Telltale Games

Will · 07/06/2009, 01:54 pm

I can at least answer that first one. We use LUA for the game scripting and C++ for the back-end coding and tool building. We actually use a *lot* of proprietary tools. With the way we develop games over such a short period, we needed the tools to be custom build to match our production schedule. We've tried to design as much of the system in such a way that anyone in the company, regardless of background or training, can pick up the tools and be competent within a few days.

djchallis · 07/06/2009, 02:06 pm

Thanks for the quick reply! Sounds like a nice system.
I've only just finished my first year at uni, so at the risk of revealing that I actually know very little, I might make a few more comments.

Back in the day when they were making the first Monkey Island game they were using SCUMM, which is presumably a proprietary tool. Someone (I think it was Ron) mentioned that they upgraded the SCUMM system to recognised more fonts so they could do the upside-down text after the circus-cannon puzzle. Is it right to assume that you often upgrade and improve your system? Is it a risk in using a custom system that you might not innovate as much with the technology?

Sandata · 07/06/2009, 02:16 pm

Its a full moon on the 7th...hmmmm. Will look for a moon in the game.

I got no major questions they had to been all asked before. I will ask this. Is this fallowing closer to the original story that the creator of Monkey Island 1 and 2? Or is this you guys making your own story for it? I read that you talked to the creator of Monkey Island but I'm wondering who's story this is.

Occitan885 · 07/06/2009, 02:18 pm

So, can you release this game at midnight please? I'm shipping out with the Navy and time is . . . very limited right now! HURRY!

Will · 07/06/2009, 02:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchallis

Is it right to assume that you often upgrade and improve your system? Is it a risk in using a custom system that you might not innovate as much with the technology?

We are *constantly* updating the system. I think with custom tools, you actually end up innovating more because you know the inner working of your tools so well. It's easy to walk up to one of the programmers and say "would this be possible to do." And if it isn't possible, they can usually suggest some reasonable work-around.

hippiewithnoshoes · 07/06/2009, 02:23 pm

Will Guybrush still wreck peoples lives to solve a pointless puzzle?

MagooChris · 07/06/2009, 02:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippiewithnoshoes

Will Guybrush still wreck peoples lives to solve a pointless puzzle?

One can only hope... and if not, just wait till the release of SMI:SE and go about wrecklessly drowning your crew members... over... and over again

Fury · 07/06/2009, 02:34 pm

I have a question.

Today is the 7th. It's 8AM.

WHERE IS MONKEY ISLAND?!?

Lorith · 07/06/2009, 02:43 pm

Fury, it's still the 6th for a lot of people. That's how it's going to be when a game is to be released at the same time for the whole world. Come on, a cpl of hours won't make a difference

Sammichy · 07/06/2009, 02:43 pm

Good luck with the final haul guys! What're you going to do tomorrow once the game is out?

Estel · 07/06/2009, 02:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammichy

Good luck with the final haul guys! What're you going to do tomorrow once the game is out?

Probably working on the second!

Sandata · 07/06/2009, 02:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderPeel2001

Mr Grossman!

Would you be so kind as to put to bed the rumours surrounding the ending of Monkey Island 2. I know you worked on it, and Bill Tiller has spoken about it, so I thought you could possibly lay it to rest?

*spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't played the original MI games*

The rumour goes like this: There was always the idea that the ending of Monkey Island 1 would be that it was all just a Calvin & Hobbes style dream. That ending was never put in place, obviously, but parts of it were used for the ending of MI2... In the very end, though, two things were added to bring it back to the world of MI and keep the door open for any sequels: "Chuckie's" glowing malevolent eyes, and Elaine back on Dinky Island wondering where Guybrush was, pondering if LeChuck might have put a SPELL on Guybrush.

This, of course, means the poor old Guybrush did indeed have a spell put on him, but was there ever a moment when you thought about leaving the ending as was... Just in the amusement park?

Is this all true? Thanks so much for your reply!

Ah, i have read some of the creators inverviews and posts saying that he [not 100% sure if this is right] no longer had control over the Monkey Island story line. He said [again not 100% sure more like 75%] that the true ending has YET to been shown. This is what i have learn...is it right? don't know...so yes I ask the same question as he did!

Fury · 07/06/2009, 02:58 pm

Monkey Island 2 had a horrible ending. Seriously, it made MI2 the weakest in the series (until Mi4 came out).

I think 3 did it's best to salvage a plot from that ending, and most people will agree 3 was the best.

djchallis · 07/06/2009, 03:00 pm

That's kinda similar to one of my questions a page or two back.
It's all about whether we accept Ron Gilbert's word as a canon or the canon of the subsequent games. If Ron's as stingy about this subject as he (occasionally) sounds, I can imagine this constant debate over the "correct" MI canon to be frustrating for the script-writers for Tales.
On the other hand, Ron sounds like a nice guy. Maybe I'm making a fuss where there isn't one. Somebody'll answer my question and let me know...

djchallis · 07/06/2009, 03:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

We are *constantly* updating the system. I think with custom tools, you actually end up innovating more because you know the inner working of your tools so well. It's easy to walk up to one of the programmers and say "would this be possible to do." And if it isn't possible, they can usually suggest some reasonable work-around.

Thanks for the reply again! That sounds good.
I guess my thoughts were from a design point-of-view. I wonder if you guys might design some bits in a certain way just because that's the way it's always done in your games and with your system. Or are you guys too creative for that?

I'm not really sure if that question's getting outside your job description, Will (I'm not really sure what your job is really). Are those kind of design decisions made by other people? I guess "code monkey" is the phrase. If that is your job, you could answer another question for me: How much creativity do you get within your particular job? I always imagine the designer making all the creative decisions. Is that true and does it frustrate you, or are there loads of things you get to be creative with?

