Quite a week, I will be around if you want to talk about it

[dancon]

Hi Everyone, I am just putting up some shelves but I will be checking this thread. We had quite a week this week If you want to ask me about it I will answer what I can.

Thanks
Dan

[Faceslasher]

Hey Dan! How's your job at Telltale? What's it like there? I would love to here from the inside!

[dancon]

Hi Faceslasher

Well first of its very busy, as an independent publisher we have more to think about then just making the games. So that means alot of negotiating with folks, doing spread sheets, reviewing marketing plans, that kind of stuff. Of course development is a huge part of it to and I would say the very best part is diving into the franchises and working on the stories and representing the franchise in the game world. SInce we started we have worked with Jeff Smith (awesome dude and brilliant artist) Steve Purcell (hilarious), The brothers Chaps (awesome) and the team at Videlectrix (total tools) Bob Gale (a legend), can you imagine working on the fourth story in the Back to the Future series with an original creator. Ron Gilbert and obviously Dave is already here. So the creative stuff is wonderful.

[JedExodus]

That whole Metacritic thing, I hope nobody got in trouble over it, hopefully just a bit of friendly teasing around the office.

While you're here though, have TTG got anything in store for us old-school adventure fans, those that relish classic gameplay?

Enjoy the shelving, nowt wrong with a bit of weekend DIY!

[DrRocketGenius]

Obviously, Telltale's gotten quite a few big licenses (Back to the Future, The Walking Dead, etc.), but how many times have you guys proposed a licensed game to a company but the idea was shot down?

[dancon]

On the metacritic thing, no one is in trouble just really bummed. They know they shouldn't have done it and won't do it again. The worst thing about it is that it turned into such a sensationalist thing that it is being positioned as a company strategy to exploit metacritc and that is just a huge stretch.

For the old school adventure fans we are looking at some very cool licenses right now that aren't traditional adventure franchises, but will be great new adventure franchises.

[dancon]

Hi Dr Genius

To answer your question I can't talk specifically about conversations we have had, but I know the Scott Pilgrim creator came out and said he wasn't into an andventure game for the franchise. Other stuff we have always wanted includes Futarama and Family Guy but no luck yet.

Most of the time it ends up that the creators are to busy with other things to focus on doing a game. That was the case with the guys from the Gorrillaz a few years back

[Secret Fawful]

Originally Posted by dancon

Hi Dr Genius

To answer your question I can't talk specifically about conversations we have had, but I know the Scott Pilgrim creator came out and said he wasn't into an andventure game for the franchise. Other stuff we have always wanted includes Futurama and Family Guy but no luck yet.

Most of the time it ends up that the creators are to busy with other things to focus on doing a game. That was the case with the guys from the Gorrillaz a few years back

Bless you, sir. Bless you. You're an angel. A prince. A gift from the gods. Just for trying.

[Ribs]

Are you still in the market for an animated show to adapt, as you said that's what you were looking for in licenses a while back, or have your visions shifted?

Also; Is the pilot program over, or just on hiatus? We only got two titles from it.

[Irishmile]

What has been your favorite game from ttg so far?... Thanks for taking the time to talk to us I know you're a busy guy.

For those who do not know Dan is one of the 3 (i think its 3) men who gave us ttg...

Also now that I've got your ear can you guys go back to having the option of having the option of having just the original game's audio in the audio commentary videos? Sometimes my kids and I just watched the games being played I really missed that option with monkey island and s&m s3

[Ribs]

I'll second Irishmile's thoughts. I much prefer watching the abridged 30 minute version than playing the full 3 hour version.

[dancon]

Hi Ribs

Well Puzzle Agent worked out really well as did Poker Night so either of those could keep rolling but we don't have any one on it now. One thing we are working on is in the R&D group and it involves new technology that takes advantage of the tools ability to create acting performances and uses AI to create a more emergent narrative. Its a little out there now so we are trying to bring it into something that makes sense as a gaming experience.

[mathman77]

So, just how busy was this week for you? I imagine it must have been really busy with the Jurassic Park release.

