Hector: Badge of Carnage episode 1, subtitled “We Negotiate with Terrorists”, has finally been released for PC and Mac. There's also an iPad port coming, but the date's not yet been specified. You can grab it here.
Wonder what this is all about? Check out Telltale's Hector page and the trailer below.
Source: Telltale Games
Telltale's "good news" drawer is starting to be filled up here. The latest twist is that the company has (once again) signed on "to publish games for the Xbox 360."
"Adding console support to our acknowledged expertise in digital downloads is another positive step in our long-term growth strategy," said CEO Dan Connors while, we assume, grabbing on to a few new franchises at the same time.
But ho ho, seriously, this is pretty awesome as some of us have wanted to see Tales of Monkey Island and The Devil's Playhouse on the 360. No word if that will happen or if this is for new games only, but seriously, Telltale. Do me a solid and we'll be BFFs until I decide I want more from you.
Source: Shacknews (via Threepwood4life
File this one under "smart decision."
Telltale has just announced Jurassic Park: The Game will be held back until next fall to "ensure PC players get the best possible gaming experience." In other words, the game will be released for all platforms simultaneously this fall.
Apparently Telltale will also issue a 100% refund to those of us who pre-ordered, as well as bribing us with one free game to keep us quiet. Sounds like a fair deal. Though it's not stated if you'll get the refund and still get the game, I'm going to guess that would be one step too far. (Update: You do get your money back and the game. Good job, TTG. -- Never mind. ¬)
Hey, a delayed game is better than a game lacking polish.
Source: The Telltale Blog
It's been announced via Press Release and Twitter that two of Telltale's games will be with us shortly. Hector: Badge of Carnage, the rather fun-looking traditional 2D adventure, will be out Wednesday April 27th and Back To The Future Episode 4: Double Visions will be out just generally next week sometime.
But there's one missing. Where's the first episode of Jurassic Park? It's still down as coming out April. If it's been delayed to give it an extra layer of, um, quality, I'm all for that - but shouldn't there be an announcement or something? If it is still coming out though... three games in one week Telltale? Wow.
... or something like that, if you read between the lines in this interview with TTG's Dan Connors. The article, amongst some vaguely odd-ish statements, says...
"Original content from a gaming perspective is pretty romantic, but it's pretty difficult," he says. "Franchises have always been a part of our strategy. We want to create great interactive stories and we think there's a wealth of great stories that exist in the (film and television) worlds that need interactive stories - and we can supply that. As far as being able to establish a brand, every time we connect to a franchise, we're associating ourselves with something that has a lot of fans – and we can reach out and introduce ourselves to them and let them know we do other things."
Some might argue that the franchise "part" of the strategy is closing in on 100%, but who am I to split hairs? Read the interview for more.
Source: Gamesutra
If you're anything like me, you've probably felt that if there's something Telltale needs, it's more licenses.
Well thank god almighty, then, that Law & Order: Los Angeles has been acquired! Read all about it here. So how many licenses does TTG have in the oven right now? Seven including the ongoing Back to the Future, give or take? Plus three franchises currently at episode one stages for the iPad?
"Yikes" comes to mind.
Source: IGN
One physician-approved substitute for routine cardio is keeping up with the latest on Telltale Games, whose bevy of high-profile licenses keeps the web a-buzzing and my heart a-murmuring.
You've got an interview with The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman at Collider. The artist behind Rick Grimes and his fellow survivors delves into everything from the comic to the show's second season and the Telltale project. Here's the game-related bit:
What is your level of involvement with The Walking Dead video game that is being developed?
I just had a meeting with them yesterday. I’m not writing the video game myself just because I don’t have time. I can say that I picked Frank Darabont for the show and I picked Telltale Games because they are very familiar with the comic book and they know what makes the comic book good and what makes the comic book “The Walking Dead” as opposed to just as, you know, zombies running around and cutting people’s heads off and stuff. If you want to buy a game where you run around and kill zombies with an uzi – that game exists and there are more of those games coming out. They are fun games and everybody likes them, but we are not going to try and compete with those games. We are going to try to do something a little different that is a little more true to The Walking Dead. Knowing that they are that invested in changing what you might expect from a zombie game and really bringing the emotion and drama of The Walking Dead to video games makes me trust them. But I’m overseeing everything.
