Ragnar Tornquist has TLJ trilogy planned [Archive]

tabacco

09-23-2003, 07:11 PM

Got this from Ragnar's blog... it's just an excerpt:

"Without revealing any great secrets - it's way too early for that - the TLJ saga is most definitely heading towards a grand conclusion...involving, amongst other grand and epic revelations, the Truth about Lady Alvane (which the Germans aren't privy to).

But that won't happen in the next game, because the next game is just part two, so you'll have to stay patient and stick with me. There are miles to walk yet."

Looks like there are still more sequels planned.

nordic_guy

09-23-2003, 08:49 PM

Sounds interesting. I wonder how many more games he has planned?

Garyos

09-23-2003, 09:13 PM

[ambivalent feelings commence]

Mr. Positive: MORE TLJ! YAY! *D

Mr. Negative: But.... Why can't Ragnar come up with a NEW AG premise? :sad:

Mr. Positive: But he is! maybe we'll play as different characters in all the sequels, giving new and fresh takes on the excellent world Ragnar has crafted! :)

Mr. Negative: But... what if....

Mr. Positve: OH, SHADDUP!

:pan:

(Mister Negative was never seen again, and Garyos started dancing a little dance to rejoice and celebrate)

The Poisoned Pawn

09-23-2003, 11:32 PM

I thought it was already pretty much official that there would be at least 2 sequels (or a sequel and a prequel)... Oh, well. It's good news anyway! :)

EagleFlyFree

09-24-2003, 12:06 AM

Sounds interesting. I wonder how many more games he has planned?
From Ragnar's blog, September 13:
"So in addition to working on two very different games - TLJ.s and the super-ultra-top-secret Project NBT - and tinkering a bit (in the dark hours and on weekends) with the story and design for the follow-ups to both of them - yes, Virginia, we are very much hoping and planning to embark on a third (and quite likely final) Journey, and you might have read my (short, guarded, cryptic) comments regarding a project entitled Miracle - I'm also working on a couple of non-game-related projects that I have great hopes for."

Tamara

09-24-2003, 02:37 AM

I thought it was pretty obvious about Lady Alvane ... ?

DomStLeger

09-24-2003, 02:56 AM

I can't remember who Lady Alvane is... Damn I wish I had a better memory.

Zanthia

09-24-2003, 03:12 AM

Same here. And why trilogy? He doesn't say how many games will be there. And I have a strange feeling, that it will depend on how good will second part sell.

Tamara

09-24-2003, 03:38 AM

Lady Alvane is the old lady .. April in the future

Zanthia

09-24-2003, 03:41 AM

Oh that one. I didn't remember her name. :)
Thanx Tamz.

amishler

09-24-2003, 05:08 AM

The lead-up to the blog statement that tabacco quoted was that the German translation of TLJ has Lady Alvane declaring that she is April Ryan.Whether it's true or not, that was never part of the script Ragnar wrote. It does seem pretty intuitive that they're one and the same, but it's never explicitly stated.As for the nature of the TLJ saga, ever since I've been reading his blog (http://www.ragnartornquist.com/thoughts.html), Ragnar has been saying that he always intended TLJ to be the first in a series. While I would welcome new and original adventure games with open arms, I have no problems at all with him making TLJ.s and whatever may follow in the series. While it's not my favorite adventure game, it's probably my favorite story in an adventure game, and it definitely was left open for continuation.

Besides, it sounds like the TLJ.s team is trying to innovate on the same level Revolution is doing with BS3, so hopefully it will be original in execution if not so much in concept. Either way, I look forward to finding out more about it. There was some mention on the blog--who knows how seriously it should be taken--of some materials being released around Christmas. Otherwise, I guess we'll find out more at E3 next year.

(Edited--way too late, probably--for poor initial placement of spoiler tags. Sorry for the brain lapse.)

Henke

09-24-2003, 05:14 AM

Cool. To bad that we haven't seen anything about the (first) sequel to TLJ yet. Not even a lousy screenshot or some concept art. :frusty: I hope it will be good.

