk about anticlimactic! I might even be okay with two time periods, but 1950s? That's lame!

Back to the future 1 is more a family drama with comedy and some science fiction, rather than a movie about time travel.

You get to see the same characters at different times of their lives, which is why it's interesting. Moreover, there's the whole Marty and his parents dynamic, which really made the whole thing worthy. And of course, the changes made had a direct impact on his life in the present.

In 1931 it's simple, except for Doc, there is NO ONE from the movies. At best we'll have ancestors ... That Marty never knew. Hard to connect with those people (I'm not saying they can't be interesting, just that it's limitating the BTTF 1's concept a lot).

As for the number of time periods, the first part is obviously an introduction. Marty's departure was a mistake, he didn't want to go there, and had only one shot at getting back to his time.

Then, when they willingly decide to use the time machine, we get to see more than that.

Morever, writing the series as a whole and the movies as parts only rather than as films you can enjoy separately, they seriously ruined the concept. >_<

I don't even want to comment on that, just keep not trying to understand and pretend (?) you don't have a brain, it's gonna be simpler.

[Farlander]

...

Okay, who will try to explain Strayth what 'sarcasm' means? :p

[Strayth]

I got it.

He's just acting as if those points were also concerning the movies, while they're not. Or at least I don't agree, and I explained why, and I have the right to think whatever I want.

[Rather Dashing]

Back to the future 1 is more a family drama with comedy and some science fiction, rather than a movie about time travel.
Yes. That's some pretty important precedent.

You get to see the same characters at different times of their lives, which is why it's interesting. Moreover, there's the whole Marty and his parents dynamic, which really made the whole thing worthy. And of course, the changes made had a direct impact on his life in the present.

In 1931 it's simple, except for Doc, there is NO ONE from the movies. At best we'll have ancestors ... That Marty never knew. Hard to connect with those people (I'm not saying they can't be interesting, just that it's limitating the BTTF 1's concept a lot).
None of the movies focused heavily on more than a few characters, and where could we go to explore the others from the films without re-treading old ground?

As for the number of time periods, the first part is obviously an introduction. Marty's departure was a mistake, he didn't want to go there, and had only one shot at getting back to his time.

Then, when they willingly decide to use the time machine, we get to see more than that.
In the films we get:

1985
1955
2015
1885

That's four time periods across 3 films. If you count alternates, you have one alternate 1980s to add to the pile, and one mentioned alternate future that is just an extension of the alternate 80s. At most(through semantic juggling), we're dealing with 5 time periods across 3 movies, about 1 and a half per film. 2 is going with precedent, 3 is almost EXCESSIVE.

As far as I can tell, the only complaint I can make about 1931 is that THE YEAR DOESN'T END IN FIVE.

I don't even want to comment on that, just keep not trying to understand and pretend (?) you don't have a brain, it's gonna be simpler.
There are no problems with my logic. Parts II and III of Back to the Future are parts in a series that follow linearly and directly from events in the last part.

[Ralidon]

That Woman could be Doc's Mom?

[markeres]

That Woman could be Doc's Mom?It would fit the "men marry/date women who look like their mothers" joke in the series...

[Shadowknight1]

My thoughts exactly

[LuigiHann]

In the films we get:

1985
1955
2015
1885

That's four time periods across 3 films.

Yeah, I think the mild disappointment comes from the fact that this series seems like it'll be treated as BTTF Part 4, when I think a lot of us were quietly hoping it'd be treated like BTTF Parts 4-9, with each episode having about one movie's worth of content. I'll be happy however they do it, as long as it's interesting.

As for characters that Marty could meet and recognize in 1931, Mr. Strickland will be a child of around 6 (might be fun to see his parents and get a sense of his upbringing), and Sam Baines, Marty's grandfather, would be around 21 (Stella would be around 16, so they might not have met yet). They could also tweak any of these ages to fit the story, since I don't think any of them are set in stone in the film. That's all I can think of in terms of characters we see in the movie who would be reasonably meaningful to Marty.

[Giant Tope]

I don't really think it would be right for them to try to jam an entire part into a 4-5 hour game.

[markeres]

(Stella would be around 16, so they might not have met yet).Oh man, wouldn't it be weird if Young Doc was in love with Stella? And Marty had to prevent their romance? o_O

I don't really think it would be right for them to try to jam an entire part into a 4-5 hour game.Not so much an entire part in one game, but one time period per game. The trilogy has 5 time periods (counting 1985-A), the game has 5 episodes, so... but that's irrelevant at this point. Though it sounds like we'll be seeing a bunch of different time periods, however briefly, in the 5th episode.

[Rather Dashing]

Not so much an entire part in one game, but one time period per game. The trilogy has 5 time periods (counting 1985-A), the game has 5 episodes, so... but that's irrelevant at this point. Though it sounds like we'll be seeing a bunch of different time periods, however briefly, in the 5th episode.
If you are asking for more than 2-3 time periods in the entire season, then you are asking for a whole Part in the game, or for something entirely incongruous with the spirit of the films. Pick one.

[markeres]

If you are asking for more than 2-3 time periods in the entire season, then you are asking for a whole Part in the game, or for something entirely incongruous with the spirit of the films.Why? The trilogy managed to fit five time periods into three movies. :confused:

As I posted earlier in the thread, my initial expectation for the game was that it's story would cover the same breadth as the entire trilogy. Instead it seems like it will only cover the breadth of one of the movies.

[Rather Dashing]

Why? The trilogy managed to fit five time periods into three movies. :confused:
Excatly. Either each episode is a full "Part"(1-2 time periods per Part), or the whole season is a "Part" and it gets 2-3 time periods for itself. You said each episode wouldn't necessarily be a "Part", so it shouldn't have the same number of time periods as a proper "Part".

And of course, what matters isn't the number(exactly), but that the crux of the story only requires the existence of time travel without focusing on it.

[thesporkman]

As far as I can tell, the only complaint I can make about 1931 is that THE YEAR DOESN'T END IN FIVE.

Yeah, that still bothers me too. Every year should end in five, or, since the game uses 1986 as its base "present day" time period, six.

[Farlander]

Yeah, that still bothers me too. Every year should end in five, or, since the game uses 1986 as its base "present day" time period, six.

I guess the 'exploring prohibition period' forced TT to make it not '50 years before 1986' but '55 years before 1986', since by 1936 the period ends and, well, let's face it - it's very intriguing to explore those years in the BttF-verse.

[markeres]

You said each episode wouldn't necessarily be a "Part", so it shouldn't have the same number of time periods as a proper "Part".It wouldn't necessarily have to have been 1 time period per episode (though that would make the most sense to me personally if you're doing a five episode series with five time periods), but it could have been five time periods spread out over five episodes somehow.

