Telltale Games

*aHartzell* · 04/23/2010, 12:18 pm

Hi, all. This is Andy Hartzell, writer and lead designer for episode two of "The Devil's Playhouse." As you can see from my pitiful post history, I haven't properly acquired the forum habit yet. But I promise to visit regularly for at least the next month or two.

So let's see...what can I tell you about the upcoming installment? You know it's called "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak", and you've guessed that it involves the mysterious objects that were revealed in the final moments of "The Penal Zone". I can tell you that it's going to be a big episode and a twisty one, a tale that ranges widely in time and space. Like episode 1, this one throws a few new ingredients into the Telltale stew, but the flavor of this one is a bit different. Less oregano, more...cumin. And clove.

There, is that enigmatic enough? Please feel free to post any questions or speculations you may have, and I promise to respond promptly with cryptic non-answers.

Avistew · 04/23/2010, 12:21 pm

Hi, Andy, nice meeting you.
I currently can't play episode 1 so I'll have to stay away from this thread right now.
But... Hi anyways!

Falanca · 04/23/2010, 12:37 pm

Can we play it now?

MRN · 04/23/2010, 01:07 pm

Hi!

You guys, probably don't know when the 2nd episode is gonna be released, but if you do, just answer if my one of my speculated dates is correct. I think it will come out either in the 13th of May or the 20th.

*aHartzell* · 04/23/2010, 01:27 pm

You can play it if you got it. But you don't got it.

We don't have an official release date yet...sorry! Some time in the next five weeks.

MRN · 04/23/2010, 01:31 pm

Thanks anyway

BoneFreak · 04/23/2010, 04:02 pm

Ok, the first episode of the season and you give us a surprising cliffhanger. I swear, I'm getting S&M paranoia. You know that poll question about what we were doing gearing up for the premeire? Yeah, I'm pretty much doing all the answers.. TO THE EXTREME.
Anywho, can you try releasing the game on a weekend day? I like it better that way so I can get home from school and play right away.

Yarbskoo · 04/23/2010, 09:00 pm

Do any of the scenes in the trailer come from the "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak"? There was some footage that was obviously not from the first episode.

MarkoH01 · 04/24/2010, 02:16 am

Will there be changes in the game engine - for example the ability to turn off the grain effect or to fine tune graphics quality a bit more detailed?

tbm1986 · 04/24/2010, 02:48 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yarbskoo

Do any of the scenes in the trailer come from the "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak"? There was some footage that was obviously not from the first episode.

Did you notice that funny-looking bloke in a couple of the scenes in the trailer? He was in the portrait for episode 2. So my guess he is the main villain in episode 2.

So back to your question - YES.

The Highway · 04/24/2010, 04:48 am

i thought he was the museum curator

Gman5852 · 04/24/2010, 05:21 am

Will Max get those powers that he could use during the prelude of episode 1(Shapeshifting and mindreading) I noticed skunkape still had them when he went into the Penal Zone but im not sure if he let go of them.

The Highway · 04/24/2010, 06:28 am

will we enter the office?

mathman77 · 04/24/2010, 07:06 am

What are the new toys? Will you ever be able to drive?

Tjibbbe · 04/24/2010, 07:09 am

Hi Andy, great to hear from you! Just a couple of questions:

Penal Zone was heavily influenced by 70s sci-fi. Will episode 2 follow in the same style or is it influenced by another movie genre?

You say: 'a tale that ranges widely in time and space'. I hear: 'we're going to ancient Egypt'. Does this make me a fool?

If you had some weird 'accident' which caused you to turn into some sort of aquatic being which caused you to create your own fake body, what would you make your body out of?

When people look back on this season in a few months, what will be the reason they will choose the second episode as their favorite out of the lot? What makes this episode better than anything created by Telltale before or after?

What is the mystery of Scoggings?

BoneFreak · 04/24/2010, 09:35 am

@tjibbe: If you pay attention in The Penal Zone, there's a billboard (I forget where) about scoggins. I think Scoggins might have something to do with S&M, but I'm not sure. I'm going to play again right now though and try to "analyze" that billboard.

Hassat Hunter · 04/24/2010, 11:43 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjibbbe

If you had some weird 'accident' which caused you to turn into some sort of aquatic being which caused you to create your own fake body, what would you make your body out of?

Rubber trees. Wouldn't we all?

Do we get to trash the dino? Do we get to trash the dino?

(No offense to Nikasaur...)

**puzzlebox** · 04/24/2010, 12:48 pm

Hello, Andy!

You say this episode is a "twisty one"... do you mean twisty like a mobius strip (one-sided and without end), twisty like the North Yungas Road (notoriously dangerous, use at your own risk), or twisty like the Cygnus Loop Nebula (ethereally beautiful and awe-inspiring)?

