Random Telltale Questions I want to ask

[presidentmax]

Hey I haven't really been on the forums much lately, I'm more on when there is an upcoming Telltale related game I'm excited about.

Q1)Lately I've been hearing people say that Telltale have abandoned Adventure gameplay, is this true? I heard that Jurassic Park was more quicktime gameplay or something.

Q2)Did Telltale make Tales of Monkey Island set after an imaginary Monkey Island 5 so that Lucasarts could continue off from Escape of Monkey Island? If so is Tales of Monkey Island kind of non-canon to Lucasarts, and they'll write like it never happen? Or is Tales of Monkey Island actually Monkey Island 5? I do hope either Telltale or Lucasarts sorts out the cliffhanger in Tales.

Q3)After seeing the Double Fine Kickstarter I can't help thinking how awesome it would be if Telltale did some original IP, has this already happened and I haven't noticed? Do you think they ever real do a original IP?

Q4)I'm noticing a lot of people saying that Telltale have changed, lost focus or lost the magic. Is this all because of Jurassic Park, what happened since bttf?

Q5)Are Telltale just doing just King's Quest or do they have the rights to make other games like Space Quest and Police Quest?

Sorry about these questions being rather tired questions already asked but would love to hear what you have to say.

[Darth Marsden]

1) The reason people say Telltale has moved away from traditional adventure games is because both Back to the Future: The Game and Jurassic Park: The Game were major letdowns. BTTF had a strong plot but very weak puzzles, while JP:TG played like a poor man's Heavy Rain with no traditional point-and-click adventuring. Coming from a company with an excellent track record when it came to actual adventure games, it's led to many thinking they've abandoned the genre. It's not true (they wouldn't be doing King's Quest if it were) but those two titles definitely left a bad taste in people's mouths.

2) Tales of Monkey Island... oof. It's not directly set after Escape from Monkey Island, though it's clear that there's been some time since that game, but it's not specifically set after a non-existent Monkey Island 5. The option's there, certainly, but since LucasArts don't seem to want to continue the MI franchise, Tales is, to all extents and purposes, the fifth Monkey Island game. I too hope for a return to the games (I'm a fan of Morgan, as is pretty much everyone here, and I'd love to see more of her), but I don't think it'll happen, sadly.

3) Telltale was founded, I believe, to work on existing IPs (I'm sure someone will correct me on that if I'm wrong). It's certainly all they've done so far, with the exception of Poker Night at the Inventory (and possibly Puzzle Agent, though that was based on characters created by someone else), and I suspect it's what they'll continue to do. It's worked out well for them so far, and there's certainly no shortage of IPs for them to work on.

4) See my first answer. The thing is, both BTTF and JP were deliberate design decisions right from the off, and given how they've been received, I'd be surprised if Telltale repeated those decisions. I suspect we'll see Telltale get better from here. That's just my point of view though, I could well be wrong.

5) It's just King's Quest. They are making games based on The Walking Dead, as well as another comic, Fables, but sadly the only new Space Quest games we'll be seeing are fan-made ones.

Hope that helps!

[Ribs]

Q3)After seeing the Double Fine Kickstarter I can't help thinking how awesome it would be if Telltale did some original IP, has this already happened and I haven't noticed? Do you think they ever real do a original IP?

-No, I don't think it's likely. Double Fine only just made their first non-original game last year with Once Upon a Monster; that's what they're known for. At the Inventory is the closest example of an original IP, and even still it relies on other IPs in it's nature.

Q4)I'm noticing a lot of people saying that Telltale have changed, lost focus or lost the magic. Is this all because of Jurassic Park, what happened since bttf?

-This is in response to a number of things too numerous to list. One thing I've seen a lot of hate for is Dave Grossman's piece about games for his mother-in-law. I'd say the "let's be negative against Telltale!" thing started with the Nutri-specs, not with BTTF.

Q5)Are Telltale just doing just King's Quest or do they have the rights to make other games like Space Quest and Police Quest?

We have no idea unless Telltale want to share the express details and fine print of their licensure agreement, which is unlikely.

