Dear Telltale...

[Planex]

========EDIT========
In response to everyone who has posted a reply to this, let me be clear: My sole reason for this post is to address the fact that The Walking Dead is a point-and-click game, but such information is not given on the game's Steam store page.
========END EDIT========




Dear Telltale Games,
Please take the following as a bit of advice with no intent of malice or offense:

I'd love to buy The Walking Dead, but not without knowing what it's all about and frankly, Telltale, you have done a really sh*tty job of marketing it. Steam lists the genre as "adventure." That's pretty F*cking vague. On top of that your trailers and screenshots on the Steam store show only bits of cut scenes or random in-game stills. Honestly, I don't think it's too much to ask that you provide me with a good idea of what I'm getting for my $25. When I see your game advertised at a Point of Sale, should I really then have to go poking around the internet just to find out if the game is first person or third person?

So what kind of game is this? What do you actually do? Do you get weapons or do you always run away? Do you have to solve puzzles or just make it from point A to point B alive?

Please consider this in future advertisements.

Signed,
Planex

[L1qu1dat1on]

Dear Telltale Games,
Please take the following as a bit of advice with no intent of malice or offense:

I'd love to buy The Walking Dead, but not without knowing what it's all about and frankly, Telltale, you have done a really sh*tty job of marketing it. Steam lists the genre as "adventure." That's pretty F*cking vague. On top of that your trailers and screenshots on the Steam store show only bits of cut scenes or random in-game stills. Honestly, I don't think it's too much to ask that you provide me with a good idea of what I'm getting for my $25. When I see your game advertised at a Point of Sale, should I really then have to go poking around the internet just to find out if the game is first person or third person?

So what kind of game is this? What do you actually do? Do you get weapons or do you always run away? Do you have to solve puzzles or just make it from point A to point B alive?

Please consider this in future advertisements.

Signed,
Planex

This will get deleted so Fast i might not even be able to read it:)

Alright, I read it now and don't want to be affiliated with this poster's remark. A simple Google Search would've cured it:) or read reviews, or video reviews....

[tolli]

I completely agree. I would love to play this game also. Oh wait, there still isn't a release date or eta for IOS version. Instead of having a time frame I have to continuously check the site or forum to see if there is any news. Which I'm sure that's what telltale wants. I don't understand the marketing when u know u have tons of people waiting for any news about the Iowa version and the only reply we get is there is no eta. So instead just set a date for today and not deliver and have someone else deliver the game and everyone complains about glitches etc. I along with a lot of others r left in the dark getting more pissed by the second but hey as long as telltale gets their money who cares.

[Planex]

A simple Google Search would've cured it:) or read reviews, or video reviews....

The entire point was that I shouldn't have to. I mean, they are actually trying to sell copies of this game, right?

[L1qu1dat1on]

The entire point was that I shouldn't have to. I mean, they are actually trying to sell copies of this game, right?

Trust me, the fact that it's hard to describe the game should be a good thing. Try a google search I'm sure we do for even the games we know how they play such as cod and Crysis...

This just seems like knit picking imo, but you are entitled to your opinion.

If any1 is a Shenmue fan, I'd just like to refer to it as the QTE games:)

[Planex]

I along with a lot of others r left in the dark getting more pissed by the second but hey as long as telltale gets their money who cares.

Well, vote with your wallet. If you don't buy the game then they won't get their money.

[L1qu1dat1on]

Well, vote with your wallet. If you don't buy the game then they won't get their money.

There is definitely a lesson in this, I wouldn't go as far as buying but from now on...I mean I won't but still, pre ordering is for suckers;) <---This I'm going to promise!

Learned my lesson the hardway twice:

Sonic Generations (at least this booted up and there was a manual fix)
Walking dead

[Irishmile]

the "Adventure" Genre has been around as long as PC gaming has existed...
TTG makes adventure games...

They have shown gameplay on their own website..

[Planex]

Try a google search I'm sure we do for even the games we know how they play such as cod and Crysis

I didn't have to. Infinity Ward and EA did such a good job marketing those games that I knew what I was getting before I bought them.

[ajvizz]

I think they did an excellent job at advertising it. I never pre-order games... but I did for Walking Dead. They had that nice one-on-one with Robert Kirkman about the story/characters, a few trailers and then enough gameplay not to ruin the game.