And of course, what matters isn't the number(exactly), but that the crux of the story only requires the existence of time travel without focusing on it.I completely agree. Time travel itself is not the focus of the BTTF series, but different time periods are (or rather they're one of the focuses). Seeing how Hill Valley, the McFly family, the Tannens, and Doc change throughout the years. The game could have been something like BTTFII, with Marty and Doc having to solve a problem that just happens to take them to five different time periods (like getting and destroying the almanac just happened to involve three different time periods). What that problem would be, I have no idea. That's why Telltale is writing the game (and decided to go with three main time periods over the course of the game) and I'm not. :p

[Rather Dashing]

It wouldn't necessarily have to have been 1 time period per episode (though that would make the most sense to me personally if you're doing a five episode series with five time periods), but it could have been five time periods spread out over five episodes somehow.
Why?

I completely agree. Time travel itself is not the focus of the BTTF series, but different time periods are (or rather they're one of the focuses). Seeing how Hill Valley, the McFly family, the Tannens, and Doc change throughout the years. The game could have been something like BTTFII, with Marty and Doc having to solve a problem that just happens to take them to five different time periods (like getting and destroying the almanac just happened to involve three different time periods). What that problem would be, I have no idea. That's why Telltale is writing the game (and decided to go with three main time periods over the course of the game) and I'm not. :p
It sounds to me like, to do that, they'd have to fit the story to match some arbitrarily-demanded number of time periods(and pace their story to go in and out of one per episode). To get that kind of pacing seems like it would force a really contrived and unfocused story overall. Perhaps I'm wrong, but unless they try to fit an entire self-contained "film" story into each episode, they have a perfectly legitimate "number of time periods". Number of time periods, as long as it's greater than one, shouldn't even be a real issue to anyone in the first place. Again, if you're saying that it should "just happen" to need five, then that's not what you're asking for. You're asking for an inorganic writing process that forces several rewrites until a story in which a larger selection of time periods is necessary presents itself. That's not "just happening" to need something, that's demanding something regardless of the story that internally makes sense.

[linorn]

Number of time periods, as long as it's greater than one, shouldn't even be a real issue to anyone in the first place.

This. I wouldn't care if the entire season was in one time period as long as the game was interesting and it suited the story.

[doggans]

Number of time periods, as long as it's greater than one, shouldn't even be a real issue to anyone in the first place. Again, if you're saying that it should "just happen" to need five, then that's not what you're asking for. You're asking for an inorganic writing process that forces several rewrites until a story with a larger selection of time periods is necessary presents itself.

I agree with you, but I also understand why someone might be disappointed if there aren't more time periods. For all we know, this could be the last BTTF story we ever get. If someone's excited to see a new Marty and Doc adventure, but they're not a fan of the 30s as a setting, they're likely to be disappointed that this is the only adventure we're getting.

I think forcing more time periods into the story using contrived means would be worse than putting up with a time period you might not care for, but I still get where a disappointed person would be coming from.

[Farlander]

but they're not a fan of the 30s as a setting, they're likely to be disappointed that this is the only adventure we're getting.

On the other hand, what other unique time periods other than 30s do we have left to explore in the BttF universe? I mean, 10's and 70's are all good and well, but I wouldn't call them having a distinct flavor in comparison to 30's, 50's and 80's.

[Meta Ray Mek]

Yeah.

In time travel stories, most people usually go back to the periods between the 50's and the 90's. Nobody's really ever done the 30's as far as I know.

[markeres]

Why?Why what?

You're asking for an inorganic writing process that forces several rewrites until a story with a larger selection of time periods is necessary presents itself. That's not "just happening" to need something, that's demanding something regardless of the story that internally makes sense.Which, again, is why Telltale is writing the game and I'm not. Again, though, the trilogy itself has five time periods and is a pretty organic story (though II & III are more closely connected with each other than they are with I, having been written at the same time, and adding the whole "chicken" thing, but still).

Surely, though, you can appreciate why some people were anticipating five time periods in the game (since there were five time periods in the trilogy and the game is split into five episodes), and why there might be some slight disappointment that there's not five time periods in the game. Personally, I feel the Telltale crew are good enough writers to have come up with a story that does involve five time periods and is organic. But, they went a different direction, and there's nothing wrong with that.

On the other hand, what other unique time periods other than 30s do we have left to explore in the BttF universe?1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1940s (though that's pretty close to 1950s), 1960s (which was the original conception of BTTFII), 1970s (you could have some fun with Marty as a kid, having to avoid his own younger self). If they wanted to do the future: 1990s, 2000s (the BTTF universe versions), or the far future.

[Rather Dashing]

Yeah.

In time travel stories, most people usually go back to the periods between the 50's and the 90's. Nobody's really ever done the 30's as far as I know.
This book (http://www.amazon.com/Time-My-Hands-Peter-Delacorte/dp/0671023241) comes to mind. There's also the Star Trek episode "The City on the Edge of Forever".

[Farlander]

1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1940s (though that's pretty close to 1950s), 1960s (which was the original conception of BTTFII), 1970s (you could have some fun with Marty as a kid, having to avoid his own younger self). If they wanted to do the future: 1990s, 2000s (the BTTF universe versions), or the far future

I'll just quote myself:

all good and well, but I wouldn't call them having a distinct flavor in comparison to 30's, 50's and 80's.

(though, to be honest, I thought about 70s and Marty meeting his younger self [I don't get your thought why he will gave to avoid him, it's not like the 8 years old Marty will think that the 80's Marty is him], but I don't consider 70s to be that much of an interesting decade stylistically speaking).

[markeres]

[I don't get your thought why he will gave to avoid him, it's not like the 8 years old Marty will think that the 80's Marty is him]People in the BTTF universe are always supposed to avoid other versions of themselves. Lest the space-time continuum be destroyed.

[Rather Dashing]

Why what?
Why do we need more time periods in the first place? Why should we want them?

Which, again, is why Telltale is writing the game and I'm not. Again though, the trilogy itself has five time periods and is a pretty organic story (though II & III are more closely connected with each other than they are with I, having been written at the same time, and adding the whole "chicken" thing, but still).


Surely, though, you can appreciate why some people were anticiapting five time periods in the game (since there were five time periods in the trilogy and the game is split into five episodes), and why there might be some slight disappointment that there's not five time periods in the game. Personally, I feel the Telltale crew are good enough writers to have come up with a story that does involve five time periods and is organic. But, they went a different direction, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Not really. As time travel stories, the Back to the Future series sucks. There have been fare more interesting explorations of time travel for the sake of exploring time travel. "Exploring" time periods is, um, not the series' strong suit.