[der_ketzer]

Originally Posted by presidentmax

Q2)Did Telltale make Tales of Monkey Island set after an imaginary Monkey Island 5 so that Lucasarts could continue off from Escape of Monkey Island?

They claimed that at the beginning but it was a joke. Now if I could only remember where I read/heard that. Might have been the commentary videos on the ToMI DVD.

Originally Posted by presidentmax

Q4)I'm noticing a lot of people saying that Telltale have changed, lost focus or lost the magic. Is this all because of Jurassic Park, what happened since bttf?

I personally feel they have been getting slowly worse after SBCG4AP first only slowly but BTTF was unbearable. I liked the Puzzle Agent games though.

[presidentmax]

thanks for the replies everyone. It's a shame that Telltale aren't likely to do some original IP's. However, I'll always appreciate them for their Sam and Max and Monkey Island sequels. Shame we'll never see them do a Maniac Mansion 3, that would've been perfect.

[presidentmax]

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

I personally feel they have been getting slowly worse after SBCG4AP first only slowly but BTTF was unbearable. I liked the Puzzle Agent games though.

I quite like the first episode of BTTF, did it go really downhill after that, I've yet to play through the other episodes.

[ryannumber1gamer]

Hold on wait!!!! your kidding me Ribs your serious that everyone first started getting angry at Telltale was the Nutri-specs was in the ps3 version of sam & max season 3 wow i just throught they were in there for 1. a trophy and 2. for a extra couple of jokes anyway i can answer 3 of those questions

1.We can't be sure as while yes Jurrassic Park was quick time events Telltale May have learned from there mistakes. maybe they just wanted to try something new and it didnt work and as i have not played law & order so im not sure what the case is there but still we have to wait and see if telltale will redeem themselves with the walking dead. also while i liked bttf the game i agree that it was too easy because when i plat telltale games it takes me a long time to firgure out puzzles while in bttf the game i only needed hints once or twice and as i said Jurrassic Park The Game was all quick time events

[ryannumber1gamer]

Originally Posted by presidentmax

I quite like the first episode of BTTF, did it go really downhill after that, I've yet to play through the other episodes.

if you enjoyed ep 1 you would probably like the other episodes with Outatime or Citzen Brown being my favourite episodes and i would say its worth playing for its story but remember the puzzles are really easy....also maybe its how much i like the bttf films just made me like this game too im not sure

[doodinthemood]

There was some negativity during season 3 of Sam&Max. Not totally sure why. It was certainly getting easier at that point, but The Tomb of Sammun Mak may be the best episode to date.
Be interesting to see how Kings Quest goes. Be great to see that done well.

[Ribs]

Originally Posted by ryannumber1gamer

Hold on wait!!!! your kidding me Ribs your serious that everyone first started getting angry at Telltale was the Nutri-specs was in the ps3 version of sam & max season 3 wow i just throught they were in there for 1. a trophy and 2. for a extra couple of jokes anyway i can answer 3 of those questions

Yes. People were not happy with it, and this was the first big overtly negative thing Telltale did to most.

[RAnthonyMahan]

Q1)Lately I've been hearing people say that Telltale have abandoned Adventure gameplay, is this true? I heard that Jurassic Park was more quicktime gameplay or something.

Abandoned, not quite yet, but lately Telltale's really been watering down their games. BttF was incredibly easy, with most of the puzzles being pure hand-holding. While Jurassic Park was...a less interesting Heavy Rain. Still, the fact that they're doing King's Quest means Telltale couldn't have given up on adventure games entirely.

Q2)Did Telltale make Tales of Monkey Island set after an imaginary Monkey Island 5 so that Lucasarts could continue off from Escape of Monkey Island? If so is Tales of Monkey Island kind of non-canon to Lucasarts, and they'll write like it never happen? Or is Tales of Monkey Island actually Monkey Island 5? I do hope either Telltale or Lucasarts sorts out the cliffhanger in Tales.

I remember hearing somewhere that Tales was meant to be set after a non-existent Monkey Island 5 (note how Tales begins the way every Monkey Island game ends, a showdown with LeChuck. The beginning of Tales is the very end of MI5!). However, LucasArts is never going to do anything with Monkey Island ever again, so it's safe to just say Tales is MI5, and that it's canon.

