Rumour of new official Beneath A Steel Sky title being developed

[xeroxeroxero]

Hi,

I don't really use the forum a lot (registered a while back whilst working on a project) but I wrote this article today after a tip. Might be worth a look for those interested.

http://midlifegamer.net/

Its from one of the creative directors of the project, so it's legit. I. Can't. Wait.

[BOYD1981]

"the source claimed that the lead platform will be iPhone, with other possible releases to follow depending on it’s success on Apple’s mobile platform"

so it's very likely then that the game won't hit other platforms then, as the iPhone is hardly the best place for adventure games, and as much as i love BASS a mobile sequel which will most likely be full of slide puzzles and hidden object minigames isn't going to make me rush out and buy an iPhone (although to be honest nothing is capable of making me do that).

[DeviantGent]

I dunno Chief, Myst is doing rather well on the iPhone.

[BOYD1981]

Myst is hardly an adventure game though is it, and more people have heard of Myst than Beneath A Steel Sky.

[AGA]

Adventure Gamers had rumours of an official BASS2 ages ago. But the last news is from almost 5 years ago, so this probably isn't the same project exactly.

[Stupot]

Want to play the new Beneath a Steel Sky?
There's an app for that.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I grudgingly have to agree with BOYD.  I have a feeling BASS would be casualified just like the Broken Sword Director's Cut was, making it an exercise in flitting blocks around on a panel and pressing buttons in a sequence rather than any kind of engaging narrative.  I think BASS had a pretty concrete ending so I don't really see a need for a sequel, anyway.

[Technocrat]

Gap in the market there, AGS needs to become iPhone compatible - or I need to learn how to code on the iPhone, but I'm extremely lazy.

[Stee]

Huge gap in the market. The only 2 adventure games im aware of for the iphone are Myst and 1112. 1112 was ok (it wasn't much of a game as much as an interactive story). Myst I played on the pc a long time ago and never enjoyed it.

Unfortunately I dont have a Mac, and im not a great fan of the toolchain as it requires a jailbroken iphone (id rather throw something at the app store)

[Brad Newsom]

I take it no one here has played 'Flight of the Amazon Queen' on the iPhone. Its free and its a taste of what a quick port of the game to the iPhone can do.

I think its just stupid for someone to say it can't be done on the iPhone. Thats what many said about first person shooters. Now that Wolfenstein Classic came out, sky's the limit.

That goes back to saying that the smartest move AGS can make is to create the ability to port or creating a project for the iPhone.

[Anian]

This somewhat related and a complete redrawingwith voices might be cool (check the video as well):
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/06/01/lechuck-me-monkey-island-returns/

[Trent R]

I take it no one here has played 'Flight of the Amazon Queen' on the iPhone. Its free and its a taste of what a quick port of the game to the iPhone can do.

I think its just stupid for someone to say it can't be done on the iPhone. Thats what many said about first person shooters. Now that Wolfenstein Classic came out, sky's the limit.

That goes back to saying that the smartest move AGS can make is to create the ability to port or creating a project for the iPhone.

You're talking about a Port (ScummVM, I assume?) which is totally different than what BOYD and the other posters where saying. If it's being developed for the iPhone then it will have completely different gameplay.


~Trent

[Brad Newsom]

I take it no one here has played 'Flight of the Amazon Queen' on the iPhone. Its free and its a taste of what a quick port of the game to the iPhone can do.

I think its just stupid for someone to say it can't be done on the iPhone. Thats what many said about first person shooters. Now that Wolfenstein Classic came out, sky's the limit.

That goes back to saying that the smartest move AGS can make is to create the ability to port or creating a project for the iPhone.

You're talking about a Port (ScummVM, I assume?) which is totally different than what BOYD and the other posters where saying. If it's being developed for the iPhone then it will have completely different gameplay.


~Trent

Ummmm, no, Flight of the Amazon Queen is legally available on the appstore, which doesn't use ScummVM.

But that doesn't change the fact that Point n Click adventures are capable and successful on the iPhone, in which many of the members here denied for some time a while ago.

[BOYD1981]

Yeh but still isn't the same thing, FOTAQ is an adventure game designed for the PC from a time in which adventure games were still popular.
It's a sure bet that anyone who develops an adventure game for the iPhone will want to maximise profit rather than please those of us who love adventure games the way they were. So it's going to be designed with casual gamers in mind and then use every gimmick available.
And why on earth anyone would pay to play FOTAQ on their iPhone when they can get a PC capable of playing it for less and download PERFECTLY LEGALLY from the ScummVM website is totally beyond me.
People here tend to only want to be able to play/make adventure games on/for their portable devices just because they have them and somehow think it will be more fun than playing them on their PC, which it really isn't.
I briefly considered trying out the Symbian build of ScummVM so I could play it on my phone, but then I remembered how stupid it was when I did it on my Xbox and DS, and ofcourse the fact I got my phone to, you know, make phonecalls and send text messages (which I suspect somebody is probably thinking of replying with "Well that's what IM programmes are for on your PC. OMG HYPOCRIT!" to).

