Ice Station Santa! Nov 9th

[Jake]

Hey the Ice Station Santa trailer's up on the Season Two website (http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmaxseasontwo) if you guys want to check it out.

Some more screenshots and gameplay videos coming up in a few minutes.

[Laserschwert]

Mh... somehow the trailer doesn't flow as nicely as the ones for Season 1 (or the S2-trailer)... although I like the trailer being "The Thing"-like with an 80s B-movie touch to it, but still, it feels a little to choppy in the end.

Ah, whatever, I bet the episode is still going to be awesome!

[Zeek]

DUDE!!! Talk about epic!

I take it you took our overwhelming positive responce to the last three trailers of Season 1, combined it with the rabid positive feedback on the Cinematic Trailer, and produced this knowing full well the fans would eat it up like a bucket of candy left out in the open of a kindergarten class? If so, major kudos for you!

*runs off to watch it again and again and again*

EDIT: So, let's start speculating! Was that Mack Salmon in the trailer?

[Rasher]

I thought it was awesome! Yes, it was choppy with frequent cuts from scene to scene. I though all that chaos made it seem scarier. I love the survival horror it has going on. I've always loved horror.

I don't expect anything Sam and MAx to be really scary though, just cartoon scary. I love Santa.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

The start of the trailer was epic.
Said 'Ice Station Santa' on the voice over too many times.
Did feel a tad choppy, like others had said.
In the trailer it looks like Sybil's has been burried under rocks... big rubble pile next to the office?
Bosco putting that present down the chute... interesting...
The ending joke with Bosco was just too funny. :DOverall? I can't wait. Bring on those screenshots and gameplay videos (oh I shouldn't, but I must!).

[unsilviu]

Cool!

[Harald B]

Less impressive than the Season Two trailer, but still quite good. And it certainly allows me to maintain my stellar expectations for Season Two without any doubt creeping in.
I somehow only got the sound to not be choppy by restarting Firefox, but I blame that on Firefox. Otherwise it was a bit frantic visually, but nice.
Is that voice-over new? Somehow sounds different from the previous one.

[Dangerzone]

gametap launched their updated season (http://www.gametap.com/samandmax/) 2 website and they have their own trailer up on the client

[tabacco]

Previous voiceover? You might have to be more specific.

[Badwolf]

Awesome. I notice the road down the side of Sybil's seems to have been blocked up with a wall...

Probably not a spoiler really, but spoilering it anyway for people who really don't want to hear anything more about the game until it's released =P.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

gametap launched their updated season (http://www.gametap.com/samandmax/) 2 website and they have their own trailer up on the client

I don't see it. Does "on the client" mean, like, on that thing you download to run Gametap?
*has no idea how Gametap works*

[Dangerzone]

by "client" i mean in the program you download.... yes, not the website

its the first in the playlist on the home page when you first log on

[Harald B]

Previous voiceover? You might have to be more specific.D'oh. Come to think of it, I was probably confusing the telltale trailers with the gametap ones. Either that or I was thinking of the S1 E3 trailer; or possibly the CSI4 trailers. Ok, I withdraw the question.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

by "client" i mean in the program you download.... yes, not the website

its the first in the playlist on the home page when you first log on

Since I don't have that... is it good?

[Badwolf]

I'm going to give the Gametap trailers a miss this time round, until I finish the respective episode. They spoilt way too much of Season 1 for me.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Gamespot have beaten Telltale to posting the images.
Link! (http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/sammaxepisode201/images.html?mode=official) Hello world, we're the COPS!

[Harald B]

So has Adventure Gamers (http://www.adventuregamers.com/gallery.php?id=1012), a few hours ago. I was about to post about it when Jake posted.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Jake, define 'a few minutes'. ;)

[Jake]

Said 'Ice Station Santa' on the voice over too many times.


Dude (http://www.retrojunk.com/details_trailer.php?main_id=1376&trailer_id=336&play=y). Dunno (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3PuIBNLOeEU).

[Dedlok]

I liked the trailer and how old horror movie-esque it was. :D

Am I the only one that saw that snow angel that Sam and Max was looking at and thoght "Mazinger"? lol

And I think that the fish they showed was just Mr. Spatula. Looked like it was in thier office. Could be wrong tho.

[Harald B]

Looked like Mr. Spatula except that it had eyebrows. But maybe it's just Red Herring.

[Dangerzone]

Mr. spatula is max salmon, everyone knows this.....

[Zeek]

Looked like Mr. Spatula except that it had eyebrows. But maybe it's just Red Herring.

That kid from A Pup Named Scooby Doo?

[Badwolf]

I used to love A Pup Named Scooby Doo, then I watched it 5 years later and wanted to go back and give my 5 year younger self a beating for his taste in cartoons (same goes for Tom and Jerry Kids).

Also,

Am I the only one that saw that snow angel that Sam and Max was looking at and thoght "Mazinger"? lol

Sure it's not more of a snow devil? =P

[Dedlok]

I used to love A Pup Named Scooby Doo, then I watched it 5 years later and wanted to go back and give my 5 year younger self a beating for his taste in cartoons (same goes for Tom and Jerry Kids).


I know the feeling. Shortly after I got Satellite and I saw it listed on the guide and watched it and I couldn't believe I used to like it. It was just so awful.

[Harald B]

Same here. Deliciously campy though. And I still watch all kinds of cartoons I probably shouldn't.

[Badwolf]

I still watch Arthur, and only realised how bad Mona the Vampire was when I was 15 :<

EDIT: So, how about that Ice Station Santa then? I hear they've got trailers for that thing now.

[Chuck]

I think it's hilarious how we kept encouraging Jake to put the title voice-over in one extra time, and that's the first thing somebody complains about.

[Zeek]

I think it's hilarious how we kept encouraging Jake to put the title voice-over in one extra time, and that's the first thing somebody complains about.

Hey, I liked it because it was a nice refferance to those B-horrors you wouldn't associate with Christmas movies... well, almost.

*looks at the screenshots* OMG!! Elmo on a torture rack?! I thought the trailer showed that toy on Sam & Max's noose tree!

[Udvarnoky]

Dude (http://www.retrojunk.com/details_trailer.php?main_id=1376&trailer_id=336&play=y). Dunno (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3PuIBNLOeEU).

The Watcher in the Woods is the quintessential movie you see as a kid, think is brilliant, and then when you revisit years later realize is actually pretty horrible.

I could definitely still watch Return to Oz and, depending on my mood, Something Wicked This Way Comes though.

[Hero1]

Well I thought the trailer was pretty crap.. but anyway I love the look of Santa, and his voice.. So well done and just fits in with the Sam & Max world nicely

[Jake]

The Watcher in the Woods is the quintessential movie you see as a kid, think is brilliant, and then when you revisit years later realize is actually pretty horrible.

I could definitely still watch Return to Oz and, depending on my mood, Something Wicked This Way Comes though.

Yeah I just... watched... the Watcher in the Woods a few weeks ago with some friends. It's amazing how horrible it is. The DVD has a few alternate endings as well, none of which are any good either. I like seeing stuff like that, though, where you can tell that at the time someone else also realized that it wasn't turning out right, and tried (and failed) to fix it.

Well I thought the trailer was pretty crap..
Ouch! Kids today :(

[Hero1]

Well I'm just saying if I showed this trailer to my non-Sam & Max loving friends to convince them to buy episode 1.. I'm not sure it would work.. a little too all over the place

[Jake]

Fair enough. (It's also fine to just hate it, too.) We just try to make something that we think is funny. That might not always be the best move, but it's guaranteed that some people will like it or be intrigued by it... and we do a new trailer every month, so hopefully some will be more to your (or your friends) liking. Also, I imagine that the game will be more to your liking. (If only because the game isn't a send-up of a poor early 80s horror movie trailer.)

[Udvarnoky]

Yeah I just... watched... the Watcher in the Woods a few weeks ago with some friends. It's amazing how horrible it is. The DVD has a few alternate endings as well, none of which are any good either. I like seeing stuff like that, though, where you can tell that at the time someone else also realized that it wasn't turning out right, and tried (and failed) to fix it.


