http://kotaku.com/5559234/telltale-takes-us-back-to-the-future
QuotePerhaps through some sort of clever time manipulation, an episodic season of Back to the Future games will be the first fruit of the partnership, coming this winter to multiple gaming platforms.
How come none of you bastards told me!? Assuming the game will be good, this will be EPIC.
Yeah, I'm also looking forward to this one - even more so after participating in the online survey they ran about what you would like to see in the game. They outlined four possible plots, and even if those turn out to be nothing like the released episodes, Telltale obviously know what they're doing. Very few elements clashed with the tone of the movies, and I was also relieved that none of them dealt with the distant past or far future.
From what I recall, the ideas took place in (should I spoiler tag this? Sure, why not):
Spoiler
1930-something, 1968 or '69, 1986, 2010
All of them set in Hill Valley - of course anything else would have been sacrilege, and some of them involving Marty and Docs from different eras. I didn't really like the overarching plot they suggested, that after the train destroys the time machine at the end of BttF3, the pieces were dispersed across the timeline, so it's your typical "collect the plot tokens" structure. But, hell, if they can use the plot device in some creative way like the paranormal toys in S&M season 3, maybe it'll work great - possibly adding new abilities to the DeLorean for each episode or something.
I really hope they get Christopher Lloyd to voice Doc, pretty sure Michael J. Fox doesn't do any kind acting anymore (sadly), but Thomas F. Wilson doesn't seem impossible. Both he and Lloyd acted in games before, and neither have much of a film career at the moment. If there's room in Telltale's budget, it would be pure awesome.
Edit: Adding some more spoileriffic details from the survey (from this site (http://www.ripten.com/2010/07/08/possible-back-to-the-future-game-scenarios-revealed-by-telltale-survey-lbd416/)).
Spoiler
* …November 5th, 2010. Working together, Teen Marty, Doc, and Present Day Marty finally corner the man who made off with Doc’s Time Train. While they argue about what to do with the well-intentioned time-hopper, a scary black vehicle appears out of nowhere. A familiar bulky presence steps out and confronts them. ‘Detective Tannen, Temporal Preservation Squadron.’ I’m afraid you’re all under arrest’…
* …June 18th, 1938. Young Emmett Brown is about to announce his engagement to gold-digging young woman, turning his back on scientific pursuits forever. If Marty and Doc can’t bust into the party and get a singular Jules Verne novel into his hands, Emmett will never invent the time machine, a possibility too horrible to contemplate. Maybe they can sneak in with the swing band…
* …May 12th, 1986. After stopping Biff Jr. from getting in a fight with his time-displaced son, Marty leaves the dance floor and sneaks into Strickland’s office, looking for the keys to the detention hall. He doesn’t know how three teenagers from 2010 got their hands on a time-travelling Delorean, but the most important thing now is getting them locked up in one place before they mess up everyone’s future…assuming they haven’t already…
* …June 11th, 1968. Weaving their way through the peace protestors outside the courthouse, Marty and Doc surreptitiously use Doc’s temporal scanners to look for the mssing objects scattered through time by the wreck of the Time Train. After a number of dangerous encounters with riot police and hippies, there’s only one artifact left… the remnants of the train’s flux capacitor… repurposed as a peace necklace.. around the neck of a VERY pregnant Loraine McFly. Marty suddenly remembers that he’s going to be born tomorrow…
[also, while it's hinted at here, the other questions strongly suggested that there will be gameplay mechanics involving the hoverboard, Marty's arcade game taught gun-slinging talents, and probably some kind of guitar-playing minigame (nor sure which consoles it's coming on, but it'd be cool to see a Guitar Hero controller being used in a title that's not primarily in the rhythm game genre).]
All I can say is damn! Damn damn! :D
"It's just a very, intense, dream..."
I am a huge Back to the Future fan. My first wish is that it doesn't get canceled. My second wish is that it isn't ass. But it'll certainly be a game that we get when it comes out!
"It works!"
"Bet your ass, it works."
Oh god, I need to take a shower, this is far too exciting.
After reading your post, GarageGothic, I nearly fainted. ANY of those stories sounds awesome, especially the first one.
Spoiler
"Detective Tannen, Temporal Preservation Squadron"? GOLD!!
Well apart from destroying a personal dream to make a BTTF game, as long as they get Chris Lloyd in as the voice of Doc, and some actual JP people for voices from JP, things will be okay. No shitty sub-par voice actors please! Especially all those fake John Hammond's. I hope they actually ask Alan Silvestri to write the music for the BBTF game, I'd love to hear his "fourth part" as it were. Well, whatever happens, happens.