[Irishmile]

EA is one of the biggest corporations in the world.. they spend more on marketing games then most games cost to make... FYI.

[L1qu1dat1on]

I didn't have to. Infinity Ward and EA did such a good job marketing those games that I knew what I was getting before I bought them.

Really? hmmm

I had to search google for COd to see if it was completely the same as 2 and Crysis 2 if it was open world like the first.

:)

P.S

Both Disappointed:) but they were decent games. I still play Cod.

[Desmodus87]

If you watched the videos hosted on thewalkingdeadgame.com, you would've seen some of the game play. It is also pretty easy to find around 10 minutes of game play on youtube.com. I agree that maybe stills weren't the best way to go, but I doubt Steam would want to host a walk through of the game.
Tolli, with the quick responses from mods, admins, and programmers alike, I'm surprised that you're acting like Telltale is simply after money. They're a business, of course they want money, but they take care of their customers and make the business feel very friendly and personal. With as hard as they're working to identify what's causing the bugs (which, as far as I can see, is usually a user's problem such as having out of date equipment), it's hardly a "we have your money now p*ss off" situation.

[Planex]

the "Adventure" Genre has been around as long as PC gaming has existed...
TTG makes adventure games... They have shown gameplay on their own website..

If you watched the videos hosted on thewalkingdeadgame.com, you would've seen some of the game play.

As I said, "Adventure" is far too vague for the current state of the gaming world. And again, why aren't these videos shown at Point of Sale? Why do I have to go to an outside site and track them down?

[anonymousmagic]

Telltale did 3 episodes of a behind the scenes making of the game and the last show (with Kirkman had actual gameplay on show. It is an adventure game as everyone knows it. You point and click to get around, find items and make choices, but all your choices have consequences and not just for the episode you make them in. If you visit IGN or Youtube, you can easily find additional footage to make your decision, but really the "Playing Dead" behind the scenes video should be enough.

[L1qu1dat1on]

If you watched the videos hosted on thewalkingdeadgame.com, you would've seen some of the game play. It is also pretty easy to find around 10 minutes of game play on youtube.com. I agree that maybe stills weren't the best way to go, but I doubt Steam would want to host a walk through of the game.
Tolli, with the quick responses from mods, admins, and programmers alike, I'm surprised that you're acting like Telltale is simply after money. They're a business, of course they want money, but they take care of their customers and make the business feel very friendly and personal. With as hard as they're working to identify what's causing the bugs (which, as far as I can see, is usually a user's problem such as having out of date equipment), it's hardly a "we have your money now p*ss off" situation.

To be fair all companies would do that if they could, and private companies need to play it extra safe;)

[Gennadios]

The entire point was that I shouldn't have to. I mean, they are actually trying to sell copies of this game, right?

Way to be a responsible consumer. Nothing like buying random games based on pretty pictures and marketing hyperbole.

[Planex]

You point and click to get around

THANK YOU! Seriously, I mean it. That one sentence told me more about the game than all of the information on the Steam store page.

[Irishmile]

... Uh... Its ON their website.. multiple videos.. some with gameplay.

[L1qu1dat1on]

Way to be a responsible consumer. Nothing like buying random games based on pretty pictures and marketing hyperbole.

I wish I said this:) Unfortunately this is true for some and untrue for most...such as the wide spread boot problems ppl are having.

Sigh*

[Planex]

Way to be a responsible consumer.

That argument is so false I don't even know how to being tackling it. I'm asking them to market better and you're telling me to... what? Shop harder? That's not how capitalism works - not if you want to actually sell your product anyway.

[TokingMonkey]

Seriously buddy, please learn a little about game development and marketing before you project your ignorance on innocent bystanders. As much as I'm sure Telltale would love to knock on your door personally, present you with a live performance of the first 10 minutes by the staff then give you a blow job and steak dinner before leaving...they have a little thing called a budget. I'm sure they make the best effort they can with the resources afforded them.

People are getting a little too spoiled :/

[Planex]

As much as I'm sure Telltale would love to knock on your door personally, present you with a live performance of the first 10 minutes by the staff then give you a blow job and steak dinner before leaving...they have a little thing called a budget.

