Telltale Games

TextureGlitch · 01/27/2007, 02:38 am

I've tried the demos and the reason I haven't bought the Bone games yet is the open-ended, confusing sort of distribution form they have.

I had never heard about Bone until TTG picked up the license and the reason I'd buy it would be to fill in some time between S&M episodes with more of Telltale's zany storytelling

They're already pricier than S&M episodes and the bundle is a very good deal, would save me $6. It's actually too good a deal, because it makes me realize I'd have to pay full price for the next episode, right?

When episode 3 comes out the new bundle deal would be for all three, so unless that episode had some sort of discount for people who already own the first two episodes, I'll be better off just waiting until the Bone series is done in a year or two and then buy the whole thing.

A few other people have mentioned the same thing on this thread, which makes us all ghost-customers hovering around and waiting for the Bone game to become 'complete'. Sort of goes against the very idea of episodic gaming.

I like the S&M distribution a lot better, I can just pay for the whole season and be done with it. You guys get all the money up front and you can pay your bills while working on the games, instead of having to first finish an entire series and then wait to see how many people have been holding off on buying until they could get what in their view is a complete product.

Emily mentioned that the license is different for the two games, and I imagine TTG might not even know at this point how many Bone episodes they are going to make, so I can see the dilemma.
I don't really know what the solution is, but hopefully one of your marketing geniuses can come up with something

Oilers99 · 01/27/2007, 01:48 pm

First of all, it's a great inconvenience for me to buy anything online. It took me over a month and a half from when I first intended to buy Sam and Max to the time when I actually was able to use a credit card. I'd rather not go through that kind of hassle again. But that's not the major thing stopping me.

What's stopping me is that I've got the entire Bone story sitting six feet away from me, and a general apathy towards the concept of Bone made interactive. Point and click is the right style for a Bone game, I just... don't really want to play it. I want content that is going to surprise me, and there can't be any major surprises with a story like Bone, given that I've read the whole thing. Sam and Max may be familiar characters, but at least I don't know what they'll be up to next.

I'm also not convinced that the series will be concluded. I'd hate to buy two Bone games only to discover that I won't be able to finish the entire story.

What it would take for me to buy Bone would be for the entire series to come out, and most importantly, for the interactive version of Bone to be the "director's cut" of the story. I felt there were a few themes and characters that could have been more fully developed, and if the interactive version of Bone actually addresses those issues with the Bone story, I'd be perfectly happy to pay whatever the cost for the full season.

**Jake** · 01/27/2007, 07:47 pm

I imagine at this point, we'd be up for considering other pricing models for the Bone games, but really Bone isn't something we're thinking about at the moment so it hasn't come up.

Oilers99 · 01/28/2007, 12:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake

I imagine at this point, we'd be up for considering other pricing models for the Bone games, but really Bone isn't something we're thinking about at the moment so it hasn't come up.

Gee, if only your games could come out on a platform where you can buy pre-paid cards from retail stores in order to purchase digitally distributed content online. But that'd be just plain crazy.

I love digitally distributed content, but mostly in console form. But don't worry, you'll still have my dollar whenever Telltale creates something I truly want. It's just a hassle on my end is all...

Waterbottle · 01/28/2007, 05:49 am

I want to purchase the bundle pack however I'm having some trouble doing so.

I can see it in my shopping cart but when I press proceed to checkout it tells me that my shopping cart is currently empty... Got any idea how I might resolve this? I would love to have the games.

SagaciousPenguin · 02/05/2007, 08:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake

I imagine at this point, we'd be up for considering other pricing models for the Bone games, but really Bone isn't something we're thinking about at the moment so it hasn't come up.

I'm taking it then that an S&M style pay-plan is inadvisable since you're not pumping out Bone games at the same pace. (Though I admit I wish you were!)

I think the way you ARE pricing them probably works then since the die-hard Bone fans (like myself) will by them at the bit more pricey price and not mind b/c we know we are paying to get them 'now' and not waiting five years.

That said, I think episodic story-telling does indeed have its merits. Specifically in retelling a large story like Bone. Put it into a two hour movie, or a single-game-length and I'm sure corners would be cut like crazy. Here we can let the story-telling unfold at a luxurious pace.

Second, the creaters can learn from their mistakes and grow and better the formula based on user response. I like the idea of the "Director's Cut" for the games. Some people might complain that you are retooling, never-ending, etc. But we who are sticking with the series as it unfolds have the power to help shape the final 9-part game that is sold one day be the best game it can be by continuously giving our input and feedback on how Telltale's doing.

So, if you're not a gargantuan Bone fan, then maybe it isn't worth it to be a part of this unfolding process. As such, Tell Tale, I wouldn't worry too much about getting such persons's downloads now... they'll hit the thing up after it's a 9-part huge game they can buy all at once. But for the rest of us, Bone-lovers who are anticipating Eyes of the Storm far more than the next S&M episode, we're happy to be a part of the creation process, experiencing the games as you create them and better them through the Director's cut.

