I really like what I'm seeing already. The idea that it's based more on self-contained puzzles gives me hope that this one will have better brain-teasers than the average Telltale adventure.
I'm excited about this, not just Puzzle Agent but the Pilot Program in general. I like that Telltale is looking for ways to be experimental and innovative without putting too much on the line at the outset - I really hope this approach works out for them.
I wonder how many of these pilots they'll make, but I'm super-happy that they seem to be making them as self-contained stories (if I'm reading the article right) rather that a first episode that would only get the rest of its story if it's successful enough.
Wow! this looks great. And it's going to be on a lot of platforms, which should make everyone happy.
Except for the iPad users that can't see the flash teaser, but that's just a teaser.
I guess it will at least partially depend on the success (or otherwise) of the first few tries?
Yeah, this is not only a pilot, but a pilot of pilots...
Also, official descriptions of this game seem to use the word "puzzle" slightly more than once per sentence, which makes me worry it will get old as fast as it did in Professor Layton. My first thought was that the game would have to really prove itself unique in order to compete with Layton, but I guess since it's coming to a bunch of systems where Layton is not available, then it could just use that similarity as a selling point.
I hope they make a demo version for the iPod Touch, so that I can see firsthand how it plays before deciding between that and the PC version.
This game looks awesome. I love the style, the music, and the overall concept so far. I will definitely get this "pilot," and I can't wait to see what else they come up with.
The problem with the first Layton game (which was almost entirely fixed in the second) was that the puzzles uually had nothing to do with actual story events. Since one of the puzzles is about a regular Scoggins event, it looks like Telltale is taking care to integrate puzzles with the story. No more "This reminds me of a puzzle" crap!
I love that gameplay clip. It's great that Telltale is prepared to take weird chances like this, with weird new styles - both in animation/graphic design and in puzzle design. They even seem to have got the way Grickle uses colours and timing right. And if the Pilot Program is used to experiment with weirder franchises and styles, I can't wait to see what else they have in store.
This is going to be sweet. Bring it on!
Edit: I also wonder who's working on this. Right now there's basically one writer for each episode (with a bit of overlap) and a lead writer. But because it's a single episode they might go back to the old Sam & Max Season 1/Season 2 method, where there were a whole bunch of writers/designers working on each episode. I think there are quite a lot of writer/designers that aren't doing anything with Sam & Max (like Mark Darin or Famous). Of course, they might already be working on other games for the Pilot Program.
Though the idea of solving little puzzles ala Professor Layton doesn't particularly appeal to me, I like the concept and the world is interesting. I'm getting a Fargo/Dashiell Hammett vibe off of it, partially because of obvious reasons, partially because of others. It makes me wish for an adventure game where you were a real detective out to find clues and solve a real case. That could be loads of fun.
But, still. From the looks of things, I'll like it and, obviously, I'm buying it. I just don't see myself enjoying mini-game puzzles-style gameplay.
*snipped*
Edit: I also wonder who's working on this. Right now there's basically one writer for each episode (with a bit of overlap) and a lead writer. But because it's a single episode they might go back to the old Sam & Max Season 1/Season 2 method, where there were a whole bunch of writers/designers working on each episode. I think there are quite a lot of writer/designers that aren't doing anything with Sam & Max (like Mark Darin or Famous). Of course, they might already be working on other games for the Pilot Program.
I'm guessing it's Famous, if only because Mark Darin had his hands full with Tales of Monkey Island four months ago. Also maybe John Drake?
Well I was already stoked for this game before so I guess that means that I'm uber excited! I can't wait to give this game a try and also see what else Telltale has instore with their other pilots. I think it's great to see that Telltale is willing to take a risk both with their stories as well as with their gameplay and if "Puzzle Agent" is any indication their future pilots will be just that.
Much of the game concept's been jointly developed with Telltale and Graham.
Graham brought central ideas to Telltale, and folks here have been collaborating with him on key portions of the game. The look and feel is very much Graham of course!