*aHartzell* · 04/24/2010, 01:46 pm

Yarbskoo: None of the scenes in the trailer are lifted directly from episode 2. But those scenes that don't come from episode 1 are constructed with elements from episode 2 (along with maybe a few from episode 3).

MarkoH01: I wouldn't expect to see controls like the ability to turn off the film-grain effect, at least not in episode 2. The art director likes it, and he wants you to like it too. Personally I dig it...I think it adds texture (and is particularly appropriate for episode 2). But the fans have ultimate veto power. Organize a big enough protest against film grain and we will reconsider.

tbm1986: Episode two isn't built around a "main villain" in quite the same way as episode 1. But yes, you'll meet the "funny-looking bloke".

Gman 5852: You'll get a couple new Toys of Power to play with in episode 2. Not necessarily the same toys you got a taste of in Act 1 of "penal zone" (though you haven't seen the last of THOSE powers either...)

Highway and Mathman: Didn't you get your fill of that in season 2?

Tjibbbe:

A. Episode 2 marks a definite (temporary) departure from the 70's sci-fi vibe of Episode 1. It riffs on at least three other genres...points for guessing which ones.

B. I'd never call you a fool. Your conclusion is a logical one, but not necessarily correct.

C. Seeing as how I'm an aquatic being, I guess I'd go for a jellyfish-type body, one that's permeable and practically invisible and can swallow up unsuspecting passers-by.

D. I do predict that episode 2 will be some people's favorite...(and I guess inevitably it will be some people's least favorite). I've already indicated that it's a big episode, and it's definitely not the easiest to puzzle through...I would expect it to be most popular among serious gamers and fans of complicated nonlinear stories. At the same time, I think it's got some of the funniest voice acting in the series so far.

E. You mean "Scoggins".

puzzlebox: You describe mobius strip as if it's a bad thing.

caeska · 04/24/2010, 02:05 pm

Hey Andy, nice to meet you, and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!

In the Penal Zone, many people felt that Future Vision gave away too much and made the various puzzles spoilerish and highly unchallenging. Most people would already know the solution to puzzles after looking at everything in an area with FV.
Is FV still going to be used in episode 2 and if so, will it be toned down?
Would the focus of FV be the comical aspect (jokes and funny cutscenes) or to keep it as a major tool for puzzle-solving?

04/23/2010, 12:18 pm	#1
aHartzell Telltale Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 50	Countdown to episode 2 Hi, all. This is Andy Hartzell, writer and lead designer for episode two of "The Devil's Playhouse." As you can see from my pitiful post history, I haven't properly acquired the forum habit yet. But I promise to visit regularly for at least the next month or two. So let's see...what can I tell you about the upcoming installment? You know it's called "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak", and you've guessed that it involves the mysterious objects that were revealed in the final moments of "The Penal Zone". I can tell you that it's going to be a big episode and a twisty one, a tale that ranges widely in time and space. Like episode 1, this one throws a few new ingredients into the Telltale stew, but the flavor of this one is a bit different. Less oregano, more...cumin. And clove. There, is that enigmatic enough? Please feel free to post any questions or speculations you may have, and I promise to respond promptly with cryptic non-answers.

04/24/2010, 05:21 am	#12
Gman5852 The smartest moron Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: under your couch Posts: 5,883	Will Max get those powers that he could use during the prelude of episode 1(Shapeshifting and mindreading) I noticed skunkape still had them when he went into the Penal Zone but im not sure if he let go of them. __________________ Sign up for Tribes:Ascend, its free FOR THE NEWBIES: Blue names=normal member Grey names=community mod(As in, NOT a Telltale employee, they just keep the peace here, that's it.) Red names=actual telltale employees.

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04/23/2010, 12:21 pm	#2
Avistew I<3>1 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: France Posts: 5,051	Hi, Andy, nice meeting you. I currently can't play episode 1 so I'll have to stay away from this thread right now. But... Hi anyways!

04/23/2010, 12:37 pm	#3
Falanca Hasn't Played TWDG Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,239	Can we play it now?

04/23/2010, 01:07 pm	#4
MRN Surfin' the Highway 404 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portugal Posts: 323	Hi! You guys, probably don't know when the 2nd episode is gonna be released, but if you do, just answer if my one of my speculated dates is correct. I think it will come out either in the 13th of May or the 20th.

04/23/2010, 01:27 pm	#5
aHartzell Telltale Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 50	You can play it if you got it. But you don't got it. We don't have an official release date yet...sorry! Some time in the next five weeks.

04/23/2010, 01:31 pm	#6
MRN Surfin' the Highway 404 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portugal Posts: 323	Thanks anyway

04/23/2010, 04:02 pm	#7
BoneFreak The Friend for LIIIIFE!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Hill Residence High Score: 432 Posts: 701	Ok, the first episode of the season and you give us a surprising cliffhanger. I swear, I'm getting S&M paranoia. You know that poll question about what we were doing gearing up for the premeire? Yeah, I'm pretty much doing all the answers.. TO THE EXTREME. Anywho, can you try releasing the game on a weekend day? I like it better that way so I can get home from school and play right away.

