Lifeline extended to LucasArts classic adventure franchises?

[jp-30]

Dan Conners of Telltale Games quoted from this Game Informer article (http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200607/N06.0724.1923.35414.htm);

GI: A lot of those LucasArts franchises are still very popular – you spoke about Day of the Tentacle. Is there a chance you’ll be able to wrangle a few more of those away for more episodes? Are you working on that at all?

Connors: It’s definitely on our minds and it’s definitely something we think about. Maybe I can give you more information a while from now. It’s definitely something that makes good sense to everybody. For them it’s the same thing. For them it’s "What’s the business model? What’s the retail model?" It’s not their type of game – it’s not Star Wars, it’s not with the movie, with the lightsaber – an action game. When trying to do the two things at the same time it makes it challenging. They’ve been trying to figure out the right solution, and hopefully Telltale is part of it.

:crazy:

Monkey Island 5a, 5b, 5c...etc ahoy!

(Of course the article actually namechecks Day of the Tentacle, and the co-writer / designer of that title, Dave Grossman, works at Telltale these days).

Roll on 2015!

[Boneho Chane]

Another Day of the Tentacle would be mindblowing! I never thought the day would come...that is, if they decide to do it. :shifty:

[bysmitty]

I think your conclusion might just be a little far fetched. :P It is a nice dream though.

...bysmitty

[jp-30]

I don't think the conclusion of more Monkey or Mansion games is far fetched at all if what Conners is saying pans out.

Sounds to me like LucasArts are interested in exploring ways to use their existing IP. And Telltale are presenting them with some (viable) options.

Edit: This is really 'out there' in the wishful thinking stakes, but if Telltale did somehow manage to license some of the old LucasArts IP in the future, maybe they could consult with Gilbert and Shafer on those franchises that those guys originally (co-)developed? Those two could have similar roles to Purcell's in Sam & Max and give input on the storyline etc. I'm sure having their names associated with the projects would be a huge marketing coup and lend a real air of authenticity to the episodes. And Gilbert's made no secret lately that he'd love to work on a new Monkey game.

[Melanie68]

Do you think there is more story to tell? Maybe in the case of Monkey Island, there may be a different story to tell because Ron Gilbert obviously didn't work on 3 and 4 but with the characters in DOTT for example, can you flesh out another interestin g story or are you hoping for more of the same?

When book writers try to stretch out a franchise too long, it gets stale. I wouldn't want to see the same thing happen with some of these games because of nostalgia factor.

[jp-30]

I would say given the huge cast in Maniac Mansion that there are a lot more stories to tell in the DOTT world. You could take on different lead characters every episode, not just Bernie, Laverne or Hogie. Maybe Green Tentacle (which could make for some great puzzles given his lack of arms).

Anyway, I have complete confidence in Dave Grossman's (and the others working there!) story-telling ability.

But I wouldn't be looking for more of the same (Time travel etc), though being caught up in Edison's crazy inventions again as a plot device, sure.

But yes, I'm also really looking forward to Telltale's first adventure foray using entirely original IP. No boundaries, no pre-conceived ideas. But I guess they're wanting to make a name for themselves first and become a trusted developer with the Adventure fanbase before inventing a brand new IP and taking on all the risks and extra marketing costs associated with it.

[Scoville]

Do you think there is more story to tell? Maybe in the case of Monkey Island, there may be a different story to tell because Ron Gilbert obviously didn't work on 3 and 4 but with the characters in DOTT for example, can you flesh out another interestin g story or are you hoping for more of the same?

When book writers try to stretch out a franchise too long, it gets stale. I wouldn't want to see the same thing happen with some of these games because of nostalgia factor.

Generally I'm against gratuitous sequels, but Maniac Mansion is a series that could easily be stretched out. Day of the Tentacle showed how to do it. You don't have to worry about getting more material out of the characters because you don't need to use the same cast. Only one of the three main characters in DoTT came from Maniac Mansion, and there's no reason a third title couldn't do something similar.

