The Side Effects of Storytelling
TelltaleGames
Former Telltale Staff
I have been walking through Telltale's offices for almost a year now. But recently, things have changed. Something strange is afoot.
Have you ever noticed how good storytellers get immersed in their stories? The character actor who adds 50 lbs for the part, the great joke teller who captivates the audience with the perfectly timed punch-line, the book reader who has a multitude of different voices and uses just the right one for each character in the book that they are reading you. I remember my father reading to me at bedtime, at the same time enthralling me and then scaring me as he made the characters come to life from Grimm or Andersen, Tolkien and Carroll...
Walking through an office of electronic storytellers is sort of like that.
First, there was laughter and humor in the air as they gave birth to Texas Hold'Em and Dudebrough and his pals. Upbeat, light hearted, positive.
Then things turned a little more serious as the emphasis shifted to telling a story of a strange and magical land. The atmosphere a little wistful, and a little mystical, but still with a hefty dose of humor tossed in. People looked a little misty eyed -- as if they were looking just over the horizon. Making a new world come to life.
Then came CSI and the mood shifted again. What should we do about the blunt instrument? How bloody to make the body and should the bloody footprints cross the room? Who did it? How will we find out? Serious faces, furrowed brows, lots of intensity, lots of focus, lots of problems to solve, mysteries to untangle.
But now. Something strange is afoot.
I walked across the office on Friday. Pass the first person -- what was that cynical laughter about? Pass the second and third people -- why are they butting heads? Pass the fourth, and as he looks up at me -- those crazy, staring eyes -- look away quick. Approach the end of the room. A stack of paper. Should I turn the top page over. Visions of Jack Nicholson and The Shining. Page after page of "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"�?
Ah. It's clear. A silhouetted pair on a black background.
They are working on Sam and Max.
Editor's note:
Matthew is an integral part of the Telltale extended family. In addition to helping helping with our strategy, the man sports dangerous skill at petanque and impeccable taste in interior decoration.
Have you ever noticed how good storytellers get immersed in their stories? The character actor who adds 50 lbs for the part, the great joke teller who captivates the audience with the perfectly timed punch-line, the book reader who has a multitude of different voices and uses just the right one for each character in the book that they are reading you. I remember my father reading to me at bedtime, at the same time enthralling me and then scaring me as he made the characters come to life from Grimm or Andersen, Tolkien and Carroll...
Walking through an office of electronic storytellers is sort of like that.
First, there was laughter and humor in the air as they gave birth to Texas Hold'Em and Dudebrough and his pals. Upbeat, light hearted, positive.
Then things turned a little more serious as the emphasis shifted to telling a story of a strange and magical land. The atmosphere a little wistful, and a little mystical, but still with a hefty dose of humor tossed in. People looked a little misty eyed -- as if they were looking just over the horizon. Making a new world come to life.
Then came CSI and the mood shifted again. What should we do about the blunt instrument? How bloody to make the body and should the bloody footprints cross the room? Who did it? How will we find out? Serious faces, furrowed brows, lots of intensity, lots of focus, lots of problems to solve, mysteries to untangle.
But now. Something strange is afoot.
I walked across the office on Friday. Pass the first person -- what was that cynical laughter about? Pass the second and third people -- why are they butting heads? Pass the fourth, and as he looks up at me -- those crazy, staring eyes -- look away quick. Approach the end of the room. A stack of paper. Should I turn the top page over. Visions of Jack Nicholson and The Shining. Page after page of "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"�?
Ah. It's clear. A silhouetted pair on a black background.
They are working on Sam and Max.
Editor's note:
Matthew is an integral part of the Telltale extended family. In addition to helping helping with our strategy, the man sports dangerous skill at petanque and impeccable taste in interior decoration.
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