The important part is the character development and the exploration of basic and personal human questions. When I read the synopsis, you know what I felt? Amazed. I was shocked that they honed in so well on that, and created an outline that allowed us to explore a different character-based question that is so basic and mundane that it is completely identifiable: "What if I didn't do that?" Talk about exploring your potential! Doc Brown has a family fortune after all(all of which he poured into developing the Flux Capacitor), what would he spend it on if not science? What if he had latched onto a different passion? What if, in those formative years when you have no idea who you are and you grab onto the nearest thing for dear life, Doc Brown had decided to go with something else?

THAT'S heavy. THAT is taking what made the first film so amazing, capturing it, and forming it into something new.

The idea that the "number" of time periods might even be "too few"? That didn't even cross my mind ONCE before I started reading this thread. Because what Telltale has here, if they pull it off right, is the makings of a truly engaging exploration of our potential, and what we can do to make our future what we want it to be, how we can do something we truly love, and love doing it, and succeed, if we just work hard enough toward that end goal. We have a true sequel to the Back to the Future films, something that will have the length and depth to truly explore these themes and settings to their fullest.

[Farlander]

People in the BTTF universe are always supposed to avoid other versions of themselves. Lest the space-time continuum be destroyed.

Say that to Doc who met himself in 1955. Anyway, considering the 'It's me!' yell of Jennifers, you should not as much as to avoid other versions of yourself, but as to avoid getting recognized. And kid Marty wouldn't recognize his older self.

[markeres]

Say that to Doc who met himself in 1955.1985 Doc didn't really "meet" 1955 Doc per se. 1955 Doc never knew who he was talking to, and 1985 Doc tried to hide his identity and get away as fast as he could as soon as he realized who he was talking to. If they did a "kid Marty" story, 1985 Marty would have to hide his identity in much the same way, or avoid kid Marty altogether.

The important part is the character development and the exploration of basic and personal human questions. *snip*Again, though, I don't see why we can't explore these themes over five (or x number) different time periods. Just like the trilogy did. As for why we should want more, that's part of the fun of the series as a whole. Marty discovering a whole new Hill Valley every time he arrives in a new time period. His wandering around the courthouse square in amazement in 1955, 2015, 1985-A, and walking up the street to see the courthouse being built in 1885. Waking up to a new version of Lorraine. The entrance of a different Tannen. Figuring out how to "fit in" to a new time period. Again, these aren't the themes or the raison d'être of the BTTF trilogy, but they are an essential part of the fun of the movies, at least for me.

[Origami]

Don't worry guyz, we're at least getting three different time periods.
Judging from the screenshots in the Bejeweled Blitz game.

Also in the behind the scenes vid the director states "you'll be going through all kinds of different time periods".

I'd like to see 3 differenent time periods as a minimum(with 1986 included).

Judging by the art we might be returning to 1985 and visit the events of BttF1.
I also think we'll be visiting 1985.

[Farlander]

1985 Doc didn't really "meet" 1955 Doc per se. 1955 Doc never knew who he was talking to, and 1985 Doc tried to hide his identity and get away as fast as he could as soon as he realized who he was talking to.

THen tell that to Biff who actually called himself a distant relative :p And spent a pretty long time along with his younger self (who DIDN'T recognize him, even after old Biff starts up his car and ONLY Biff knows how to do that).

Anyway. What's the point of the 70s (the ONLY period where Marty would be a kid) if we won't have Marty actually INTERACT with kid-Marty? Just remembering yourself as you were younger can, sometimes, lead to interesting character developments and self-revelations, now imagine what could've been done with interaction.

[Rather Dashing]

even after old Biff starts up his car and ONLY Biff knows how to do that).
Biff isn't exactly the sharpest fellow in the movies, you know.

[Ralidon]

It would fit the "men marry/date women who look like their mothers" joke in the series...

see? this theory (the woman is doc mother) fits.

[Farlander]

Biff isn't exactly the sharpest fellow in the movies, you know.

I know. My point is, as long as your younger self doesn't recognize you, you're fine and the time continuum fine, and the universe is fine. And I don't see any possiblity of a kid-Marty (7-8 years) recognizing his older-self, it's just something that wouldn't come to his mind.

[Rather Dashing]

I know. My point is, as long as your younger self doesn't recognize you, you're fine and the time continuum fine, and the universe is fine. And I don't see any possiblity of a kid-Marty (7-8 years) recognizing his older-self, it's just something that wouldn't come to his mind.
Nah, Doc was just wrong. Jennifer recognized herself twice over at the same time and just fainted.

[markeres]

I know. My point is, as long as your younger self doesn't recognize you, you're fine and the time continuum fine, and the universe is fine. And I don't see any possiblity of a kid-Marty (7-8 years) recognizing his older-self, it's just something that wouldn't come to his mind.Biff doesn't know the "rules" of time travel, though. You can be sure if Marty had to do something involving his younger self, Doc would tell him to avoid (or disguise) himself at all costs.

[linorn]

if Marty had to do something involving his younger self, Doc would tell him to avoid (or disguise) himself at all costs.

That sounds very wrong :rolleyes:

[Farlander]

Biff doesn't know the "rules" of time travel, though. You can be sure if Marty had to do something involving his younger self, Doc would tell him to avoid (or disguise) himself at all costs.

Sure, if it would be an older Marty. But, rules of time travel aside - let's look at this from the story perspective: if we have Marty travel to the 70s, and we have a young 7-8 years old Marty there, then not making him actively interact with his younger self for some time (preferably, in my opinion, lengthy time) is a crime against character insight development (whatever that development might be, depends on the plot and the point where Marty's character has to come).

[markeres]

Sure, if it would be an older Marty. But, rules of time travel aside - let's look at this from the story perspective: if we have Marty travel to the 70s, and we have a young 7-8 years old Marty there, then not making him actively interact with his younger self for some time (preferably, in my opinion, lengthy time) is a crime against character insight development (whatever that development might be, depends on the plot and the point where Marty's character has to come).Wouldn't figuring out how to indirectly interact with a character make for some crafty puzzles, though?

[Rather Dashing]

Sure, if it would be an older Marty. But, rules of time travel aside - let's look at this from the story perspective: if we have Marty travel to the 70s, and we have a young 7-8 years old Marty there, then not making him actively interact with his younger self for some time is a crime against character insight development (whatever that development might be, depends on the plot and the point where Marty's character has to come).
I don't think Marty needs to actually "interact" with himself in a direct sense. He would probably try to avoid himself(for timeline-not-ruining reasons), but "invisibly" alter events slightly to benefit himself and gain insight into his own character by watching an important part of his earlier life(a dream he wanted to fulfill, a person he cared about, something along those lines). It seems to me that what Telltale went worth works better though, since we don't get much Doc development and the whole trilogy is spent developing Marty.