[Tramboi]

Generally I'm against gratuitous sequels, but Maniac Mansion is a series that could easily be stretched out. Day of the Tentacle showed how to do it. You don't have to worry about getting more material out of the characters because you don't need to use the same cast. Only one of the three main characters in DoTT came from Maniac Mansion, and there's no reason a third title couldn't do something similar.

Yes but reusing the mansion and the Edison's might be too much, no?

[Melanie68]

Hmm. Good point. Where could the story be set then? :)

[jp-30]

Hmm. Good point. Where could the story be set then? :)

There was quite a vast tract of land covered in the DOTT opening sequence, if I recall correctly. :D

[Tramboi]

Hmm. Good point. Where could the story be set then? :)

I don't know but I'd like to play The Meteor and the tentacles!

[RLacey]

I dunno. It seems to me that any Maniac Mansion sequel is just going to attract negative comparisons with DOTT...

[Melanie68]

^ Cynic™

:D

[RLacey]

But seriously? Why make a sequel to the adventure game that comes closest to being perfect? ;)

[/fanboy]

[Tramboi]

I agree we don't really need a follow-up to DOTT.
Well we need it more that we needed Escape From Monkey Island :D

[jp-30]

I dunno. It seems to me that any Maniac Mansion sequel is just going to attract negative comparisons with DOTT...

Yes, DOTT was the pinnacle of adventure gaming (for me), so will probably be very tough to top. But I don't need a new game featuring the same IP to be "better" per se. Just be fun and true to the spirit of the original.

And given the episodic nature of TTG's business model, it would be quite a different style of gameplay by necessity.

But of course some people would moan about the transition to 3D, the episodic nature, the voices etc. No avoiding that, unfortunately.

[Boneho Chane]

Yeah, DOTT was practically flawless, so a sequel would obviously have a lot to live up to, and possibly let some down. So without one, I would still be happy.

But with one, MAN. Think of the possibilities! Wasn't the mansion redesigned for DOTT? Well they could keep redesigning it again and again for each sequel to keep the series fresh. Or maybe the mansion will just burn down and the characters have to figure out what happened. ;) I don't know, but there's obviously a lot to work with there.

And wasn't there a fan-made sequel somewhere on the horizon? I heard it was German though.

[Udvarnoky]

Not that I'm putting too much faith in Dan's dream to come true just yet, but it's interesting to think about how MI or DOTT could be made episodic successfully. Sam & Max works, but DOTT?

What Maniac Mansion and DOTT seem to be all about is throwing this one huge setting at you: a large house (this wasn't quite true in DOTT), that's filled with tons of puzzles, many of which can be solved in a non-linear fashion. This, and the existence of a team of multiple playable characters that trade inventory and that are all necessary for certain puzzles (in MM because of a kid's individual talent and in DOTT because of their location in the timeline), are the two core things that make a Maniac Mansion game to me. I know I'm sounding suspiciously like the early Sam & Max nay-sayers when I say this, but how could that work episodically since part one of the above pretty much necessitates a large chunk of game?

On the other hand, the other awesome thing about those two games is how completely original they are from each other. Other than those two main things I stated, NOTHING else needs to be preserved from its predecessor if one was to develop a new Maniac Mansion game. Day of the Tentacle is a sequel in little more than name. Yes, Bernard is back, and the Edisons are back, but they didn't have to be...the Edisons are nothing like they were in the first game, and seem to exist as a nod the original more than anything. The games have vastly different art styles. The games aren't even parodying the same genre - Maniac Mansion made fun of horror and scifi B-movies, whereas Day of the Tentacle's inspiration was the world of a Chuck Jones cartoon. There's no storyline that has to be continued. The characters were great but there's no backstory that needs to be filled. There are absolutely no limitations on what they could do with a hypothetical Maniac Mansion 3 in terms of the direction they take it. It's so brilliant that the first (and so far only) sequel set that pattern of not having a pattern, because now there's no real set tone or style that you can attribute to the series that you have to stick with or respect (not that I would mind it following in DOTT's footsteps). If Dave Grossman thinks another installment could be told, in whatever format: woot.

