Sam and Max 2: Reloaded

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by Zonk on Saturday October 2, 2004 @08:00AM 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."

33 of 135 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Petition by cbrocious · 2004-10-02 08:02 · 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 · 2004-10-02 08:15 · 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
San Rafael? by Kenja · 2004-10-02 08:02 · 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 · 2004-10-02 08:41 · 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.
Finally- hope it pans out! by Jarlsberg · 2004-10-02 08:03 · 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 · 2004-10-02 09:13 · 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 · 2004-10-02 09:37 · 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 · 2004-10-02 10:04 · 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 DavidTC · 2004-10-02 11:35 · 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?
About San Rafael.... by simetra · 2004-10-02 08:05 · 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 · 2004-10-02 08:55 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Now that's funny. Tell me, how do they pronounce "Leonardo," "Donatello" and "Michelangelo?"
2. Re:About San Rafael.... by kfg · 2004-10-02 09:06 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Tur tl
  
  KFG
Steam for adventures? by AvantLegion · 2004-10-02 08:06 · 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 · 2004-10-02 08:11 · 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.
Sam & Max not dead? by Moonbird · 2004-10-02 08:07 · 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.
Sam and Max 2 not officially back from the dead by SamNmaX · 2004-10-02 08:07 · 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 · 2004-10-02 08:48 · 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 · 2004-10-02 12:14 · 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!
Obl Sam and Max Quote. :p by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-02 08:09 · 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!
Prepay by Effugas · 2004-10-02 08:09 · Score: 4, Insightful

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

--Dan
Re:WTF? by bob65 · 2004-10-02 08:11 · 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.
Re:WTF? by isorox · 2004-10-02 08:13 · 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.
On my buying list already by JamesP · 2004-10-02 08:15 · 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?
WHo gives a rat's ass by Treeluvinhippy · 2004-10-02 08:20 · 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!!!!!

--
>
Re:WTF? by nkh · 2004-10-02 08:23 · 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 :(
Duke Nukem demo? by lateralus_1024 · 2004-10-02 08:40 · 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.
Maniac Mansion Deluxe by westlake · 2004-10-02 09:01 · 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.
LucasArts by rsmith-mac · 2004-10-02 09:06 · 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 · 2004-10-02 11:32 · 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.
Sign me up by t1nman33 · 2004-10-02 09:38 · 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?
You just haven't been paying attention, have you? by Thedalek · 2004-10-02 11:22 · 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.
Re:it isn't a Spanish word by Kenshin · 2004-10-02 11:43 · 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?
O.K. but by evil+crash · 2004-10-02 13:17 · 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