Reposting to Steam a few higher quality videos (which they've already produced) isn't going to cost them much in terms of how many more units they're likely to sell.

[HelloCthulhu]

As I said, "Adventure" is far too vague for the current state of the gaming world.

Actually, the definition of "Adventure game" has not changed since its inception. Monkey Island? Full Throttle? Maniac Mansion? All adventure games. The fact you are confused by this is partially willful ignorance and partially the gaming industry's fault for coining phrases such as "Action/Adventure." Adventure games are now as they always have been: puzzle based games with an objective driving the player to solve them.

[L1qu1dat1on]

Actually, the definition of "Adventure game" has not changed since its inception. Monkey Island? Full Throttle? Maniac Mansion? All adventure games. The fact you are confused by this is partially willful ignorance and partially the gaming industry's fault for coining phrases such as "Action/Adventure." Adventure games are now as they always have been: puzzle based games with an objective driving the player to solve them.

I loved MANIAC MANSION! + Hugo's House of Horrors!

[tolli]

I have read all the info, watched all the videos, checked the site every couple of hours and still nothing on an iOS release date. I say I've been pretty rabid trying to get any kind of answer other then "we don't have an eta ". Sounds like horse shit. Let's release an anticipated game to all platforms but lets only release it to Mac and pc first and fuck that release up while we r at it. I have am iPad screw a Mac or pc.

[Dameon2k]

Adventure games is not vague. It is a category. This current generations need to break everything down is annoying. I remember when you different types of music and one was Rock. Now there are 20 sub categories of rock and why? Is it truly necessary. An adventure game is an adventure game. It isn't an action/adventure game. It isn't an action game. It isn't an RPG. It isn't a FPS. So what is so hard about adventure game?

No sir what I think you are trying to get at is how this particular adventure game plays out. There are plenty of videos on here and youtube that show that. I always look at gameplay videos before I purchase a game. It should be common practice and not considered extra work.

[Planex]

Adventure games are now as they always have been: puzzle based games with an objective driving the player to solve them.

You do realize that "puzzle based games with an objective" is vague, right? Is Half-Life a puzzle based game? Yes. Is it a first person shooter? Yes. Is Minecarft a puzzle based game? No. Is it an adventure game? Yes.

All an adventure game means is that you're doing something adventurous. Hence... you know... the word "adventure." It says nothing of how the game actually PLAYS.

[HelloCthulhu]

Reposting to Steam a few higher quality videos (which they've already produced) isn't going to cost them much in terms of how many more units they're likely to sell.

Oh well if you are going to complain that you had to go to the actual developer's site to watch the videos I have only one thing to say to you, sir.
http://www.holytaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/funny-gifs-terminaters-gonna-terminate.gif

[HelloCthulhu]

You do realize that "puzzle based games with an objective" is vague, right? Is Half-Life a puzzle based game? Yes. Is it a first person shooter? Yes. Is Minecarft a puzzle based game? No. Is it an adventure game? Yes.

Actually...no it isn't. Its a crappy rpg.

[L1qu1dat1on]

Actually...no it isn't. Its a crappy rpg.

I'd say it's more of sandbox creation game. I don't see RPG elements implemented into it. At least with a function:)

[Planex]

Actually...no it isn't. Its a crappy rpg.

That doesn't disprove my argument... You want to take another crack at that?

[HelloCthulhu]

That doesn't disprove my argument... You want to take another crack at that?

Um...you realize rpgs are a completely different genre of games, right?

Here, I'll do it for you.

http://bit.ly/I3Qa4H

[Planex]

Um...you realize rpgs are a completely different genre of games, right?

What I'm saying is that "adventure" does not adequately describe the mode of play.

[jimrad1]

Have to agree with Planex really. Until recently I was still not fully convinced I had a real grasp of the gameplay mechanics. I had a vague idea, but had no idea if you could walk around using WASD or was it more point and click. Even with the trailers it was very vague on just how you control the character. I just went with what I knew about Jurassic Park. Which was not great to go by since the game suffered using those mechanics. Im glad its been improved on but still, it was very vague information.

Granted Ive an idea how Adventure games work, big fan of Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle and all the classics really but it was still vague. There have been some examples of adventure games that required you to use WASD and control the character more. Grim Fandango I thought was an adventure game but you could control his movement via WASD. Older version of the MYST series as well. Point and click movement would of been enough for me to know the mechanics a little better.