[jp-30]

And while we're all discussing the dream situation which an all likelihood will never eventuate, which of LucasArts old IP do you think is possible to reuse in an episodic way?

I'd say YES to;

Monkey Island
Zak McKraken
Maniac Mansion
Indiana Jones ;)
Full Throttle

MAYBE to

Loom

And NO to

Grim Fandango
The Dig


Concur?

[Udvarnoky]

I'd say once you get the original creator(s) involved and they find some way to do it, anything's possible. Personally though I wouldn't want a Grim Fandango 2, period. And even in this ideal situation where LucasArts and Telltale exist in harmony in an adventure game publisher/developer relationship I still see Indiana Jones stuck in the action genre.

I think anything could probably conceivably work, though, even if it's not preferable for some (or a lot of) people, and even if I don't think some of those titles are exactly crying for a sequel in any format. I don't see why The Dig would be any less possible.

[jp-30]

To be honest I haven't finished The Dig. Got about 2/3 the way through and it crashed and I lost my savegames (long story). Just under the impression that you may be able to realise a new story with (some of) the same characters, or a related location, but not both.

And the existing fanbase would probably want both in any sequels.

Besides the game pretty much bombed didn't it? Can't see enough of an existing fanbase to warrant the creation of sequel episodes.

[rtrooney]

I think your conclusion might just be a little far fetched. :P It is a nice dream though....bysmittyI think of this in the same way I think of Vivendi and Sierra. Specific instances, maybe. A general trend...not likely.

[Udvarnoky]

Actually, as far as I know The Dig did quite well sales-wise, and the whole story about it flopping was a myth (maybe the idea was born out of the mixed fan reaction?). Whatever it earned, I highly doubt it covered the cost of all the development cycles throughout the years, but yes, I believe it was a hit.

[ATMachine]

...NO to...
The Dig

Concur?
Actually I can see it now:

The Dig II: Revenge of Toshi Olema
:D :D :D

;)

Seriously I do think it would be sort of hard to do a Dig sequel, but certainly not impossible. Especially if some plot and puzzle ideas from the early versions (specifically Noah Falstein's, which was nowhere near close to the Moriarty/Clark story design combination in the final game) were used. Also, maybe add a new cast of characters. I don't want to see the exact same people in the exact same situation, as jp-30 said.

[Squinky]

I'm still confused as to what episodic Monkey Island games would entail. But then again, do I really want to know?

[jp-30]

Some monkey island games are already pseudo-episodic. Part I, Part II, Part III etc, At certain points you complete one section, are propelled forward to the next (sometimes stripped of many of your objects) and no way to return to the earlier locations. They would be the Episode transition points.

There's no reason why the episodes for a MI season couldn't be limited to just three or four or so (more akin to a mini series) with bigger scope than we've seen thus far from Telltale. Other than the wait between chapters becoming available, the game could play almost exactly like some of the existing Monkey Island games.

Go ask Dan if he agrees. :D

[jp-30]

Actually, as far as I know The Dig did quite well sales-wise, and the whole story about it flopping was a myth (maybe the idea was born out of the mixed fan reaction?).

Well a public perception of it being a flop is probably just as big a marketing obstacle to overcome than it actually being a flop.

[HieroHero]

There were initially 3 more characters in day of the tentacle.. a new game could be about those guys.. Of course I dont think LucasArts will ever hand over their adventure game licenses.. when do companies ever do things that make sense?

[jp-30]

There were initially 3 more characters in day of the tentacle.. a new game could be about those guys.. Of course I dont think LucasArts will ever hand over their adventure game licenses.. when do companies ever do things that make sense?

They "hand over" their Star Wars license and their Indiana Jones license to 3rd party developers all the time. If they thought they could make money from letting 3rd party developers use their other IP, they would.

But no-one here is suggesting LucasArts will sell or give-up the rights to their original IP.

[HieroHero]

I just have no faith in LucasArts at this point.. if it miraculously happens call me and I'll get excited :frusty:

[insane_cobra]

You know, I'd be much happier if Telltale came up with a completely original IP, but I guess that's not their focus for now.

