Telltale Games

XuGator · 06/18/2009, 06:11 am

It was the first week of June for me, on a Wednesday morning. It was a pretty normal day up until this point. I stopped for my morning coffee, picked up some breakfast and headed into work. The skies were blue, sounds of the bustling traffic were radiating from all sides and the voice of Mike and Mike speaking about last nights NBA game over the radio. It was just your average, early morning commute. Little did I know that this day, which started out so uneventful would turn my life upside down and change things forever.

I was going about my business, just working on some accounts in the office when it happened…..I got the call. It was my brother, who rarely calls, especially during the work day. I knew that this had to be important and my mind immediately gravitated towards something bad. As soon as I answered the phone, his trembling tone and the way his voice crackled just gave me an empty pit in my stomach. The last time I had a call that started out like this, I was informed of a death in the family. I waited impatiently for what he was about to say, hoping for something that would alleviate my anxiety. This was not the case. His first few words were…”Do you have a second” and when I said “Yes”, he asked me if I was sitting down. My heart started to race profusely now. A nervous reflex even knocked over my coffee that was sitting on my desk. I said in a worried tone “what is it?”……there was a brief pause, a deep breath and another hesitation before he said “Its about”…….then there was another pause. A million thoughts were circling my mind now. I was thinking about what, about who, what happened? This is when he spoke the 2 most significant words I have ever heard him say …… “Monkey Island”.

It had been many years since I had last heard the phrase “Monkey Island”. I realize that those are only 2 words, but they are about as powerful as they get. When I heard those words, it was almost like I had seen a ghost. Monkey Island was one of the best chapters in my life, but a chapter that has been closed for almost a decade now. I started to revisit in my mind a memory that for so long had been buried and untouched. A million memories started to flood my brain at this point. I thought of many random points of the epic game series such as patching the boat, getting past the Cabana boy, capturing Pegnose, or watching Marco De Pollo get attacked on this dive. These memories brought me back to a point of complete euphoria when we were able to enjoy probably the greatest game to ever be made. However, like all good things…..it had to eventually come to an end. The conclusion of the monkey island series caused me a great deal of depression and marked a very painful time in my life.

About 9 years ago when this series came to its end, I tried to look at the positive. I tried to be optimistic and I told myself that I would just wait 5 years and then I could just play monkey island again and it would be just as fun because hopefully I would have forgotten a lot of the puzzles. So...I waited and after 5 years when the time was right, I threw in the curse of Monkey Island. There were many puzzles that I did forget, but were also many that came back to me right away. I understood this experience would never compare to a new monkey island, but this is all I had. After I finished them for the second time, I knew that was it. I knew Monkey Island was officially over…..forever.

Ultimately, these memories were bottled up and kept in a very safe and secure part of my mind but were never touched because thinking about this classic would usually only make me even more depressed. There were several times in the early part of the decade that I would hear rumors of another “monkey island” release. I always was excited when I heard these rumors and would be the first one to investigate the legitimacy of them. Each and every time though, the rumors were squashed and one day I realized that Monkey Island was finished and wasn’t ever coming back.

So when I heard my brother speak the words “Monkey Island”, I immediately felt anger towards him. Why would he bring up such a delicate and sensitive subject for me. What would he possibly have to say about this game that wouldn’t take me back, when for so many years I have progressed nicely getting past and getting over this famed classic. I realize that only time can heal these kind of deep wounds and I was doing very well and coping nicely. He then said two more words that were equally as powerful. He said “Its back”.

My mind again started to go in a million directions. What did he mean “Its back?”……why was he doing this to me and playing with my emotions? I asked him what he was talking about and he said he was sending me a link over the computer. I waited and I waited and what was in actuality seconds, seemed like an eternity. I clicked on the link and what I saw on the screen and the words that I read, changed my life forever. I saw an illustration of Guybrush, LeChuck, the pirate ship and the voodoo lady. The words I read that were emblazoned over the image were the most instrumental and life altering words I have ever read. The caption said “ Humor, Romance and Piratey Swashbuckling in an all new epic saga”. That was the key part of the phrase….. “all new”.

I couldn’t believe my eyes and starting to think that this was just a practical joke, a gimmick of some kind. I was thinking it was just like a mirage of a pool of crystal blue water in the desert and just as you get close enough to take a sip, it disappears. I thought….how could someone play such a cruel joke? How can someone play with my innermost thoughts, hopes, dreams and fears? Especially, how could my own brother do this to me? He did his best to assure me that this was by no means a joke, but the real deal. So many times in the past he would joke about “another monkey island” but that never panned out and the last thing I expected was for one to be released after so many years. I was as skeptical and as cynical as they come but when I saw the trailer for the game and the forums with so many others rejoicing like I was, I knew that it was for real.