The story behind Watcher in the Woods is actually a lot longer and wackier than that. It had different versions and re-shoots and re-edits and director firings and everything. My understanding is that the alternate endings aren't even representative of how the film was originally intended to be, and that the Anchor Bay DVD was supposed to attempt to re-create the film's initial test screening before Disney started altering it, but Disney did not allow that to happen. See this (http://www.geocities.com/ditcin4/watcherinthewoods.html) for some interesting stuff (particularly "The Mystery Behind the Mystery" article).

All that said, I can't imagine any possible edit of the movie could be a substantial improvement seeing as the terrible acting is my main issue with it. Still, it's too bad the "real" version everyone seems to assume was amazing isn't available because I'd be curious. Bottom line though I think it's one of those movies that people hold close to their hearts because it was that obscure movie that freaked them out as a kid, which I can totally relate to, but it simply doesn't hold up.

Ice Station Santa.

[pheeph]

hmm... Christmas gone wrong?

[Kitmit13]

I havn't seen it yet but I will in a min OMG I am so excited *clicks link* sqqquuee

[Diduz]

I think it's hilarious how we kept encouraging Jake to put the title voice-over in one extra time, and that's the first thing somebody complains about.

I thought the reiteration of the "Ice Station Santa" line was the FUNNIEST thing in the trailer! It sounded SO incoherently serious and dumb... a blast. :D
I'm more concerned about the main street I see behind Sam in one brief moment. It's still the same from S1.... :rolleyes: I hope there are many new different things around to watch and to interact with.

[Badwolf]

It's still the same from S1.... :rolleyes: I hope there are many new different things around to watch and to interact with.

I don't know, there looked to be a few changes, like the wall down the side of Sybil's which wasn't there before, and the crack in the road.

[Zeek]

I don't know, there looked to be a few changes, like the wall down the side of Sybil's which wasn't there before, and the crack in the road.

I liked the new animation Wizzer has where his face tenses up as the snowball hits him. :D

[Jake]

I thought the reiteration of the "Ice Station Santa" line was the FUNNIEST thing in the trailer! It sounded SO incoherently serious and dumb... a blast. :D
I'm more concerned about the main street I see behind Sam in one brief moment. It's still the same from S1.... :rolleyes: I hope there are many new different things around to watch and to interact with.

You'll just have to wait and see, won't you? :)

[Diduz]

You'll just have to wait and see, won't you? :)

You bet I will!!!! :p
I can't wait to see Sam & Max running. I laughed hard when I first saw them doing that in 105!!!!

[Murray the Chao]

I don't recall them doing that in 105, only in 103, in the end.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I don't recall them doing that in 105, only in 103, in the end.

When you shrink them in Reality 2.0, they run.

[anyoung]

A new season already! Yay, you guys are great and the first episode comes out on my birthday. What a great present! When can I give you my money?

[Zeek]

I'm just curious as to how they will start their missions if they are not going to get the traditional call from the commissioner now... should be fun to see.

[Maratanos]

The start of the trailer was epic.
Said 'Ice Station Santa' on the voice over too many times.
Did feel a tad choppy, like others had said.
In the trailer it looks like Sybil's has been burried under rocks... big rubble pile next to the office?
Bosco putting that present down the chute... interesting...
The ending joke with Bosco was just too funny. :DOverall? I can't wait. Bring on those screenshots and gameplay videos (oh I shouldn't, but I must!).


One more for you:


It looks like (and of course, I could be wrong) the game is gonna start with someone Max doesn't like showing up in their office, based on the two shots we see of max threatening someone there.

[Kitmit13]

Im getting more and more excited! I seriosuly can't wait! I love the feature where you can hit the soda poppers with a snowball that way both soda popper lovers and haters are happy!

[Lucien21]

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26759.html

Interview with Dan Conners at E for all

[Guybrush Threepwood]

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26759.html

Interview with Dan Conners at E for all

Garghhhh! Easter Island for episode 2! I didn't want to know that...! :mad: I take it all the episodes are going to be based around events at that time of the year?

[Hero1]

what are you talking about? easter island sounds great..volcano's and talking stone heads..love it!

[Dedlok]

Ya. Can't wait to hear some interactions and reactions Max will have w/ the Giant Stone Heads. :D

Tho I'll miss the calls from the Commish :/

[Emily]

I take it all the episodes are going to be based around events at that time of the year?

Err, no... Easter Island doesn't actually have anything to do with Easter.

(Also I don't consider that a spoiler -- we started telling press a very little bit about episode 202 at E for All, and the location of the episode was one of the few things we divulged. It was something that would have had to come out eventually. ;))

[Marty]

yes, now im looking foward to ep 2 already :D

[xChri5x]

I love easter island. I have a cottage there. Nice view. Damn locals though.... you know how it is...

[Kitmit13]

I wonder if we will learn more about episode 2 from episode 1. I would be nice. I like things to follow onto each other so we can discuss theories...if you understand what I mean ^^;

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Err, no... Easter Island doesn't actually have anything to do with Easter.

(Also I don't consider that a spoiler -- we started telling press a very little bit about episode 202 at E for All, and the location of the episode was one of the few things we divulged. It was something that would have had to come out eventually. ;))

Ahh, trust me not to actually think of the Easter Island. Now I look like an idiot! :D

Hero1 - I didn't mean it isn't a great idea, I just don't like spoilers, but since it was going to come out eventually... I'm fine now. :D

[Zeek]

Maybe each episode is based off of an old movie genre. Episode 201 is probably a B-horror combined with a Christmas special. Episode 202 could be that surfing movie parody, which could mean a cameo by Ted and Jared rocking out some Sam & Max surf guitar music... AND THE RETURN OF THE HIGHWAY SURFING GAME!! :D

[Harald B]

"Hey, this place has nothing to do with Easter! I want my money back!"
"But we didn't pay anything."
"Well, someone had better give me some money!"

[Murray the Chao]

I would LOVE to see the return of Highway Surfin', but I'm not totally sure how it will work with the hoodless DeSoto.

[tobar]

There was some highway surfin' in the credits for 106.

[Zeek]

I would LOVE to see the return of Highway Surfin', but I'm not totally sure how it will work with the hoodless DeSoto.

You mean topless. The car still has its hood from what I see. :D

[Murray the Chao]

There was some highway surfin' in the credits for 106.
True, but how would sign jumping work.

[fajerkaos]

True, but how would sign jumping work.

Bad. But hopefully that little trivial matter doesn't keep Max from trying it.

[Zeek]

True, but how would sign jumping work.

Sign jumpping is so 90s. These day, the cool thing is to "train hop." :D

[Guybrush Threepwood]

14 days, 14 days...
The wait for this is immense.

[tobar]

*Charlie Brown mode*
UGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just realized I'm leaving out of town on the 9th! :(

[Zeek]

I have papers and a critique the day before, so Sam & Max will be a fun bit of relaxation for this otherwise stressed out college student.

[ShaggE]

10! 10! 10 days to go! :D

Why isn't this a national holiday yet? I demand a drunken refrain of Auld Lagomorph Syne!

[Zeek]

What about MP3's? *points to blog* I love Jared's take on the Punch Out theme through the use of 80's Guitar riffs that sound they came straight from a Rocky movie!:D

Telltale and Bay Area Sound, you have my money for the next soundtrack set!

[xChri5x]

Merry Christmas one and all!


Can we get a Sam & Max ornament for the Christmas season in the store maybe?

[Guybrush Threepwood]

10! 10! 10 days to go! :D

Why isn't this a national holiday yet? I demand a drunken refrain of Auld Lagomorph Syne!

Well, 9 excluding today.

[taumel]

The best in the trailer is the voice at the beginning. This screams after adventure!

[ShaggE]

Well, 9 excluding today.

My clock was off when I posted that, it said it was still 11 PM :P

*edit* Would have behooved me to say 9 anyway, in hindsight...

[azza29]

I cannot wait for this - and at the rate the Aussie dollar is climing against the greenback, it will be a very reasonable price indeed!

[Zeek]

It just dawned on me that the only time I'll be able to play this episode will be during the hour I have to myself at the end of the day between when I get home from the art studio and when I have to take the dog out. Damn college life... Oh well, at least I'll have Sam & Max!

[fajerkaos]

Two days left and I still haven't got my computer ready, I feel like crying...

Edit: Btw, what was/will the specs be? Because I'll might be able to play it at school during boring lessons breaks. it'll not be the same feeling having lots of people watching your every move, but I guess it's better than nothing.