Christina

09-24-2003, 05:20 AM

Considering that the game isn't due out until 2005, I don't think you should expect to see any concept art or screens this early.

Garyos

09-24-2003, 05:28 AM

I thought the fact that the old lady was April was as obvious as the fact that the pope has a big hat.

amishler

09-24-2003, 05:55 AM

Here's what I was referring to earlier, from Ragnar's July 30 post (http://www.ragnartornquist.com/2003_07_01_thoughtsarchive.html#105956574006677306 ):

TLJ.s is in the latter stages of pre-production, meaning the script's receiving the final brush-up, the concept art is well underway, the technology is close to being nailed down, and very soon we're going into full production. Expect to see some early material by Christmas. Rock'n'roll.
So it sounds like actual screenshots, videos, etc, are a ways off (E3, probably), but we might be seeing some concept art in a few months.

James

09-24-2003, 07:11 AM

mmmmmmmm. more tlj.

*warmed inside by the thought of more, long and fulfilling, not to mention excellent adventure gaming.*

D.C.

09-24-2003, 10:03 AM

This is pretty good news about potentially more The Longest Journey sequels (Even if Tornquist had hinted at it before). :) I pretty much assumed that Lady Alvane... ... was April Ryan... ... but we'll see. :) Even though it would be cool to have another adventure with April Ryan in it, I like the concept of establishing The Longest Journey universe more elaborately. :)

I hope we get some concept art and screenshots.

pleto4_ryan

09-24-2003, 11:26 AM

A trilogy? *stopped breathing*

(as for Lady, it was never really seen that she was april it's just that we all thought they were the same...

From what ragnar has said they are different people...)

we will understand.

remixor

09-24-2003, 01:09 PM

I can't imagine how anybody could NOT come to that conclusion. I mean, I literally can't imagine it. You'd need M. Night Shamalyanalayn to contrive a ridiculous way out of the obvious "secret".

amishler

09-24-2003, 01:14 PM

Check out these tantalizing words (http://www.ragnartornquist.com/2003_09_01_thoughtsarchive.html#106443925439054434 ):

All kidding aside, this is easily Half-Life 2 and Doom 3 quality visuals - and we're just getting started. I'm absolutely convinced that, when we're finally done, when we finally unleash our next-next-next-generation adventure upon the world, you'll have the opportunity to step into a world that's totally unlike anything you've ever seen before; stunningly beautiful, populated with expressive, emotive characters, projecting a reality that is totally and completely real....

Don't worry about the graphics overshadowing the gameplay, however. Even though we're constantly stunned by what the artists are coming up with, the designers are focusing on the puzzles and the story, and I can say even now that it's going to be tons better than the first game. Of course, by 2005, Half-Life 2 and Doom 3 will be old hat, but it sure sounds pretty in my head. :9~

Jake

09-24-2003, 01:18 PM

What a tease. Man alive.

Kingzjester

09-24-2003, 01:35 PM

What I really don't understand is why the game was announced even before any actual work begun? It's gonna take forever to finish and I predict it is going to be at least a year late.

D.C.

09-24-2003, 01:44 PM

Remixor: Hey... Stop dissing Shyamalan. :)

amishler

09-24-2003, 02:21 PM

What I really don't understand is why the game was announced even before any actual work begun? It's gonna take forever to finish and I predict it is going to be at least a year late. My guess is that it's because there was such a clamoring for another TLJ game among the fan communities, and because Ragnar had answered that clamoring in the past with assurances that he wanted to make another game. (And, for that matter, had already planned out all the storylines of future TLJ games. So saying no actual work had begun isn't entirely accurate, though your point stands.) Once Funcom gave its approval for TLJ.s, I don't think it would have been too easy to keep it under wraps. Especially when your creative lead has a blog, and a tendency to self-promote. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

So yeah, there's a long wait ahead. Hopefully it will be worth it, and hopefully Ragnar and Funcom will keep us entertained along the way.