[Farlander]

Wouldn't figuring out how to indirectly interact with a character make for some crafty puzzles, though?

Well... I guess it would, but I don't see it interesting from a character perspective.

gain insight into his own character by watching an important part of his earlier life

Sounds too cliche. Actually, there's nothing really wrong with that idea, but I do find interacting directly to be more interesting, especially in the BttF case. Marty already 'invisibly' saved himself in 1955, for example, and the 'avoidance' interaction is explored pretty well in the movies.

since we don't get much Doc development and the whole trilogy is spent developing Marty.

Yeah, I agree with that. The accent on Doc is a big plus. But, hey, we're talking hypothetically about the 70s here ;) (I don't think we'll see that Time Period in the BttF game. In the first season at the least, if there will be others)

[Rather Dashing]

Sounds too cliche. Actually, there's nothing really wrong with that idea, but I do find interacting directly to be more interesting, especially in the BttF case.
Well, them's the rules. Knowing Back to the Future, though, they can be bent or broken once or twice at dramatically-relevant times. ;)

[Farlander]

Well, them's the rules. Knowing Back to the Future, though, they can be bent or broken once or twice at dramatically-relevant times. ;)

Or be broken by main characters themselves, like Doc marrying Clara ;) Anyway, I don't say Marty should SEEK his younger self, I'm saying I think he should interact with him, directly :p . Their meeting would have to be an accident of some kind (like they always are, lol), even to the point that Marty could (maybe) even not recognize that it's him at the start of the (first?) conversation. And of course, I don't mind a mix between direct and indirect interaction :)

EDIT: I want to point out why I'm so pro-direct: by interacting directly with his younger self Marty would feel the simple, naive, pure (or whatever, depends on how Marty behaved himself as a kid :p ) logic and view on life directly on himself (himolderself), instead of being a passive character. Not to mention, he wouldn't view the Marty-kid with Marty's OLD parents (meaning his own past self), but Marty-kid with Marty's new parents, and their pasts probably differed somewhat. Maybe it could lead to something like Marty + His memories of HIS childhood and himself in his childhood + Interaction (direct :p ) with the alternate kid-Marty who has other parents (well, the same people, but let's face it, they're not the same) = character development :)

[prizna]

Marty wouldnt see his OLD parents because the past was still changed in 1955.

[Farlander]

Marty wouldnt see his OLD parents because the past was still changed in 1955.

I never said he'll see his old parents.

he wouldn't view the Marty-kid with Marty's OLD parents (meaning his own past self), but Marty-kid with Marty's new parents,

[prizna]

I never said he'll see his old parents.

Damn sorry I need to learn to read more closely.

[leon101]

Or be broken by main characters themselves, like Doc marrying Clara ;) Anyway, I don't say Marty should SEEK his younger self, I'm saying I think he should interact with him, directly :p . Their meeting would have to be an accident of some kind (like they always are, lol), even to the point that Marty could (maybe) even not recognize that it's him at the start of the (first?) conversation. And of course, I don't mind a mix between direct and indirect interaction :)

EDIT: I want to point out why I'm so pro-direct: by interacting directly with his younger self Marty would feel the simple, naive, pure (or whatever, depends on how Marty behaved himself as a kid :p ) logic and view on life directly on himself (himolderself), instead of being a passive character. Not to mention, he wouldn't view the Marty-kid with Marty's OLD parents (meaning his own past self), but Marty-kid with Marty's new parents, and their pasts probably differed somewhat. Maybe it could lead to something like Marty + His memories of HIS childhood and himself in his childhood + Interaction (direct :p ) with the alternate kid-Marty who has other parents (well, the same people, but let's face it, they're not the same) = character development :)

But wouldn't Marty coming into contact with himself create a time paradox, that would result in a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space time continuum, and destroy the entire universe? However, that is just the worse case scenario.

[divisionten]

But wouldn't Marty coming into contact with himself create a time paradox, that would result in a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space time continuum, and destroy the entire universe? However, that is just the worse case scenario.

Not if he uses a fake name. It's like in the third Harry Potter movie- Potter thought he had seen his father across the lake in the first time through, but, in reality, when they used the Time Turner, he realized that he himself had cat the Patromus.

In other words, Marty could be walking down the street and see a kid in a yellow jacket, look down at his own clothes and his watch and say, "Hey, I think around this time I met this weird stranger who wore clothes like mine... Maybe it was me?"

Then again, only a suggestion.

[Clord]

That Harry Potter like situation with time traveling is similar mistake what BTTF movies do. It does not make sense to get shot from yourself and then later time travel to shoot yourself again. Because you would be already dead to even time travel to do that event, so it can't happen.

Even in Harry Potter case it was just logic denying plot device to make good storyline without caring of logic behind it and even BTTF relies on that sometimes. :)

[linorn]

Regardless of whether or not you'd shoot yourself or whatever, that's not how time-travel works in bttf. Every time they time-travel into the past they change the events there. There are no self-fulfilling prophecies or anything like that.

[doggans]

Even in Harry Potter case it was just logic denying plot device to make good storyline without caring of logic behind it and even BTTF relies on that sometimes. :)

Granted, it's been a while since I read Prisoner of Azkaban, but I don't remember it being illogical. It used a Bill and Ted-style Stable Time Loop, and stuck to the rules to the best of my recollection.

[Shadowknight1]

Granted, it's been a while since I read Prisoner of Azkaban, but I don't remember it being illogical. It used a Bill and Ted-style Stable Time Loop, and stuck to the rules to the best of my recollection.

Actually, that scene was more of a pre-destination paradox. Once Harry realized that it was himself that saved them the first time, he knew he had to do it again. And because it happened in the past from his perspective, it was pre-destined that he'd save himself.

[PrivateJoker]

THe fact remains we don't what happens in Episode five, or any of them. If they had a mass of different time periods it wouldn't feel like BTTF, maybe a game to be made with a more epic scope eventually when they make the new trilogy.

BTTF2 only had 3 periods, Future, Alternate 1985 and 1955.

The fact that we are now going to play with an alternate "present period" is really exciting as alternate 1985 was probably the most interesting plot wrinkle in the entire series.

NVM: Seems that the site updated and has a brief synopsis about each one!