[Stee]

Nah i was thinking more along the lines of Email and Skype.

Still I think iphone adventure development is a good idea. Think about it, its another platform to play on, and since most games are low res anyway its hardly a massive difference playing it on a small screen. Just avoid pixel hunts (which are silly puzzles anyway and often destroy games regardless)

[BOYD1981]

Well I'm not really trying to say anybody is wrong, I just think you're all less right than I am.

[Takyon]

I know for a fact it'll be out on iPhone called iBass first and then probably the PC.

[DeviantGent]

Myst is hardly an adventure game though is it

... wut.

[Brad Newsom]

Yeh but still isn't the same thing, FOTAQ is an adventure game designed for the PC from a time in which adventure games were still popular.
It's a sure bet that anyone who develops an adventure game for the iPhone will want to maximise profit rather than please those of us who love adventure games the way they were. So it's going to be designed with casual gamers in mind and then use every gimmick available.
And why on earth anyone would pay to play FOTAQ on their iPhone when they can get a PC capable of playing it for less and download PERFECTLY LEGALLY from the ScummVM website is totally beyond me.
People here tend to only want to be able to play/make adventure games on/for their portable devices just because they have them and somehow think it will be more fun than playing them on their PC, which it really isn't.
I briefly considered trying out the Symbian build of ScummVM so I could play it on my phone, but then I remembered how stupid it was when I did it on my Xbox and DS, and ofcourse the fact I got my phone to, you know, make phonecalls and send text messages (which I suspect somebody is probably thinking of replying with "Well that's what IM programmes are for on your PC. OMG HYPOCRIT!" to).

I'm not less right than you. Why would people play Myst on the iPhone? Well the sales say people do, and the ratings say people LOVE it.

Plus why the hell are you talking about Legality? FOTAQ is LEGALLY available on the iPhone and for FREE. The difference is, people can play FOTAQ anywhere they want without a laptop or a hacked portable device.

Sounds more like you aren't having fun with Hacked Devices. Thats your fault for not enjoying it. FOTAQ was modified to be played on the iPhone. Not some hacked mobile device which in turn doesn't modify the game too much.

This sounds more like an ignorant gamer that thinks he's always right. Hence your 'you're less right than I am' post. Statistics on Adventure gaming on the iPhone prove that you are wrong.

[BOYD1981]

Ow, way to hurt my feelings Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
I'm not an ignorant gamer who thinks I'm always right, cockface. I'm putting my opinion forward, and up until now had done so without insulting anyone.
And "Sounds more like you aren't having fun with Hacked Devices" ? I mean wtf are you even attempting to imply by that? That I'm somehow bitter because I don't enjoy playing games designed for the PC as much on my DS and Xbox as I do on my PC, and this is somehow MY fault?

[Brad Newsom]

Ow, way to hurt my feelings Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
I'm not an ignorant gamer who thinks I'm always right, cockface. I'm putting my opinion forward, and up until now had done so without insulting anyone.
And "Sounds more like you aren't having fun with Hacked Devices" ? I mean wtf are you even attempting to imply by that? That I'm somehow bitter because I don't enjoy playing games designed for the PC as much on my DS and Xbox as I do on my PC, and this is somehow MY fault?

No I'm implying that your dislike for something is misleading for products that are legally available. Your comparing a legally available application with software for Hacked Devices (scummVM on iPhone/Symbian). Then using that information to make an opinion that Adventure Gaming on the iPhone is flawed.

Where as myself and other users are using facts to prove otherwise. There is a different between Stats and personal opinion, and based on your post before my last one where I'll state once again, 'Well I'm not really trying to say anybody is wrong, I just think you're all less right than I am.'


With that said.....I'm sorry for hurting your feelings buddy.

[BOYD1981]

You know, I kinda meant that as 90% humourous statement, 9% fact, and 1% hoping to get into somebody's signature.
Which I assumed was kinda obvious, I mean I'm not saying you're all stupid or anything, I just think you're all less smart than I am.

