Countdown to episode 2
aHartzell
Telltale Alumni
Hi, all. This is Andy Hartzell, writer and lead designer for episode two of "The Devil's Playhouse." As you can see from my pitiful post history, I haven't properly acquired the forum habit yet. But I promise to visit regularly for at least the next month or two.
So let's see...what can I tell you about the upcoming installment? You know it's called "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak", and you've guessed that it involves the mysterious objects that were revealed in the final moments of "The Penal Zone". I can tell you that it's going to be a big episode and a twisty one, a tale that ranges widely in time and space. Like episode 1, this one throws a few new ingredients into the Telltale stew, but the flavor of this one is a bit different. Less oregano, more...cumin. And clove.
There, is that enigmatic enough? Please feel free to post any questions or speculations you may have, and I promise to respond promptly with cryptic non-answers.
So let's see...what can I tell you about the upcoming installment? You know it's called "The Tomb of Sammun-Mak", and you've guessed that it involves the mysterious objects that were revealed in the final moments of "The Penal Zone". I can tell you that it's going to be a big episode and a twisty one, a tale that ranges widely in time and space. Like episode 1, this one throws a few new ingredients into the Telltale stew, but the flavor of this one is a bit different. Less oregano, more...cumin. And clove.
There, is that enigmatic enough? Please feel free to post any questions or speculations you may have, and I promise to respond promptly with cryptic non-answers.
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Comments
I currently can't play episode 1 so I'll have to stay away from this thread right now.
But... Hi anyways!
You guys, probably don't know when the 2nd episode is gonna be released, but if you do, just answer if my one of my speculated dates is correct. I think it will come out either in the 13th of May or the 20th.
We don't have an official release date yet...sorry! Some time in the next five weeks.
Anywho, can you try releasing the game on a weekend day? I like it better that way so I can get home from school and play right away.
Did you notice that funny-looking bloke in a couple of the scenes in the trailer? He was in the portrait for episode 2. So my guess he is the main villain in episode 2.
So back to your question - YES.
Penal Zone was heavily influenced by 70s sci-fi. Will episode 2 follow in the same style or is it influenced by another movie genre?
You say: 'a tale that ranges widely in time and space'. I hear: 'we're going to ancient Egypt'. Does this make me a fool?
If you had some weird 'accident' which caused you to turn into some sort of aquatic being which caused you to create your own fake body, what would you make your body out of?
When people look back on this season in a few months, what will be the reason they will choose the second episode as their favorite out of the lot? What makes this episode better than anything created by Telltale before or after?
What is the mystery of Scoggings?
Do we get to trash the dino? Do we get to trash the dino?
(No offense to Nikasaur...)
You say this episode is a "twisty one"... do you mean twisty like a mobius strip (one-sided and without end), twisty like the North Yungas Road (notoriously dangerous, use at your own risk), or twisty like the Cygnus Loop Nebula (ethereally beautiful and awe-inspiring)?
MarkoH01: I wouldn't expect to see controls like the ability to turn off the film-grain effect, at least not in episode 2. The art director likes it, and he wants you to like it too. Personally I dig it...I think it adds texture (and is particularly appropriate for episode 2). But the fans have ultimate veto power. Organize a big enough protest against film grain and we will reconsider.
tbm1986: Episode two isn't built around a "main villain" in quite the same way as episode 1. But yes, you'll meet the "funny-looking bloke".
Gman 5852: You'll get a couple new Toys of Power to play with in episode 2. Not necessarily the same toys you got a taste of in Act 1 of "penal zone" (though you haven't seen the last of THOSE powers either...)
Highway and Mathman: Didn't you get your fill of that in season 2?
Tjibbbe:
A. Episode 2 marks a definite (temporary) departure from the 70's sci-fi vibe of Episode 1. It riffs on at least three other genres...points for guessing which ones.
B. I'd never call you a fool. Your conclusion is a logical one, but not necessarily correct.
C. Seeing as how I'm an aquatic being, I guess I'd go for a jellyfish-type body, one that's permeable and practically invisible and can swallow up unsuspecting passers-by.
D. I do predict that episode 2 will be some people's favorite...(and I guess inevitably it will be some people's least favorite). I've already indicated that it's a big episode, and it's definitely not the easiest to puzzle through...I would expect it to be most popular among serious gamers and fans of complicated nonlinear stories. At the same time, I think it's got some of the funniest voice acting in the series so far.
E. You mean "Scoggins".
puzzlebox: You describe mobius strip as if it's a bad thing.
In the Penal Zone, many people felt that Future Vision gave away too much and made the various puzzles spoilerish and highly unchallenging. Most people would already know the solution to puzzles after looking at everything in an area with FV.
Is FV still going to be used in episode 2 and if so, will it be toned down?
Would the focus of FV be the comical aspect (jokes and funny cutscenes) or to keep it as a major tool for puzzle-solving?
Well...with the comment on film grain being particularly appropriate, I'm going to guess (or at least hope) that one of the genres is the old 40s/50s film noir/Hitchcock style.
After all, with the new dynamic shadows and all that, I'd imagine it'd be tempting to play with a genre that made such heavy use of light and shadow, but...we'll see.
No, you won't be using Future Vision in episode 2. It may return to your arsenal in subsequent episodes, but I think it's safe to reveal that it won't be featured as prominently as it was in episode 1, as new Toys of Power come into play.
1. will there be time travel in this episode?
2. Will telaportation make an appearance in this episode or will it be gone like the future vision?
3. How many new toys will there be?
1. Will the C.O.P.S. be used again like in the first episode?
2. Can you give us a hint to the main villain of episode 2?
3. Any chance Bosco, Sybil, Abe or some characters who didn't appear in Episode 1 will be showing in the new episode?
4. Will we find out whose Girl Stinky has been seeing (the S guy on the cell who isn't Sam or Skunk'ape)?
And finally...
5. When will the new trailer for the episode be out?
I have one. Will episode 2 have the man stuck between 2 buildings that I asked Chuck about?
You've alreasy answered about the grain effect, but what about the ability to ?
Quality levels from 1 to 9 may be easy to handle, but i like to experiment a bit so that I can get a good framerate with graphic options that I've chosen.
Maybe it was the fez that made him look funny?
IMHO, he's the coolest, best looking character ever in a Sam & Max game -- or a Telltale game for that matter. That's just my opinion though ... I've got biases :P
1. Will any of the characters that have left (Bosco, Bluster, Syble, Abe, Two-teeth, Anyone in hell) come back for this episode?
2. I miss the office.
3. Did lousy old corperate ever make you cut out something you wrote or put something you didn't like in?
So... he was modelled on you then, Joel?
I think his name is Papier Waite. Look at the filename.
I'm imagining a more Noel Coward feel to the guy.
WHATHEVER!
In fact, I was shifting my attention to Scoggins' Mystery by now...
Uhhh... I HAVE to see that... 5 weeks? WHY!
Ah.... I was really waiting to see how you guys would manage all the toys in play at once, would have made some wicked puzzles possible. Maybe in the later episodes...
Questions:
1-Will we get to know how the future vision ended up on S&M street and started the whole story?
2-When can we expect a toy of power that gives Max the ability to blow people minds with greatness?
Really? I thought it was obvious!
Well, I didn't see the nametag so I didn't know that.
Girl Stinky seeing a cockroach named Sal? Then again she is really a devil food cake so things has happened in the world of Sam and Max.