It's a great re-union! (Some / many of you may know that Graham was Telltale's first art director when the company started).
Sorry for being so thick, but what is a pilot program? Does it mean it is the first in a long line of Grickle games to come? Or is this a one off? I got myself confused...
Wait, are you saying this is still all 3d-rendered in realtime? That entire gameplay vid is real-time rendered? If true that's absurdly impressive. I was really convinced you were going 2d on this one.
I remember the first time that I heard "That's the pilot" was for Quantum Leap, and in the first episode he's a pilot.
So I failed to understand it meant anything else.
Wait, are you saying this is still all 3d-rendered in realtime? That entire gameplay vid is real-time rendered? If true that's absurdly impressive. I was really convinced you were going 2d on this one.
It's a mix environments are a mix of 2 and 3 D's, characters are Hand drawn and animated by Graham and our choreographers.
Comments
Neat
No really, YAY.
I really like what I'm seeing already. The idea that it's based more on self-contained puzzles gives me hope that this one will have better brain-teasers than the average Telltale adventure.
Even more glad to see this confirmed on PC!
EDIT: Game video clip on 1UP: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3179064
I guess it will at least partially depend on the success (or otherwise) of the first few tries?
Thanks for the link - it looks very cool! Certainly different to any of the Telltale games I've played. Hurry up, June...
Except for the iPad users that can't see the flash teaser, but that's just a teaser.
HEY! First has to come May and the Sam and Max episode!
(But I'm totally getting your feeling, man..)
Yeah, this is not only a pilot, but a pilot of pilots...
Also, official descriptions of this game seem to use the word "puzzle" slightly more than once per sentence, which makes me worry it will get old as fast as it did in Professor Layton. My first thought was that the game would have to really prove itself unique in order to compete with Layton, but I guess since it's coming to a bunch of systems where Layton is not available, then it could just use that similarity as a selling point.
I hope they make a demo version for the iPod Touch, so that I can see firsthand how it plays before deciding between that and the PC version.
http://au.gamespot.com/pc/puzzle/puzzleagent/news.html?sid=6260802&tag=gumballs;title;2&mode=previews
Awesome!
Me: ooo a video! I wonder what they posted?!
....oh wait, *I* recorded this video. Right. I'm dumb.
I feel a strong urge to squee like a fangirl. Must... resist... urge...
Squeeeee!
This is going to be sweet. Bring it on!
Edit: I also wonder who's working on this. Right now there's basically one writer for each episode (with a bit of overlap) and a lead writer. But because it's a single episode they might go back to the old Sam & Max Season 1/Season 2 method, where there were a whole bunch of writers/designers working on each episode. I think there are quite a lot of writer/designers that aren't doing anything with Sam & Max (like Mark Darin or Famous). Of course, they might already be working on other games for the Pilot Program.
Guess it's just not my type of game, though I do applaud the development by Telltale from a business perspective.
But, still. From the looks of things, I'll like it and, obviously, I'm buying it. I just don't see myself enjoying mini-game puzzles-style gameplay.
I'm guessing it's Famous, if only because Mark Darin had his hands full with Tales of Monkey Island four months ago. Also maybe John Drake?
Don't forget Vanaman!
Vanaman is Famous. Hee. Listen to this podcast.
Working with Mr Famous Vanaman.
Dave Grossman's involvement has also been key, particularly in the early conception phases.
Not to mention Graham's significant role.
More info on the project coming very soon.
- Joel
Since the art style and characters are owned by Graham Annable, no, not really.
Graham brought central ideas to Telltale, and folks here have been collaborating with him on key portions of the game. The look and feel is very much Graham of course!
It's a great re-union! (Some / many of you may know that Graham was Telltale's first art director when the company started).
It's a one time only thing that if it is successful, it may be picked for additional episodes or seasons
If so, that's one impressive piece of software.
Yep same tool as always:) There are some nice new tricks at work in the modeling of the environments to keep the Grickle look going.
So I failed to understand it meant anything else.
It's a mix