[Maratanos]

Well, tomorrow for me, since I have GameTap...

:D

Hope this doesn't cut too much into my time I need for papers and stuff... :)

[Jake]

Edit: Btw, what was/will the specs be? Because I'll might be able to play it at school during boring lessons breaks. it'll not be the same feeling having lots of people watching your every move, but I guess it's better than nothing.

Could you play Season One? If so, you can play Season Two just fine.

[fajerkaos]

Could you play Season One? If so, you can play Season Two just fine.

Yeah I could, but that was on my old computer, which is currently broken, and probably will be for quite a while, so I thought if I were able to run the games on my schools computer.
I started at the school this fall so I haven't played any of the episodes there... But I guess I can bring the CD with me some day, and test if they are capable of running a season one episode.

[War-overlord]

Another question, at which time will Ice Station Santa be released, because I have to recalculate that time to the Dutch time, so I can order it ASAP. Telltale HQ is in the same time-zone as Los Angeles, am I right ?

[Emily]

Telltale HQ is in the same time-zone as Los Angeles, am I right ?

You're right!

We don't know yet exactly what time we'll release it. For sure sometime between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. ;)

[Maratanos]

You're right!

We don't know yet exactly what time we'll release it. For sure sometime between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. ;)

Yeah, as sure as you were those times when you DIDN'T? ;):rolleyes:

[Marty]

good time for gaming. just got Metroid Prime 3 and tommorow I'll be playing season 2

[Porsmond]

I might have to wait till Sunday to try out the second episode, Out tomorrow and Saturday(although I might have time saturday night) so its going to be torture to wait an extra 48hrs, grrrrrrrr

Oh Well, not long to go, Cant Wait,WOOHOO

[Jekill]

Without wanting to sound greedy and with apologies if this has already been asked a hundred times (didn't find it): how come there are "only" five episodes to season two? do they get longer? do you want to be finished by the time the weather gets nicer? can't you count up to six anymore? is it random? i'm just interested

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to avoid this thread until tomorrow incase any spoilers are posted from the Gametap crowd! :D

[neilka]

It seems to be out now on Gametap according to their site...

[ShaggE]

It seems to be out now on Gametap according to their site...

Really? WOOHOO! *boots up Gametap* :D:D

[Emily]

Without wanting to sound greedy and with apologies if this has already been asked a hundred times (didn't find it): how come there are "only" five episodes to season two? do they get longer? do you want to be finished by the time the weather gets nicer? can't you count up to six anymore? is it random? i'm just interested

Many people on the team, including the designers, thought five episodes would work better from a story and player experience standpoint.

The episode length will be more on par with the longer episodes of last season (more like Abe Lincoln Must Die than Situation: Comedy length), and the story is more complex, so when all's said and done I think the experience will be better than last season and everyone will get their money's worth. :D

[Jekill]

Many people on the team, including the designers, thought five episodes would work better from a story and player experience standpoint.

The episode length will be more on par with the longer episodes of last season (more like Abe Lincoln Must Die than Situation: Comedy length), and the story is more complex, so when all's said and done I think the experience will be better than last season and everyone will get their money's worth. :D

sounds fantastic, that's exactly the kind of approach i expected from you guys. you're awesome :D

[NHJ BV]

You're right!

We don't know yet exactly what time we'll release it. For sure sometime between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. ;)

Good to know you guys aren't on Valve Time :D

[Phoonzang]

Want... NOW!.... Grr, I somehow thought it would be today (8th) when Season 2 will be released. So another day of Minesweeper for me :).

Is it possible to buy the whole Season in Advance... and all others that may come? :o

I really can't believe that there's going to be more SnM just around the corner, oh boy oh boy oh boy...


Another thing: Have you figured out a way to give the Season Pass as a present to friends? That didn't work too well on the last season...



Can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait can't wait!


Phoo

[Emily]

We're working on gifting options, but even before those are ready, we're using a serial number system this year that will make giving the season to a friend much easier. You'll see it in action tomorrow. :D

[Masta23]

so i suppose uk time itll be on between 5pm and 1am then?

[Marty]

yeah its the 9th here and im guessing by the time its available to download, it'll be late at night and tommorow I've got to work.... d'oh

[azza29]

Yeah it's already the 9th in Australia - does that count for anything? ;)

[Marty]

IGN gave it an 8.0 http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/833/833687p1.html
be aware of some of the screenshots though

[xChri5x]

I'm really horrible when it comes to spoilers especially with Sam & Max.

Good thing I lost connection when the page was loading (crappy wireless). It's a sign!

[wisp]

it's the 9th today, right? right? so where is my sam&max??
stupid time zone stuff...ohh, on the other hand..it should be out when i get home from work. i hope i get a good download speed then..this will probably be the longest 9hours (or more) of my life..at least until now..

[Laserschwert]

Mh, did I miss something? No "Complete Season 2" pre-order? Or will that go up with the download to S2E1?

[xChri5x]

I just checked exchange rates and with the soaring Canadian dollar I'm only going to be paying $32.46 for Season Two!
When I paid for Season One this time last year it was just under $40 Canadian

[Dangerzone]

from the time of this post it is 7 hours till 9am on the west coast... i hope this helps

[Jekill]

how awesome! season 2 will cost me only 23.75€, about 4 or 5€ less than season one. thank you, collapsing dollar :D

[Hero1]

only $38 australian! was closer to 50 last year.. our games retail for a 100 here(season 1 box 70 in stores)..so excellent value

[Jake]

(we didn't do pre-orders this year, but buying the 'season set' will of course be available when Ice Station Santa goes up)

[Zeek]

Well, I'm one of the lucky ones, because I have to work on a website all day today as a suplimentory portion to an art piece. When I come back, the game will be out, and TTG will have $35 of mine! I feel bad for the ones that are sitting on pins and needles waiting for the release. Then again, I feel bad knowing I spent my entire paycheck on just entertainment this month alone.

[xChri5x]

No food for this month then? lol

[wisp]

isn't food entertainment as well? at least it should be..

[xChri5x]

If it's Taco Bell then yes.

[mothra]

so when is it going to be released ? here on my side of the world it's november the 9th !

[delimew]

been Nov 9th for two and a half hours for me...


i want some S&M dammit!

[unsilviu]

CMON TTG! I wanta my Ice Station Santa~!!!!

[Quuux]

the 9th has already gone here :/
i celebrated with all that jamaican rum without a payoff, well aside from being drunk which i suppose counts on some level.

[Marty]

yep, its the 10th already. definitly wont be playing it til tommorow night. oh well, something to look foward to when im sitting at work bored out of my brain

[Mirko]

how awesome! season 2 will cost me only 23.75€, about 4 or 5€ less than season one. thank you, collapsing dollar :D

Don't forget the Tax (19% in Germany)... it will be around 28 €, i think.

[Sp0tted]

*sigh*

This happens with every episode.

The Telltale office opens at 9am pacific time. They usually open up registration/release the game a few hours after that.

My guess, 6 more hours until it is released.

[mothra]

:(

this makes me a sad panda.

[wisp]

6hours? it's quarter past six in california, right? soon..

[Jostein]

Heres live update of the time. Guess the nearest city is San Francisco...

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

[wisp]

and i'm glad it didn't proof me wrong..:D

[turntostone]

Heres live update of the time. Guess the nearest city is San Francisco...

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

argh! two more hours?
i want it now!:eek:

(i'm in europe btw :-S)

[tabacco]

We've been saying all along that it would happen sometime during our business hours on the 9th, so nobody should be surprised that it's not out at 5 or 6 am our time :)

(hint: it is 7:15 am right now, and thus far I'm the only one here)

[Masta23]

yeh these guys/gals need to sleep, too lol

[DoubtedEdwardo]

I love how you guys update us on everything on the release days. Shows you really care. I vote for every telltale employee saying hi in the forums when they get to work.

[wisp]

(hint: it is 7:15 am right now, and thus far I'm the only one here)

you seem to be pretty awake so why not put some game into the store??:D

no, just kidding...if you rush things it's usually not for the best.


p.s.: did "some game" sound a bit like i meant deer to you as well?

[turntostone]

yeh these guys/gals need to sleep, too lol

I knoow :)
i'm just being impatient, because the local time here 4:30 PM, and i don't have a life :p

[taumel]

Wow, this was an insane fast download! Just a matter of secs...