I still don’t think that reality has set in for me yet…….I still don’t think my mind has really processed the ramifications that this had , has and will have on my life. All I know is that on that early June morning, in the year 2009, my life was changed…….forever.

hplikelike · 06/18/2009, 06:12 am

internet.

Toothless Gibbon · 06/18/2009, 06:41 am

Hahaha, those two posts are the best example of juxtaposition I have seen in a while!

Internet for me too though, trwling E3 news hoping for a new Zelda and got something even better! (obviously both would have been even better still)

**Jake** · 06/18/2009, 07:37 am

Someone told me I would be working on it, and I said "Whoa. Hmm. Whoa."

Also XuGator, you might want to edit your post to add some line breaks!

yummysoap · 06/18/2009, 08:03 am

I could practically climb that wall o' text.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun for me. I was very surprised.

Winged Devil · 06/18/2009, 08:32 am

I really don't remember!

All I know is that is was early in the morning, I was tired as a sock and quite unhappy with having to get up and get through another grey, generic day at work. It was a horrible, horrible Monday.

So I was surfing for news and such while having breakfast, like I usually do, and then...
Papapishu!!

Was walking around looking like I just got some for 5 days straight! Not to mention challenging random strangers on the street to insult sword fighting. Did you know that's actually illegal in some places?

edit: Uh, wait... Seems I DO remember! What a silly way to start off a post.

Secret Fawful · 06/18/2009, 10:51 am

Well, I found out in two ways in pretty much the same space of time, so I'll go with the more interesting one.

I got a call from a friend of mine, and this is basically how it went.

Friend: MONKEY ISLAND!!!
Me: WHAT?
Friend: MONKEY ISLAND!!!
Me: WHAT?
Friend: MONKEY ISLAND!!!
Me: WHAT?
Friend: You heard me.
Me: WHAT?
*click*

plrichard · 06/18/2009, 11:23 am

I was on the internet at work and noticed where my friend had posted an IGN article on my Facebook wall that had the E3 preview of ToMI. Naturally I barely got any work done the rest of the day.

Rather Dashing · 06/18/2009, 11:30 am

I hadn't followed E3 news at all, and I think I'd been away from the internet for a bit.

So I go to Telltale's site and see MONKEY ISLAND on a big splash page.

I do a double take.

A triple take.

A spit take.

"Wha-wha-wha-WHAT?"

The laugh track plays.

thanatos56 · 06/18/2009, 01:38 pm

Mine was random luck. I was looking for some way to kill time, so I decided I'd check the TellTale forums, and when I got to the page, BAM! Monkey Island!

I wasn't able to think of anything else for a week.

corruptbiggins · 06/18/2009, 01:45 pm

I was on my usual forum when someone posted about the Secret Special Edition and through the LucasArts page I found out about Tales.

coolsome · 06/18/2009, 01:48 pm

i was on wiki after I uploaded sam and max hit the road ending and I was bordly clicking aand ended up on monkey island page saw the tales of monkey island secion and went hysterical XD

thesporkman · 06/18/2009, 01:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thanatos56

Mine was random luck. I was looking for some way to kill time, so I decided I'd check the TellTale forums, and when I got to the page, BAM! Monkey Island!

At first I read that as

Quote:

Originally Posted by thanatos56

I was looking for some way to kill myself, so I decided I'd check the TellTale forums, and when I got to the page, BAM!

You had me worried for a second...

thanatos56 · 06/18/2009, 01:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesporkman

At first I read that as

You had me worried for a second...

Lol, I'm not that kind of person.

purple_monkfish · 06/19/2009, 02:13 am

Telltale emailed me?

Man... what a boring story.

Let's see, last few days of Honeymoon, first access to a pc in about a week. Telltale had emailed saying "hey, we're making a MI game and Lucasarts is totally reskinning the first game!" and I was like "oh that's cool, but I totally don't believe you guys. Is it April first again?"
When we got home a few days later I had the time to actually check it out and preorder.

I love when Telltale email me random things.

Meathook · 06/21/2009, 10:15 am

For the first time in about two months I was on the MI Wiki. Just for lolz, I checked the entry for Monkey Island 5. I was expecting a hopeful entry of something not to come or a "no page exists response". I was shocked when I saw the title "Tales of Monkey Island" at the top. I have to admit, I'm still in shock =)

*Irishmile* · 06/21/2009, 10:38 am

I was driving home from the grocery store with my wife, I got in a terrible accident.. I virtually walked away unscratched (wear your seat belt kids) My wife wasn't wearing one..

