Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Sam and Max 2: Reloaded

Posted by Zonk on from the hit-the-road! dept.

CamelToes writes "Sam and Max 2 is not dead! According to a Gamespot article, the team that was working on bringing the new Sam n' Max adventure game 'has formed a new studio called Telltale Games. The San Rafael-based developer will concentrate on re-energizing the adventure game market.' Amazing what an on-line petition will do these days."

42 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Petition by cbrocious · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let's start a petition to stop the "Nothing to see here, move along..." errors on nearly every flippin' /. story.

    --
    Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time.
    1. Re:Petition by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think it must be a problem at your end. As you know, Slashcode is the cutting edge.

      --
      "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
  2. San Rafael? by Kenja · · Score: 3, Funny

    I live in San Rafael. Where are these people and how closely are they guarded? I gots ta get me a job programming psychotic rabbits!

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:San Rafael? by grantsellis · · Score: 3, Funny

      Watch out, you have to spend 5 years programming neurotic pikas before you're even considered for the other malefact--er, lagomorphs.

  3. Finally- hope it pans out! by Jarlsberg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've been waiting for this ever since Sierra got sold out. Man, the adventure games you could make with a game engine like Doom 3 or the forthcoming Half-Life 2 engine. If it were done right, I'm damn sure it'd re-energize the adventure game market.

    1. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by Flamefly · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I think the adventure games (ala DOTT, Sam and Max, Monkey Island) lose the special something that comes with the timelessness of 2D graphics. 2D just has a more... magic realism aspect about it, weird things can easily happen, sam can be stretched this way and that, people can be flushed down time portal toilets and it works! In 3D it wouldn't come close, Sam and Max wouldn't be 10% as good if it was done in 3D.

      3D is awesome for somethings, but a comedy adventure isn't one, the characters are all so different that it just lends itself to 2D, people don't *want* it to be realistic, they want an escape! 2D gives you the ability to have cartoonish moves, to really give the character movement that builds that character persona rather then the standard 3D walk cycle, and in 5 years when current 3D looks, frankly, like shit, the 2D version thereof will look as fresh as it was when it was made, that's what makes Disney films so damn enduring.

      2D is easy enough to do, the engine is simple and you just need to trap a good team of artists, and a few ace scriptwriters in a room and you have a timeless classic.

      FF

    2. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by Lisandro · · Score: 4, Informative

      A long time ago, Gremlin released a game called "Normality, Inc." (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Normal ity), which was just what you described: an adventure game with an FPS engine. The game is an hillarious adventure in a totalitarian futurustic world a-la-1984, and sadly was grossly overlooked by many. If you're on the mood, try it on DOSBox. Recommended.

      I think i'll always preffer 2d action adventures, but this has been done before, very well, and it actually worked. Imagine a terrror adventure a-la-Gabriel Knight using the Doom 3 engine...

    3. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by INT+21h · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Grim Fandango. Nuff said.

      (Though some would say it is a 2D/3D hybrid, pshaaw I say)

    4. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by skabb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'll tend to agree, but if it's done right, it may be good. F.ex. Shrek is a great 3D cartoon, quite different than the old classics of 2D cartoons, it looses some, but then again, it gains some atmosphere that wasn't there at first.

      The trouble is to rewamp a 2D character into 3D, still capturing that magic, Creating a fresh new character in 3D is easier, so I'll wait and see...

      There is a couple of gems regarding "3D" adventures out there, so I hope the producers get it right, and let the adventure genre live on... dont spoil the magic of the classics, use new technology if you want, but only as a tool to express the true art if needed, not because its fancy!

    5. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by adolfojp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I agree 100 percent

      I remember that some of the magic of these games was the beauty of the backdrops. Yes, even in 16 colors. 3D hardware still lacks the power to render vast and rich environments down to the smallest detail. We are getting closer and closer, but we haven't arrived to the point where we can make 3D artworks that compare to their 2D counterparts.


      Cheers

      Adolfo

    6. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by adolfojp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It is true, but I bet that most of us don't have the kind of rendering farms that Pixar/Dreamworks have. Much less sitting in our desktops ;-).


      Cheers,

      Adolfo

    7. Re:Finally- hope it pans out! by DavidTC · · Score: 5, Informative
      Two words: Tex Murphy.

      For those that don't know, those were fully 3-D adventure games. Not only that, but they managed to be interactive movies at the same time, right about all the time all the 'interactive movies' were failing. (Think CD-I, if that rings a bell.) The last one, Overseer, had a DVD with DVD quality video.

      It's interesting that one of the first, and only, adventure games that managed to get 3-D enviroments right was also one of the first, and only, adventure games that managed to get full motion video right. They managed to combine DOOM quality movement (This is when we were all trying to get those fancy new VESA video cards, or running Sci-Tech if we didn't have one.) with quake quality once you stopped for a second, and a somewhat crappy actual recorded video obviously done on a bluescreen and pasted in front of the background. Rounded objects tended to be non-rotatable...

