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Mordalles, it's only companies that sues you, amtuers very rarely do that. Besides why would they sue anyone for being in a credit list? It's just plain silly.

Just wanted to show you all that I'm still working on the game. I haven't been active on the forums lately because I've been working hard both in school and (when in front of a computer) on the game. But now I thought it was time for an update:


2005-09-29: The last month much has happened. I've drawn and colored two more backgrounds. I didn't get to implementing any puzzles like I said I would, but I've made a lot of character animation. Mostly several junie-characters (the ones dancing in the second picture). I've made a few new songs, but the most important things I've done is that I've put together most of the rooms I've finished. So at the moment you can take a stroll through the woodlands, listen to the birds singing and watch an occasional  "dow" eating grass.

So what's next? Right after writing this text I thought I should write some dialogs. Then the next time I get time I'll make another two important backgrounds. Then, I can start with the first puzzles. But it's coming along very fine. And I'm making a lot of back-ups to make sure it keeps going that way.

2005-09-17: The last month I've been busy vacationing with my girlfriend. But I've also found a lot of time to work on Woodlands.

I've recorded a lot of sounds and painted three new backgrounds. I've done two new songs. I've also drawn and animated Hilbot the evil Wizard and one of his goons. The last weeks I've been working on the intro sequence. I've animated all of a ten second flash-movie and also made an important dialog with the villain. I've almost completed the intro-sequence now, and will move on to implement the first puzzles.

Why not release a tech demo so we know how it's going to play?

Anyways, as for the interaction with inventory items with the coin gui: it IS possible to do so, but that'll take a LOT of scripting work.

I'd have to:

- not allow clicks on gui (meaning all clicks will trigger whatever is underneath gui, so an alternate response script needs to be written)

- calculate the positions of all inventory items (the squares), so any click at the right mouse.x and mouse.y activate the right inventory item

...all in all a LOT of work. If you guys (and girls) really want it though, I'll get started on it. Afterwards, once it works properly, I'll make the scripting available to all that want it.

Good thing that you really going to do that because the MI3 Verb Coin that's on Rui Pire's site was too tricky to use and it hindered me a lot for Caribbean Mysteries so I switched it over to the Verb Boxes instead (CM was originally have the Coin because it was inspired by The Curse of Monkey Island).

Also I found an error (not ingame error or programming error but just a regular one): If you look at the cereal box on Threepwood Island while the Welshman is there, he will be there on the journal page. Were you aware of that? Also, Guybrush's front veiw have two versions of it, one correct which points his hair to the right and the wrong, mirrored one which points his hair to the left.

I am stuck in this game. I have found the knife. Voodoo supplies, rope, Box of chereal.

I used the rope on the but know nothing else what I am suppose to do now.So what am I suppose to do now?

Check out below:

Spoiler

Have you looked on the cereal box in the inventory? A clue to other thing: You've seen the voodoo underwater explosives but in order to get to the escape way quickly and beat the demon you'll need to detonate it from a distance (something that you've got in the inventory will help).

[close]

They're doing the whole episodic download thing, which means us credit card-less civilians won't get to play.

Maybe it's not like that but that first you buy the first episode in the stores and then for the others you'll either have to pay for special codecards that you will have to type in before the download (bet you've got have be either registered or typing in the CD-ROM's ID-nmber also so that you can't download just like that without having paid for the game) or that you buy the game and you'll have to proceed in the game itself to get a download code for downloading each episode. Just a thought though. I might be wrong. With what Mr Flibble says I find it illogic for a official gamecompany to do that. That the amatuer game-makers sells their games through Paypal or creditcard is one thing because it's the easiest way to do it (and also less costified).

This is great news! I'm so excited about this. Let's hope that they will use Bill Farmer and Nick Jameson as the voices of the dog & lagomorth duo. For me, it doesn't matter if they don't finish Freelance Police now that they have started on this new game.

there is a README attached which explains this (I'll probably add a help button to the options screen for those that never bother to read the README, aka everybody (so it seems))

for the options screen, press F1

(I'm NOT using the CMI template, in case you're wondering. It was way too limited by means of interaction with the inventory, and showing messages on top of the gui wasn't possible. => I completely (well, almost completely) rewrote the guicontrol script)

I've finished the demo. Seems quite nice so far. I've read the Read Me but it said that the inventory would pop up on the right click, not on tab. Anyway, try to script so that you can do the interactions with the inventory items (mouth action, eye action and hand action).

I haven't got so far but it seems quite good so far. The inventory doesn't seem to work. I try to right click more than once but it doesn't work.

Maybe it's just me but I think Guybrush's walking movement is too slow. I know that he is under water but still. Also you should make some animation or at least somekind of thing that shows that Guybrush does open the cabinet (and the drawer also). It only needs a animation of Guybrush reach his hand and then switch over a object for the cabinet and the drawer.

Yeah, GarageGothic, that's why I also disagree with esper. I've checked all the scripts of Star Wars so far on the site and they all mentions that the crawl text at the start. So "The Man" that esper mentioned was Hollywood. Never thought of that.