And the questions I just can't hold back but doubt will be answered: Is The Walking Dead game still coming this December? Will there be a S&M 4 or TOMI 2?

[Ribs]

New question thing; you've fallen into a habit of delaying your games recently. We were led to believe that by the end of the year we'd have BTTF, JP, Walking Dead, and Law and Order all started or possibly finished, leaving room for the remaining two franchises to start in the new year and meaning a fresh set of properties mid-next year. The delays have greatly dulled my enthusiasm for future games, as now I'm very confident we won't see King's Quest until mid-2012 at the earliest and that is the only announced project I've got an interest in right now. It may be due to not finding people capable of the jobs needed or something, but I must ask; Telltale has never been the kind of studio to delay games. The only prior occasion was Strong Bad's Cool Game. Will you be working to make sure you'll be able to meet deadlines and not potentially alienate those not interested in what you're currently working on? I'd also suggest not doing any 'five titles at once' announcements - while it's great in principle, I basically know that I won't be buying any Telltale games for the next year and, had I not been so involved in the community, wouldn't keep up to date with the company and potentially have forgotten of them by the time you announce 'Thing Ribs is Interested In: Season One'.

[Johro]

aw man Futurama would be awesome... but I know even FOX had problems resigning the voice actors... so even if FOX agreed there would be major hurtles. oh well. It was nice to know the team felt the same way a lot of us has about that property.

[lombre]

Since I'm no good at thinking up insightful questions, I'll just go with a fun one.

Who's your favorite Telltale-created character? By that I mean a character that originated in a Telltale game, rather than, say, Stan or Doc Brown. Jurgen, for example.

[dancon]

Hi Irish Smile

Really I can only see the games as things that I work on because I don't really consume them as finished products. But the things that stand are

The Two Bone Games- In the early days we were able to really focus on what we were building (when we weren't raising $). There was alot of love in the game and I think the Love Poem for Thorn and The Dinner Table scene were two things that stood out for me because of there uniqueness.

Sam and Max- Believe me when I tell you Sam and Max is the funnest content you could work on in games, and of course having Brendan Q Ferguson on board. It was hard work to nail it but we laughed our asses off the whole time. Stand outs for me where Abe Lincoln Must Die, Night of the Raving Dead, and The interrogation in They Saved Max's Brain. I always see majus when I see that Tourist

Monkey- This one the relationships were great Human Lechuck doing the adventure puzzle with Guybrush made me laugh so hard

SBCG4AP- The Chapmans are great people and so talented. Whenever we got voice back from them it was a great time and they did all the crazy publicity with us. I have a fondness for Dangeresque because I was once part of a public access comedy troupe.

BTTF- Working on the story for the game was great I remember Ryan Jones created those concepts that nailed it and AJ was unbelieveable. And spending a couple of hours talking concepts with Mr Bob Gale is an experience I will never forget

JP- I love the Third Episode and I Love Dodgson. I cannot wait until I can use " I have to make a phone call to an idiot" in a real conversation

[dancon]

Hi MathMan

Right now we aren't working on either but it would be much easier for us to do something with Sam and Max then Monkey at this point. We are working on the plan for next year now so we will be talking about. As far as WD after a week like last week I am reticent to say anything that can be made into a story but I will push the folks here to get an update out soon

[Woodsyblue]

First off, let me just say that ToMI and Sam and Max Season 2 are two of the finest adventure games I've ever played and I will forever be a fan of your company and I will forever be a fan of your company for bringing those gems into my life (I mean that in an admiration way, not an asskissery way.)

This is kind of a longshot but I would be remiss if I didn't ask, have you guys been in communication with LucasArts much since Darrell Rodriguez stepped down? There was once a time when Tales of Monkey Island was your most successful game but there really hasn't been any talk of the franchise continuing of late, either from you guys of LA themselves. Even if it's just the opinion of you as a fan and not as the co-founder of Telltale do you think they have any intention of continuing the franchise or is it uncertain?

[mathman77]

Woah, Thanks for answering my questions!