      But, seriously, while the quality of the video sucked, the very first game in the series was for DOS and required a 386/25 SX and 4 megs of RAM. You don't need all these new 3-D engines to make an adventure game. Access Software did it on a shoestring budget, using programmers and company executives as actors.

      But then damn Microsoft bought Access Software for their golf game and stopped the series.

      I own the second, The Pandora Directive and third, Overseer, and I hope that one day I can find the first cheap, Under a Killing Moon.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  4. About San Rafael.... by simetra · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here's something to try. Really, it works.

    Some time when you're around someone from San Rafael, pronounce the Rafael as it should be pronounced: Raw-fie-ell.

    They'll spin around really fast and correct your pronunciation: SAN RUH-FELL !!!!!

    Really, it's amazing.

    --

    "Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
    1. Re:About San Rafael.... by MilenCent · · Score: 3, Funny

      Now that's funny. Tell me, how do they pronounce "Leonardo," "Donatello" and "Michelangelo?"

    2. Re:About San Rafael.... by kfg · · Score: 4, Funny

      Tur tl

      KFG

  5. Steam for adventures? by AvantLegion · · Score: 4, Informative
    From the article:

    GS: When do you expect to announce a publishing partner?

    DC: We may not. The proliferation of broadband has opened a direct channel to fans of these types of games...

    Sounds like they may anticipate doing online distribution not unlike Valve with Steam, albeit hopefully less painful.

    1. Re:Steam for adventures? by MemoryDragon · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well, that could work at least it worked for the guy who did Dark Fall all by himself to get enough money to do a sequel.

  6. Sam & Max not dead? by Moonbird · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, how so? It seems only the dev team is working on its own now. I doubt they get the rights to publish the Sam & Max game, as much as I wished they would.

    --

    --
    All extremists should be taken out and shot.
  7. Sam and Max 2 not officially back from the dead by SamNmaX · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Though this is certainly very positive news, they have not yet announced that Sam and Max 2 has been resurrected. I'm guessing they are in the middle of making a deal on that, though it's a touch premature to say it's back.

    From the article:

    But what about the question on everyone's mind--is a new Sam and Max title coming? Although Telltale Games hasn't specifically said anything, the upcoming first press release from the company does reference the game three times, then ends by saying that Telltale is currently "in the design phase on a well-loved license." Could it be?

    1. Re:Sam and Max 2 not officially back from the dead by bobobobo · · Score: 3, Funny
      Yeah, though it looks like they're going to make more 3-D adventure games, Sam and Max 2 may not be one of them, from the article:

      GS: How is your working relationship with LucasArts today? Is there one?

      DC: We have lots of friends over there, but on a business level it's hard to get traction. They are very focused on dealing with what's in front of them. So unfortunately there is none, which is sad because we really love those old licenses, and of course Sam and Max. We do chat with Steve Purcell from time to time.

      So wishful thnking if they can iron something out with Lucas Arts, but I'm not getting my hopes up. Although I do hope their company gets off the ground and provides some qualtiy Sam and Max alternatives.

    2. Re:Sam and Max 2 not officially back from the dead by ja2ke · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Thanks for saying that. Even if it is true that Telltale is working on a Sam & Max title, we have no way of knowing that. The article never says so, it never even directly hints it. In the Q&A, the Telltale guy even mentions Sam & Max along with other LucasArts things they're not in contact with. I wish /. stories wouldn't jump the gun so badly.

      Yes everyone would be pleased as punch if when they reveal their game, it is in fact a Sam & Max title, but talk about creating false hope and false hype!

  8. Obl Sam and Max Quote. :p by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    SAM: Max, if I start to freeze, I may have to gut you and crawl inside your body for warmth!
    MAX: Please do!

    1. Re:Obl Sam and Max Quote. :p by MagicDude · · Score: 2, Funny

      I didn't know they were on Hoth.

  9. Prepay by Effugas · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Uh, I'd prepay for a Sam 'n Max 2. Like, right now. And I'm not the only one.

    --Dan

  10. Re:WTF? by bob65 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Sam and Max 2? People are waiting for this? I remember playing Sam and Max on a 486 with 4MB of RAM. What's next? Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego 2?

    I remember playing Sam and Max on a 386 with 2MB of RAM too. I also enjoyed it very much. Which is why I am waiting for Sam and Max 2.

    I also enjoyed Carmen Sandiego very much as well. In fact I had (and still do) the deluxe edition which has high-res 256 color graphics - very enjoyeable.

  11. Re:WTF? by isorox · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Good for you, I played it on a 486 too. It (and day of the tentacle) still kicks ass compared with the majority of games arround. Trouble with the genre is theres limited, if any, replayability.

  12. On my buying list already by JamesP · · Score: 4, Funny

    If these guys make it, kudos. My money is theirs...

    LucasArts can kiss my ass...