I really wonder why you did not increase the audio quality. A few MB for sure wouldn't hurt here. I hope it's not just due to better sales for the audio cd.

[azza29]

hey is there gonna be an upgrade offer, like for season one? i don't have enough cash right now to buy the whole season but want to play episode one asap.

[Jake]

taumel - the music quality isn't an issue. the music is compressed using a reasonably decent quality ogg codec. it's the speech that's highly compressed, and it isn't included on the soundtrack.

azza29 - there will definitely be an upgrade offer. we'll be offering it soon, so feel free to just grab Ice Station Santa now if you want. You'll be able to upgrade for $26 later on.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I just popped on from this damn awesome game to say ... the Mexican guy singing Happy Birthday? Wasn't he in the trailer...? hmmm! ;)

Now back to work!

[Mel]

^ Remember, that was a Season 2 trailer, not just for the first episode, so there's no guarantee that all participants in said trailer would be in the first episode*. :)



*I sound like a lawyer. :p

[taumel]

@Jake
You don't want me to listen to the music on good headphones. ;O) But if it's just about the voices why didn't you enhance the quality then? Have you done some tests if you increase the package by xxMB the difference is noticeable or not? As internet connection are getting faster all the time i could easily imagine a few MBs more.

Okay i've just played a little bit...loc1->loc2->loc1 and so far it's nice. A few things:

I didn't figure out what all these serials are for. The first i got after i bought it, the second after i've started up the program, honestly i have to admit i'm kind of impatient with such things and didn't read through all the stuff but it came down to that a) i needed an internet connection to get the game running and b) i didn't need any of these numbers. I would have thought that i could activate it just with the serial without using the internet. Actually as i'm using more my mac these days it was a hassle as i first had to setup a proper internet connection on da pc, you know, looking up were those $%&#! user and pass are. Why can't i just play something after i've payed for it without such hurdles?!

The initial setup is brilliant! I wanna hug you guys for that! :O)
The tutorial was, well...
The intro is very nice. I simply love the art style.
As for the game: Humour is good (the "again" in front of the poppers made me smile), the animations are far better and so far i like it, although i had to kind of force myself going back to the street because it includes some "ohh no, not again" feelings.

PS: I like my desert hills more than your snow hills! *<(:O9

[Jake]

You should just be able to log into the game and have it unlock, if you've got an internet connection. The serial number is just there in case something goes wrong.

Glad you're enjoying the game*, registration hassles aside, though :)

*especially the setup wizard and the intro, as those were my contributions to the game. (Woo!)

[taumel]

Yeah, but i couldn't get it going without the internet connection and just the serials if this should work.

If you ever come to munich i owe you a beer for the setup wizard and the intro! ;O)

[tabacco]

You've needed an internet connection for all of our downloadable games... I'm not totally sure why you're surprised.

[ShaggE]

although i had to kind of force myself going back to the street because it includes some "ohh no, not again" feelings.


Ah, that's the joy of it, though. Meandering down the street, wondering what new surprises await you in your destinations... it's almost zen-like :p

[taumel]

@tabacco
Because i thought if i got two serials i for sure don't need an internet connection...

[Röksvamp]

Yeah! I'm done playing through the demo and wow, real improvements has been made on everything. It looks better (finally I can play in my monitors native resolution), it sounds better and all the jokes and dialogue is just as great as you would have expected it to be. A real shame I havn't god any money to spare at the moment...but next week I'm gonna play til' my keybord starts crying in pain (or maybe until the game ends ;))

[Guybrush Threepwood]

I'm just visiting again... this is turning into one of my favourite episodes ever. I will post a long post (hopefully) giving all my final thoughts on the episode when I'm done with it.

When the evil demon came out of the box, I thought - "yeah, this is the end of the game now"... but the three Christmas spirits? Oh man, that's just sweet!

[Jostein]

Good job Telltale!

I like the changes you have made. Like dobble clicking will make sam run (at least I haven't figured it out until now). And the houses are closer together so you don't spend an eternity to travel from place to place.

[SloppyJimbo]

I just popped on from this damn awesome game to say ... the Mexican guy singing Happy Birthday? Wasn't he in the trailer...? hmmm! ;)

Now back to work!

Wait, where's this? I never saw that in the game.

[Dangerzone]

Wait, where's this? I never saw that in the game.

talk to the bug after you clear out his family...

[SloppyJimbo]

I'm trying that, but it's not happening. Unless you have to do it in the "present".

[Dale]

I did it without even seeing the family. I just went into Stinky's a second time and he did it then.

[SloppyJimbo]

So is it just a random occurance? Do you have to talk to the bug or is it automatic?

And do you actually see the mariachi or just hear his voice?

[jadekitten5425]

you see him

[SloppyJimbo]

Argh. I'm just not seeing him anywhere.

[jadekitten5425]

sorry i don't remember how i did it because i just did it in the course of normal gameplay

[LuigiHann]

I talked to the bug, walked away, then talked to the bug again. That's all.

[SloppyJimbo]

I've been doing that over and over, as well as entering and re-entering over and over. Nothing's doing anything. D:

[Brendan]

You must speak to the bug twice before his family arrives.

[SloppyJimbo]

Ah, so that explains it. Too bad I don't have any saves before that.

Thanks.

[Mel]

I would just like to whine a bit. My DSL modem has been on the fritz since last weekend and after calling my interent tech support five times, a new one is being sent... but it won't get here until Monday or Tuesday (and I can't download the new game). :(

Now I'll go have some cheese. :p :D

[unsilviu]

I WANT THE GAME!
But it will takes several days to gat a compatible card! :(

[Bruno83]

what a great episode!!! very funny.
The beginning is great!
And it also got more difficult I think
(I've used the lowesd hint level)
It never took me so long to finish one of the episodes in the first season
I needed six houres for this one
Great Job Telltale!!!

[Guybrush Threepwood]

what a great episode!!! very funny.
The beginning is great!
And it also got more difficult I think
(I've used the lowesd hint level)
It never took me so long to finish one of the episodes in the first season
I needed six houres for this one
Great Job Telltale!!!

I kept switching between no hints and the lowest setting.

[Bruno83]

when I said the lowest setting, I meant no hints

[marsan]

I just installed Sam & Max 201 on my adorable Windows 98 box. Yes, it runs on Windows 98SE. Thanks a lot!

Also, will the downloadable episodes from the first season be re-wrapped in the new protection? It seems like it's the old protection which prevents me from playing the downloadable episodes of the first season in Win98.

[tabacco]

We do plan to re-wrap the old games, we just don't know when we'll have time yet.

[taumel]

Okay i've just played through 201 and i think it was a nice episode. As i've written before the setup was brilliant and the intro was very nice. What i found kind of boring was the tutorial. It might be okay for newbies but for people who already played through season one it's just too familiar.

As for the game it started somehow too loud and too hectic for me. I've enjoyed beeing at ice station santa, especially the room of santa was done very well. I've been there for quite some time just to enjoy the atmosphere. What i found almost annoying was going back to the street, meeting bosco, going into the office, meeting sybil and abe at stinkys and so on, i just enjoy discovering new settings and characters much much more. I hope to see more of flint and that i don't have to spend so much time in the streets. Please give us an ongoing story with new locations!

The mini games were nice but they could have been balanced better. The boxing scene was enjoyful but i didn't notice any difference (gameplay/difficulty wise) between the second and the third round. I also spotted some glitches were parts of a rat were looking out of the floor. Whilst the steering with the keyboard was well done the mouse control wasn't. As for the car game, it was way too easy. I finished it with the first try just by not moving the car at all.

The animations were great. Better, enjoyful, funny dialogues and comments. The music was good as always. The song i liked the most was the deamon song. Kind of reminded me of Woody Allen. Technically everything was fine beside of that i once had no textures for the load/and save menu anymore. Couldn't tell any differences for the loading times. Only that in a few cases the voices were stuck during loading. Gamelength was okay for me but for five epsiodes instead of six it definately shouldn't get any shorter. It also won't hurt making it a little bit longer. The ending was a bit abrupt.

The puzzles most of the time were logical but somehow not always as much as in the episodes before. I didn't run into serious problems beside of a few stoppers like with the deamon song, getting jimmy's boxing hand and getting rid of the bugs. Actually i solved this more or less via trial and error. I didn't get why it should have been this way. What i dislike is doing something for x times like providing four horses, going through three portals. If that shows up once, okay, but not twice. I prefer a less repetitive plot like in Jack Keane for instance.