"Your future hasn't been written yet...so make it a point & click adventure."
PS. Universal, what are they like! They won't give the original writers of some films rights to their works but they're happy to give TellTale games rights to some of their older, bigger franchises. Odd company sometimes. Anyhoo yeah, somewhat excited :)
TerranRich - maybe you need to join "Point and click adventure games" on Facebook! ;)
This is heavy!
Man, I am still waiting for the invention of that hoverboard (and also the miniature pizza that turns big and cooked in 3 seconds), it should have already happened by now!!!
I once tossed a quarter into the wishing well at a chinese resturaunt once asking for a hoverboard in my room when I got home. Keep your quarters, it's a SCAM.
Quote from: Mods on Fri 27/08/2010 11:26:15and some actual JP people for voices from JP, things will be okay. No shitty sub-par voice actors please! Especially all those fake John Hammond's.
The only Jurassic Park game that matters DID have Sir Richard Attenborough. Yeah, I'm talking Trespasser, bitches 8). Still standing by my fondness and respect for that game as a diamond-in-the-rough, way, way ahead of its time.
Quote from: Mods on Fri 27/08/2010 11:26:15I hope they actually ask Alan Silvestri to write the music for the BBTF game, I'd love to hear his "fourth part" as it were.
As long as they use the musical themes from the original trilogy score, or variations of them, I'll be happy. Wouldn't be BttF without the Silvestri music, but I don't expect them to get the man himself. Also hope they get a few period tracks like the 50's music and Huey Lewis songs from the originals.
Spoiler
The 1986 outline sounds in part like a Breakfast Club pastiche, and I really hope they go with that vibe. Would be a brilliant occasion to get some mid-1980's songs in there.
Edit: Gotta love Telltale. I just received a press release about the S&M season 3 finale, and at the end of the mail, I noticed this little bit about their presence at the Penny Arcade Expo: "To welcome Back to the Future news we'll share at PAX, we're bringing along an actual DeLorean Time Machine! (for real!)"
Strong Bad, Tycho (penny arcade), Heavy (tf2) and Max (sam and max) playing cards I guess:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-debut-untitled-telltale/703720
Telltale seemed to be expanding or something, with all these projects.
New info and (possible) production artwork (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/08/telltale-games-times-back-to-the-future-project/1?csp=34) courtesy of USA Today.
Quotes of particular interest:
Quotethe Back to the Future game series will include the likenesses of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd
QuoteLloyd will also provide his voice for the games
Woohoo!
QuoteBob Gale, who wrote the screenplays for the three films, is working with the game developers on the plot for the planned five "episodes"
And, hoping that USA Today allows external image links, the character artwork:
(http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/game-hunters/2010/08/31/BTTFgame0831x-wide-community.jpg)
Seems they're going for a Tales of Monkey Island with more muted colors approach.
I was just about to post this. I love the look of the characters (if this is indeed concept art/test renders), and the fact that we'll see plenty of appearances of movie characters is a good sign. :)
Yeah, I quite like the style of the characters too (though if this was the critics lounge, I'd suggest brightening the shadow under Marty's nose - I found it quite distracting). Doc's haunted look makes me wonder if they used a photo of Chris Lloyd as Uncle Fester for reference :)
I think it's a good mix of cartoony and realistic that will also work with their existing technology, and I must admit that I have a special fondness for Telltale's somehow angular, geometric take on stylization since it's similar to my own approach (not sure what to call the style, but Gerald Scarfe's character designs for Hercules shares some elements, as does the Clerks animated series).
For anyone critical of the designs, consider the alternatives:
(http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/animated.jpg)
(shudder)
I think its fine, I rather in fact love it very muchos!! ;)
I wanna play a good game based on Back to the Future, I don't really care how it looks overall, and I'm sure we all agree there! ;)
Art style looks smashing. The characters are easily recognizable while being caricatures of Marty and Doc, emphasizing their signature expressions (marty's cocky grin and Doc's mad-eye look). If they stick with 2d and use sprites in this style the game could have real potential. Hopefully Mike will get on board at some point since his Parkinson's won't really interfere with recording some lines and it's a great opportunity for him to help re-introduce BttF to a new generation rather than see some shithead do a remake without any of the cast...God, I think I'd finally snap and take a rocket launcher to Hollywood if that happened.