I spent a lot of hours sitting in the waiting room.... you know waiting.

The doctor finally came out holding a clipboard flipping back and forth some pages... he looked tired. He asked if I was... me.

He said he was sorry he couldn't save my wife.. but told me to cheer up there where some new Monkey Island games coming out.. and that they managed to save the groceries in my car...

Needless to say... I have my 6 pack of Guinness and I eagerly await the release of the new MI games...

Really I was on another message board and someone mentioned it, and I was all "noway!!"

Everlast · 06/21/2009, 11:59 am

Was checking the news on E3. Hoping for some MMORPG free subscription game and all or some news of Wii or Guild Wars2. I was like "lets see if they finally release good games for Wii like Final Fantasy's series from PS3" Needless to say i was browsing through the trailers and passed by something like monkey island, then i was like "whoa wait, whats that about Monkey Island i just saw?!" I was in shock cuzz i though they had the franchise dead.

I got so excited i went inmediately for the 1st time to Telltalegames site and found out more info, and bought it thinking it was released in June 7. Then i found out in my email it was July 7 and not June so i misread. Still im excited and i hope they mail me a CD of all the chapters!

fwed1 · 06/23/2009, 01:25 am

This thread is probably the best on this forum. The smile that was on my face reading the first post turned quickly to out loud laughter as I read the second. God Bless you poster number 2.

I think I found out googling all my favourite series as I do once in a while especially since it had just been e3. Assassins creed (yay a second one) splinter cell (yay another one) monkey island (ooh that special edition rumour is true! yay. OMG what... noooooo not another joke... OMG MI5!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAH) Sims 3 (no expansions yet) Sim City (doesn't seem like it) etc.

doodo! · 06/23/2009, 01:34 am

Really it isn't that exciting , I was right here (The same place...)

06/18/2009, 06:11 am	#1
XuGator Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 37	Where were you and how did you find out about the new MI ? It was the first week of June for me, on a Wednesday morning. It was a pretty normal day up until this point. I stopped for my morning coffee, picked up some breakfast and headed into work. The skies were blue, sounds of the bustling traffic were radiating from all sides and the voice of Mike and Mike speaking about last nights NBA game over the radio. It was just your average, early morning commute. Little did I know that this day, which started out so uneventful would turn my life upside down and change things forever. I was going about my business, just working on some accounts in the office when it happened…..I got the call. It was my brother, who rarely calls, especially during the work day. I knew that this had to be important and my mind immediately gravitated towards something bad. As soon as I answered the phone, his trembling tone and the way his voice crackled just gave me an empty pit in my stomach. The last time I had a call that started out like this, I was informed of a death in the family. I waited impatiently for what he was about to say, hoping for something that would alleviate my anxiety. This was not the case. His first few words were…”Do you have a second” and when I said “Yes”, he asked me if I was sitting down. My heart started to race profusely now. A nervous reflex even knocked over my coffee that was sitting on my desk. I said in a worried tone “what is it?”……there was a brief pause, a deep breath and another hesitation before he said “Its about”…….then there was another pause. A million thoughts were circling my mind now. I was thinking about what, about who, what happened? This is when he spoke the 2 most significant words I have ever heard him say …… “Monkey Island”. It had been many years since I had last heard the phrase “Monkey Island”. I realize that those are only 2 words, but they are about as powerful as they get. When I heard those words, it was almost like I had seen a ghost. Monkey Island was one of the best chapters in my life, but a chapter that has been closed for almost a decade now. I started to revisit in my mind a memory that for so long had been buried and untouched. A million memories started to flood my brain at this point. I thought of many random points of the epic game series such as patching the boat, getting past the Cabana boy, capturing Pegnose, or watching Marco De Pollo get attacked on this dive. These memories brought me back to a point of complete euphoria when we were able to enjoy probably the greatest game to ever be made. However, like all good things…..it had to eventually come to an end. The conclusion of the monkey island series caused me a great deal of depression and marked a very painful time in my life. About 9 years ago when this series came to its end, I tried to look at the positive. I tried to be optimistic and I told myself that I would just wait 5 years and then I could just play monkey island again and it would be just as fun because hopefully I would have forgotten a lot of the puzzles. So...I waited and after 5 years when the time was right, I threw in the curse of Monkey Island. There were many puzzles that I did forget, but were also many that came back to me right away. I understood this experience would never compare to a new monkey island, but this is all I had. After I finished them for the second time, I knew that was it. I knew Monkey Island was officially over…..forever. Ultimately, these memories were bottled up and kept in a very safe and secure part of my mind but were never touched because thinking about this classic would usually only make me even more depressed. There were several times in the early part of the decade that I would hear rumors of another “monkey island” release. I always was excited when I heard these rumors and would be the first one to investigate the legitimacy of them. Each and every time though, the rumors were squashed and one day I realized that Monkey Island was finished and wasn’t ever coming back. So when I heard my brother speak the words “Monkey Island”, I immediately felt anger towards him. Why would he bring up such a delicate and sensitive subject for me. What would he possibly have to say about this game that wouldn’t take me back, when for so many years I have progressed nicely getting past and getting over this famed classic. I realize that only time can heal these kind of deep wounds and I was doing very well and coping nicely. He then said two more words that were equally as powerful. He said “Its back”. My mind again started to go in a million directions. What did he mean “Its back?”……why was he doing this to me and playing with my emotions? I asked him what he was talking about and he said he was sending me a link over the computer. I waited and I waited and what was in actuality seconds, seemed like an eternity. I clicked on the link and what I saw on the screen and the words that I read, changed my life forever. I saw an illustration of Guybrush, LeChuck, the pirate ship and the voodoo lady. The words I read that were emblazoned over the image were the most instrumental and life altering words I have ever read. The caption said “ Humor, Romance and Piratey Swashbuckling in an all new epic saga”. That was the key part of the phrase….. “all new”. I couldn’t believe my eyes and starting to think that this was just a practical joke, a gimmick of some kind. I was thinking it was just like a mirage of a pool of crystal blue water in the desert and just as you get close enough to take a sip, it disappears. I thought….how could someone play such a cruel joke? How can someone play with my innermost thoughts, hopes, dreams and fears? Especially, how could my own brother do this to me? He did his best to assure me that this was by no means a joke, but the real deal. So many times in the past he would joke about “another monkey island” but that never panned out and the last thing I expected was for one to be released after so many years. I was as skeptical and as cynical as they come but when I saw the trailer for the game and the forums with so many others rejoicing like I was, I knew that it was for real. I still don’t think that reality has set in for me yet…….I still don’t think my mind has really processed the ramifications that this had , has and will have on my life. All I know is that on that early June morning, in the year 2009, my life was changed…….forever. Last edited by XuGator; 06/18/2009 at 08:19 am.