The problem i had with the puzzles is that once again they were okayish to good but just not briliant and generally they still could be a little bit harder in my opinion. I'm still missing some really good ones! Same goes for the story, it was okay but not really exciting and sometimes felt a little bit after patchwork.

All in all it was a nice and enjoyful episode but nothing beyond, so i would give it an 8 out of 10.

[Badwolf]

I didn't run into serious problems beside of a few stoppers like with the deamon song, getting jimmy's boxing hand and getting rid of the bugs. Actually i solved this more or less via try and error. I didn't get why it should have been this way.

I think those puzzles (the Demon song and the bug ones in particular) had to be solved more through remembering little details, like the snowballs being bleached and the bugs not liking cleaning products, and there were details like the box of goo and the label on it which gave a few subtle clues).

As for the boxing, the only different I saw between the second rat and Jimmy was that Jimmy could knock you out with one punch with the big boxing glove).

[Dedlok]

When the evil demon came out of the box, I thought - "yeah, this is the end of the game now"... but the three Christmas spirits? Oh man, that's just sweet!

He didn't come out of the box after the exorcism, he came out of the recently promoted Elf. (ie not the one that had to water th tree)

[BarfHappy]

Hell yeah, great episode.
I think the Sam and Max spirit is coming out strong in that one... damn great.
It sure lacks some craziness (like human-size lobsters), but heh the whole Christmas thing, giant :D

Technically the game runs great, it looks fantastic in widescreen 1680x1050 (feared i would have aspect ratio issues) and the "Run there and do the action" double click prevents boredom when going back and forth to try puzzle solutions. Great musical score as well.

I don't regret a bit to have bought the whole season at once :P

[Quuux]

I also ran it at 1680x1050 with maximum details, it looks great (pity it still doesnt capture the mouse, i have to avoid the right edge of the screen still)

[taumel]

@Badwolf

Regarding the boxing: You mean that the round was completey over then or just one heart? I can't remember exactly if he hit me at all because he boxed like the rat before and so it was easy to beat him with the first try.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

He didn't come out of the box after the exorcism, he came out of the recently promoted Elf. (ie not the one that had to water th tree)

Shows how good my memory is then... so did nothing come out of the box?

@Badwolf
Regarding the boxing: You mean that the round was completey over then or just one heart? I can't remember exactly if he hit me at all because he boxed like the rat before and so it was easy to beat him with the first try.

The round finished if he hit you with the big boxing glove. I know this because for some reason I kept moving the wrong way even though I knew what I was meant to be doing.

[Zeek]

The round finished if he hit you with the big boxing glove. I know this because for some reason I kept moving the wrong way even though I knew what I was meant to be doing.

Yeah, I did too. That's why I can't play Punch Out!

That being said, I did like the Punch Out! refferance I spotted with Jimmy's Lucky Glove being like Tyson's sucker punch. Ah, it feels good to be a nerd at times like these.

So, who else is starting on next year's Halloween contest by constructing, to scale, the Four Horsemen Action figure set from wood? I'd do it, but I can't see the round as well as everyone else.

[dloeke]

Hmm, just finished this episode, and I have to say I was more than pleased. Not too difficult, and I finished it in two-three hours of gameplay without any hints turned on, but I had a wonderful time. If the first episode augurs the quality of the four remaining episodes, I am really looking forward to playing them.:cool:

[War-overlord]

Is there going to be a Did-you-do-list anytime soon? Because I'd like to find some of the more hidden funny things in my third playthrough. (Going to start my second now) Also on the side: Great Game, first time in months that I had a grin on my face for 6 straight hours.

[The Tingler]

A truly excellent start to the season, almost up there with 1-4 and 1-5 (high praise indeed!). I'm going to use a list (and check it twice) to go through my pros and cons. I can't be bothered to right a review...
- Gave me the hardest longest laugh I've had out of all the episodes with the conclusion to the scene where Jimmy and Mary are reunited. Honestly, I nearly choked to death.
- Story was nicely twisty.
- The opening was just superb. More robots!
- Timmy's Terminal Tourettes.
- Good, they hate the Soda Poppers too.
- Torture Me Elmer. Jesus, guys!
- The generally more lowbrow, adult feel of the humour.
- The hint system is spot on, I think.
- Run function? Keyboard boxing and car controls? Hell yeah!
- Flint Paper!

And the cons?

- Flint Paper! So cool I almost ignored the fact that Sam & Max treated him like a celebrity cameo and forgot to make jokes. And what exactly was the point of having him if he's not going to do anything?
- Soda Poppers. Why were they in it again? What did they do?
- No reaction to sending the Giant Moai head to Abe Lincoln? Come on! They even look alike!
- Stinky is annoying, but not particularly funny.
- Even I struggled with those minigames. Surely there must be many players who play adventure games because they don't require quick reactions like most games? Is there a difficulty slider for them?
- The three Spirits of Christmas, in particular where they take you. Notice that NONE of them actually take you to Xmas for a start. Secondly, the Past was a bit of a cop out. Couldn't think of anywhere more interesting? Thirdly, why does nothing you do in the past affect the present? It's like Day of the Tentacle never happened.
- Too many recurring characters, not enough new ones..

Come on guys, knock the next one out of the park.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

- Flint Paper! So cool I almost ignored the fact that Sam & Max treated him like a celebrity cameo and forgot to make jokes. And what exactly was the point of having him if he's not going to do anything?

I'm pretty sure that Flint will have a bigger role in the games as the season goes on. Just class this episode as an introduction to him. :)

[Harald B]

Thirdly, why does nothing you do in the past affect the present? It's like Day of the Tentacle never happened.Actually it does. It just already happened, so to speak. An important reason Jimmy is about to commit suicide is because Mary left him, which only happened because you abduct her in the past. And Jimmy would never have been boxing champ without the glove you give him (nice free lunch-paradox there, btw).
The history-changing influence works through an eerie predestination you have to contemplate for a while, but it's definitely there. I admit it wasn't as brilliant as some of the puzzles in dott, but it didn't really have the scope for that anyway.

[Maratanos]

- Even I struggled with those minigames. Surely there must be many players who play adventure games because they don't require quick reactions like most games? Is there a difficulty slider for them?

I'm fairly sure if there were a difficulty slider, you'd already be playing it pretty close to the left. The games actually could have gotten harder a lot more easily than they could have gotten easier.

- The three Spirits of Christmas, in particular where they take you. Notice that NONE of them actually take you to Xmas for a start.

All of them probably take you as close to Christmas as the entire episode. Mole, Mob, Meatball was released in January. This episode is November. Equally close, really.

[Jake]

All of them probably take you as close to Christmas as the entire episode. Mole, Mob, Meatball was released in January. This episode is November. Equally close, really.

Also, to my knowledge, it's never revealed exactly when Season One took place, so maybe the episode 103 actually landed square on christmas 2006... you never know.

[Harald B]

Also, to my knowledge, it's never revealed exactly when Season One took place, so maybe the episode 103 actually landed square on christmas 2006... you never know.That's not entirely true. The (initial) date on the white house calender was correct by definition, and it was implied on various occasions that about a month passed between consecutive episodes.

[Jake]

It was also implied that three days pass between episodes one and two!

[Harald B]

Really? Now I'm starting to wrack my brain.. Was that in one of the newspaper stands? Did a character say it? Tv ad? Donut box??

[Jake]

Myra is on the TV in the closing cutscene in Brady's asylum holding her audience captive, and in episode two it's revealed that she's had her audience there for three days.

[Maratanos]

Not really, Jake.

Different audience is possible, and when you talk to Bosco about the weenies, he eventually says "Are you the same two guys who were in here a month ago?"

Which implies it was a month.

[Dedlok]

Shows how good my memory is then... so did nothing come out of the box?

Well I'm sure that's where he originally came from. The elf was probably possessed because he was the one that opened the box in the first place. :) But the closest thing I saw of something coming out of the box was at the end when Santa popped out real quick after the Soda Poppers revealed their theory that the box was supposed to go to Satan but there was a typo. When he said "That sounds right!"

[Harald B]

Not really, Jake.