Q3)After seeing the Double Fine Kickstarter I can't help thinking how awesome it would be if Telltale did some original IP, has this already happened and I haven't noticed? Do you think they ever real do a original IP?

I can't speak for Telltale, so I guess anything's possible. However, at the moment it doesn't seem like they're going to do anything except licensed games. I guess Telltale Texas Hold 'Em was original, but that wasn't even a game as much as an engine demo.

Also, it's not really fair to compare Double Fine and Telltale (even if they're both founded by ex-LucasArts employees ), especially in regards to IPs. With the exception of Once Upon A Monster, every single Double Fine game has been original, so them doing another original game isn't really a shocker.

Q4)I'm noticing a lot of people saying that Telltale have changed, lost focus or lost the magic. Is this all because of Jurassic Park, what happened since bttf?

I'd say BttF was the start of Telltale's (hopefully temporary!) downhill slide. Different people might give you different answers to that question, though. Some people criticized Tales for being unfaithful to the Monkey Island series, and some people criticized The Devil's Playhouse for being easier than the first two seasons. And the Nutri-Specs, of course.

Oh, and while Jurassic Park wasn't the start of backlash against Telltale, two mini-scandals around the game certainly didn't help matters. Not to mention the quality of the game itself.

Q5)Are Telltale just doing just King's Quest or do they have the rights to make other games like Space Quest and Police Quest?

We don't know what sort of details are in Telltale's contract with Activision. However, for the moment let's just assume they'll only do King's Quest.

[DAISHI]

What happened to that "Coming Soon" page associated with S&M Season Three on the Telltale site?

[RAnthonyMahan]

Originally Posted by DAISHI

What happened to that "Coming Soon" page associated with S&M Season Three on the Telltale site?

You mean the Episode 2-5 walkthroughs?

[DAISHI]

I don't know. It was on a big theater marquee.

[Vainamoinen]

Originally Posted by presidentmax

Q2)Did Telltale make Tales of Monkey Island set after an imaginary Monkey Island 5 so that Lucasarts could continue off from Escape of Monkey Island? If so is Tales of Monkey Island kind of non-canon to Lucasarts, and they'll write like it never happen? Or is Tales of Monkey Island actually Monkey Island 5? I do hope either Telltale or Lucasarts sorts out the cliffhanger in Tales.

RAnthonyMahan already gave the right direction for this one. The whole talk about the Tales being set after an unwritten "Monkey Island 5" is something the guys at TTG now regret because seldom has a line been more misunderstood.

All that was then meant to be communicated is: The game starts in medias res, after a never-to-be-told adventure of assembling the parts of the Cursed Cutlass of Kaflu. The idea that Lucas Arts would make an adventure that is this supposed "missing MI part" - which would also lack a finale, because that's the beginning of ToMI - is of course unthinkable.

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by DAISHI

What happened to that "Coming Soon" page associated with S&M Season Three on the Telltale site?

You mean this one?

It was set up for the Toys of Power Hotline that Telltale had set up on a telephone number with a NYC area code.

[taumel]

My random question is games unrelated:

What kind of maintenance service/procedure is TTG using so that the site goes down/extremely slow for something about 1-2 hours every day when it's noon in germany? I once ran into this accidently for a couple of times - automatically opened tabs.

[DAISHI]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

You mean this one?

It was set up for the Toys of Power Hotline that Telltale had set up on a telephone number with a NYC area code.

Yes. What the hell was this.

[Vainamoinen]

Originally Posted by taumel

My random question is games unrelated:

What kind of maintenance service/procedure is TTG using so that the site goes down/extremely slow for something about 1-2 hours every day when it's noon in germany? I once ran into this accidently for a couple of times - automatically opened tabs.

In your time zone (CET) the maintenance would occur between approx. 9:57 and 11:13 A.M. every day. The mods still have hope that the downtime will be history in the new forum.

[taumel]

I also experienced downtimes an hour later, it's always roughly about noon. Anyway still weird as for backup purposes there is no reason for a downtime at all, unless you have some not this well trained monkeys physically removing harddrives, entire blades or whatever.