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Telltale's New Game Revealed? 28 Apr, 2010 / 30 comments

Our friend from the frontline, Bill Cauley, has sent us word:

I was on Facebook today and one of the ads caught my eye. It was using a Phoenix Wright graphic and claimed that if you filled out a quick survey for a video game that I could win some cash prize. Thinking it could be worth a laugh I entered and after putting in some basic information (date of birth, what types of games I like, etc.). I was treated to an outline of a new game that was coming out. Here's the outline that was given:

Nelson Tethers, the only agent at the U.S. Bureau of Puzzle Investigation, hasn’t had a case in more than a decade – until today. An unexplained event in the bizarre town of Scoggins, Minnesota has left the entire burg obsessed with puzzle-solving, completely shutting down all productivity. The mystery can only be solved through Agent Tethers’ expert puzzle-solving skills. His path ultimately leads him to find that an unseen force has placed the entire town under mind control. Utilizing his crack puzzle solving abilities Tethers will unravel the mystery -- if the townspeople don’t stop him first. Who or what is this mysterious force and why is it making the good people of Scoggins solve puzzles 24/7?


It was then followed with the following about pricing and release

If this game were available now for $9.99 as a digital download for your preferred gaming platform, how likely would you be to purchase this game?



The next page consisted of screenshots from the game and showing various locations, characters, and parts of puzzles that you'll end up solving.



Image Image Image ImageImage Image
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30 Comments

  • Avatar
    QueZTone on 29 Apr, 2010, 22:02…
    i like this!

    if it's anything as original as Machinarium (which it seems to be!) I will purchase! :)
  • Avatar
    elTee on 29 Apr, 2010, 21:50…
    It's certainly an interesting new tactic for Telltale. Possibly a smaller, cheaper project than previous game 'seasons', and unable to rely on a large (I presume?) existing fan-base, they're clearly trying some new techniques here to get the word out.

    I hope it's successful, because it might indicate that they have the finances and desire to pursue a more costly original IP idea next.
  • Avatar
    Sp0tted on 29 Apr, 2010, 21:15…
    I just saw a video on TTG's site. Not to be pessimistic, but this continues my trend of buying every other game TTG makes.

    Bone - No
    SnM - Yes
    CSI - No
    Strongbad - Yes
    Wallace and Gromit - No
    ToMI - Yes
    Whatever this is - No.

    This means that the next IP MUST be Day of the Tentacle! Yes!!!
  • Avatar
    syntheticgerbil on 29 Apr, 2010, 19:58…
    That survey company is totally going to take your cash prize away for revealing all of this confidential info.
  • Avatar
    clone2727 on 29 Apr, 2010, 18:30…

    Jayel

    I just realized, had Star Wars sequels/prequels been released on May 4th, they could've used the tagline "May the 4th be with you!"


    You've been beaten to the punch.
  • Avatar
    Jayel on 29 Apr, 2010, 18:11…
    I just realized, had Star Wars sequels/prequels been released on May 4th, they could've used the tagline "May the 4th be with you!"
    Ha ha ha, I'm awesome.
  • Avatar
    The Tingler on 29 Apr, 2010, 08:23…
    Indeed, the Hint/Submit thing in the photo puzzle looks nearly identical to Professor Layton. I don't mind it, but for their first original game I was hoping for something more... adventurey. Bah, I'll reserve judgment, not like the Layton games aren't brilliant...
  • Avatar
    Capn_Nacho on 29 Apr, 2010, 03:26…
    Also: sorry about the way we found out about this, TTG folks...
  • Avatar
    Capn_Nacho on 29 Apr, 2010, 03:23…
    Beyond awesome. I've loved Graham Annable forever, and the visuals look like a treat so far. I can't wait to see them in motion. I definitely hope this isn't ipad/ipod touch exclusive, and the screenshots presented here sort of suggest that it isn't--the overhead map of Scoggins is 1080 HD resolution.

    A comment: In the screenshot named "Instructions.jpg" (the one with the "Securicam Scramble" text,) the characters appear to be drawings placed in a 3d environment. The booth, the curved roof of the diner, and the kitchen window are pretty obviously polygonal, and all the dry-media-line textures in the environment conform to those surfaces. Also, the textures show a level of sampling that makes me think the background is being rendered in real-time.

    Stoked stoked stoked.
  • Avatar
    Icebox on 29 Apr, 2010, 01:41…
    Reminds me of a puzzle!

    Looks quite neat. I loved Layton, so that might be my bias, but some of the puzzles look a little TOO casual. The puzzles in Layton at the very least were like something you'd find in a Mensa(TM) booklet. These seem positively timid by comparison.