Do mean Ted & Terry as in Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio, the guys who wrote screenplays for Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean? I'll check out the site soon.

Babar: I wasn't going to get rid of Green Tentacle I just thought that maybe the feeding part wasn't such a good idea. Green T is my number one favorite character both in MM and in DOTT. Taking out Green T is like getting rid of Gollum in Lord of the Rings, it wouldn't work. They're both too vital to be cut out.

Scummbuddy: Ok, fine.

Esper: I have only seen the Mario Bros. movie and in opinion it was so-so. I know it's hard to adapt Video games into movies but I think the common problem is that you turn the video game into too much movie and that they don't focus so much on the story like in the games, which is the reason why most game movies fails. Who is actually "The Man"? Lucas Arts? Ron Gilbert? Any movie producer and/or director? Please, be more clear with that kind of stuff. In anyway, I disagree about "leaving the importaint details out" thing, because if you make it too different from the games, people won't go for it (Like I disliked the idea of a Luigi without a moustasch and way too young in the Mario Movie). About the dialog thing, well, if you can write stuff that match to DOTT's dialog than maybe.

I'll try to at least get a bit further on the rewrite.

You're right GarageGothic. I was also thinking of restructering the story so it will be more fitting for a movie. And also I've from the start thinking of what I should include and the script and not. For example it seems pretty silly that Dave or his friends try to open a garage door by their hands but can't because they're not strong enough but when they go to Dead Cousin Ted's room, have a little workout. then try to open the garage door and Voila, it's open. It can't work in a feature film, possibly in a cartoon version but still it's slightly illogic. The same thing can be said about Ã, go through the house, unlocking some doors in order to get to the backside, garage and pool when you could go around the mansion(in the game you can't but it seems stupid in a movie). I'm thinking of getting rid of the gang feeding Green Tentacle because it's not importaint to the story.

I'm also going to add a introduction scene so that you will get to know the hero characters better before throwing into the action.

Stuff like carrying around fruit and paintbrushes wouldn't really work in a movie. These things don't fit in people's pockets.

aussie: Well, I'm going to scrape the idea of the paintbrushes and the bowl of wax fruit but I've planned from the beginning to let them carry rucksacks so they can carry around things that don't fit in pockets. I'm also letting them have flashlights from start instead of letting them take the one in the kitchen.

Big Bro: I just wondered about the rock n roll because I didn't knew that. About arguing between the words "good" and "great", when you work with personalities and natures of characters, what they say is sort of showing who these guys are. Like Bernard would never say "dude" because he's not a cool surfer but a geek, and Green T, who is sort of a rocker should say great instead of good. Remember that he says tings like "Yeah, good luck saving the world B-man!" and "Whoa man, get a life.". Imagine what would happen if Peter Jackson would have the actors speak American english in Lord of the Rings. No one would take it seriously (and the Tolkien fans would be pissed off more than the others).

Thanks for the Script Smart.

Driving a couple miles would be on the outskirts of the college community, and don't go by fan fiction as "the word".

and yes, we just call it "Rock and Roll".

If you say so.

[and]

Ok, thanks for the helpful tips and information.

LGM: Thanks for showing the script, it might give me inspiration for a slightly better script. But I wonder, isn't scripts actually different depending on who writes it. I have noticed that there difference between the scripts of George Lucas' compaired with Peter Jackson's (you can see a couple of pages in the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions' documentaries) and the one you show me. Maybe I should first write the story and the dialog as it if were my own and then try to include bits and pieces of the game, just like Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philipa Boyens did for the Lord of the Rings.

Big Bro: Actually I attempt on the both versions because the only difference is the added dialogs (and also way the controll and enhanced graphics and so on). I'm aware that my writing in English isn't perfect so that's why I ask of a proof-read. I really like the way you treated the dialog except the word "good" in the first line should be kept as "great" because it fits better with Green's personality. I know you actually critized my work but I reacted to that you said "So, what's the point of transcribing (most) of it and putting your name at the top???". It was that I meant that it was mean to say. I apologize for the misunderstanding. Just one question about the first line of GT's (the corrected one), do really just say Rock N Roll when you talk about Rock and Rock N Roll. There something similiar in the movie The Blues Brothers. I will check out it soon.

Scummbuddy: Sure you can but it on your site when it's done. Yeah, I'm aware that is written like it's "happening now" instead of "it happened" like in books. Guess I was to excited to notice it and I'm the kind of writer that can write much in a short amount of time but often makes many grammar and spelling mistakes on the way, I'm very aware of that. There's just one point you have mistaken and that's the "Along the outskirts of a college community" line. In DOTT Bernard and Friends had to drive several miles to get there (or it seems, it was told in the novel version of DOTT by Clive Revill on LucasArts fiction, that the mansion was in the middle of nowhere).

Right. The eyes are a matter of style and will remain the same on all characters in the game. Personally I think the wizard looks evil enough as it is. He's not supposed to be Sauron-evil, more like pathetic-evil.