Quote from: ProgZmax on Thu 02/09/2010 01:49:21
Art style looks smashing. The characters are easily recognizable while being caricatures of Marty and Doc, emphasizing their signature expressions (marty's cocky grin and Doc's mad-eye look). If they stick with 2d and use sprites in this style the game could have real potential. Hopefully Mike will get on board at some point since his Parkinson's won't really interfere with recording some lines and it's a great opportunity for him to help re-introduce BttF to a new generation rather than see some shithead do a remake without any of the cast...God, I think I'd finally snap and take a rocket launcher to Hollywood if that happened.
People keep mentioning this, but I don't know why wouldn't Fox do the voice acting for this game? He probably has "bad" days but I saw some videos from this year and he looked pretty good (he was on Colbert report for example). I'm sure he could use the money and probably be glad to work (I'm sure they can mention his new book somewhere, maybe a name of an episode "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future" ;D ).
About 2d sprites...would be great, but I have a feeling TT will use the same engine again and make it all 3d. Maybe they'll implement a DotT style mechanics or play as Doc and Martin, but I think that's where inovations will end.
Btw this Crysis mod looks fun as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZAaKH0FYO8
After playing The Devil's Playhouse, I'm sold on Telltale's ability to subvert the form. Now I've seen this art and Christopher Lloyd is confirmed too, I can only see myself enjoying this.
As for Michael J. Fox, I doubt it'd be illness related if he didn't partake. For instance he's even done some light TV work and certainly a lot of voice acting. Although, maybe his condition causes problems with being able to get to the studio or work comfortably or something? His condition could also have deteriorated since my last sight of him. Maybe it's something silly like Telltale can't afford him, or think he'd sound too old to voice Marty. I think Telltale are pretty sympathetic to what the fans will expect in terms of voices, although the danger here is that since BTTF is such a mainstream brand, they'll relax their standards a bit. Since it's going out to such a broad and (to use the parlance) "casual" audience, a lot of people probably wouldn't even notice a Michael J. Fox impersonator (compare how just about everyone who played TMI would have noticed if Dominic Armato wasn't in it).
Anyone know why Pater Sallis didn't voice Wallace in those Wallace and Grommit games? That surprised and bothered me, especially since Sallis always seemed so willing to take part in things. I guess he wasn't available to go to the states, what with Last of the Summer Wine taking up all his time.
Telltale did acquire the official replacement of Wallace, as you mentioned, they did not get the original. From what I read around the mixnmojo boards is apparently Pater is getting quite too old to continue the voice work. His replacement and him have been doing half-and-half work on the claymation movies, but I don't even know if Pater is still doing any of it.
By the way, I just watched the Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' last night. Hysterical!
Yay the likenesses*! Looks great. Yay Lloyd as Doc again - that is ruddy epic, and wonderful :) EIGHTY EIGHTY MILES PER ******* HOUR!!!!!!! His first adventure game since Plotstruck? I gaurantee this will work for everyone except those of us who truly love the soundtrack, and appreciate who the people
are that
are the soundtrack.. Please TellTale - don't use an imitator like myself, use the original man! Spend the rest of your budget on Alan Silvestri - for the love of soundtrack! :) No offence to whoever else they do get in, yay yay you make it sound so like it but you're not THE guy :( It's like recasting in my eyes. And that only works with James Bond. Apart from that in the UK in TV & film we have quite a strict standard when it comes to re-casting. We don't do it.
A fan like myself cannot sacrifice something like
this (http://www.screen7.co.uk/music/scores/bttf2/hoverboard.wma),
this (http://www.screen7.co.uk/music/scores/bttf2/tunnelchase.wma) and
this (http://www.screen7.co.uk/music/scores/bttf2/wsternunion.wma) just to please people who just hope for an epic story.. Lloyd will give his expansion rendition as best he can (and will), why not Silvestri also? You will only get my money if he's on board. Period := Understandable if M.J. Fox can't do it (though that would go down as
the single most epic thing of 2010 if he did), but if you can afford Lloyd you can afford to ask Silvestri if he'd care to continue the franchise his compositions have dominance over. Wouldn't you? Only a bastard would refuse to score a sequel, but judging by his Night At Museum soundtrack's he gets a kick out of it. I'm sure they have asked him.
QuoteTrespasser
Great game!
* Doc looks a bit bloody grumpy. He was always more jolly to me, but maybe I wasn't thinking 4th dimensionally.