[markeres]

If they had a mass of different time periods it wouldn't feel like BTTFI still don't buy this, since the trilogy has five time periods. I guess it depends on whether you separate each movie into its own story, or if you see the trilogy as being one whole self-contained story, which I do. That probably has to do with the fact that a) each sequel is directly linked to the movie before it, with the overlapping endings/beginnings and b) I've watched the trilogy back-to-back-to-back more times than I've watched any one of the movies individually. If you're going based off of just I & III (or even just II), then yes, having a whole bunch of time periods in the game wouldn't feel like BTTF. But if you're going off of the trilogy as a whole, having four or five time periods in the game would feel just like BTTF. It all depends on how you look at it.

[PrivateJoker]

They are seperate movies. They vary wildly in story, theme and tone. The biggest difference is BTTF1, when it was initially made they had ZERO plans for a sequel, they just thought it would be funny if they showed Doc time traveling to the future. THOUGH as far as trilogies go this one of the few that always seem to pick up IMMEDIATELY after the last one left off, so I can understand your POV.

[markeres]

They are seperate movies. They vary wildly in story, theme and tone.Yes, and if Telltale had made a BTTF game with four or five time periods, each episode could do just that as well. Kind of like "Devil's Playhouse" does*. An overarching story is told throughout the season, but each episode has its own unique story, theme and tone. I would have had no problem with that considering, like you pointed out, that's exactly what the trilogy is like.

*Note, I am not comparing the Sam and Max and BTTF universes with this statement, just game/movie forms.

[prizna]

Im liking the fact that telltale is starting to make the games as chapters instead of 5 different episodes.

[Origami]

^
I was under the impression that was where they were heading already with their latest games.

[markeres]

Im liking the fact that telltale is starting to make the games as chapters instead of 5 different episodes.

^
I was under the impression that was where they were heading already with their latest games.So far, TOMI and Bone are their only episodic games that are in chapters and not "seperately themed" episodes, although all of their games have an overarching story ("Strong Bad's" is pretty slight, though). It sounds like BTTF will be chaptered like TOMI.

[prizna]

yea, TOMI was like that which really worked well, especially since the Monkey Island games were always in chapters.

I like them better as 1 big game instead of 5 small games.

[Origami]

But there is also heavy continuity in Sam and Max S3 right?

[prizna]

Ive never played Sam and Max so I have no idea.

[markeres]

But there is also heavy continuity in Sam and Max S3 right?Yes, but different themes in each episode:

- Penal Zone: Sci-fi
- Tomb: Historical setting + the changing reels puzzle dynamic
- Max's Brain: Film Noir + alternate Egypt-inspired universe
- Alley: Zombie movie
- City: Monster movie

Together, they tell a coherent story with continuity, but each individual episode has its own style and theme. The same can be said of the three Back to the Future movies.

[Origami]

^
I think the BttF will be still semi-standalone.

It will have resolution per episode but also leave a cliffhanger.
I think the main situation in episode 1 is getting Doc out of jail.

[richforce]

the basic synopsis(es?) for each episode is up and I'd like to see what every one thinks

episode 1: It's about time

Marty McFly is just getting re-acquainted with the 1980’s when the DeLorean Time Machine he saw destroyed by a speeding train materializes before him. He finds out that Doc Brown is trapped somewhere in the past and that he must travel back in time to save Doc’s future.

episode 2: Get Tannen

While keeping an eye on young Doc Brown’s proverbial date with destiny, Marty and 1980’s Doc must prevent gang boss Kid Tannen from wreaking havoc on Marty’s family, and erasing his girlfriend from the future.

episode 3: Citizen Brown

After a rough and tumble return to the 1980’s, a time stranded Marty finds himself in a topsy-turvy version of the world lorded over by the enigmatic “First Citizen Brown”

episode 4: Double Visions

It’s time for the Hill Valley Expo! Back in 1986, Marty and first Citizen Brown must join forces to create and epic invention so that he can prevent the young Emmett Brown from making the worst mistake of his life.

episode 5: OUTATIME

Lives are changed, mysteries are solved, and paradoxes are avoided as Young Emmett seals his fate, sending Marty and Doc on a climactic chase through Hill Valley’s past, present, and future.

[Vainamoinen]

That's well worth discussing, richforce, but as we already had a thread for that (which I renamed to be more precise), I've put your post there. ;)

[Vainamoinen]

Why do both George and Marty say "Believe me, I can handle him"? A bit repetitive, eh? Especially since they're talking to each other about the same subject. :confused:

That's quite naturally a quote of the "I don't know if I can stand that kind of rejection" sort. It's repetitive to make a point. ;)

I'm taking the next quote from the insider forum, because I think it could be discussed right here. This is about "First citizen Brown":

Who says he's a bad dictator though?

I initially rejected the idea of this episode, but now that people really started thinking about it, I think that quite interesting story elements might come from it.

Possible hardcore spoilers ahead! (who knows? I could hit the nail on the head!):

Now, Doc is a genius without doubt. Someone who can invent a time machine can obviously make so many other inventions instead, inventions which might give him immense social and political power. If something happens in 1931 that changes Young Doc's philosophy or goals in life, possibly a traumatic event where the social circumstances leave him helpless and shocked, he might want to better the world with his inventions instead of dabbling in time travel, leading to a steampunky technocracy system, and he's the boss of it! But although his intentions might be noble, it's always the nature of such endeavours that people loose their way in the process, start pursuing the wrong goals or are being manipulated by others. Marty, arriving in 1986A, will have to teach this Doc Brown his philosophy again, so that FCBrown may invent a time machine for Marty to travel back to 1931 - and have another shot at setting things right with Young Doc.

[markeres]

That's quite naturally a quote of the "I don't know if I can stand that kind of rejection" sort. It's repetitive to make a point. ;)But, when that line is spoken in the movie, it's at two different times, and not in the same conversation with each other about the same subject. The "Believe me, I can handle him" line is clearly Marty talking to George and vice versa about dealing with Biff, possibly in the same conversation. It doesn't make any sense for them to say the same thing to each other like that. One of them (Marty, probably) should have said "Belive me, I can handle him, too". Or something else entirely.

[Vainamoinen]

Yeah, there's still much of an enigma in that. Maybe the sentences are spoken some episodes apart; or maybe even by an "alternate" version of the George character.

[Shadowknight1]

Or they might come up via different dialog trees. ;)

I was also thinking about First Citizen Brown. I can't really imagine any version of the Doc being evil, so it just makes sense that he probably started with noble intentions and lost his way. Though I would like to see what society would look like under his rule.

[prizna]

I posted this on the insider forum but thought id post it here aswell:

Don't know if anyone has seen the Dead Zone (TV Series) but there was an episode where there was a vision in which the main character never met his friend, he ended up going crazy and tried to kill someone all because his friend wasn't there to help him out.