What kind of genre is the game going to be?
I don’t know what the technical name is. I know what the game is, but I don’t know if I can talk about it yet. I don’t know what the technical name for it is and I don’t know if I can say if it is. I do know that the game will have shooting. It just won’t be the focus of the game.
Telltale also reports that Joe Pinney will be on Gamespot's "On the Spot" show tomorrow to promote Jurassic Park, where no expense is likely to be spared.
Source: Telltale
Telltale promised it last year, and they've delivered: Back To The Future Episode 1: It's About Time is now totally and utterly free. If you've been unsure about the series so far, now at least you can properly try it out and see if it jives with your nostalgia.
We liked it, but it definitely has some problems. Our review of the third episode's coming soon, promise.
Source: Telltale
Source: The Telltale Tattler
Telltale have released a new video for Jurassic Park, which shows off the dinosaurs. There's some developer commentary, a load of new gameplay and a sneak peek at the new freaky-looking nocturnal dinosaur being introduced.
UPDATE: Now you've seen that first video, here's the second.
Source: GameTrailers
Get Tannen, last month's Back to the Future episode, finally sees release on the North American PlayStation Network today with a European release following soon. "Soon" is also the release date for the iPad port. It'll be the first time Telltale doesn't screw over iPad owners by releasing only the first episode of a series.
Been thinking of streaming videos through that new-fangled Netflix thing? Telltale is now offering the latest season of Sam & Max for free to any new Netflix subscribers. Just follow this link.
Last, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People was added to the March 23 update of the European PSN, following last year's December release on the North American PSN.
The latest Behind The Scenes video for Back To The Future is now available at GameTrailers, which brings the news that Marty's girlfriend Jennifer Parker will be back in Episode 3: Citizen Brown - and will be played once again by Claudia Wells. That's Claudia "Back To The Future Part 1" Wells, not Elizabeth "Part II and III" Shue.
I know Mojo is usually a bit more sophisticated than other sites, we don't usually degrade ourselves by posting sexist comments, but I gotta say... Claudia clearly isn't a teenager anymore. Her voice is much deeper.
Source: GameTrailers
In perhaps the world's most obvious news, Back To The Future Episode 3: Citizen Brown will release before the end of March. As it was scheduled for March, I hope you can forgive me for scoffing a little when places like Big Download report this fact as if it was some shocking scoop.
Anyway, it's coming out, so don't forget about it!
Source: Big Download
...in a good way!
In response to some ¬¬ themed feedback about the small helping of concept art found on the Collector's Disc for Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse, or maybe just because he's cool, Jake has made a big gallery of concept art for the season available, and you are sure to be contented by its abundance.
Source: Telltale
As picked up on by talesofmi.net, the German retail release of Tales of Monkey Island (which, as you'll recall, is optionally offered in a big ol' deluxe version of comparable size to the old school boxes) has apparently sold very well in the country where copies of Zak McKracken are worshiped like monoliths and Ron Gilbert comes to you.
Lace Mamba, which we've already reported will be doing TMI's retail release in the UK on April 8th (as they did around the same time last year for Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island), believes that the performance in Germany bodes well for their own launch:
“We think this is a very good indicator for success in the UK,” Lace Mamba Global’s head of marketing Claas Wolter told MCV.
“There is huge demand for a boxed release of Tales of Monkey Island, as proven by the amount of pre-orders and positive feedback. Monkey Island is one of the top adventure game brands in the world.”
You'll recall that the UK version's packaging will boast unique covert art. While the German release bears the Steve Purcell painting that Telltale pre-order customers got in the form of an insert for their Collector's DVD, the UK box uses an unused Purcell design fully painted by Telltale concept artist Ryan Jones. It's rather cool-looking, though the reaction to this multitude of cool covers must surely be bittersweet for the Monkey Island completest with a mortgage to pay off.
Source: MCV
Telltale Games have now opened their insider forums for anyone who pre-orders Jurassic Park: The Game which has a tentative release date of...sometimes next month. The blog post also gives us the first glimpse of the DVD cover.
Source: Telltale blog
