Making Adventure Games on 1980's and 1990's toons

DBoyWheeler · Tue 12/03/2013 00:32:57

I know we've done one on TMNT, but what if there were more 1980's and 1990's cartoons made into AGS-made Adventure Games?

I just thought of that while listening to the intro theme of the ol' Heathcliff animated cartoon:
[embed=425,349]<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ml8mnc7WciA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/embed]

So let's take this as an example--what if there were a Heathcliff AGS game? Or maybe an AGS game with the Cadillac Cats (maybe Riff Raff and the trio have to rescue Cleo from some baddie).

Just something to think about for a future AGS project where a lot of us can work together on it.

Babar · Tue 12/03/2013 03:15:18

...There's a TMNT adventure game?

WHAT?! WHERE?! I WAAAAAAAANTS.

Renodox · Tue 12/03/2013 03:20:37

It's been YEARS since I've seen this show. However, I remember one episode where the fat cat in Riff Raff's team made a giant robot out of the Junkyard trash. He used it to drive off a gang of cats using the junkyard equipment.

As for Heathcliff, he usually had to catch mice but didn't like to do so. His favorite activity was beating up on the dog next door. As for game quality, I'd say that it would be best if he has to deal with stopping a burglar. There was an episode where he was sent to a shrink and listened to everything he said which allowed a burglar to get away with stealing from the house until he came across Spike. The burglar kicked Spike which got Heathcliff angry as he said, "No one gets to do that to Spike but me!"

MiteWiseacreLives! · Tue 12/03/2013 05:06:18

I don't think i appreciated how nicely drawn those cartoons really were.. BTW I want a DuckTales game, will settle for Darkwing Duck though.

Cyrus · Tue 12/03/2013 09:39:28

Cooooool idea

I'd say, either Bonkers or Freakasoid.

Stupot · Tue 12/03/2013 10:15:33

How about Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop? I used to love this one. Why is children's telly so crap these days?

Gilbert · Tue 12/03/2013 10:26:13

When making fan games of commercial properties, be prepared that you may face copyright problems and that you may need to abandon your game anytime (or change it to something else not bases on any established properties) though.

There're numerous cases of this (many are adventure game related). For cartoon/comic properties, there was once an AGS game about a certain fat orange cat and the author received a C&D and had to put the game offline.

But of course there are "big" licenses and "small" licenses, while some copyright owners prohibit unlicensed fan works from being made, some don't even care (or even encourage the actions). That particular fat cat license is of course a big one (and the fact that he has officially licensed adventure games doesn't help), so it may still be safe to work with lesser known licenses (the duck ones someone mentioned here are certainly in the dangerous zone, quite obviously).

arj0n · Tue 12/03/2013 10:28:18

Quote from: Stupot+ on Tue 12/03/2013 10:15:33
Why is children's telly so crap these days?

Indeed.

Loved this one:
[imgzoom]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsvfos6hkU1r1ubfio1_500.jpg[/imgzoom]

CaptainD · Tue 12/03/2013 12:18:02

An adventure game based on Ulysses 2013 would be exceptionally cool!

Pixel Hunt could sing the theme song! Nothing would stop the incredible wave of sheer awesomeness!

mkennedy · Tue 12/03/2013 13:35:14

That 'Fat Cat' adventure was available on underdogs for a while and I downloaded and played it. But then I ran into a timed puzzle and couldn't progress any further. Other than that the game wasn't too bad.

An adventure game based on the old Transformers cartoons would be cool, but one based on the Gobots would probably be easier to get away with. Other cartoons that could use a fan game are "Heman, Masters of the Universe" and "G.I. Joe" but they may also have the same copyright problems.

Has 'Robot Chicken' ever been issued a C&D order? Or are they able to get away with their skits under the premise of parody?

selmiak · Tue 12/03/2013 13:48:58

Quote from: Babar on Tue 12/03/2013 03:15:18
...There's a TMNT adventure game?

WHAT?! WHERE?! I WAAAAAAAANTS.

maybe this one?

Captain Future would make a nice game. Or Saber Rider. But what the world really needs is a breaking Bad Adventure game!

DBoyWheeler · Tue 12/03/2013 14:29:40

Quote from: Renodox on Tue 12/03/2013 03:20:37
It's been YEARS since I've seen this show. However, I remember one episode where the fat cat in Riff Raff's team made a giant robot out of the Junkyard trash. He used it to drive off a gang of cats using the junkyard equipment.

As for Heathcliff, he usually had to catch mice but didn't like to do so. His favorite activity was beating up on the dog next door. As for game quality, I'd say that it would be best if he has to deal with stopping a burglar. There was an episode where he was sent to a shrink and listened to everything he said which allowed a burglar to get away with stealing from the house until he came across Spike. The burglar kicked Spike which got Heathcliff angry as he said, "No one gets to do that to Spike but me!"