Different audience is possible, and when you talk to Bosco about the weenies, he eventually says "Are you the same two guys who were in here a month ago?"

Which implies it was a month.And of course, neither of these matches the fact that the donuts evolve from "last month's donuts" in 101 to "these donuts must be three months old" in 102... Oh dear, looks like we're overanalyzing things a bit again.

[Zeek]

No, we just proved that the space-time continum doesn't exisit in the Sam & Max universe.

[Jake]

No, we just proved that the space-time continum doesn't exisit in the Sam & Max universe.

This is the correct answer :)

[Maratanos]

"Where were you when the dragon broke?"


(very obscure quote)

[TheAnimist]

Ice Station Santa converted a once point and click hater.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/11/10/sam-max-starts-season

[Zeek]

Ice Station Santa converted a once point and click hater.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/11/10/sam-max-starts-season

Up until very recently, I was in the hate group, poisoned by too many obtuse and frankly sucky P&C games that were billed as the next big thing because they used a CD to store the enormous volume of data on. The late 90s were full of them, may they rot in.....

Sam and Max changed all that.There's a quote for the box cover. :D

[taumel]

Season1 already killed Newton's laws and now they did the same with the Einstein space. I wonder what will be left for the third season...

[Zeek]

Darwin... and maybe Mendell, but that's only if their next opponent is at the cellular level.

[Harald B]

Or maybe they could reconstruct something that fell into a black hole. I forget.. would that make them pro-Hawking or anti-Hawking?

[taumel]

@TTG
One question i was asking myself is: Is TTG aiming with Sam&Max at a 9 or 10 at all and did it just not happen till today or is this something which TTG isn't interested in due to some production reasons/limitations?

[tabacco]

9 or 10 what?

[Maratanos]

9 or 10 what?

Average review score, maybe? :confused:

[LuigiHann]

9 and 10 pm are nice, prime-time TV slots. Well, 10 is a bit after prime-time, but that just means it's okay to have content aimed at more mature audiences. So that's probably what he meant.

[taumel]

@tabacoo
I've meant score for a game like Sam&Max, 1/10=awful up to 10/10=perfect. As far as i remember Sam&Max epsiodes were in 7-8 ranges so far.

[Maratanos]

@tabacoo
I've meant score for a game like Sam&Max, 1/10=awful up to 10/10=perfect. As far as i remember Sam&Max epsiodes were in 7-8 ranges so far.

Look. If they have any sense at all, they're not aiming for a good review score.

They're aiming for a good game. If the game is good, that's all that matters, not whether or not some random person on the Internet who fancies themselves important, objective, and perceptive decided to choose to describe the game with the arbitrary number "9" instead of the equally arbitrary number "8".

Ultimately, you should be reading the TEXT of the review. Not the metrics. Because good games are qualitative, not quantitative.

[Jake]

@tabacoo
I've meant score for a game like Sam&Max, 1/10=awful up to 10/10=perfect. As far as i remember Sam&Max epsiodes were in 7-8 ranges so far.

We're trying to make something fun that we ourselves would like to play. If the press reviews it well, that's all the better, since better reviews will inevitably translate to a bump in sales (to whatever degree, small or large), which will mean that we'll have more resources to keep doing what we're doing, but the games aren't designed with how a handful of journalists will score the them in mind.

[taumel]

*updated*

@Maratanos
I think you've missed the point of my question.

Back in the good old adventure days LucasArts published a couple of excellent adventures which ranged in a 9 and 10 area. Then after some silence a couple of years ago there were more adventures popping up again but they were mostly lurking i an 4-7 area. Since 1-2 years adventure have improved again and you can play adventures which are in a solid 7 to 8 range. Whilst this is an improvement there are still no adventures with the spirit, the quality and the fun the old adventures once had around.

Making something excellent instead of good, most of the time involves more work, and/or more talent, more ressources, and so on. And so it could be a business question if aiming for a 9 or 10 is on the radar or not. If it does make sense from the investment. Such things and as there are a lot of people on board who once made those great adventures it's a question popping up.

This wasn't meant as an offence, it's just something i and others are asking us with each new adventure (not only Sam&Max) coming out.

And i also wouldn't say that just the reviews are voting this way as for instance with Ice Station Santa i came to a compareable result as others who were reviewing the episode. I'm enjoying Sam&Max much more than adventures the years before, but it's not sucking me as much into the game like with these old games due to different reasons.

[Maratanos]

I think you've missed the point of my question.

Back in the good old adventure days LucasArts published a couple of excellent adventures which ranged in a 9 and 10 area. Then after some silence a couple of years ago there were more adventures popping up again but they were mostly lurking i an 4-7 area. Since 1-2 years adventure have improved again and you can play adventures which may be in a 7 to 8 range. TWhilst this is an improvement there are still no adventures which have the spirit, the quality the fun the old adventures once had.

Making something excellent instead of good most of the time involves more work, and/or more talent, more ressources, blabla. And so it could be a business question if aiming for a 9 or 10 is on the radar or not.

No, YOU'RE missing the point. Maniac mansion scored in the 8-9 range and yet it's still a VERY SUCKY GAME INDEED. Mojo hits closer with a 2/5 (http://www.mixnmojo.com/php/site/gamedb.php?gameid=16).

Why is this? Because games have changed, gamers have changed, the entire industry has changed. The mainstream gaming media simply is not likely to be giving Sam & Max games as high scores as they once did. It does not reflect on the quality of the games or Telltale's quality as a game developer. It just means that games are being rated differently these days.

The problem is, you're still thinking of game ratings as an accurate measurement of the quality of a game. Well guess what. They're not. Many people agree the PS3 game "Lair" sucks very badly, but it's still gotten 9/10 reviews.

Quit dragging your feet in nostalgia and recognize that as long as you idolize old adventure games as the pinnacle of greatness, you'll never find another game that you think lives up to the standard, because you'll always be comparing the two and your memory excises the bad parts of an old game that you loved. It's like getting dumped in a relationship. If you still get hung up on how awesome your ex is, you'll never see a great opportunity for another relationship if it slaps you in the face, because of nostalgia. Wake up, and get on with life.

Game's are what YOU make of them. If you liked the game, that's more important than an arbitrary 9 versus an arbitrary 8. Quit taking other people's words for granted and decide for YOURSELF if Sam & Max is a great game.

[taumel]

Nope, i guess you're misunderstanding me, i've updated my posting so maybe it does make more sense to you now.

[Maratanos]

Nope, i guess you're misunderstanding me, i've updated my posting so maybe it does make more sense to you now.

Sorry. I read your post again. Now read my post again, because it's been heavily edited. Then we can talk.

[Jake]

Also, if your tone is going to stay the same, take it to Private Messages, or at least to it's own thread outside the main Ice Station Santa thread, please.

[taumel]

@Maratanos
Again, i have to agree with most of the reviews. I wouldn't give Sam&Max a 9 or 10 yet because it mostly lacks those magic moments which lifts it above the good ones. Graphics, sound animations, eveything is fine most of the time but i'm missing this with the puzzles, the story and some characters.

Jack Keane had a few situations were it shines this way. Also the cops in Sam&Max came up with that feeling or the setup in 201 but it's not a steady companion. I also don't see this as a problem of the past vs. present as you always laugh about a good joke or you always worship a great riddle or a great atmosphere. I think we're scratching but we're just not fully there.

@Jake
Sorry if i offended someone as this wasn't my intention, i'm just curious about the why.

[Jake]

I didn't say anyone was offended, but you guys are arguing back and forth with each other, and have filled nearly a complete page with the two of you. I don't think it's benefiting anyone but you two, so I asked that you take it elsewhere (even just somewhere else on this board).

[Udvarnoky]

No, YOU'RE missing the point. Maniac mansion scored in the 8-9 range and yet it's still a VERY SUCKY GAME INDEED. Mojo hits closer with a 2/5 (http://www.mixnmojo.com/php/site/gamedb.php?gameid=16).

Maniac Mansion is the best game ever, and Mojo's review is considered unacceptable by all carbon-based organisms, and Alex has since been physically injured. Expect to see a re-review of the game that isn't a shameful outrage sometime before 2025.

[Maratanos]

Also, if your tone is going to stay the same, take it to Private Messages, or at least to it's own thread outside the main Ice Station Santa thread, please.

Jake, you know that's a death sentence. ;)

Don't really care. I was arguing with terminology anyway.