I look forward to that day down the road when you can sell us one huge file of 'BONE' the game in its totality, but for now I think this is definitely a good way to release the series. I hope it has been profitable enough to pay it off as it goes, but I feel confident that when it ends the profits will be even greater. Just keep upping the quality (as you did from Boneville to Cow Race), and bettering the past (as you did with the Director's Cut), and the final 9-game product will be so well-polished and well-talked about online that it's sure to sell!

LuigiHann · 02/05/2007, 09:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilers99

Gee, if only your games could come out on a platform where you can buy pre-paid cards from retail stores in order to purchase digitally distributed content online. But that'd be just plain crazy.

Cell phones?

ADVENT4ME · 02/12/2007, 01:13 pm

so the sam and max and bone series require activatation? even with the cd versions? i hate those kinds of games, i dont even have internet at home

MAFR · 02/16/2007, 01:14 pm

I just bought Episode I Mac Version. I hope you also port episode II and the whole Sam and Max series.

Sacharissa · 02/18/2007, 06:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAFR

I just bought Episode I Mac Version. I hope you also port episode II and the whole Sam and Max series.

What Mac version? I couldn't find it - could you give me the direct link?

Cheers

Sarah

tabacco · 02/18/2007, 07:26 pm

http://www.vanbrio.com/bone/act1/

numble · 02/18/2007, 08:52 pm

Random somewhat-related question--why doesn't the Telltale Store offer it?

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01/27/2007, 02:38 am	#81
TextureGlitch Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 73	I've tried the demos and the reason I haven't bought the Bone games yet is the open-ended, confusing sort of distribution form they have. I had never heard about Bone until TTG picked up the license and the reason I'd buy it would be to fill in some time between S&M episodes with more of Telltale's zany storytelling They're already pricier than S&M episodes and the bundle is a very good deal, would save me $6. It's actually too good a deal, because it makes me realize I'd have to pay full price for the next episode, right? When episode 3 comes out the new bundle deal would be for all three, so unless that episode had some sort of discount for people who already own the first two episodes, I'll be better off just waiting until the Bone series is done in a year or two and then buy the whole thing. A few other people have mentioned the same thing on this thread, which makes us all ghost-customers hovering around and waiting for the Bone game to become 'complete'. Sort of goes against the very idea of episodic gaming. I like the S&M distribution a lot better, I can just pay for the whole season and be done with it. You guys get all the money up front and you can pay your bills while working on the games, instead of having to first finish an entire series and then wait to see how many people have been holding off on buying until they could get what in their view is a complete product. Emily mentioned that the license is different for the two games, and I imagine TTG might not even know at this point how many Bone episodes they are going to make, so I can see the dilemma. I don't really know what the solution is, but hopefully one of your marketing geniuses can come up with something

01/27/2007, 01:48 pm	#82
Oilers99 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 113	First of all, it's a great inconvenience for me to buy anything online. It took me over a month and a half from when I first intended to buy Sam and Max to the time when I actually was able to use a credit card. I'd rather not go through that kind of hassle again. But that's not the major thing stopping me. What's stopping me is that I've got the entire Bone story sitting six feet away from me, and a general apathy towards the concept of Bone made interactive. Point and click is the right style for a Bone game, I just... don't really want to play it. I want content that is going to surprise me, and there can't be any major surprises with a story like Bone, given that I've read the whole thing. Sam and Max may be familiar characters, but at least I don't know what they'll be up to next. I'm also not convinced that the series will be concluded. I'd hate to buy two Bone games only to discover that I won't be able to finish the entire story. What it would take for me to buy Bone would be for the entire series to come out, and most importantly, for the interactive version of Bone to be the "director's cut" of the story. I felt there were a few themes and characters that could have been more fully developed, and if the interactive version of Bone actually addresses those issues with the Bone story, I'd be perfectly happy to pay whatever the cost for the full season.

01/27/2007, 07:47 pm	#83
Jake Telltale Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,843	I imagine at this point, we'd be up for considering other pricing models for the Bone games, but really Bone isn't something we're thinking about at the moment so it hasn't come up.

01/28/2007, 05:49 am	#85
Waterbottle Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10	I want to purchase the bundle pack however I'm having some trouble doing so. I can see it in my shopping cart but when I press proceed to checkout it tells me that my shopping cart is currently empty... Got any idea how I might resolve this? I would love to have the games.

02/12/2007, 01:13 pm	#88
ADVENT4ME Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3	so the sam and max and bone series require activatation? even with the cd versions? i hate those kinds of games, i dont even have internet at home

02/16/2007, 01:14 pm	#89
MAFR Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2	I just bought Episode I Mac Version. I hope you also port episode II and the whole Sam and Max series.

02/18/2007, 07:26 pm	#91
tabacco I Feel Fantastic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 2,129	http://www.vanbrio.com/bone/act1/

02/18/2007, 08:52 pm	#92
numble Glottal stop Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Super Happy Farmland Posts: 524	Random somewhat-related question--why doesn't the Telltale Store offer it?