And yeh, it is all just personal opinion, but you have to remember that pretty much everyone who is agreeing that it's a good thing owns an iPhone AND likes adventure games, therefore you're the target audience and ofcourse you want to justify your purchase as much as possible.
Whereas I'm speaking as somebody who does not own an iPhone (and quite frankly has no desire to) AND likes adventure games and is of the opinion that being able to play adventure games on one or any other portable device does not justify purchasing one.

[DeviantGent]

Uh... I dont own an iphone, and I still think being able to play Myst on it is pretty nifty.

[BOYD1981]

Yeh and that's kinda why I said "pretty much everyone" and not "absolutely everyone".
Do you think it's nifty enough to pay £600 for an iPhone though?

[Brad Newsom]

Yeh and that's kinda why I said "pretty much everyone" and not "absolutely everyone".
Do you think it's nifty enough to pay £600 for an iPhone though?

I think its justified to buy an iTouch for the fact that I use it not just for games but for music. Your assuming people are only buying them for just one specific app.

[Layabout]

Yeh and that's kinda why I said "pretty much everyone" and not "absolutely everyone".
Do you think it's nifty enough to pay £600 for an iPhone though?

Way to go overinflating the price of the iPhone, Boyd. You would think someone trying to make a point would at least do their research.

But whilst developing for the iPhone/touch is relatively easy, the is a market oversaturation due to the open nature of the marketplace. Between 1 and 5% of the apps are useful in any way (it depends on what your tastes are). Out of 35,000 apps, a game would have to have huge publicity to be a best seller, and even then there are only so many people who are able to buy it.

But being able to play these old adventure games legally on the iPhone or iPod Touch is pretty cool. I would have thought a point and click would be a bit too tricky to translate due to fingers. Fingers are fat and not so accurate as a mouse.

BUT... it would be kind of hard to lug around your computer just to play a quick game of FotAQ or Myst whist on the train standing up because there aren't enough seats. You can do that with an iPhone or Touch... But not me, since I refuse to update my iPod Touch to the latest software version to fill the coffers of Steve Jobs, I can't use the appstore. I don't pay to update the software on my normal phones. I can do that free. I don't pay to update Windows every year. Seriously Jobs! Why! They want me to pay for the privalage of using their PRECIOUS store.

[Brad Newsom]

Yeh and that's kinda why I said "pretty much everyone" and not "absolutely everyone".
Do you think it's nifty enough to pay £600 for an iPhone though?

Way to go overinflating the price of the iPhone, Boyd. You would think someone trying to make a point would at least do their research.

But whilst developing for the iPhone/touch is relatively easy, the is a market oversaturation due to the open nature of the marketplace. Between 1 and 5% of the apps are useful in any way (it depends on what your tastes are). Out of 35,000 apps, a game would have to have huge publicity to be a best seller, and even then there are only so many people who are able to buy it.

But being able to play these old adventure games legally on the iPhone or iPod Touch is pretty cool. I would have thought a point and click would be a bit too tricky to translate due to fingers. Fingers are fat and not so accurate as a mouse.

BUT... it would be kind of hard to lug around your computer just to play a quick game of FotAQ or Myst whist on the train standing up because there aren't enough seats. You can do that with an iPhone or Touch... But not me, since I refuse to update my iPod Touch to the latest software version to fill the coffers of Steve Jobs, I can't use the appstore. I don't pay to update the software on my normal phones. I can do that free. I don't pay to update Windows every year. Seriously Jobs! Why! They want me to pay for the privalage of using their PRECIOUS store.

haha, seriously right? To think people think Jobs is a god when compared to Gates. lol Though I'm curious, what do you mean pay to upgrade? I've never paid for an update for my iTouch 2g.

FotAQ on the iPhone works like a touchpad on your laptop. You have a cursor on the screen. To move it around, you use your finger and roll across the screen. Its EXTREMELY simple and very effective without the worry of Fat fingers. No doubt an adventure game designed just for the iPhone will be a lot more casual and pick up and play.


In regards to the App store and the problem of not selling well. All you have to do is make a good game that people will like, and get at least one to five decent reviews for the app. Then it will launch like a wild fire. Thats why designing for the App store is a great move. Almost any indie developer can make big bucks off of a 2.99 application that shows time and dedication through its production values.

[BOYD1981]

Way to go overinflating the price of the iPhone, Boyd. You would think someone trying to make a point would at least do their research.

http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/4-/9352150/Apple-iPhone-3G-16GB-Sim-Free-Unlocked-2-0-Megapixel-Mobile-Phone/Product.html and that's saving £50, so how about YOU do YOUR research so you end up looking like less of a prat?

[Stee]

Wow, I paid £220 for mine 2nd hand.

Although something tells me i should've got a 360 and saved £50

[Obi]

I think telephones are cool.