That said, I'd like to see more of The Dig, Full Throttle, Indiana Jones and Loom, but I guess they're most probably to go after Monkey Island. Maniac Mansion seems like a natural choice for serialization (there's already that TV show, after all, even if it's not very faithful to the source material), but I doubt anything could come even close to DoTT so I say don't even bother.

[MoriartyL]

LOOM, LOOM, LOOM, LOOM, LOOM, LOOM, LOOM...

loom?

[Solid Snake]

I don't think there will ever be a Dig sequel but Full Throttle 2 would be nice.About the Dott sequel the unofficial Dott 2: Return of the Tentacles at http://www.dott2.de/ looks promising .

[AFGNCAAP]

To be honest I haven't finished The Dig. Got about 2/3 the way through and it crashed and I lost my savegames (long story). Just under the impression that you may be able to realise a new story with (some of) the same characters, or a related location, but not both.
Perhaps, but isn't it exactly the same you said you would like to see in a potential new DotT? A sequel in name and in general spirit only (maybe even with an all-new cast of player characters)? ;)

[After a brisk nap]

Not that I'm putting too much faith in Dan's dream to come true just yet, but it's interesting to think about how MI or DOTT could be made episodic successfully. Sam & Max works, but DOTT?So I guess you (and others doubting the whether there's room for more Maniac Mansion games) haven't heard of the 53 Maniac Mansion "sequels" that form Maniac Mansion Mania (http://maniacmansion.microspace.ch/)? :7

I can't say I've played any of them, but from what I hear, they're of very varying quality, as you would expect.

[Udvarnoky]

I'm quite familiar with that project, it's quite great. Cool little chunks in the Maniac Mansion universe. But those game don't use teams, do they? I would imagine that a commercial sequel would.

[Squinky]

Some monkey island games are already pseudo-episodic. Part I, Part II, Part III etc, At certain points you complete one section, are propelled forward to the next (sometimes stripped of many of your objects) and no way to return to the earlier locations. They would be the Episode transition points.

There's no reason why the episodes for a MI season couldn't be limited to just three or four or so (more akin to a mini series) with bigger scope than we've seen thus far from Telltale. Other than the wait between chapters becoming available, the game could play almost exactly like some of the existing Monkey Island games.

Yeah, but I meant story-wise. Do you honestly think that there's anything more that can be done with the Monkey Island universe? I seriously doubt that there is...

[jannar85]

You must remember that Telltale won't always do episodic games. They did CSI4, didn't they? Is that episodic? Uh-oh. In the future, we could even see more kind of these full games as well as the episodic ones.

Also, this issue with Lucasarts and their licences - this means they can sell (or give) MI to Ron, GF to Tim and so on.

Or LucasArts can hire Telltale Games to work on something, like Ubisoft did.

I did however, talk to Bill Tiller the other day, and he told me the chances were pretty slim.

But who knows?

[fov]

You must remember that Telltale won't always do episodic games. They did CSI4, didn't they? Is that episodic? Uh-oh.

Except that it kind of is, what with the five smaller cases that make up one game.

Telltale made the CSI cases using the same type of development schedule they're using for Sam & Max episodes.

[Udvarnoky]

Yeah, but I meant story-wise. Do you honestly think that there's anything more that can be done with the Monkey Island universe? I seriously doubt that there is...

Sure there is. I'm not saying that if somebody made a Monkey Island 5 it would be good, but it certainly has the potential to be. You can tell more stories there.

[MoriartyL]

Yeah, but I meant story-wise. Do you honestly think that there's anything more that can be done with the Monkey Island universe? I seriously doubt that there is...
I don't see why not. You can always come up with new humor, no?

[insane_cobra]

You can always make everyone a robot and throw in some ninjas and dinosaurs for a good measure.

[jp-30]

Yeah, but I meant story-wise. Do you honestly think that there's anything more that can be done with the Monkey Island universe? I seriously doubt that there is...

I do believe Ron Gilbert has a story outline for his Monkey Island 2 sequel...