I can see what you mean about the goon, though. He might look better if given some additional "evil" treat such as big fangs. I'll look into it.

If the party scene is playable then how come the Burning Tom's House scene is the intro scene?

Well, the party is part of the intro as well. After Frank 2 (which I thought had a too long intro sequence) I thought about making the intro interactive for Woodlands. That is: Some parts of it are cut-sequences and in other you control the character (making conversation and looking at things). In this way I'm hoping to make the intro more interesting even though there's a lot of story being told.

Ah, ok. Well, the choice of eye-style is yours. Fine to me.
There's something I wonder, is the name Tom just a good name or is it inspired by Tom Bombadill?

The scripts I have seen aren't broken up into shots. Here's a proof: http://showcase.netins.net/web/ssinc/starwars/TPMScript.shtml . For the POV's I don't know what you should write if you see through a certain POV like a God's POV or through the eyes of the maincharacter and so on. If you know, then please tell me.

As for the dialogue, most of it is straight from the game. So, what's the point of transcribing (most) of it and putting your name at the top???

That was quite mean, Big Bro! For starters, how big different is it between a book and a movie based on it apart from that not all characters are there, scenes are trunkated or lifted out? Sure, Lord of the Rings movies couldn't have all dialog from the books because it doesn't go well with the story, it slows down the pacing or bores the audiences but books and games play out different compaired with each other and in many ways it can be easier adapted into a movie even if you got to loose things that don't work out or that doesn't make sense. Besides, there dialog that isn't from neiter MM or MM Deluxe. Don't take this personal or feel insulted, I'm just pointing out some things. On the other hand I slightly agree that some dialog maybe should be changed (but some plot points and trivia lines and famous lines should be kept) so I see both good and bad in the opinions.

For those who have read the script: Do you think that I should have a introduction scene where Dave and his friends are introduced before Dr. Fred kidnaps Sandy and the gang have to get to mansion? I feel sort of cloven between the two decisions. What do you think?

Nothing personal but should really the villian and the goon have "cute animal" eyes? In my opinion the eyes of the wizard should be more evil-looking. I know this is not critic's lounge but I think that the goon (a goblin maybe?) should have red evil eyes and big fangs poke up from the lower lip. Otherwise they don't look bad.

Just one question about the intro-sequence: If the party scene is playable then how come the Burning Tom's House scene is the intro scene?

Just for fun I've taken the challenge of writing a screen play for a Maniac Mansion movie. I've come quite far with the Rough Draft but now I'm stuck with what to do next. I'm trying to come up with something that makes Dave & Co come further but can't do it without make it seem boring or too plain. It would be grateful if you guys could come up with ideas and suggestions (Don't worry, I will not critize the ideas like I did the last time I posted, I welcome critics, ideas and suggestions).

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/MANIAC_MANSION.doc

Now, since games and movies doesn't work the same (just like books and movies) I've have changed or added some things to make it more exciting or to have some humor in it. I'm also trying to make things in the Maniac Mansion movie work out so it makes sense with stuff that appears or mentions in Day of the Tentacle (like what happened with the hamster, Bernard's friendship with Green Tentacle and so on). I also took some dialog lines from LucasFan's Maniac Mansion Deluxe to have the characters something talk about (Don't worry, he is credited because of that) and also added some of my own (including some in-jokes to DOTT).

I bet that the script does have grammar and spelling errors (Word doesn't have the US English Corection Tool installed and I don't have the CD) so could someone would proofread it for me, please?

Before anyone asks, no I'm going to really make a movie for real, the script-writing is just for fun. It's not that I don't want to do it, it's just that I'm unaviable to do it for a lot of reasons.

Is it possible for changing the inventory from having two rows to one and that you can have more inventory items on the same row than four? If yes, how?

No, no. I would just have to be able to visit the World of Fish for this NOT to be a walking dead (to get the bucket of fish to save Max). And I have the Ball of Twine on the map after talking to the moleman. Although I don't remember the old man mentioning the World of Fish....hmmmmm. I will have to try.

If you ask the Old man at the The largest Ball of Twine on Earth Musuem about the raining fishguts outside the window (you don't need to look at it to get this) and he'll mention they'r from the World of Fish.

Well, the last time I checked with the author's forum profile he haven't been online for a very long time and therefore haven't updated it either. Joseph Di Perla said something about it but I don't remember what. I too, feel so sorry that the game haven't been finished. I looked foward to it after that Lucas Arts cancelled Freelance Police and was disappointed when it was turned down due to lack of updating. Let's hope that someone will try to make a Sam & Max fangame, especially as good as The Gilbert Case (Case Gilbert doesn't make any sense to me or others) seemed to be. Myself I'm thinking about one for the future but for now, I'm focusing about Caribbean Mysteries and the next game.

Yeah, they did make some games from the movie but not any adventure game

Actually they did make an adventure game of The Last Crusade. Here is a page with some information about it.

I was refering to Raiders of the Lost Ark, not the Last Crusade. Sorry, I missed that info.