06/18/2009, 08:32 am	#6
Winged Devil Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 24	I really don't remember! All I know is that is was early in the morning, I was tired as a sock and quite unhappy with having to get up and get through another grey, generic day at work. It was a horrible, horrible Monday. So I was surfing for news and such while having breakfast, like I usually do, and then... Papapishu!! Was walking around looking like I just got some for 5 days straight! Not to mention challenging random strangers on the street to insult sword fighting. Did you know that's actually illegal in some places? edit: Uh, wait... Seems I DO remember! What a silly way to start off a post. Last edited by Winged Devil; 06/18/2009 at 08:38 am. Reason: Having a questionable relationship with memories and such

06/18/2009, 11:23 am	#8
plrichard Wanna-Be Pirate Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 597	I was on the internet at work and noticed where my friend had posted an IGN article on my Facebook wall that had the E3 preview of ToMI. Naturally I barely got any work done the rest of the day. __________________ Using staple removers on tremendous dangerous-looking yaks since the 90's.

06/18/2009, 01:38 pm	#10
thanatos56 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 120	Mine was random luck. I was looking for some way to kill time, so I decided I'd check the TellTale forums, and when I got to the page, BAM! Monkey Island! I wasn't able to think of anything else for a week. __________________ You know what they say, if you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.

06/18/2009, 01:45 pm	#11
corruptbiggins ready player one Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fintlewoodlewix Posts: 2,194	I was on my usual forum when someone posted about the Secret Special Edition and through the LucasArts page I found out about Tales. __________________ Currently reading... The Servants of Twilight by Dean Koontz Portfolio / Blog / YouTube "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

06/18/2009, 06:12 am	#2
hplikelike Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 555	internet.

06/18/2009, 06:41 am	#3
Toothless Gibbon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 933	Hahaha, those two posts are the best example of juxtaposition I have seen in a while! Internet for me too though, trwling E3 news hoping for a new Zelda and got something even better! (obviously both would have been even better still)

06/18/2009, 07:37 am	#4
Jake Telltale Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,841	Someone told me I would be working on it, and I said "Whoa. Hmm. Whoa." Also XuGator, you might want to edit your post to add some line breaks!

06/18/2009, 08:03 am	#5
yummysoap Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 15	I could practically climb that wall o' text. Rock, Paper, Shotgun for me. I was very surprised.