PS. Same thing for the JP games. If it's part of the official franchise, use Williams.
Got beer, m0dsie? Me too ;)
8080 MpFuckingH!!!!!!!
Can't wait for these games!
Lloyd is indeed the only Brown that could be.
As for Fox, I have to agree with the general sentiment that he could do this game if he personally wanted to. TTG can afford him, and recording lines would take no more than probably one or two good days out of the month, so I don't see illness causing him such drastic problems as to keep him away.
Don't be too disappointed if Fox doesn't appear in BttF:E1 though. Keep in mind that the ToMI fans who were up in arms about the lack of Earl Boen as LeChuck got a pleasant surprise with chapter 4, and the voice files for the first chapter were later retconned as well. So even if he's not there for the first episode, it doesn't mean he can't still change his mind.
There's a cool crysis mod, not sure if anyone has linked it, but its ubber cool. Damn this is the last part of my childhood. The Back to the Future.
Developer interview video from PAX (with bonus DeLorean) over at The Spoony Experiment (http://spoonyexperiment.com/2010/09/08/pax-coverage-back-to-the-future/). Not much new info, but their focus on staying true to the movies is reassuring.
Freakin' sweet, check these out! There are three parts:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-behind-back-to-the/706588?type=flv
Thank you Nathan :) this looks wonderful.
Holy hell! http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-behind-back-to-the/706591
They couldn't get Michael J. Fox for the voice of Marty McFly... but to be honest, I think the actor they did get is even better... :o
Yeah that guy's voice is amazingly similar!
The music at the beginning just gives me goosebumps! That's some of my all-time favorite movie music.
I am really curious to see how this plays out and I want some actual [non concept] screenshots dammit!!
The end of the third video ... Doc's, "It's an unusual universe Marty" is totally awesome!
Quote from: TerranRich on Tue 26/10/2010 17:26:58
They couldn't get Michael J. Fox for the voice of Marty McFly... but to be honest, I think the actor they did get is even better... :o
What do you mean by "better"? ??? Seriously doubt he's a better actor, the voice is pretty close though and I think it won't be noticable in the game.
Glad Fox got something, since they probably paid him something (or maybe they didn't but still cool to be in agreement) for using his "likeness" in the game.
I actually think it's better to get this new guy ... Let's face it (and I know it's shitty to say it) but MJF is almost 30 years older and the parkinsons really messes up his voice/acting. He doesn't sound like Marty McFly any more.
Even with multiple takes I don't think he could pull it off. This new guy sounds like Marty from 1985 and I think that's the key here.
I wouldn't be surprised if the game developers were just being polite in saying, "MJF wasn't available for the voice acting" when the truth is probably that they knew it wouldn't sound like Marty from the movies. I'm sure MJF was open and honest about it too. He's very forthcoming about the way the disease effects him.
Either way I'm still so pumped for these games. But I've been disappointed before. I really hope they don't screw it up. Bob Gale being involved gives me some major optimism though!
Wow, does he ever sound like MJF. I'm completely impressed.
Holy shit, he sounds just like him!
I wish they would give us some screenshots of the actual game, though. I feel like we're being yanked. If it's going to be released this coming winter, which is literally right around the corner, I would think they'd have some gameplay to show us - not just concept art.
Quote from: Snake on Tue 26/10/2010 22:02:05
Holy shit, he sounds just like him!
I wish they would give us some screenshots of the actual game, though. I feel like we're being yanked. If it's going to be released this coming winter, which is literally right around the corner, I would think they'd have some gameplay to show us - not just concept art.
If you look at the first dev video, there is a sneak peak of the characters talking to each other...
Quote from: Snake on Tue 26/10/2010 22:02:05
If it's going to be released this coming winter, which is literally right around the corner, I would think they'd have some gameplay to show us - not just concept art.
I'm quite convinced it just doesn't look good enough yet. Telltale works on every one of their episodes pretty much till the day of its release - this includes the visuals. For example, mood and color palette setting graphical elements like lighting, the texture of the sky etc. are some of the last to be put in.
http://www.telltalegames.com/bttfoffer
Episode 1 is being offered for free, it seems. Check it out!