Marek

09-24-2003, 10:25 PM

I think it's more of problem with Ragnar being too impatient, than the announcement being too early :D

twifkak

09-25-2003, 04:49 AM

I can't imagine how anybody could NOT come to that conclusion. I mean, I literally can't imagine it. You'd need M. Night Shamalyanalayn to contrive a ridiculous way out of the obvious "secret".
Heck, I don't even recall seeing the name Lady Alvane anywhere, so I just assumed.

remixor

09-25-2003, 07:14 AM

I think it's more of problem with Ragnar being too impatient, than the announcement being too early :D

Yeah, definitely. It's not like it would have been really hard to keep it under wraps at least a LITTLE longer. ;)

D.C.

09-25-2003, 10:22 AM

I don't mind the fact that the game has been announced early... It gives plenty of time for anticipation and excitement to build... More so! :)

remixor

09-25-2003, 10:48 AM

There are problems with such an early announcement, though. For one thing, the hype could get TOO huge, and in many cases the game can't possibly live up to it. The fact that Ragnar is already saying things like "I can't even believe how realistic this looks! OMG!!" when the game still has ages to go is an example of this; when we're STARTING with hype like that from the game's lead, I can't even imagine what the hype will be like a year from now. Also, with so few big games meeting their projected release dates these days, it's just about certain that TLJ2 will have even longer to go that we think right now. As a contrast, look at HL2. That was only announced this year; sure, it's been pushed back but it's no big deal because people haven't even been thinking about it very long. Duke4, on the other hand, has become a total joke. I'm not implying TLJ will reach Duke status (or anywhere even remotely near it), just illustrating the difference between announcing too early or quite late.

In any case, it's not really a big deal, but I do wish Ragnar would have exercised a little more restraint.

James

09-25-2003, 11:39 AM

twifkak

09-26-2003, 01:35 AM

I don't mind the fact that the game has been announced early... It gives plenty of time for anticipation and excitement to build... More so! :)
First comes the excitement. Then comes the anticipation. Five weeks later, you're broke and sucking d*** for screenshots. Jump ahead another two months, and you've got paranoid theories about how the developers announced this game in order to kill off half of the gaming population, and you're willing to bet $1000 that the game won't be released. By the time the game's released, you've been through rehab about 5 times, and will take any opportunity to talk trash about the game.

twifkak

09-26-2003, 01:44 AM

its a pity the announcement was so early, i agree. i would have preferred, that funcom announce they have been working on the sequel for some time, it will be released withing a short space of time from the announcement itself, ala half-life 2 [ahem].
OTOH, this might not be a good idea either. Considering TLJ was released in '99, and TLJ2 will be released in '05, people will get so disgusted with Funcom's "dismissal" of the adventure market that they'll not buy the game out of spite, or fear that it's too "actiony."

I don't know what the "right" answer is, though.

DomStLeger

09-26-2003, 02:40 AM

Hehe they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

If they hadn't announced it, they'd still be getting emails from fans saying "You know what I'd like... TLJ2!" and also risk the TLJ community shrinking too much by the time an announcement is made.

But now they have to put up with fans saying "You know what I'd like IN TLJ?!" and also it being hyped to oblivion.

Personally, I'm glad we know because once BS3 is out it'll be the another contraversial game on the horizons while we wait for Revs next game (BS4? I suspect they have something else up their sleeves first...).

James

09-26-2003, 02:59 AM

remixor

09-26-2003, 03:02 AM

I'd be quite surprised if we saw a BS4 in even the slightly near future.

Zanthia

09-26-2003, 03:05 AM

Thats for sure. Especcially considerng the fact that BS3 isn't out yet.

tabacco

09-26-2003, 04:31 AM

me thinks that both broken sword and the longest journey will be trilogies. for both rev and funcom, it would be a good move to change to another ip, lest they get tagged as "the guys that did tlj/bs."