[SoccerDude28]

Wow a new Day of the Tentacle will make me wet my pants literally. I think I enjoyed DOTT more than any adventure game after it, probably because it was the first adventure game I ever played. It will sure be tough as hell though to top the perfection that is DOTT.

I believe it is possible that Lucas Arts will co-operate with Telltale to produce a new game in the franchise if and only if the new Sam and Max is a retail success. After all, they weren't too excited about a Lego Star Wars game, giving the publishing rights to another company, and when they saw the money rolling, they reclaimed the franchise and are building their own sequel for it.

[El Cruzado Borracho]

The only way I can see a continuation of the Monkey Island series working is by going the "MI2" way, dismissing COMI as a dream and EFMI as a horrendous nightmare... I know it's incredibly stupid, but at least it's not as ridiculously stupid as the series has become.

Maniac Mansion, on the other hand, has a lot of potential for new games. They just need to be unrelated storywise to the previous ones, while the setting stays the same, that way they can each be judged by their own merits. It did work for DOTT after all...

[jp-30]

The only way I can see a continuation of the Monkey Island series working is by going the "MI2" way, dismissing COMI as a dream and EFMI as a horrendous nightmare... I know it's incredibly stupid, but at least it's not as ridiculously stupid as the series has become...

While I agree that getting Ron Gilbert on board in some capacity and going that route makes the most sense, what about MI games where Guybrush wasn't the (only) playable character?

Playing as Murray could pose some interesting puzzles, for instance. ;)

[Udvarnoky]

I don't know, if Ron Gilbert couldn't come on board for Monkey Island 3a for whatever reason a Monkey Island 5 could still be good. I know a lot of people don't like EMI but most people correctly consider CMI to be a great game despite it being a new team. You could just as easily change the direction that the fourth game took with a new game as much as it did. It's just a matter of making it not suck.

[jp-30]

I love MI3, as do most people who played it. MI4 had some great moments too.

But getting Ron involved in some capacity (even just advisor / consultant) for a potential new MI game has got to be good for the gaming press column inches and fanbase perception of 'authenticity'.

But if TTG made Monkey Island episodes without Gilbert, of course I'd still be buying and playing them.

[El Cruzado Borracho]

Playing as Murray could pose some interesting puzzles, for instance. ;)

I would definitely buy that! :D

Seriously though, I doubt that even a Schafer - Grossman - Gildbert reunion could salvage the series at this point...

[Junkface]

Except that it kind of is, what with the five smaller cases that make up one game.

Telltale made the CSI cases using the same type of development schedule they're using for Sam & Max episodes.
Even so, I'm pretty sure I read in an interview with Dan Connors quite recently that he saw Telltale eventually delivering conventional games alongside the episodic ones.
Some monkey island games are already pseudo-episodic. Part I, Part II, Part III etc, At certain points you complete one section, are propelled forward to the next (sometimes stripped of many of your objects) and no way to return to the earlier locations. They would be the Episode transition points.
I think these chapters are mostly to do with the pacing of the games though and wouldn't really function as natural break-off points. The chapters vary in length quite significantly, for instance. I think the only way to maintain the Monkey Island feel is with a full length game, preferably with Guybrush and Elaine's marriage breaking up sometime before the beginning.

The IP from Lucasarts' heyday I can see working episodically are Maniac Mansion (the only essential ingredients are humour, a bunch of kids and the Edison Mansion - a whole lot of seperate adventures, with a few years passing between each to allow the Mansion and family to get shaken up a bit, similarly structured to The Great Cow Race would be great), Full Throttle (Ben and his gang get involved in a different conflict every couple of months), The Dig (this would be a personal favourite to see; the concept and atmosphere of The Dig are great, but the game doesn't really deliver on them. An episodic series could expand on the isolation and slow passing of time exploring the alien planet very effectively) and Indiana Jones (not a fucking chance.) If we get really desperate an episodic series could work in the world of Grim Fandango, but any sort of sequel to Grim isn't something I particularly want to see. Anyway, before any of this comes to pass, I want to see an original series from Telltale, and until then hope Bone3 can sate my hunger for maritime adventuring.