06/18/2009, 10:51 am	#7
Secret Fawful Fearless Oathbreaker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Stuck In This Pose Sexiness: Off The Charts! Posts: 5,123	Well, I found out in two ways in pretty much the same space of time, so I'll go with the more interesting one. I got a call from a friend of mine, and this is basically how it went. Friend: MONKEY ISLAND!!! Me: WHAT? Friend: MONKEY ISLAND!!! Me: WHAT? Friend: MONKEY ISLAND!!! Me: WHAT? Friend: You heard me. Me: WHAT? click

06/18/2009, 11:30 am	#9
Rather Dashing Throw Baby Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7,799	I hadn't followed E3 news at all, and I think I'd been away from the internet for a bit. So I go to Telltale's site and see MONKEY ISLAND on a big splash page. I do a double take. A triple take. A spit take. "Wha-wha-wha-WHAT?" The laugh track plays.

06/18/2009, 01:48 pm	#12
coolsome Sam D Coolsome Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: England Posts: 5,952	i was on wiki after I uploaded sam and max hit the road ending and I was bordly clicking aand ended up on monkey island page saw the tales of monkey island secion and went hysterical XD

06/19/2009, 02:13 am	#15
purple_monkfish Dread Pirate Necromancer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK Posts: 462	Telltale emailed me? Man... what a boring story. Let's see, last few days of Honeymoon, first access to a pc in about a week. Telltale had emailed saying "hey, we're making a MI game and Lucasarts is totally reskinning the first game!" and I was like "oh that's cool, but I totally don't believe you guys. Is it April first again?" When we got home a few days later I had the time to actually check it out and preorder. I love when Telltale email me random things. __________________ "you ignorant fools! Do you comprehend what you have done? None of us can pass across this rift your weaver mischief has so blindly created! Your pious meddling has brought the end of my dream! You will hear, for all eternity, the cries of those you have abandoned, Bobbin Threadbare! You will always know that you have left them under my rule!"

06/21/2009, 10:15 am	#16
Meathook Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	For the first time in about two months I was on the MI Wiki. Just for lolz, I checked the entry for Monkey Island 5. I was expecting a hopeful entry of something not to come or a "no page exists response". I was shocked when I saw the title "Tales of Monkey Island" at the top. I have to admit, I'm still in shock =)

06/21/2009, 10:38 am	#17
Irishmile The Skipping Dead Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WI, its a paradise 3 months of the year Posts: 6,542	I was driving home from the grocery store with my wife, I got in a terrible accident.. I virtually walked away unscratched (wear your seat belt kids) My wife wasn't wearing one.. I spent a lot of hours sitting in the waiting room.... you know waiting. The doctor finally came out holding a clipboard flipping back and forth some pages... he looked tired. He asked if I was... me. He said he was sorry he couldn't save my wife.. but told me to cheer up there where some new Monkey Island games coming out.. and that they managed to save the groceries in my car... Needless to say... I have my 6 pack of Guinness and I eagerly await the release of the new MI games... Really I was on another message board and someone mentioned it, and I was all "noway!!" __________________ unholy THIS! I am a community moderator, here to assist, keep the peace, and keep these boards clean and friendly for all. I am a volunteer, and not a Telltale employee, and my opinions are my own.

06/21/2009, 11:59 am	#18
Everlast Holy Awesome Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 370	Was checking the news on E3. Hoping for some MMORPG free subscription game and all or some news of Wii or Guild Wars2. I was like "lets see if they finally release good games for Wii like Final Fantasy's series from PS3" Needless to say i was browsing through the trailers and passed by something like monkey island, then i was like "whoa wait, whats that about Monkey Island i just saw?!" I was in shock cuzz i though they had the franchise dead. I got so excited i went inmediately for the 1st time to Telltalegames site and found out more info, and bought it thinking it was released in June 7. Then i found out in my email it was July 7 and not June so i misread. Still im excited and i hope they mail me a CD of all the chapters!

06/23/2009, 01:25 am	#19
fwed1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Milton Keynes, England Posts: 116	This thread is probably the best on this forum. The smile that was on my face reading the first post turned quickly to out loud laughter as I read the second. God Bless you poster number 2. I think I found out googling all my favourite series as I do once in a while especially since it had just been e3. Assassins creed (yay a second one) splinter cell (yay another one) monkey island (ooh that special edition rumour is true! yay. OMG what... noooooo not another joke... OMG MI5!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAH) Sims 3 (no expansions yet) Sim City (doesn't seem like it) etc.

06/23/2009, 01:34 am	#20
doodo! Banned Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,268	Really it isn't that exciting , I was right here (The same place...) Last edited by doodo!; 06/23/2009 at 01:38 am.

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