The APE lowdown, and a really easy contest
TelltaleGames
Former Telltale Staff
We had a great time at the Alternative Press Expo this weekend. It was the first time we had a table at a show like this, and we thought we might feel out of place there since we're a game publisher, not a comic publisher (or in the case of APE, one guy at a table with a bunch of photocopied zines), but we fit right in and had a great time at the booth.
Our table, in all its glory.
We met a lot of people who already knew about the games, which was cool, but one of the best things about being at APE was having tons of Sam & Max and Bone fans find out about the games for the first time. Comic conventions have always been a nice way for us to reach an audience we just can't get to through the usual channels (i.e. our website and the gaming websites that cover our games), but since we had a table this time, we had a chance to chat with people about the games and to introduce a bunch of comic fans to what we're doing here at Telltale. (Hey, maybe some of them are even reading this blog!)[readmore]
In addition to putting out merchandise and printouts of the latest Sam & Max and Dank comics for people to pick up, we also had a computer set up to demo both Bone games and all six episodes of Sam & Max. It was a great idea in theory, but in reality, this nine-year-old kid spent most of the weekend hogging the games. (I told him he should ask his mom to buy the season for him, to which he replied "too expensive" without even asking how much they cost. Pfft.)
One of the highlights on Saturday was a visit from Christiane Crawford and J.S. Gilbert, who provided voices for our Bone Games (she plays the Possum Kids; he's the Red Dragon and the Big Bee, among others). They hadn't played the games yet so we kicked the demo-hogging kid off the computer and loaded up Out from Boneville for their listening pleasure. We marketing types don't generally get to meet the voice actors, and I enjoyed hearing them do the characters' voices on the fly (especially the Possum Kids, who have a special place in my heart).
Left to right: A guy in a Max shirt posing with me; Christiane Crawford and J.S. Gilbert; Dave Grossman and Steve during the signing.
On Sunday, Steve came by and signed Sam & Max sketchbooks (or whatever else people asked him to sign). Lots of people came by to talk to him, including several other APE exhibitors who wanted to give Steve copies of their work and told him what an inspiration he was. My favorite visitors during that time were a really cute couple who said Steve was the reason they met. (He was working in a comic shop where she happened to be browsing, and someone else in the store asked a question about Sam & Max that they both knew the answer to... and they've been together ever since. Aww.) Steve brought one of his sons with him, so the demo hogger had to share for a little while, and together they almost beat Reality 2.0.
The contest part: Before he left, Steve signed some of the Sam & Max comics that we'd printed out, and then we flagged down Graham Annable (who had been busy at the Hickee table all weekend) and had him sign some Danks for us as well. So, let's have a contest! This is an easy one... just draw us a picture of an ape and email it to contest@telltalegames.com. Next Monday we'll pull five winners out of the magic contest hat... and, if all goes well, post some monkey pictures! (It doesn't matter if your picture is any good -- you'll still be eligible to win.) Please include your mailing address with your entry so I know where to mail the comics if you win.
Also, details of another contest will be coming really soon, so watch this space!
Our table, in all its glory.
We met a lot of people who already knew about the games, which was cool, but one of the best things about being at APE was having tons of Sam & Max and Bone fans find out about the games for the first time. Comic conventions have always been a nice way for us to reach an audience we just can't get to through the usual channels (i.e. our website and the gaming websites that cover our games), but since we had a table this time, we had a chance to chat with people about the games and to introduce a bunch of comic fans to what we're doing here at Telltale. (Hey, maybe some of them are even reading this blog!)[readmore]
In addition to putting out merchandise and printouts of the latest Sam & Max and Dank comics for people to pick up, we also had a computer set up to demo both Bone games and all six episodes of Sam & Max. It was a great idea in theory, but in reality, this nine-year-old kid spent most of the weekend hogging the games. (I told him he should ask his mom to buy the season for him, to which he replied "too expensive" without even asking how much they cost. Pfft.)
One of the highlights on Saturday was a visit from Christiane Crawford and J.S. Gilbert, who provided voices for our Bone Games (she plays the Possum Kids; he's the Red Dragon and the Big Bee, among others). They hadn't played the games yet so we kicked the demo-hogging kid off the computer and loaded up Out from Boneville for their listening pleasure. We marketing types don't generally get to meet the voice actors, and I enjoyed hearing them do the characters' voices on the fly (especially the Possum Kids, who have a special place in my heart).
Left to right: A guy in a Max shirt posing with me; Christiane Crawford and J.S. Gilbert; Dave Grossman and Steve during the signing.
On Sunday, Steve came by and signed Sam & Max sketchbooks (or whatever else people asked him to sign). Lots of people came by to talk to him, including several other APE exhibitors who wanted to give Steve copies of their work and told him what an inspiration he was. My favorite visitors during that time were a really cute couple who said Steve was the reason they met. (He was working in a comic shop where she happened to be browsing, and someone else in the store asked a question about Sam & Max that they both knew the answer to... and they've been together ever since. Aww.) Steve brought one of his sons with him, so the demo hogger had to share for a little while, and together they almost beat Reality 2.0.
The contest part: Before he left, Steve signed some of the Sam & Max comics that we'd printed out, and then we flagged down Graham Annable (who had been busy at the Hickee table all weekend) and had him sign some Danks for us as well. So, let's have a contest! This is an easy one... just draw us a picture of an ape and email it to contest@telltalegames.com. Next Monday we'll pull five winners out of the magic contest hat... and, if all goes well, post some monkey pictures! (It doesn't matter if your picture is any good -- you'll still be eligible to win.) Please include your mailing address with your entry so I know where to mail the comics if you win.
Also, details of another contest will be coming really soon, so watch this space!
This discussion has been closed.