    Here's hoping for a good turnout. Make mine steam. And bravo for finally getting that 2D in order, for those of us with puny rigs. Mayhap this is the first of things to come? 8^y
  • Avatar
    Sopabuena on 29 Apr, 2010, 01:24…
    Hmm this looks a lot like many of those iPod/iPad/iPhone adventures out there, where the puzzles involve putting together pieces of torn paper, rearranging photos, code decryption and some horrible pixel hunting. Hopefully I'm wrong I we will get a more traditional adventure game instead of some casual gameplay. Also, $9.99 is perhaps too expensive considering the price of games like Broken Sword DC ($3.99), Beneath a Steel Sky ($2.99) SOMI:SE ($7.99) and Simon the Sorcerer ($1.99) wich provide hours of gameplay.
  • Avatar
    The Tingler on 29 Apr, 2010, 01:19…

    An unexplained event in the bizarre town of Scoggins, Minnesota has left the entire burg obsessed with puzzle-solving, completely shutting down all productivity.



    Isn't that Professor Layton and the Curious Village?

    Nevertheless, intrigued and compelled and will be a must-buy... if the PC does indeed get a version. I'm sure it will. And I guess we'll find out more on May 4th!
  • Avatar
    Sp0tted on 29 Apr, 2010, 00:14…

    jp-30


    Uhh, dude:
    http://www.telltalegames.com/scogginserasers



    boy is my face red. I turn in my nerd badge for today.
  • Avatar
    Diduz on 28 Apr, 2010, 22:35…
    Hmmmm.... Grickle meets Professor Layton?
  • Avatar
    Udvarnoky on 28 Apr, 2010, 22:19…
    Are you guys so sure this is running on a new 2D engine as opposed to being handled like Strong Bad?
  • Avatar
    jp-30 on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:41…

    Sp0tted

    This doesn't feel like Telltale to me. Iffy graphics (even if it is in 2d), and no voicework...

    Besides, is TellTale the only company that makes games for 8.99/9.99? I think not.



    Uhh, dude:

    http://www.telltalegames.com/scogginserasers
  • Avatar
    GodzillaX8 on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:35…

    AlfredJ

    And it's an original IP!



    No, it isn't.

    It's based on former TTG employee Graham Annable's video series called Grickle.
  • Avatar
    Remi on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:33…

    Gabez

    No expensive Ipads or cryptic clues sent to us... we'll just have to do with screenshots and game summaries. :(



    Granted, our exclusives come about in roundabout ways, but they're still very exclusive!
  • Avatar
    Sp0tted on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:31…
    This doesn't feel like Telltale to me. Iffy graphics (even if it is in 2d), and no voicework...

    I dunno, to me this seems like a step-backwards from the rich environments of ToMI and SnM to be the next Telltale game/series.

    Besides, is TellTale the only company that makes games for 8.99/9.99? I think not.
  • Avatar
    Gabez on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:30…
    No expensive Ipads or cryptic clues sent to us... we'll just have to do with screenshots and game summaries. :(
  • Avatar
    black_sheep on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:29…

    Kroms

    black_sheep

    Also, this means Telltale can finally do 2D! Oh the possibilities :)


    I doubt it's going to be advanced animation. It's probably choppy stuff, the way Annable does it.

    Also, is this debate still alive? The 3D thing is getting better and better, and will look like regular 2d soon enough. I'd have thought that Monkey 2 CryEngine video would've been enough evidence.



    Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer 3D over 2D any day of the week, but on an iPhone/Touch? Definitely the other way around. I'm just glad that I can enjoy Telltale wherever I go now :)
  • Avatar
    fatbuoy1 on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:23…
    Hmm... I wonder is it an iPad game? Although there is a cursor on one of the screenshots, and they do appear to be mostly 16:9 ratio
  • Avatar
    Kroms on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:20…

    black_sheep

    Also, this means Telltale can finally do 2D! Oh the possibilities :)


    I doubt it's going to be advanced animation. It's probably choppy stuff, the way Annable does it.

    Also, is this debate still alive? The 3D thing is getting better and better, and will look like regular 2d soon enough. I'd have thought that Monkey 2 CryEngine video would've been enough evidence.
  • Avatar
    black_sheep on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:13…
    Also, this means Telltale can finally do 2D! Oh the possibilities :)
  • Avatar
    black_sheep on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:11…
    looks very nice, I'll bet they'll definitely release it for PC for the fact that the screenshots are at 720p (?) resolution. But, yeah, I think they had the iPhone/Touch market as their target with this one.
  • Avatar
    xgfx on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:09…
    2D + No voices (speech bubbles?) plus questions of cost, and a simple, touch friendly looking interface would indicate to me it's going to be a iPhone/iPad/Android/whatever release. Not to say it won't come to PC later on though.
  • Avatar
    AlfredJ on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:05…
    Wow, a 2D Telltale game. That's pretty amazing. And it's an original IP! And it doesn't sound like anything they did before.

    I'm happy.
  • Avatar
    Kroms on 28 Apr, 2010, 21:05…
    "

    Remi O

    I like it when Mojo gets its annual exclusive.


    Annual?
  • Avatar
    Remi on 28 Apr, 2010, 20:51…
    I like it when Mojo gets its annual exclusive.
  • Avatar
    Kroms on 28 Apr, 2010, 20:49…
    Please say it's coming out on PC...please?

    Also yay it looks nice.

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