[HelloCthulhu]

*points to his edit above.*

[HelloCthulhu]

They are porting to consoles so you know wasd will be in there... thats kind of a no brainer. Plus if you checked out any of telltale's work prior to the jurassic park debacle you will see that both mouse and wasd are pretty important.

[Planex]

*points to his edit above.*

Point to my last post and wait for you to make an intelligible argument that fits the context, which I reiterate is mode of play.

[TokingMonkey]

The bottom line is the information is extremely easy to find. You're overreacting. Most people who want to learn more about a game check 1up, ign, giantbomb, kotaku, etc. All of these sites, which are mainstream and accessible have the information you crave; and I guarantee you all of them have posted previews of the game. The information is more then clear on the developers website, it's got more then enough info on steam. And #1, no one is making you buy the game. If you're "curious" about it, but not convinced, either do some more research or simply don't buy the game. Telltale would love nothing more then to gain more exposure, but hey, thems the breaks.

[HelloCthulhu]

*points to his post* A little research into the company you are planning on putting money into would have told you the answers you were looking for. Hell, even youtube have recognized that telltale is one of the only companies still making adventure games.

[TokingMonkey]

*points to his post* A little research into the company you are planning on putting money into would have told you the answers you were looking for. Hell, even youtube have recognized that telltale is one of the only companies still making adventure games.

Exactly, this is the internet. There's almost no excuse besides laziness to be ignorant.

[HelloCthulhu]

here, want a walkthrough? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RcdoFoDamE&feature=g-u-u&context=G2b553c7FUAAAAPAAJAA IGDaily did one.

[Planex]

...Telltale would love nothing more then to gain more exposure, but hey, thems the breaks.

I agree with most of what you said, but there is a difference between no marketing (Telltale obviously has some) and poor marketing (ie show you a few select clips, but provide very little specific information when given the opportunity). I guarantee Telltale chose the limited amount of information they gave to Steam for advertising purposes. If not, they should be contacting Steam for better and more proper representation of their product.

[Planex]

A little research into the company you are planning on putting money into would have told you the answers you were looking for.

My point visa vi the mode of play argument was that they aren't representing their product very well through the means of marketing. If your argument is that I should have to market their product to myself, then... then there is no argument. We agree that their marketing is bad.

[HelloCthulhu]

I don't know about you, but if I'm excited about a game that is coming out, nobody has to tell me anything about the game to get me to know about it. I go find that information. Maybe that makes me a rare breed, but if I am interested in something I invest time in finding out about it.

[jimrad1]

And irregardless, its a great game, well for those who can play without a problem right now. ouch, feel bad for those stuck without answers to the run problem.

Its just a little more info would not have hurt anything. There is actually nothing on STEAM that even alludes to the movement mechanics. More info is never a bad thing, and the less hunting anyone has to do the better.

One should never preorder anyway, until he/she reads what a game is about, how well its received ect ect ect. I never preorder, will never preorder. In the older days of retail you did this to guarantee yourself a copy. Today with instant access there is just no need to do that in this day and age of STEAM and downloadable services. To me personally, its not worth burning money on preorder items that really dont add much to the gameplay versus the amount of money I may lose if the game is a dog.

[Azukaos]

If your argument is that I should have to market their product to myself, then my point remains valid.

You are just too lazy to google what you want to know, the official site and youtube can provide you information, you just don't want to move to find it.

It's not TTG fault, nor steam, if you can't "point and click" what you want to know about the game.

[HelloCthulhu]

My point visa vi the mode of play argument was that they aren't representing their product very well through the means of marketing. If your argument is that I should have to market their product to myself, then... then there is no argument. We agree that their marketing is bad.

And by the by, telltale themselves took part in that walkthrough I posted. Marketing is not the problem.

[Planex]

It's not TTG fault, nor steam, if you can't "point and click" what you want to know about the game.

I pointed and clicked on an advertisement on Steam in order to garner more information. The page it brought me to (The Walking Dead store page) did not provide adequate information about the game - which is, except for purchase of the product, the sole purpose of that page. I don't think it's too much to ask that if Telltale wants to sell me their product they identify it as "point and click." I am, of course, assuming that they actually want to sell me on their product.