[Zeek]

Ah, the internet... where flame wars start through being over-passionate and having a little thing called annonimity... or is that anemone?

IN all seriousness, did anyone catch the GameTap TV ad for Season 2? I heard it last night when I turned on my TV, but the damn picture didn't show until the title card came up. Stupid analog TV... then again, my HD Monitor on my computer does the same thing.

[Linque]

Well, I hate to say it, but I think I'm growing out of the series. I bought the complete Season 2 set as I want to support the cause no matter if I play all the games or not. I gave Ice Station Santa a try, but I just can't enjoy the recycling of the characters, locations, music and the iffy timing and dialog in certain spots. I just don't enjoy playing these episodes enough. I made it to the end of Reality 2.0.

It was good fun for a while, but I think I'll go back to anticipating the old style full length games, opposed to episodic ones. I enjoy the higher production values of traditional releases. I'm still hopeful that maybe one day these TTG releases will reach such production values with this astonishing release rate.

Here's hoping for a great future,
Linque

[Jekill]

i'm flashed. i'm not intending to read anything anyone has posted on the last pages. i just have to tell you: TELLTALE GAMES I LOVE YOU. what you've done is incredible. i'm just through ice station santa, couldn't start before sunday night and only had some hours every night since, and now i'm through. and i have to say... it was so incredibly awesome, i can't believe it. you rule. thank you for that experience. this one episode was better than the whole of season one. and i loved season one. if you manage to keep that standard i'll be ashamed you received only 35 bucks from me. wow. i don't find the words. i just want you to know that ep201 was the FLIPPING BEST GAME i ever played. honestly. thank you. and thanks for putting me for the seventh time into the "thank you"-list ;)

[taumel]

@Linque
That's the question, is it due to the episodic format or are the reasons somewhere else.

[Gurok]

Ah, the internet... where flame wars start through being over-passionate and having a little thing called annonimity... or is that anemone?It's anonymity :).

[Linque]

Quit dragging your feet in nostalgia and recognize that as long as you idolize old adventure games as the pinnacle of greatness, you'll never find another game that you think lives up to the standard, because you'll always be comparing the two and your memory excises the bad parts of an old game that you loved. It's like getting dumped in a relationship. If you still get hung up on how awesome your ex is, you'll never see a great opportunity for another relationship if it slaps you in the face, because of nostalgia. Wake up, and get on with life.


I don't really care to involve myself in a lenghty argument that much, but I can't just let this go either. played Grim Fandango for the first time this spring. It has plenty of problems: bad movement system, quite a bit of pointless back and forth running and a stupid item interface. But got sucked in the world, I laughed to a lot of the jokes and got engrossed by the story. I wanted to tell about some of the jokes to my friends and was genuinely moved near the end of the game. I also felt empty when I finished it. I absolutely fell in love with Glottis.

A month ago I stumbled upon a playthrough of Sam & Max Hit the Road on YouTube. It was late and I had work early in the morning, but I just couldn't stop watching the playthrough. The intro is so incredibly funny no matter how many times you watch it. The chemistry between S&M is incredible. It's good enough for me to enjoy myself when I just *watch someone play the game*. And here we get to the TTG S&M Series. It's not the same. It's not as mesmerising as the games of old. It's good, no doubt about it - especially if you play just one or two episodes. But it also has flaws that aren't just gameplay related, but are related to the storytelling and entertainment aspect of the game, if you understand what I mean.

What I wanted to say this in a nutshell is, that it isn't just nostalgia that makes the classic games so great in my (and others') mind. I find it disrespectful that people brush those games off saying 'oh, they were good back in the day..."

[Toothbrush Creepwood]

And i also wouldn't say that just the reviews are voting this way as for instance with Ice Station Santa i came to a compareable result as others who were reviewing the episode. I'm enjoying Sam&Max much more than adventures the years before, but it's not sucking me as much into the game like with these old games due to different reasons

Yeah, and this reason is "Nostalgia"...;-)


Jack Keane had a few situations were it shines this way. Also the cops in Sam&Max came up with that feeling or the setup in 201 but it's not a steady companion. I also don't see this as a problem of the past vs. present as you always laugh about a good joke or you always worship a great riddle or a great atmosphere. I think we're scratching but we're just not fully there.

I'm sorry to rain on your parade but "Jack Keane" sucked bad. Laughable atempt from Germans to make a game similar to Monkey Island with a Guybrush Threepwood Clone and even Monkeys on an Island. Plus the typical german Adventure-humour, I hate so much these days. Unfortunatly, Germany is in some sort of way the biggest market for Adventures these days and many Games come from Germany. But most of them suck, suck, suck. Don't try to even compare them to old LA-Classics. And Jack Keana is the perfect example why it doesn't work: They totally fail to copy the humour of old LA-Classics. It was embarassing to me playing Jack Keane. Just because there are no better games on the market, doesn't mean the actual games are similar to old classics.

Point being: Sam&Max is the only game today that caputres the old Adventure Game Spirit an no Jack Keane, Runaway or &/%$&/&( Benoit Sokal games will come close to this.

[Zeek]

Point being: Sam&Max is the only game today that caputres the old Adventure Game Spirit an no Jack Keane, Runaway or &/%$&/&( Benoit Sokal games will come close to this.IT's also the only adventure game still holding an audiance given the failures before it.

[wisp]

what you are saying about germany is complete nonsense...



...there is no such thing as a typical german humour. anybody knows we have no humour at all. ;)

[Toothbrush Creepwood]

what you are saying about germany is complete nonsense...



...there is no such thing as a typical german humour. anybody knows we have no humour at all. ;)

I'm from germany, so you're right...^^
And that's why most "funny" games made in germany suck! :D

[taumel]

I disagree...

As for Jack Keane, yes they tried to deliver a Monkey Island like pirate game and with a few riddles they succeeded and showed those tiny little bit which makes something great and not just average or good. But in a whole it isn't as good as Monkey Island. I wouldn't say that it's like other german adventures beside of Ankh as those mostly go a different route, it's all about Deck13. I also wonder what this german humour is you're talking about. Nail this to certain developers/person and it does make sense, otherwise it more sounds like a rant. Depending on your personal taste for most of the people i've talked to it's on pair with Sam&Max. Some found it slightly better, some slightly worse.

As for TTG's Sam&Max and so also for Ice Station Santa, it's enjoyable and good but just not awesome like some of the old adventures are. For example i've played Loom rather late, many years after it came out with a LucasArts gamepack and although it was so old, it had something which made it great and fascinating. And that's exactly what i'm missing in TTG's adventure episodes so far. Something which makes it really interesting, weird new ideas, great riddles (still no inventory puzzles), a more thrilling story or characters i do care more about. Just something which makes me shiver like Loom managed to.

Sam&Max is polished and aspects like the music are great but no matter how polished it is, it's missing those important edges and as there are veterans with TTG on board i'm asking myself why is this the case? Does it have to do with that making something great would drag too much ressources? Doesn't it fit into the episodic schedule? Did they forget about making something outstanding? Is it a lack of motivation because something good sells as well? Do they think it's on the same level? Do they try to but you just can't plan it? Is this about to come? ...

I mean with such members it somehow feels hard to believe to think of that they don't know how to do it or that they don't understand what some people (gamers as critics) are talking about.

Bringing it back to 201 i think that riddles like the portal ones are really nothing i do expect in a great adventure. You do one two things and whoops it's solved, Now to this another two times and you're through. This felt constructed to me and not nicely fitting into the game/story. I miss some longer riddles in between here which evlove with the current situation or the story. And and and

...back to work.

[Toothbrush Creepwood]

Depending on your personal taste for most of the people i've talked to it's on pair with Sam&Max. Some found it slightly better, some slightly worse.

No way...are you just trying to compare the humour in "Jack Keane" to "Sam&Max"? Or the game itself?

For the rest:Okay, I understand your point, but in the end, it all comes down to the personal taste. For me, and I played Sam&Max when it was released with no Voice Acting at all, the new Game is the best, modern Adventure to date. While for example "Grim Fandango" was great in Design, Flair etc. the Characters looked teribble and the Controls were horrible. Monkey Island 4 was a desaster! I'm so glad, Telltale made S&M and it went out beautyiful!