04/23/2010, 09:00 pm	#8
Yarbskoo Adventurer Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 34	Do any of the scenes in the trailer come from the "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak"? There was some footage that was obviously not from the first episode.

04/24/2010, 02:16 am	#9
MarkoH01 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 282	Will there be changes in the game engine - for example the ability to turn off the grain effect or to fine tune graphics quality a bit more detailed?

04/24/2010, 04:48 am	#11
The Highway Resident Voodoo Master Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pathetic Perth Telltale Games Level: 3,652 Posts: 3,623	i thought he was the museum curator

04/24/2010, 06:28 am	#13
The Highway Resident Voodoo Master Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pathetic Perth Telltale Games Level: 3,652 Posts: 3,623	will we enter the office?

04/24/2010, 07:06 am	#14
mathman77 Predictor to the Future Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 511	What are the new toys? Will you ever be able to drive?

04/24/2010, 07:09 am	#15
Tjibbbe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 563	Hi Andy, great to hear from you! Just a couple of questions: Penal Zone was heavily influenced by 70s sci-fi. Will episode 2 follow in the same style or is it influenced by another movie genre? You say: 'a tale that ranges widely in time and space'. I hear: 'we're going to ancient Egypt'. Does this make me a fool? If you had some weird 'accident' which caused you to turn into some sort of aquatic being which caused you to create your own fake body, what would you make your body out of? When people look back on this season in a few months, what will be the reason they will choose the second episode as their favorite out of the lot? What makes this episode better than anything created by Telltale before or after? What is the mystery of Scoggings?

04/24/2010, 09:35 am	#16
BoneFreak The Friend for LIIIIFE!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Hill Residence High Score: 432 Posts: 701	@tjibbe: If you pay attention in The Penal Zone, there's a billboard (I forget where) about scoggins. I think Scoggins might have something to do with S&M, but I'm not sure. I'm going to play again right now though and try to "analyze" that billboard.

04/24/2010, 12:48 pm	#18
puzzlebox Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,674	Hello, Andy! You say this episode is a "twisty one"... do you mean twisty like a mobius strip (one-sided and without end), twisty like the North Yungas Road (notoriously dangerous, use at your own risk), or twisty like the Cygnus Loop Nebula (ethereally beautiful and awe-inspiring)?

04/24/2010, 01:46 pm	#19
aHartzell Telltale Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 50	Yarbskoo: None of the scenes in the trailer are lifted directly from episode 2. But those scenes that don't come from episode 1 are constructed with elements from episode 2 (along with maybe a few from episode 3). MarkoH01: I wouldn't expect to see controls like the ability to turn off the film-grain effect, at least not in episode 2. The art director likes it, and he wants you to like it too. Personally I dig it...I think it adds texture (and is particularly appropriate for episode 2). But the fans have ultimate veto power. Organize a big enough protest against film grain and we will reconsider. tbm1986: Episode two isn't built around a "main villain" in quite the same way as episode 1. But yes, you'll meet the "funny-looking bloke". Gman 5852: You'll get a couple new Toys of Power to play with in episode 2. Not necessarily the same toys you got a taste of in Act 1 of "penal zone" (though you haven't seen the last of THOSE powers either...) Highway and Mathman: Didn't you get your fill of that in season 2? Tjibbbe: A. Episode 2 marks a definite (temporary) departure from the 70's sci-fi vibe of Episode 1. It riffs on at least three other genres...points for guessing which ones. B. I'd never call you a fool. Your conclusion is a logical one, but not necessarily correct. C. Seeing as how I'm an aquatic being, I guess I'd go for a jellyfish-type body, one that's permeable and practically invisible and can swallow up unsuspecting passers-by. D. I do predict that episode 2 will be some people's favorite...(and I guess inevitably it will be some people's least favorite). I've already indicated that it's a big episode, and it's definitely not the easiest to puzzle through...I would expect it to be most popular among serious gamers and fans of complicated nonlinear stories. At the same time, I think it's got some of the funniest voice acting in the series so far. E. You mean "Scoggins". puzzlebox: You describe mobius strip as if it's a bad thing.

04/24/2010, 02:05 pm	#20
caeska Monkey Smuggler Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Fondor Orbital Shipyards Posts: 740	Hey Andy, nice to meet you, and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! In the Penal Zone, many people felt that Future Vision gave away too much and made the various puzzles spoilerish and highly unchallenging. Most people would already know the solution to puzzles after looking at everything in an area with FV. Is FV still going to be used in episode 2 and if so, will it be toned down? Would the focus of FV be the comical aspect (jokes and funny cutscenes) or to keep it as a major tool for puzzle-solving?