The fat cat on Riff Raff's team is named Mongo. Hector is the tall brown cat, and Wordsworth is the white cat with headphones who always talks in rhyme.

Well, I gotta admit, having a game with Riff Raff and friends might be a good idea too.

Cyrus · Wed 13/03/2013 14:34:44

Maybe the Mask or Dumb and Dumber? (like I suggested about 2 years ago) Or Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries?

Ghost · Wed 13/03/2013 16:13:28

Captain Future, yeah, that would be all sorts of awesome. Their canon universe was beautifully over the top, with all those weird aliens. All sorts of puzzle opportunities, too.

Ulysses 31, though, that would take the cake. SF version of the classic greek myths? Innocently cute blue-skinned alien girl *and* annoyingly cute robot sidekick? Laser gun that is ALSO A SWORD? How much *more awesome* can a game get?

I think the trick is to chose a source that's not too heavily guarded by their owners. They exist; there are fangames using copyrighted characters which are benevolently ignored by the copyright owners (I think there's even an Inspector Gadget fangame). Hannah Barbare is known to protect their stuff with a lot of force, but other material, well... we're living in internet times. I think I'd actually try to contact the current copyright holder and just *ask*.

Anian · Wed 13/03/2013 16:57:07

OR...you know...make something that is inspired by those stories.

Cyrus · Wed 13/03/2013 17:30:25

Quote from: Ghost on Wed 13/03/2013 16:13:28
I think there's even an Inspector Gadget fangame.

Hmm, now that's interesting. I only know the official adventure game. Could you please give the link to the fangame?

Ghost · Wed 13/03/2013 21:08:28

If I can find that link, sure. Gimme a while, it's been ages...

And, if everything else fails, can we have a game based on THIS?
[embed=425,349]<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qtURoWuzfpE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/embed]

Cyrus · Thu 14/03/2013 12:59:28

There are already two games based on the Killer Tomatoes franchise, but an adventure game would rock! I'd say the same about Bonkers: something along the lines of "Toonstruck meets Blade Runner".

[embed=425,349]<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CbqFGapihP0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/embed]

mkennedy · Fri 15/03/2013 14:48:17

What about an adventure game based on the Smurfs? There were a few console games made.

Eggie · Fri 15/03/2013 21:05:41

Kids cartoons these days are crap?
Are. You. KIDDING? This is indisputably the golden age!! THEY HAVE NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD!

This is the era of kid's cartoons where epic, beautifully realised worlds and meaningful character development GET DIRECTLY BEAMED INTO THE EYEBALLS OF OUR YOUTH ON AN ASTOUNDINGLY FREQUENT BASIS

And funny, amazing visual moments that used to mean sending a shot back to Korea eighteen times until they did it right are popping up everywhere because of amazing (not that) new technology and shrinking costs!

This is the era where even the crappy crappy crapcrap old cartoons from other decades are getting rebooted, retooled and recrafted with RIDICULOUS GLOOPY LASHINGS OF LOVE AND TALENT into brilliant, clever, multi-layered shows

Aw, but man... When I was a kid though, man. Those creators doing stuff when I was a kid; Genndy Tartakovsky, Craig McCracken. They were the greatest, you'll never get them agai- OH WAIT YES YOU FUCKING WILL THEY NEVER WENT ANYWHERE THEY ARE STILL MAKING GREAT STUFF

And now we've got to movies OH MY GOD

OH MY GOD LOOK AT THAT HOW DID IT GET MADE IT'S SO COOL?! Flash in the pan though, right. I mean great animated films for kids with great jokes, I mean THAT'LL never happen often with Disney dominating the-

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!

Okay so studios are upping their game but I'm sure Disney, the big one, is just reeesssting on it's laurels like alw-

ARGH! OH CHRIST I'M GOING TO DIE!

Well fine kids have got it pretty good for breezy comedy and adventure movies but I'll bet there's nothing out there for them that's kinda dark and scary and

OH! OH SHIT!! OH NOOOOO!!!

I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION PIXAR! BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO MENTION PIXAR!! BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE ACTING LIKE PIXAR IS SOME ISOLATED EXAMPLE OF INCREDIBLE ANIMATED SHIT THAT THE TINY, STICKY CHILD-PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO!!!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!
KIDS ANIMATION IS SO GOOD RIGHT NOW! THERE IS QUALITY POURING IN FROM ALL SIDES!
NOSTALGIA CAN SUCK MY DICK THERE WERE NEVER THIS MANY COOL CARTOONS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THERE WAS NEVER THIS MUCH RESPECT OR APPRECIATION FOR COMMERCIAL ANIMATION I NEVER WANT THIS INCREDIBLE OUTPOURING OF CREATIVITY THE INDUSTRY HAS RIGHT NOW TO END!

Anyway. How about a Freakazoid adventure game? They parodied them on the show once!