The link just redirected me to the videos and a pre-order page. The guy doing Marty's voice is good, and it should be pretty convincing in game, but I also notice his delivery is better when he has to shout things then when he's just speaking (listen to the end of the 3rd diary for an example of his delivery faltering when he has to speak normally). I still wish MJ had signed on for it, but who knows? If his schedule frees up and the sequels are selling like hotcakes he might opt-in. I think he'd still do a fine voice over since he was suffering pretty badly with Parkinson's during Disney's Atlantis and he sounded fine in that. The medication they have him on now seems to have helped him stabilize a bit so who knows?
Either way, this is the first telltale product I'm actually seriously considering buying.
@bttfoffer: Apparently there was a special code on the anniversary Blu-ray release of the films.
MOAR SAUCE!! (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/back-to-the-future-episode-1-requires-121gigawatts-for-freeare/)
P.S. The bttfoffer link only works if you're signed into a TTG Account on their site.
P.S.S. txt-style spelling is messing up the link. Change "freeare" to "free-[the letter after q]"
P.S.S. Titanic: Got the free episode. The coupon code for those too lazy to load the link and/or to cheap and/or too broke to buy the Blu-ray films is:
Spoiler
121GIGAWATTS
QuoteIf you look at the first dev video, there is a sneak peak of the characters talking to each other...
Yeah, I saw those. To be completely honest I wasn't impressed much by the animation, but I am keeping in mind that it is still an incomplete piece of work. I'm sure they'll polish it up by the time it's released.
Just finished watching the 3rd video ;D
Thanks Monkey! I guess I won't have to pay for the first episode after all. ;D
Edit: To make things easier, this url works without Monkey's work around. I'm pretty sure you don't have to sign up for telltale games to have this link work first. But you need to sign up to get the free game.
http://www.telltalegames.com/bttfoffer (http://www.telltalegames.com/bttfoffer)
Yeah, Ryan, what you said works, didn't have to enter a credit card or anything, just an email address. Though there isn't any indication of when and where I'd actually be able to download the game.
They're not ship this, are they? I entered my real address. ::)
Quote from: anian on Wed 27/10/2010 18:09:13
Yeah, Ryan, what you said works, didn't have to enter a credit card or anything, just an email address. Though there isn't any indication of when and where I'd actually be able to download the game.
They're not ship this, are they? I entered my real address. ::)
Haha, yeah, I did the same, Anian ;)
Quote from: Ryan Timothy on Wed 27/10/2010 17:41:10
Thanks Monkey! I guess I won't have to pay for the first episode after all. ;D
Edit: To make things easier, this url works without Monkey's work around. I'm pretty sure you don't have to sign up for telltale games to have this link work first. But you need to sign up to get the free game.
http://www.telltalegames.com/bttfoffer (http://www.telltalegames.com/bttfoffer)
Unless they've changed the link..every time I used that
exact link and wasn't signed in to my TTG account, I got redirected to telltalegames.com/bttf (as ProgZ said). And I didn't post any "work-around". I just said that for the link to work you have to be logged in or it will redirect. Once I was logged in the link worked and I was able to enter the coupon code, etc.
You'll be able to download the episode on its official release date (which is unannounced as of yet) from the TTG website. Just log into your account there and it should show you "stuff you bought" (click on "Your games", the joystick icon on the right). Once the game is available there will be a Download button on there.
And they're just collecting shipping addresses for those who purchase the full season (including season upgrades for those who only purchased some of the episodes), because the full season purchase includes a physical copy (DVD).
At the end of that video (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-behind-back-to-the/706588?type=flv), I notice that the animation of Doc's character is much moother than C. Lloyd's crazy acting and arms-moving!
Pity :D
Those are probably just placeholder animations, if they were made before they recorded the voicework.
I hope.
Come on guys, stop worrying! Even review copies of Telltale games often have lots of unfinished animations. Doc's 3D model was so stiff in that video it's obvious they haven't done any proper facial animations or gesticulations for him yet.
anian- They email you a serial number for the game so when it's released you can go to the site and input it for a digital download. I think it's a rather nice thing to do for fans and in general, and (to me at least) seems to indicate that Telltale has faith that this series will be well received.
Awesome awesome thanks for the link chaps - can't wait for the episode now :D
Back to the Future gets a release date: December 22, 2010.
Also, a video with Marty and Doc Brown in-game footage, and more: http://pc.ign.com/articles/114/1140410p1.html
Very exciting. I am excited. I guess the talking animations are an acquired taste? I was never a fan of 3d characters talking, anyway. It never seems right, IMHO. The scenes seem very well done. I can't wait to walk around Hill Valley and Doc's place :D