Maybe in Episode 3 Citizen Brown it is a world where Doc never met Marty and maybe without Martys friendship Doc went a little crazy

[Origami]

@Markeres

It's pretty obvious that the cause behind the same line used by two characters lies within the time-traveling.

Here's a small theory. Not definite but at least should function as an example of why the same two lines are in the game:

Let's say at first George says the line "I can handle him."
Then it gets revealed that the DeLorean was send by Doc from Lone Pine Mall and undoing Marty's first time-travel to 1955. That could explain why there is art on the website for Twin Pines Mall.
But because of this George has reverted to being the wimpy version. Thus now he doesn't say the line anymore but Marty now does.

[Gogeta504]

the basic synopsis(es?) for each episode is up and I'd like to see what every one thinks

episode 4: Double Visions

It’s time for the Hill Valley Expo! Back in 1986, Marty and first Citizen Brown must join forces to create and epic invention so that he can prevent the young Emmett Brown from making the worst mistake of his life.

episode 5: OUTATIME

Lives are changed, mysteries are solved, and paradoxes are avoided as Young Emmett seals his fate, sending Marty and Doc on a climactic chase through Hill Valley’s past, present, and future.

is this suppose to be spoiler??? i mean if u read closer it has something to do with young emmet ... ( so im like WTF is going on ?!?!?):eek::D ohh well i will never know till i see it =)

[prizna]

Where are the new artworks on the BttF Game site? I cant find them?

[Origami]

^
There is only one I think. The one released in the blog?

[prizna]

Ok, they must have meant they will be on the site soon.

[Origami]

^
The art will be future posters probably. I suspect that we'll get an art with every episode released.

[markeres]

That woman? Yeah, it's not Clara.BTTF.com has her name and full body concept art: http://bttf.com/telltale-games-releases-new-art-game-play-footage.php

[LuigiHann]

Or they might come up via different dialog trees. ;)

Yeah, that's my thinking. Depending on the flow of the conversation, one or the other character will say that before going to confront Biff.


Possible hardcore spoilers ahead! (who knows? I could hit the nail on the head!):

Sounds like a Protomen (http://www.protomen.com/) album to me

[boumbh]

About the BttF small count of time periods: I would love an adventure game where you can freely go back and forth in time, interact freely within all the periods of time, watch the future change accordingly, possibly steeling random cars in the streets, and it could help if the main character had psychic powers too. Hum, but that doesn't sound like BttF, maybe I should just replay Space Quest 4, Dott, some GTA (not adventure game) and Sam & Max Season 3 or Psychonaut...
Originally Posted by PrivateJoker
If they had a mass of different time periods it wouldn't feel like BTTF
I agree with that. And for an other argument, I think that designing a whole time period is a huge work if you want to make it detailed, solid and consistent. I may be wrong and underestimate TellTales here (they already bluffed me so many times, and I haven't play all of their games yet), but, assuming that they will go with the detailed, solid and consistent stuff, I don't expect them to make dozens of time periods (even if I would enjoy it). In short: quality against quantity.
Originally Posted by prizna
I like them better as 1 big game instead of 5 small games.
Me too. But I still prefer 5 small games than 0 big game :( .
Originally Posted by richforce
the basic synopsis(es?) for each episode is up and I'd like to see what every one thinks
There is one thing I am hoping is that the game won't screw with the original time line of the movies. For example, this would mean that Marty cannot go back in time just to make Doc breaking up with Edna (is she the same character as in DotT? :D). I assume that Marty will first be the cause of Doc and Edna going out together, or the cause of Edna not dying (like in BttF3 with Clara). Also, Tannen cannot target Marty's family without Marty being himself the cause. Maybe Edna was the former Tannen's girlfriend and Marty made a fool of Tannen which makes Edna break up with him and fall in love with Doc (maybe Marty managed to make Doc punching Tannen :D sounds a bit a bit far-fetched).

[Triloge]

I wonder, since this is episodic, and looking at the descriptions of episodes 3 and 4, obviously not everything is tied up by the end of each episode, what will the cliffhangers be like? Think they can beat Part II, one of the iconic cliffhangers?
Marty: Doc! Doc! Doc!
50's Doc: Ah! A ghost!
Marty: No, Doc, it's me, it's me, it's Marty!
50's Doc: It can't be you, I just sent you back to the future!
Marty: I know Doc, you did, but I'm back. I'm back from the future!
[At this point, the camera pulls back about a foot, revealing another, previously unseen Marty]
'86 Marty: Oh, me too.
Marty: Oh man, what's going on?!?
'86 Marty: Oh, me and Doc accidentally caused a Total Event Collapse, so the universe is about to end. Or maybe just the galaxy. I don't know, I can't follow all this stuff.
Marty: So....what do we do?
'86 Marty: Hmm...let the 'To Be Continued' caption come up, watch the credits roll, and wait till next month. Something will come to me then.
Marty: Oh, okay....
TO BE CONTINUED...

(Sorry for subjecting you to that.)

[Farlander]

(Sorry for subjecting you to that.)

It's ok, I had a similar idea before :p Though at the time I didn't know how much Marty and Doc would mess up things. Judging by the episode descriptions: VERY much.

EDIT: I imagined this dialogue:
Marty from BttF2 drags Doc to his 1955 car after Doc passed out at the end of BttF2. Sees Marty and Doc from the game who have their business.
(sorry for the crudeness of the dialogue, it's just something that spontaneously appeared in my head)
Marty-BttF2: This is heavy! *releases Doc in shock and his body falls down with a bump*
Marty-Game: Oh, right, I was here at this moment. I forgot.
Marty-BttF2: All right, I'm glad Doc is here, this gives me some confidence, but... What the hell are we doing in this day AGAIN?
Marty-Game and Doc-Game look at each other. Marty-Game: Don't worry. I will rest for six months before all this shit happens. *Start to slowly walk away* Oh, and keep the letter ready. He'll have a recursion of his disbelief in Time Travel syndrome. And try to hide better in the fut... in the past, let's see how it works out, OK?
Marty-BttF2: Sure. Hey, will you at least help me drag Doc into his car? You're heavy Doc, and nothing has happened to Earth's gravitational pull yet!
Doc-Game and Marty-Game look at each other again. Doc-Game: Well it's not like we can make it any more worse. *looks at Marty-Game* And I don't want you to drop me several more times again.

[boumbh]

Lol!

'86 Marty: Oh, me too.
And then, Lauren arrives running and crying...
- Calvin, finally I found you! Georges dumped me! ... Oh, you didn't tell me you had a twin...