You do know that it's the third Broken Sword game that's coming out soon, right? I don't think it's much of a stretch to say it'll be a trilogy :)

twifkak

09-26-2003, 04:59 AM

I believe the official w0rd from rev is that BS is a trilogy, but you might see George pop up in new stories.

Zanthia

09-29-2003, 05:35 AM

Lets put it thise way- right now bs is trilogy. But it may change if bs3 will have commecial success.

ragnar

09-30-2003, 04:48 AM

I would be very happy if Rev did an AG that isn't Broken Sword.

James

09-30-2003, 07:20 AM

peb

09-30-2003, 08:22 AM

Lets put it thise way- right now bs is trilogy. But it may change if bs3 will have commecial success.

I'm kind of sick seeing the word trilogy. It's become a catch-all word for "hopefully we'll get the money to make three of these babies" but with class. It would be impolite to say "I intend to make Star Wars movies until I'm spitting up gold ducats" but "The Star Wars series was meant to be trilogy" is so polite you can apparently say it twice.

I'm not surprised TLJ Ragnar mentioned his series as a trilogy because he seems to talk incessantly and is incapable of keeping a secret. I hope though he would get a big cut of the profits.

remixor

09-30-2003, 12:44 PM

eh. broken sword is great and im really looking forward to bs3. but id like to see cecil and co flex their creative muscles on something else. whatever happend to good cop bad cop [or whatever it was called?]

I'd be surprised if they didn't do so after BS3. Your post makes it sound like they're churning out Broken Sword after Broken Sword, though, which is hardly the case. After a six year period without any big adventures (not counting stuff like Road to Eldorado), it makes perfect sense to continue their biggest and most acclaimed franchise. Three games is hardly excessive, particularly in today's adventure market where any little bit of name recognition can really help.

DomStLeger

09-30-2003, 09:13 PM

I agree with you both James and Remixor. But I'd like to see Rev play to their strengths now; they're good at adventure games; adventure games seem to be making money again so make adventure games. ICB for example was an enjoyable game for me, but it was the story mainly and I'm not very good at action games anyway; I don't think action games are their strongest point. Also action games are ten a penny, and much bigger companies with many more resources are throwing large sums of money at them and still producing flops.

So GCBC action game may not be the best way to go now; when BS3 does well they'll be one of the few adventure companies whose names are well recognised plus they have their own rather good and portable 3D game engine - they should use that and either do a sequel or do a new ag (maybe adapt GCBC?)

(P.S. Jane J should license the engine out :D *sigh* ok so thats entering realms of fantasy... Though she did say she was looking for an established game studio; and heres a well renowned one which just happens to be finishing a developement cycle. Plus it has a good relationship with the publisher paying for Jane Js game... Maybe... nah :D)

Zanthia

10-01-2003, 03:45 AM

I'm kind of sick seeing the word trilogy. It's become a catch-all word for "hopefully we'll get the money to make three of these babies" but with class. It would be impolite to say "I intend to make Star Wars movies until I'm spitting up gold ducats" but "The Star Wars series was meant to be trilogy" is so polite you can apparently say it twice.

I'm not surprised TLJ Ragnar mentioned his series as a trilogy because he seems to talk incessantly and is incapable of keeping a secret. I hope though he would get a big cut of the profits.

TLJ is just a game with a sequell being made. its still far away from being trilogy.
SMI was a trilogy 2 once...

tabacco

10-01-2003, 06:52 PM

More Ragnar quoteables (from today's blog entry):

Of course, I'll have to toot my own horn for a second and mention that there will be two strong, and very dissimilar, female characters in The Longest Journey: Static. The mold is being broken, one punch at a time.

As a feminist (yes, really), my 'agenda' includes writing and developing strong female characters who will appeal equally to both sexes, strengthening the case for women in games: as prota(&anta)gonists, as designers, as players. The industry certainly needs it, and the games will benefit greatly from this sea change.