TWD Season 2 speculation/suggestion (merged threads)

[Desmodus87]

No one's arguing that TWD game, in some areas, could use improved graphics. If you have played more than one episode, you will have in fact of seen some of the same zombies multiple times. This becomes very apparent when you're playing episode 5 and you see the horde.
What most of the people in this thread are saying is that most people just don't care. When it comes to graphics, graphics are secondary to story, and should always be. TWD game has won over 80 GoTY awards and has a substantial fan base that you cannot really even attribute to the recent success of the TV show. The reason people love the game and are happily awaiting the second season, is because the story is so well-written and presented.
Even if the graphics were substantially worse than they are right now, people would still be lining up to purchase the game simply because they know that the story is worth it.
While you may be fixated on improving the graphics in addition to the game's engine, these things are secondary. If you wanted to pass on this recommendation to Activision for their new Walking Dead game, that'd be fine, because I suspect that the story's going to be secondary to amazing graphics.

[Riadon]

Originally Posted by Desmodus87

No one's arguing that TWD game, in some areas, could use improved graphics. If you have played more than one episode, you will have in fact of seen some of the same zombies multiple times. This becomes very apparent when you're playing episode 5 and you see the horde.
What most of the people in this thread are saying is that most people just don't care. When it comes to graphics, graphics are secondary to story, and should always be. TWD game has won over 80 GoTY awards and has a substantial fan base that you cannot really even attribute to the recent success of the TV show. The reason people love the game and are happily awaiting the second season, is because the story is so well-written and presented.
Even if the graphics were substantially worse than they are right now, people would still be lining up to purchase the game simply because they know that the story is worth it.
While you may be fixated on improving the graphics in addition to the game's engine, these things are secondary. If you wanted to pass on this recommendation to Activision for their new Walking Dead game, that'd be fine, because I suspect that the story's going to be secondary to amazing graphics.

Misconceptions are bolded.

The people in the thread that I was responding to claimed that the game looked "perfect". They didn't say anything about indifference, though it is reasonable to assume many feel this way (including myself, to an extent).

I listed many graphical features that the game lacks in response to those who claimed that the game looked "perfect". I also stated that I did not expect, or even really want, the game to implement all of these effects. Not only would it be impossible with the current engine, it would greatly expand the budget and development time. I asked for better zombie and survivor textures along with better shadows and LOD (both of which are incredibly simple to implement).

Also, Activision's bastardization of the franchise isn't exactly "impressive" in the graphical department. I would even argue that Telltale's adaptation looks superior.

[BenIsKindaCool]

Originally Posted by Mornai

I don't know what platform you're playing on, but my version of the game looked FAR better than that (and I've seen that zombie closeup several times). If you purposely turned the graphics to their lowest value, then that's no excuse for wanting an upgrade.

Same here ._.

[Mark$man]

Seriously I thought the graphics were well done! The graphics weren't made to look like 3D human faces or whatnot on purpose, TWD crew didn't want people too focused on graphics, and also wanted the game to look a lot like the comics it was made to resemble/involve. The characters are mean't to look cartoonish/comic-like because that was the intention. The game was incredibly awesome even without it! *high five duck* And I'd agree that even if the graphics looked like the nintendo engine I'd still buy it for the storyline.

[staticfl]

Awesome game, but yes graphics can definitely be improved. When you hear the voice actor speak, but the character doesn't move their mouth or just awkward movements... like when Carley is walking up the stairs and turns back to look at Lee. Both can be accomplished if they took their time. But of course graphics mean nothing if the story is crap.

[double_u]

So long as we remember that graphics and art style are not always the same thing, then yeah, some graphics (esp. animation) could be improved. However, I really like the art style of the game. The drawn style of the game actually makes it more life-like.

[aerial-ballet]

Originally Posted by double_u

So long as we remember that graphics and art style are not always the same thing, then yeah, some graphics (esp. animation) could be improved. However, I really like the art style of the game. The drawn style of the game actually makes it more life-like.

Agreed. The art style is perfect. The characters are a lot more expressive and emotive than in other games that I've played.

[Robert Morgan]

Originally Posted by aerial-ballet

Agreed. The art style is perfect. The characters are a lot more expressive and emotive than in other games that I've played.

That's one problem with the MASS EFFECT games I could never get over; the "uncanny valley" factor. I'm not sure how Telltale did it, but they circumvented this issue nicely.

[aerial-ballet]

Originally Posted by Robert Morgan

That's one problem with the MASS EFFECT games I could never get over; the "uncanny valley" factor. I'm not sure how Telltale did it, but they circumvented this issue nicely.

Totally. Same for me with Heavy Rain. It's so hyper-realistic that it looks unrealistic. The characters look more like robots than humans.

[zjs]

What would I REALLY like to see, story wise?

- Clementine to have an important role in the game, as a useful member of the group. She could even be its moral compass (or not, depending on what Lee taught her; how he acted around her - now THAT would be making good use of the last season's save, no?). Her character should have aged and matured to the point that she's self-sufficient and more of a teenager than a child.

- The protagonist should be a new character: someone old enough to be in their late teens/early adulthood, so as not to be a natural leadership figure. They have to earn respect and trust. They should be world savvy, with the game taking place a few years into the apocalypse, not a bumbling Ben figure. I'd lean towards a female character, who'd act as a firm friend or older sister with (an able to fend for herself) Clementine.