Hopefully part of those two paragraphs made sense/was aimed at you!

mindovereasy · 07/06/2009, 03:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nojh

I've liked every Monkey Island game that has come out although LeChuck's Revenge still holds the title rank, likely because it was the first I played.

Nojh

Ya I agree with that... Lechuck's Revenge was my Empire Strikes Back for tha series. And Escape from Monkey Island was a Phantom Menace. Ya feel me? Heh.

Sandata · 07/06/2009, 03:17 pm

Oh i would like to thank the business people who thought "Hey lets give a free game" to people deal was a good idea.

Also i hate to say it but i like the voice games better because thats how my brain works. Its hard for me to remember alot of text. But i enjoy the games and can't wait for the Monkey Island 1 [goodness these have long confusing which is the first game names if you think about it] remake to come out.

Alucard · 07/06/2009, 03:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fury

Monkey Island 2 had a horrible ending. Seriously, it made MI2 the weakest in the series (until Mi4 came out).

I think 3 did it's best to salvage a plot from that ending, and most people will agree 3 was the best.

I didn't really think it was a terrible ending. It was humorous and it was on par with MI 3

Ravn · 07/06/2009, 03:26 pm

Long time fan, first time caller.

I am litteraly aching to play more Monkey Island, but get this game out on the Xbox 360 as well. I mean... Wii Ware... who cares? There are not many old school adventure gamers there. Albeit, they mostly tend to play PC, but if they have a console - it's a 360.

Please, I want to enjoy Monkey Island in the comfort of my livingroom in 5.1 surround.

Thx, team

Sandata · 07/06/2009, 03:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alucard

I didn't really think it was a terrible ending. It was humorous and it was on par with MI 3

It was a ending that could end it...BUT could continue the game.

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07/06/2009, 01:54 pm	#1281
Will Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 2,331	I can at least answer that first one. We use LUA for the game scripting and C++ for the back-end coding and tool building. We actually use a lot of proprietary tools. With the way we develop games over such a short period, we needed the tools to be custom build to match our production schedule. We've tried to design as much of the system in such a way that anyone in the company, regardless of background or training, can pick up the tools and be competent within a few days.

07/06/2009, 02:06 pm	#1282
djchallis Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7	Thanks for the quick reply! Sounds like a nice system. I've only just finished my first year at uni, so at the risk of revealing that I actually know very little, I might make a few more comments. Back in the day when they were making the first Monkey Island game they were using SCUMM, which is presumably a proprietary tool. Someone (I think it was Ron) mentioned that they upgraded the SCUMM system to recognised more fonts so they could do the upside-down text after the circus-cannon puzzle. Is it right to assume that you often upgrade and improve your system? Is it a risk in using a custom system that you might not innovate as much with the technology?

07/06/2009, 02:16 pm	#1283
Sandata Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 10	Its a full moon on the 7th...hmmmm. Will look for a moon in the game. I got no major questions they had to been all asked before. I will ask this. Is this fallowing closer to the original story that the creator of Monkey Island 1 and 2? Or is this you guys making your own story for it? I read that you talked to the creator of Monkey Island but I'm wondering who's story this is.

07/06/2009, 02:18 pm	#1284
Occitan885 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6	So, can you release this game at midnight please? I'm shipping out with the Navy and time is . . . very limited right now! HURRY!

07/06/2009, 02:23 pm	#1286
hippiewithnoshoes Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	Will Guybrush still wreck peoples lives to solve a pointless puzzle?

07/06/2009, 02:34 pm	#1288
Fury Banned Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Homeless (until I get a new car) Posts: 1,363	I have a question. Today is the 7th. It's 8AM. WHERE IS MONKEY ISLAND?!?

07/06/2009, 02:43 pm	#1289
Lorith Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7	Fury, it's still the 6th for a lot of people. That's how it's going to be when a game is to be released at the same time for the whole world. Come on, a cpl of hours won't make a difference

07/06/2009, 02:43 pm	#1290
Sammichy Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	Good luck with the final haul guys! What're you going to do tomorrow once the game is out?

07/06/2009, 02:58 pm	#1293
Fury Banned Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Homeless (until I get a new car) Posts: 1,363	Monkey Island 2 had a horrible ending. Seriously, it made MI2 the weakest in the series (until Mi4 came out). I think 3 did it's best to salvage a plot from that ending, and most people will agree 3 was the best.

07/06/2009, 03:00 pm	#1294
djchallis Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7	That's kinda similar to one of my questions a page or two back. It's all about whether we accept Ron Gilbert's word as a canon or the canon of the subsequent games. If Ron's as stingy about this subject as he (occasionally) sounds, I can imagine this constant debate over the "correct" MI canon to be frustrating for the script-writers for Tales. On the other hand, Ron sounds like a nice guy. Maybe I'm making a fuss where there isn't one. Somebody'll answer my question and let me know...

07/06/2009, 03:17 pm	#1297
Sandata Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 10	Oh i would like to thank the business people who thought "Hey lets give a free game" to people deal was a good idea. Also i hate to say it but i like the voice games better because thats how my brain works. Its hard for me to remember alot of text. But i enjoy the games and can't wait for the Monkey Island 1 [goodness these have long confusing which is the first game names if you think about it] remake to come out.

07/06/2009, 03:26 pm	#1299
Ravn Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	Long time fan, first time caller. I am litteraly aching to play more Monkey Island, but get this game out on the Xbox 360 as well. I mean... Wii Ware... who cares? There are not many old school adventure gamers there. Albeit, they mostly tend to play PC, but if they have a console - it's a 360. Please, I want to enjoy Monkey Island in the comfort of my livingroom in 5.1 surround. Thx, team