A perfect example for a bad german Adventure is "Geheimakte Tunguska". Good 2-D Graphics but a promising story going from awesome in the beginning to boring in the end. Lame humour + NO Sympathy for the characters.

[taumel]

The game in a whole. Finally i don't care this much about technical issues if the game is working. It's always a relief if that's nicely done but it's not in the main focus unless it turns into something really annoying.

[barchetta]

I haven't following this thread, so I'm just jumping right in, as it is the thread about Ice Station Santa, isn't it?

Okay.
I liked it, because it probably was the first S&M adventure (or -any- adventure for that matter, since The Hobbit on my ZX Spectrum back in '83 ...) that I managed to complete without too much cheating ;)

What I didn't quite like was the continuation of Season 1: Max still being president, the C.O.P.S. still being around, Lincoln's head. If it was only Sybil, Bosco and Jimmy Two-teeth, it'd be okay for me.

I also liked the 'Back to the future' paradox with Jimmy, as he was wearing the boxing glove that he lost in the past, but was given back to him from the present time in the past... you know what I mean..!.

The story was very funny, and I had this song of 'Weird' Al Yankovic playing in my head: 'The Night Santa Went Crazy':
Animation with gory* scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb-Mce9VpmY
Live performance of the "Extra gory* version": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKRAnJ6u3M

I hope the next episode will just be as enjoyable for me as this one :)

Marc

* 'Gory' to a 4 year old, not to S&M players :D

[Murray the Chao]

No way...are you just trying to compare the humour in "Jack Keane" to "Sam&Max"? Or the game itself?

For the rest:Okay, I understand your point, but in the end, it all comes down to the personal taste. For me, and I played Sam&Max when it was released with no Voice Acting at all, the new Game is the best, modern Adventure to date. While for example "Grim Fandango" was great in Design, Flair etc. the Characters looked teribble and the Controls were horrible. Monkey Island 4 was a desaster! I'm so glad, Telltale made S&M and it went out beautyiful!


A perfect example for a bad german Adventure is "Geheimakte Tunguska". Good 2-D Graphics but a promising story going from awesome in the beginning to boring in the end. Lame humour + NO Sympathy for the characters.

You dare to mock the great Grim Fandango?!? You shall pay!

Hear me, oh powers of Klatha and Mana;
Turn now Toothbrush Creepwood into species called rana!


I must agree about MI4 however. Never cared for like I love the first three.

[Hero1]

I think everyone agrees the grim fandango control system was a hassle..

[Kefky]

I think everyone agrees the grim fandango control system was a hassle..

I don't. Sure it had its problems, but I still think it was a great idea by Schafer. The bugs could have been worked out with future games. Either way, it doesn't really bother me much every time I replay it through the game. And MI4's was even better than GF's, anyway.

[Mel]

I bought a gamepad specifically for Grim Fandango (because I'm bad at keyboard controls mostly) and it really made it a lot smoother for me.

[mikdog]

Arr, me too me hearties.

I used to love Sam & Max. Back in the old "Hit the Road" days. But there's just not enough for me now to purchase any more games. I bought the very first game. Arr. It was kind of fun. And now, I just don't play computer games no more. The games just don't grab me anymore. Not even Sam & Max. It feels as though they lost their soul when they turned 3D. Like, a shadow of their former selves. Arr. Arr. Arr.

[TrogLlama]

Arr, me too me hearties.

I used to love Sam & Max. Back in the old "Hit the Road" days. But there's just not enough for me now to purchase any more games. I bought the very first game. Arr. It was kind of fun. And now, I just don't play computer games no more. The games just don't grab me anymore. Not even Sam & Max. It feels as though they lost their soul when they turned 3D. Like, a shadow of their former selves. Arr. Arr. Arr.
I'd have to disagree there.
3-D has made a number of things possible that just weren't before.
You know what I think the real problem is? Around the same time things went 3-D, FPSs became popular. Insanely so, actually. Now, not only is the market is flooded with crappy licensed games based off of cookie cutter ideas (which it actually was before if you think about it; "Where's Waldo?" anyone?), you've also got FPS games made by lazy companies that knew they would make money off of it.
That's just my take, of course.

[Murray the Chao]

A take on which I totally agree.

[Linque]

Just looking at games like Ratchet & Clank on the PlayStation shows that you can have soul within 3D. Plenty of other examples out there but that came into my mind first as a very soulful game, quite like the adventure games of old especially in its humour.

[Dedlok]

What I didn't quite like was the continuation of Season 1: Max still being president, the C.O.P.S. still being around, Lincoln's head. If it was only Sybil, Bosco and Jimmy Two-teeth, it'd be okay for me.

If there's one thing I hate more than shows that end with a Cliffhanger for next season, yet that season never materializes *cough*Berserk Anime*cough* is continuations of a property that completly sheds what happened previously. Just screams a lack of continuity/universe to me. While I'll admit the Soda Poppers weren't needed, but I loves me some C.O.P.S.. And the Abe Lincoln appearence means some character development for Sybil, which is a plus in my book too. (Plus it gives her an exscuse to be out of her shop when it's thrown by the Kill-o-Tron :D)

The story was very funny, and I had this song of 'Weird' Al Yankovic playing in my head: 'The Night Santa Went Crazy':
Animation with gory* scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb-Mce9VpmY
Live performance of the "Extra gory* version": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKRAnJ6u3M

I noticed how the music video said Santa was put in Jail where the performance verison said he was killed. :D Guess it was an edit done to prevent the comp,lete traumaization of a child that happens to catch the video on TV. (lol Playing music videos on tv! a good one! ;)) But personally I think the trauma they would experience by saying santa was killed would be a drop in the hat compared to trauma caused by the REST of the video. >_>

[barchetta]

I'm glad you liked my musical pick! Now, does this song keeps on playing in your head, just like Mika was playing in my head whenever I saw Hugh Bliss?

Maybe TTG should do a Machinima with this Yankovic song! (okay, I admit - Santa was possessed, not stressed with cheap whiskey on his breath) We already have some elves, the helpers could be the Soda Poppers...

[jared25]

why wont there be an episode released in december

[xChri5x]

Because of the writers strike

[jmm]

Because of the writers strike

He's just kidding....

This was explained earlier. Its a planned hiatus between episode 201 and 202.

[wisp]

...and hibernation maybe.:D

[tabacco]

Season one was the same way.

[TrogLlama]

why wont there be an episode released in december
Because Telltale enjoys watching you suffer from lack of new episodes, why else? </sarcasm>

[marsan]

Because of the writers strike

cool, I hope they get many strikes.

[Murray the Chao]

Because of the writers strike
I do wonder if that will force Myra! into repeats, and if it will affect anything else on W.A.R.P TV?

[Zeek]

Talk shows aren't affected by the strike, but Cooking Without Looking is probably a goner.

[jmm]

Talk shows aren't affected by the strike, but Cooking Without Looking is probably a goner.

I doubt it, probably the director will write the shows.

[mothra]

I will have to agree with a few posts up that the change to 3-D made S&M loose some of its charm. I think the new S&M just looks TOOOOO good. to much out of the computer. the old version had some hand-drawn feeling, at least in the backgrounds which made it somehow superior to newer products.
like the old Tom&Jerry cartoons have artistic value, handpainted sets and such, but the new ones just looked generic. but all those complaints have been levelled for me by the top-notch writing and timing of the digital "puppets". and the soundtrack of course. that's one of the best game soundtracks ever. because it sounds like real music, not some temp "keep-the-tension" computer generated special effects choir.

[charlieboy2001]

When you look at the detail of 201, it just looks amazing!!!

One of the things that I'm amazed at are the little things the leap to 3d has bought, such as the pink areas of Max's ears, and with the new lighting effects the way they just slightly dip in is beauty.

Essentially I feel that this debate is turning into the same debate as when 'new, realistic, HD games' started comming to consoles with the ps3 and 360. A lot of people were saying that all you were going to get were 'realistic' looking games, such as fight night 3, Assasins creed etc, but you give people a little time and you get things such as the simpsons game, or ratchet and clank, that look totall y hand drawn or like a cgi animation.

As for grim fandango, i think the grime engine suited it well, but didnt suit mi4, given a bit more dev time i think it would have been perfect!

[Jake]

Emily's put up an MP3 download of the Friendly Demon Song! Get it in the latest blog update (http://telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-281).