After that, a futuristic fridge appears from nowhere. A Libyan guy from the 22nd century comes out and shouts '55 Doc dead.

[Zepton]

Libyans... lol.

"I don't know how but they've found me... in time!!! LIBYANS!!! Seriously, how the heck did they..." *shot*

Then, the Time Train appears and smashes through the DeLorean.

Elsewhere, '15 Biff somehow stayed in 1955 after seeing Biff get the Alamanac stolen.

'15 Biff: "How could you lose it, Butthead!"

'55 Biff: "It's just a stupid book! What's the big deal, grampa?!"

'15 Biff: "Idiot, Do you realize what you've done?! Now I'll never get rich!!!"

'55 Biff: "So what should I care?! Your just some stupid ugly old man! Why would I want YOU to get rich?!"

'15 Biff: "grrrrr... BUTHEAD!!!"

'15 Biff proceeds to beat '55 Biff to death with his cane... more paradoxes ensue...

[Sausy Gibbon]

I have a theory about the First Citizen Brown thing. When we find Doc in 1931 he has devoted his life to science but his parents want him to become a lawyer, through Marty's interference Doc chooses to become a lawyer (I like to think of it as Marty mentions he will build a time machine and because he knows to much about his future his life vears on to a different path). This is the main part of my theory as Emmett becomes more wealthy and known in the Hill Valley he gains people's trust through his good deeds, like George Bailey in It's A Wonderfull Life instead of leaving for college he works at the Building and Loans Society. But First Citizen Brown is empty inside because he abbandoned his love of science this is where Marty comes in.

[Zepton]

I think... your right! Ingenious! Not sure about whether the job I being a lawyer or not but any non-sciency job could work, I think.

[Sausy Gibbon]

My theory may be even more probable because Doc's father is a Judge.

[FIGULS]

Yes, i think so...

Also it would so cool, that at the beginning of the game, we are with the libyans in the mall, and then doc goes to the future without a problem, then we would have a problem since the beginning because we change what happened in the movie, doc travel to the future, and he didnt get shot...

Marty goes home, and 6 months later, we get another delorean...but...wait what happened to the 3 movies? then, the space continuun is broken, and we must save doc...

And yes doc becomes president in 1986 an all that...but, at then end in the 5th episode, we do something that works itself to let us in the 1985 world with doc getting shot, and everything else like the movies...

I know it pretty hard, but...it would be so cool to mess the movies in the game, and the fixing it up...its like, "which reality is the right one?" kind of thing that got important in the BTTF2 movie...

i would love something like that!

[PrivateJoker]

i think Doc Brown will be evil in alternate 1986. Like really evil.

[Farlander]

I don't know where to post this thought, as it's not worth it's own thread, but I wanted to say it somewhere, and seeing as this thread's plot-related, seems to be a good choice.

Anyway, remember when people were talking, like, BttF Game should be called Back to the Future: Part IV to keep in the spirit of the movies? At first I thought of it as of a kind of logical idea, but then it struck to me: it shouldn't. Back to the Future: Part IV would be AGAINST the spirit of the movies.

Though the first Back to the Future was made as a stand-alone movie, the trilogy is still one whole story divided into parts, hence the Part II and Part III in the names. They're movie sequels, yes, but in the big picture, they're not sequels to Back to the Future. They're Parts of a big story which is called Back to the Future. And the Game is the sequel to that story (and may be even connected to it one way or another), but it's not a part of that story in any way. So, instead of Back to the Future: Part IV the better hypothetic name for the BttF game would be actually, in my opinion, Back to the Future II.

There, I said it.

[markeres]

I don't know where to post this thought, as it's not worth it's own thread, but I wanted to say it somewhere, and seeing as this thread's plot-related, seems to be a good choice.

Anyway, remember when people were talking, like, BttF Game should be called Back to the Future: Part IV to keep in the spirit of the movies? At first I thought of it as of a kind of logical idea, but then it struck to me: it shouldn't. Back to the Future: Part IV would be AGAINST the spirit of the movies.

Though the first Back to the Future was made as a stand-alone movie, the trilogy is still one whole story divided into parts, hence the Part II and Part III in the names. They're movie sequels, yes, but in the big picture, they're not sequels to Back to the Future. They're Parts of a big story which is called Back to the Future. And the Game is the sequel to that story (and may be even connected to it one way or another), but it's not a part of that story in any way. So, instead of Back to the Future: Part IV the better hypothetic name for the BttF game would be actually, in my opinion, Back to the Future II.

There, I said it.I call the "whole story" the "Back to the Future trilogy", which still allows I, II & III to be their own distinct parts while encompassing the whole story. What we know of the game so far seems to imply that the story will only equal the plot of one of the Back to the Future movies (two main time periods). Which is where my disappointment earlier in the thread stems from, since the game could have been a "Back to the Future Trilogy II". Instead it looks like it will only be "Back to the Future IV". Absolutely nothing wrong with that and it's what fans have been hungering for for a long time, but there will always be that little bit of niggling disappointment in the back of my head that the game could have contained more story and time periods to make it a "second trilogy" (though that disappointment will disappear immediately if a sequel game is announced :)).

[Farlander]

(two main time periods).

I won't argue about your post, this is a matter of opinion, I've stated mine, you've stated yours, but I do want to say something about this particular argument about two main time periods being equal one movie.

The whole movie trilogy basically has two main time periods. 1955 and, either 1985 or 1885... I guess 1885. 2015 and each variant of the 1985s (there's basically three in the trilogy) is shown pretty briefly, not enough to call either one of them 'main' (though, together, year 1985 could be called a main year, yes, but that give us then three main time periods). Still, Marty and Doc spend most of their time in 1955 and 1885.

[markeres]

The whole movie trilogy basically has two main time periods. 1955 and, either 1985 or 1885... I guess 1885. 2015 and each variant of the 1985s (there's basically three in the trilogy) is shown pretty briefly, not enough to call either one of them 'main' (though, together, year 1985 could be called a main year, yes, but that give us then three main time periods).I count five main time periods throughout the trilogy:

-1985
-1955
-2015
-1985A
-1885

I define "main time period" as one where Marty and/or Doc spend more than 10 minutes of screen time in one of the movies. Almost 40 minutes of BTTFII takes place in 2015, so it is a "main time period". And I do count 1985A as a distinct time period (just as I count 1986A as a distinct time period in the game) because it's essentially a completely different world that just happens to have the same year number.

[Farlander]

I count five main time periods throughout the trilogy:

-1985
-1955
-2015
-1985A
-1885

I define "main time period" as one where Marty and/or Doc spend more than 10 minutes of screen time in one of the movies. Almost 40 minutes of BTTFII takes place in 2015, so it is a "main time period". And I do count 1985A as a distinct time period (just as I count 1986A as a distinct time period in the game) because it's essentially a completely different world that just happens to have the same year number.

