Last week saw Telltale Games release the first episode in its brand new Tales Of Monkey Island series on PC (Wii coming soon we're told). Today marks the release of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on Xbox Live Arcade and PC. With that in mind, it seemed like the perfect time to catch up with Telltale's game designer Mike Stemmle.
Why is now the right time for the rebirth of Money Island and why not release it as one single product?
Stemmle: Monkey Island is one of gaming's all-time great series and has been a fave for different audiences of players over the years. Telltale and LucasArts feel the timing's good for bringing new Monkey Island for today's gamers.
Tales of Monkey Island
Official trailer
3:04First gameplay trailer
Tales of Monkey Island
Official trailer
3:04First gameplay trailer
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Stemmle: And as for episodic format ... a key source of inspiration for these kinds of games are the old serialized movies and TV shows from the early days of the industry. Tales of Monkey Island is the kind of experience that folks will want to stay involved with over the course of the full five month adventure.
You've confirmed the downloadable episodes for PC and WiiWare but not 360 and PSN. Tell us about your decision behind that.
Stemmle: With each of our recent series, we'll pick a lead console platform to accompany the PC release. WiiWare worked well for our Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People series and we're enthusiastic about coming back to the platform.
And, this is the very first time that a Monkey Island game will be on a Nintendo platform. As with other Telltale series, we want to continue introducing it for other platforms over time.
Personally, I loved the Money Island games when they came out. I was about 15. But now I'm 33. How are they going to appeal to me now I'm all big and grown up?
Stemmle: There are a lot more jokes in this Monkey Island about things that 33 year olds will appreciate, like capital gains tax cuts and yogurts that smooth out your digestive tract. On a slightly more serious note, I like to think that there's always been something in Monkey Island to appeal to all age groups, from 8 to 80.
How have you approached pacing the five episodes so that they each feel of equal value. Who and how do you decide when the consumer has had enough for one episode?
Stemmle: When we're designing each episode, we do a whole lot of meticulous (and tedious) flow-charting of our puzzle trees. After a while, we can tell just by looking at a tree whether (and where) it needs more branches, or where (and whether) it needs to be pruned. Usually.
This isn't your first attempt at episodic gaming. What have you found works and doesn't work using this approach to publishing?
Stemmle: Tales of Monkey Island is the first in a new iteration of Telltale's episodic gaming model - something we're internally calling "Telltale 2.0."
An important part of this is adding elements to bring players through the series in even more satisfying ways, with more connections from episode to episode. With each game and series we do, we look to carry forward elements that work best from previous games, and continue innovating in new places.
The concept of episodic gaming has been around for nearly a decade. What's holding it back from being a true driver of sales from the mass market? Technology? Broadband? Consumers?
Stemmle: Successful episodic gaming requires a true commitment to the model, throughout the process and from the very early stages. There have been some episodic efforts over the years where the companies don't approach the process in such a complete way and it ends up falling short.
Telltale's gained traction in episodic since we build this into every element of our work - from the early design stages, through the development tools, delivery, channel development, online/marketing/community building, and on and on.
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Gameplay footage
2:18Out now on XBLA and PC
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Gameplay footage
2:18Out now on XBLA and PC
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If these episodes turn out to be a massive success, what's next for Monkey Island? Could we see a brand new game for the likes of PS3 and 360?
Stemmle: We're excited about bringing series like this to new audiences, and the initial response has been very positive. We're certainly interested in continuing with additional projects like this.
As soon as they mentioned it would be published in episodic content, that's when I put my wallet away. I will not buy any game that comes in episodic form *unless* the episode is substantial enough to be considered a complete stand-alone game. Alternatively, I'll wait until every episode has been released and then maybe buy the complete set. I'm not going to blindly go along with this lame horse sale approach no matter how enticing the game material may be.
Then you're missing a treat because the game is classic Monkey Island. The first episode takes about 3 1/2 hours to get through but is fun all the way. I preorderd the whole series from telltale for about 20 quid, including a free disk copy of the whole thing when the final chapter is released, and it's well worth the money. I don't mind the episodic format as long as they keep it on track for a monthly release. I spent years collecting and waiting for 22 page comics so I have no problem waiting for a 3-4 hour episode of an adventure.
I'm such a sad Monkey Island junkie that I signed up to Telltale for the 6 episodes. And I've gotta be honest, it's pretty good. Not especially long, mind you (an episode roughly equates to a long evening's play), but still quite enjoyable.
Consider me an unlikely convert to the charms of episodic gaming. If the idea of waiting between episodes bothers you that much, then sign up anyway, and have them send you the complete disc of all the episodes together next year.
Then you're missing a treat because the game is classic Monkey Island. The first episode takes about 3 1/2 hours to get through but is fun all the way. I preorderd the whole series from telltale for about 20 quid, including a free disk copy of the whole thing when the final chapter is released, and it's well worth the money. I don't mind the episodic format as long as they keep it on track for a monthly release. I spent years collecting and waiting for 22 page comics so I have no problem waiting for a 3-4 hour episode of an adventure.
There's a demo on telltale's site too.
Thanks for the "heads up". In light of the laughable delay for HL2's Episode 3, I'd rather wait for the full compilation. Besides, if they are released in a timely manner then I won't have to wait too long and I'll be guaranteed a complete product at such a time.
I remain deadset against episodic game models and refuse to buy them. Give me the complete deal on a disc and then we can talk business.
I really REALLY don't like the way Guybrush looks in the new Wii version.
The Special Edition HD version looks great though.
It's weird, I'm thankful for Telltale bringing back point and click and LucasArts'IPs, but at the same time wish that LucasArts were doing them. Production values are so much higher at LA.
Telltale's games are just OK and if they didn't have the familiar characters I think they would be worse than that.
Most of the original MI team are at Telltale, not to mention them getting in Ron Gilbert as an advisor. I'm totally the other way with regards to the look of Guybrush. I don't really like the MI:SE style but quite liked the Tales style. I would prefer them all look like Curse though, that whole art style was perfect. There's a screen of a proposed MI remake in Bill Tiller's art style that looks way better than the new version...
I'm not really sure what peoples resistance to 'episodic' is, I can't see anything wrong with the model. Do people refuse to watch shows on TV because it's a 'poor mans movie'?
I could understand it if each episode of MI was costing £20 and was only a few hours long, but when it's £20 for the whole run of episodes, it's seems like a pretty good approach to me. Also, with the previous games that they have done, Telltale have a good track record for getting their monthly episodes out in a timely manner.
I've only spent around an hour on episode 1 of MI and I'm loving it so far
I'm not really sure what peoples resistance to 'episodic' is, I can't see anything wrong with the model. Do people refuse to watch shows on TV because it's a 'poor mans movie'?
I could understand it if each episode of MI was costing £20 and was only a few hours long, but when it's £20 for the whole run of episodes, it's seems like a pretty good approach to me. Also, with the previous games that they have done, Telltale have a good track record for getting their monthly episodes out in a timely manner.
I've only spent around an hour on episode 1 of MI and I'm loving it so far
1) I don't pay for the TV episodes of shows directly.
2) While I agree that 20 quid for the whole collection isn't outrageous, I do not wish to pay the whole amount until all the episodes are available. Pre-orders are usually different for me because I tend not to pre-order until the game/program in question is well along in development.
3) The less I have to trust and rely upon a company I have no say in the better.
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