- It should feature new areas, a new group, and new characters. References to the past could be in Clementine's story and perhaps a few episodic run-ins with surviving characters (i.e. Omid and Christa being there at the beginning and then leaving to find their families or dying etc).

In terms of gameplay:

- Let's have some decisions that really do change things. A few more of the Doug/Carly choices, which are predominately superficial, would still make a big difference in themselves. The sort of choice you made with Ben's life (and the ramifications if you save it) were also very good. The fate of characters is enough to replay a game, even if it's set in two distinctive paths. Big decisions should really affect how things turn out; i.e. not taking food should have softened The Stranger.

I'd also like to see some scenarios where you can choose to cut a character loose (between two choices). Whether or not you try and negotiate, you HAVE to get rid of one of them. Who you cut loose will really affect how the other characters speak to you afterwards, as will the way you do it. Try and negotiate first and you'll annoy any Kenny types, but show leadership skills to all; get rid of one person straight away and their friends in the group will act differently around you.


Overall, if you're going to change anything in the mechanics of the game, do it with choices. Make choices that have two set paths a couple of times in the game, and more than anything: more characters that survive long enough for the dialogue options to make a real difference to your treatment of each other in the story. Kenny was a good example of this.

[BenIsKindaCool]

It's so weird that when I look at Clementine's pics,I can see her being in real life..But when I think about it,then it's impossible..And it annoys me so much cause Clemy is so cute -.-

[danger77]

I don`t think Lee will be in the second season because at the final of episode 5 there were 2 posibilities to finish the game.To shoot Lee or not.Well i chose to shot him because I didn`t want him to transform in a zombie...
But it`s the posibility to have 2 stories...one with Lee zombie or alive...and a story with Lee dead...if there will be a story with Lee alive...I`m going to play the first season again and this time I won`t shot Lee...Oh...I`m going to cry again

[Mark$man]

Originally Posted by danger77

I don`t think Lee will be in the second season because at the final of episode 5 there were 2 posibilities to finish the game.To shoot Lee or not.Well i chose to shot him because I didn`t want him to transform in a zombie...
But it`s the posibility to have 2 stories...one with Lee zombie or alive...and a story with Lee dead...if there will be a story with Lee alive...I`m going to play the first season again and this time I won`t shot Lee...Oh...I`m going to cry again

That's what makes others smile. Making you cry like a baby :P

[Zeruis]

A little news about season 2: It will seemingly be "less buggy".

http://kotaku.com/5987724/telltale-p...-be-less-buggy

[Robert Morgan]

Originally Posted by Zeruis

A little news about season 2: It will seemingly be "less buggy".

http://kotaku.com/5987724/telltale-p...-be-less-buggy

At this point, I think the identity of the PC is the real news we're all waiting to hear.

[aerial-ballet]

If by "less buggy" they mean "the return of Lee Everett" then I'm happy!

[Zeruis]

Originally Posted by Robert Morgan

At this point, I think the identity of the PC is the real news we're all waiting to hear.

It's not like we'll be hearing THAT news anytime soon.

[Robert Morgan]

I'd like to pose this question to everyone: If WALKING DEAD is meant to be more of an interactive TV show than a video game series, who is the main character supposed to be? It obviously isn't Lee; Telltale killed him before the first season was over.

So it has to be Clementine, right? But if it's Clementine, and the entire series revolves around her growing up amidst the zombie apocalypse, where does that leave the player if Clem won't become the PC? As her mentor, apparently.

Will each season be about a different kind of mentor figure who adopts Clem as the series goes on? Lee in the first season, Kenny or Molly in the second season, etc.?

Sure, you could criticize this as becoming repetitious, but not if the PC is radically different from the one that preceded him/her.

[Mornai]

Originally Posted by Robert Morgan

I'd like to pose this question to everyone: If WALKING DEAD is meant to be more of an interactive TV show than a video game series, who is the main character supposed to be? It obviously isn't Lee; Telltale killed him before the first season was over.

So it has to be Clementine, right? But if it's Clementine, and the entire series revolves around her growing up amidst the zombie apocalypse, where does that leave the player if Clem won't become the PC? As her mentor, apparently.

Will each season be about a different kind of mentor figure who adopts Clem as the series goes on? Lee in the first season, Kenny or Molly in the second season, etc.?

Sure, you could criticize this as becoming repetitious, but not if the PC is radically different from the one that preceded him/her.

I don't there is a main PC or type of PC for the series as a whole. It's just showing the hellish world that various types of survivors must go through, and we see an example of the struggles and personal tragedy that they suffer through the eyes of Lee. In the end he was just one among many who tried to survive.

[Robert Morgan]

Originally Posted by Mornai

I don't there is a main PC or type of PC for the series as a whole. It's just showing the hellish world that various types of survivors must go through, and we see an example of the struggles and personal tragedy that they suffer through the eyes of Lee. In the end he was just one among many who tried to survive.

I'm just saying that if the series had some kind of story trajectory, it would make sense if it followed the pattern I described above. If Kenny took Lee's place in season 2, we could assume he also dies by the end of episode 10, albeit under different circumstances from Lee's, leaving Clem alone again. For season 3, we could then assume direct control of Clem and bring her arc to a close through episodes 11-15.

Don't take any of this too seriously. I'm just spewing off crazy theories here.