    --
    how long until /. fixes commenting on Chrome?
  13. WHo gives a rat's ass by Treeluvinhippy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Honestly who gives a rat's ass where in the world Carmen Santiago is? C'mon lets get a new sequal in the Oregon Trail series and hunt deer in the all new doom 3 engine.

    Also small children will once again experience the joy of writing swear words on the gravestones for other children to find. IN 3-D!!!!!

    --
    >
  14. Re:WTF? by nkh · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I still play Sam & Max, DOTT, MI 1, 2, 3 & 4... For most Lucasarts games you can use the ScummVM to play on most platforms (Linux included of course).

    What I miss the most is a good cross-platform open-source adventure game engine I could script in the language I like the most (Ruby of course... but Python would be good too). I could try to write something but I'm too much of a n00b for such a project :(

  15. And While There At It... by dduardo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Bring Back Maniac Mansion

  16. Duke Nukem demo? by lateralus_1024 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I heard there will be a Duke Nukem Forever hidden demo on the disc. Links to follow....

    --
    If you think /. comments are bad, check out Digg.
  17. speaking of games .... Empire is being redone too! by kwandar · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm thrilled that some of these games we love are being redone.

    In 1987 I purchased "Empire" for my Atari and in the early 1990's purchased "Empire Deluxe". Empire has remained at the top of the strategy games list and anyone who plays it, knows why. Its addictive as hell! I still play my old DOS version, even today.

    I just learned that Empire is now being redone too by Killer Bee Software and is now in beta! Yay!!!

  18. Maniac Mansion Deluxe by westlake · · Score: 3, Informative

    LucasFan Games Maniac Mansion Deluxe. 200,000 downloads. Multilingual. 256 color VGA graphics, digital audio effects and a full MIDI score. Windows only. Free-as-in-beer.

    1. Re:Maniac Mansion Deluxe by Zangief · · Score: 2, Funny

      That is very cool, but, could you give me a link to free beer?

      Please?

  19. LucasArts by rsmith-mac · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Considering that this isn't a Star Wars title, I think we'll see LA be a little more flexable than usual. If they were to licence out S&M to Telltale(perhaps even the previous work), and Telltale did digital distribution, that would push all the risk on to Telltale. Without any risk, and a licence LA really doesn't really seem to see a future in, LA may bite as an easy way to score a cut of the revenue.

    1. Re:LucasArts by Zorilla · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Problem is that they couldn't really make any cross-game inside jokes that use trademarks anymore, such as the Star Wars and Sam and Max costumes when Guybrush goes to pick up his party suit in Monkey Island 3. Then there's always the "Help me, . You're my only hope."

      I guess the rubber tree gag can still be used.

      --

      It would be cool if it didn't suck.
  20. Sign me up by t1nman33 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I just sent them an email...I bet that they could generate enough sales from Slashdot readers alone to justify the cost of making the game. Hopefully they will do some kind of pre-order thing.

    Man, LucasArts is going to be kicking themselves for this one.

    --
    --- Where's my car, and why are these grass stains on my pants?
  21. You just haven't been paying attention, have you? by Thedalek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How many of these blood-soaked and mind-numbingly repetitive first-person shooters will be remembered a decade hence?

    Doom, 1993.
    Doom 2, 1994.

    And next year, I'll wager a lot of us still remember Star Wars: Dark Forces.

    Honestly, nine out of ten slashdotters can probably still hum the Doom theme song.

    --
    Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
  22. Re:it isn't a Spanish word by Kenshin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just like you don't say "bom bar die eh" when talking of those who control the release of bombs from planes. It's an American word, and we have our own pronounciation.

    Oh, I get it now. So that's what all this "new-cue-ler" stuff Bush talks about is all about. It's American.

    --

    Does it make you happy you're so strange?

  23. O.K. but by evil+crash · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who owns the rights to the characters? With out the permission of the license holder, all that coding is gonna get you a cease and desist letter.

    --
    "Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."-THG
    1. Re:O.K. but by Dimensio · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Steve Purcell owns the rights to the characters, and I suspect that any Sam & Max work would get his approval.

      The problem is that I believe that LucasArts licensed the game rights to start work on Sam & Max 2, and the question now is whether or not they had an "exclusive" deal. If they did, then this could put a damper on things.

      Even if they don't, though, they probably own the rights to any work done on Sam & Max: Freelance Police, and I doubt that they'll let the project go for someone else to profit on it.

      --
      STOP MISUSING APOSTROPHES, YOU MORONS!!!
  24. NOT Windows only by Chris+Pimlott · · Score: 2, Informative

    Thanks to the wonder of ScummVM, you can play this game on any OS ScummVM supports, which includes Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, PalmOS, Pocket PC, Dreamcast and BeOS. (You may need windows to get the game files out of the .exe, although wine might work for that)

    ScummVM plays nearly all the original games too, so if you have the discs lying around you can replay all the old classics on your favorite OS that didn't exist when they came out :)