Carnivà le idea

[TandyLion]

So, I'm on a marathon for the holiday weekend of a series I'm watching for the very first time. Carnivàle. Fantastic mystic show on HBO that was canceled back in 2005 after 2 seasons.

All in all, I can't help but think that the artistic nature of the show would really be beautiful in an Adventure Game setting. To any who are familiar with the series, possibly give your opinions?

[GarageGothic]

I love Carnivàle, it's easily my favorite TV show from the last 17 years (crap, has it really been that long since Twin Peaks? I feel old), and I recommend it to anyone I meet. However, I don't really see it working as an adventure game. True, it has elements of investigation, but it's mostly about character development at an emotional level, which doesn't suit itself for gameplay. In fact, if you switched between Ben and Justin as player characters, Justin's part would probably be the more interesting as he has a real project while Ben is mainly being led by others.

If I was to turn Canivàle into an adventure game (don't read if you haven't watched the entire series):

Spoiler

I'd probably do a prequel about Lucius Belyakov's hunt for Henry Scudder, focusing on the parts of the Avatar mythology (based on Knauf's pitch documents) that weren't revealed in the two existing seasons. Of course it would be a huge spoiler for anybody who hasn't watched the show, but I don't think a simple retelling of the events of the series would be very interesting for the core audience of Carnivàle fans.

[close]

On the other hand, if you're talking about creating a game inspired by Carnivàle rather than based on it, I'd say go for it. The depression era setting in itself would definitely make it unique, and if you could come close to the visual style it would be amazing (actually the credits montage inspired elements of the GUI design in my own game).

[TandyLion]

Oh, I agree. Rehashing stories that already have ended in completion really isnt wise. But the theme, the style, nuances of the mythos are all very exciting. Side stories, prequels, those are always icing on the cake. A lot of room to expand though .

[Snarky]

Faust/Seven Games of the Soul was about delving into characters' backstories in a circus setting. I don't think it particularly worked and that the game is fatally broken, but other people like it. Then there's Bad Day on the Midway, which also explored the secrets of eccentric carnies and at one point was being discussed as a TV show for David Lynch. I haven't played it, but it sounds like something that adventure-gamer Carnivale fans might want to look into.

[Rd27]

Yeah, I liked Carnivále very much, on of my favourite series. Shame that it was cancelled...

But i'm not sure if it would work as an adventure game...

[Anian]

Personally, Carnivale was on that fine edge of maybe being a bit too stretched out, but the intrigue, and all the details kept me watching it. I think it "ended "  just at the right time,
if it was any longer it would just turn into a soaps (and I think 90% of most successfull series in US turn to that, not naming any because of fans that might be out there but 90% for
sure). The series ended with wrapping the main plot(s) and leaving mystic aura behind it.

Anyhu...what somebody before said, if you can capture the mood and the images of the series (carnie, depression, magic, the photography etc.) you'll have a great setting for plenty
of stories that don't need to be connected to the actual series plot. Plus then you'd have much more critics on the sprites, characters, dialog, plot connections which you can
all avoid by using your own story and characters.

Yeah, I liked Carnivále very much, on of my favourite series. Shame that it was cancelled...

Well I think your signature says all off that doesn't it.