Well, that's again, matter of perception. There isn't a single time period where Marty and/or Doc spend less than 10 minutes in, btw. I define 'main time period' as their time spent on screen in comparison to other time periods (note that in the following table I don't count overlapping minutes in the endings/beginnings of the movies):

1985 Original - 31 minutes
1955 - 156 minutes (70 minutes BttF1 + 40 minutes BttF2 + 16 minutes BttF3)
1985 New - 20 minutes (11 minutes BttF1 + 9 minutes BttF3)
2015 - 34 minutes
1985A - 24 minutes
1885 - 83 minutes
1985 (all variants) - 75 minutes

So, 1955 is THE main period of the whole BttF trilogy (it's equivalent in the game seems to be 1931), followed by 1885, and possibly 1985 if we take all 1985s together. But each particular 1985 and 2015 are clearly (by my method of judging, that is) not main compared to 1885 and 1955. So, until we see the game we can't say for sure if it's equivalent of one movie or of one trilogy.

[markeres]

Well, that's again, matter of perception. There isn't a single time period where Marty and/or Doc spend less than 10 minutes in, btw. I define 'main time period' as their time spent on screen in comparison to other time periods (note that in the following table I don't count overlapping minutes in the endings/beginnings of the movies):

*snip*OK, I see what you're saying now. In that case, yes, 1955 and 1885 would be the main time periods of the trilogy overall. I'm talking more in terms of the main time periods per movie: the main time periods of BTTF are 1985 and 1955; BTTFII 2015, 1985A, and 1955; and BTTFIII 1955 and 1885 (plus a bit of 1985). Going by that logic, the game appears to only contain about the amount of "main time periods per movie" as one of the movies.

[Farlander]

OK, I see what you're saying now. In that case, yes, 1955 and 1885 would be the main time periods of the trilogy overall. I'm talking more in terms of the main time periods per movie: the main time periods of BTTF are 1985 and 1955; BTTFII 2015, 1985A, and 1955; and BTTFIII 1955 and 1885 (plus a bit of 1985). Going by that logic, the game appears to only contain about the amount of "main time periods per movie" as one of the movies.

I understand what you're saying too, but I've still made the key word bold. ;) But as I said, we still have to see if the season is a 'movie' (where the main period is counted 'per movie') or a trilogy (where the main period is counted overall). It's just that I'm inclined to think the 'trilogy' way still because it seems we will RETURN to 1931 in later episodes, and we never return to the same time period (if we count 1985s in BttF1 as different time periods, they are alternates after all) in any single BttF movie, leading me to the thought that a movie in the game-verse is 1.7-2 episodes.

But, as I said, we still will have to see how it all turns out.

[Vainamoinen]

As much as I agree on many of those points, I think the comparison is hard to make. The thoughts on TTG's design team weren't: "How much of the movie is an episode?", but "How much time do we need to establish the characters in a given time period?". Hence the probably rather uneven distribution of time periods throughout the episodes.

[Farlander]

The thoughts on TTG's design team weren't: "How much of the movie is an episode?"

I would kill them if they'd thought like that :p

[Farlander]

It's a movie. With, most likely, one main time period :) The first episode is roughly 20-25 minutes of cinematic experience, so to speak.

[markeres]

It's a movie. With, most likely, one main time period :) The first episode is roughly 20-25 minutes of cinematic experience, so to speak.Exactly. Although, seeing as how we're spending the entirety of episode 3 in 1986A and probably part of episode 4 as well, I think we can say there are 1.5 main time periods (at least). But, yeah, 24 minutes of "movie time" per episode to make a 2 hour movie/game overall seems like how this is going to shake out.

[Farlander]

You know, I've watched the video game walkthrough (approximately one hour thirty minutes, no optional dialogs or anything), and after trying to make a movie material out of everything in my head, you know, what to cut, what to leave, what to shorten and how, this and that, I can't imagine it being compressed into 25 minutes, there isn't much stuff to leave (unlike, let's say, ToMI, which could be actually trimmed so every episode would take 20-30 minutes and nothing plot-essential would be left out).

But with BttF, you know, there aren't much things that could be easily totally left out (i.e. not stay in their original/trimmed variant). You know, apart from the Biff/Guitar thing at the beginning, recording Tannen to lure out Artie (also recording Emmett, it's possible to make him trust Marty more easily), and maybe calling Brown's residence from the Soup Kitchen (Doc can say straight away that he worked in the courthouse) all the other puzzle/dialog sequences feel important (and should be included, even if in a trimmed way), and that's somewhere 40-45 minutes of footage.

Maybe it's nor a trilogy nor a movie, but a two-parter?

[Farlander]

Interesting thing I noticed in BttF's time travel - it seems that the 'past' events stay 'implanted' in history even if you change the future. Like, Marty's still in 1955 even when 1985A is created where Doc DOESN'T create a time machine (he's in asylum) and Marty can't possibly be sent to 1955. Or old Biff - in the future of 1955/1985 he will never steal the DeLorean (the future will be vastly different), yet he will still be implanted in the same 1955.

So as long as you don't change the past from the even further past (when it's the changeable future) - it stays. In the movies the pinpoint year is 1955 which changes everything (1885 doesn't have those big repercussions on the timeline... well, at least we're not shown any, though it might) - it defines the characters and the future of George/Lorraine/Biff, it gives Doc even more reason to continue with science as he'll create the Time Machine, it gives Marty himself some valuable experience etc. etc.

But in the game, this pin-point year will be totally messed up by Marty in 1931, leading to another absolutely new chain of events. Now. What if by fixing 'the future', Marty won't bring back all what happened in the movies? What if Marty will change Arthur's character, making him raise his son differently, making George more confident from the start and rendering Marty 'useless' as a catalyst of the changes. What if Doc learns about building the Time Machine in 1931? We know that Marty and Doc will race through time to fix everything. But 'fix' doesn't mean 'return to the state as it was'. What if the game will end with the Twin Pines Mall scene where Doc, while explaining to Marty how the Time Machine works, will put down the date of his inspiration 1931 (where Marty will accidentally go while being chased by Libyans)? Or some other twist? All those questions pondering... well, we'll see what it will turn into :)

[LuigiHann]

Maybe it's nor a trilogy nor a movie, but a two-parter?
Maybe it's a five-episode miniseries? People keep trying to associate it 1:1 with something that has already happened in the series, but the fact is that it's totally different from anything that has been done, and I don't think it fits any analogy.