Godgames | Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure

Lord Ba'al
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Nov 23, 2014 22:58:05 GMT 13thGeneral likes this

Post by Lord Ba'al on Nov 23, 2014 22:58:05 GMT

It’s like opening a dusty old desk drawer and finding an undiscovered LucasArts adventure game you’ve never played before.

Ever wonder what it would be like to play a classic adventure game the day it came out and experience all the surprise and charm for the very first time? Wonder no more!

Twenty-five years ago, Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick created the game that introduced the world to 2D point & click adventure games. Maniac Mansion took the computer game world by storm with its compelling story, complex puzzles, cutting edge humor, engaging game play, and provided an entire generation with a new idea of what an adventure game could be. Blah blah blah...

And now they are back together with an all new 2D point & click adventure game! Ron is skinny again and Gary had that rash looked at — and they're here (finally!) to create the true spiritual successor to Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island.

Thimbleweed Park is a new game that cuts to the core of what made classic point & click adventure games so special, and done by the actual people who spawned the genre.

It's deep, it's challenging, it's funny, it's everything you loved about adventure games.

Holy crap is this going to be fun! And you can be part of it - right here and right now for $20 bucks which is like $1.52 in 1987 dollars.

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 23, 2015 12:38:18 GMT

Feb 23, 2015 6:58:11 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

Feb 23, 2015 3:29:19 GMT 13thGeneral said:

If you don't read the blog for Thimbleweed Park, you're missing out on some great classic game designing.

Care to post some interesting snippets?

Sure, though I recommend reading the blog as some of it is too long to post, but fascinating to read.
Here, this seems appropriate;

Story Layout - Jan 12, 2015 by Ron Gilbert

Thanks for all the feedback in the last post about replayability. Bucking the trend of Internet comments, it was all very interesting and insightful.

A couple of people mentioned the dead-ends in Maniac Mansion, and I want to reiterate what Gary and I said in several interviews: There will be no dead-ends. The design of Thimbleweed Park will follow my rules of adventure game design, formulated after Maniac Mansion and before Monkey Island. Dead-ends in adventure games are the product of bad game design, nothing more. IMHO.

So, our goal is to have different endings, but not require players to replay the game (or play meta-games with save games) to see them. I agree with some of the commenters that people don't have the time or patience these days to replay a game to get different endings. The Stanley Parable took a very novel approach to this, but that whole game was very meta, so it worked in a way that won't for Thimbleweed Park.

One difference between Thimbleweed Park and Maniac Mansion (and The Cave), was that in Maniac Mansion (or The Cave), you picked the characters you wanted to play with before the game started. In Thimbleweed Park, you are always playing with 5 characters. You don't get to choose to be Ransome the Clown. You do get to choose how much you play with him and how much of his story you explore, but he and the other characters are not optional.

Please keep in mind that this is just what we're currently exploring. It might change as we flesh things out over the next few months.

When the game starts, you will be able to switch between the two detectives, but you won't know about Ransome, Delores or Franklin yet. There will be a small 3 or 4 room intro that sets up the story and allows players to get used to and explore the interface (there will be no tutorial, but more on that in another post, so hold your rage/support).

On to the good bits...

Once you get into the town and start investigating the dead body, you will meet characters who will tell you about Ransome, Delores and Franklin, and when they do, you will play a short flashback that sets up their stories. When each flashback is complete, you can switch to them at will.

The main story is broken up into 3 acts, with the final act triggering the ending of the main story. Putting it in globally understood Star Wars terms: blowing up the Death Star was act 3, the medal ceremony was the ending.

Each of the 5 characters have their own sub-stories consisting of 3 acts. Character first acts are told through the flashback, the character's second act is required as the puzzles are intertwined with the main story's second act, but the character's 3rd act is optional. You can choose to play them or not.

Also, the acts are not linear, you will have to switch to other characters to complete puzzles, so it's not like players will be able to play all of Delores, then switch to Franklin and play all of his story. Like any good adventure game or story, it's all intertwined, related and connected.

When the main story ends, there will be a satisfying ending, discovery of the killer, justice, closure and all that, but you can keep playing. If you haven't completed all the character stories, you can go back and do those. Once they are all done, you will move into a small playable epilogue that ties everything together.

Story Flowchart

I know it seem complex, but once you're in and playing, it should feel fairly natural.

Please keep in mind that we're still brainstorming and exploring ideas. This is part of the messy screwed up process that is game design and making stuff. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don't and you change them and pretend like it never happened.

- Ron

"I used to be a wastelander like you, until I took a settlement to the quest log"

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Lord Ba'al Supreme Deity Posts: 6,260 Pledge level: Half a Partner I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape. I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames. Steam: stonelesscutter GOG: stonelesscutter	Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Feb 23, 2015 18:53:23 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 23, 2015 18:53:23 GMT Feb 23, 2015 12:38:18 GMT 13thGeneral said: *snip* Man that blog is cool to read and contains so much more information than we have had from 22cans.
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13thGeneral
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Feb 24, 2015 1:57:18 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 24, 2015 1:57:18 GMT

Indeed. I'm no programmer, but that stuff still fascinates me. And all the processes that go into figuring out how the characters progress is really interesting to read. The concept art sketches are more my forte so those were really exciting to me.

"I used to be a wastelander like you, until I took a settlement to the quest log"

"The More You Know."™ ≈≈≈≈≈★

Lord Ba'al
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Feb 24, 2015 6:58:37 GMT via mobile

Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 24, 2015 6:58:37 GMT

If I were them though I would try to make the adventure more epic. The storage and memory space boundaries are virtually non existent these days compared to what they used to be. I get that that would involve a lot more time spent on graphics, but then it's not like what we've seen so far is very high tech and demanding.

Do we know if these guys are working on this full-time or if they have a day job?

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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Feb 24, 2015 12:25:36 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 24, 2015 12:25:36 GMT

Feb 24, 2015 6:58:37 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

If I were them though I would try to make the adventure more epic. The storage and memory space boundaries are virtually non existent these days compared to what they used to be. I get that that would involve a lot more time spent on graphics, but then it's not like what we've seen so far is very high tech and demanding.

Do we know if these guys are working on this full-time or if they have a day job?

True, I was hoping it would be on a grander scale. Some people have expressed concerns that the players would complete the game too quickly.

No idea if they have day jobs.

Last Edit: Feb 25, 2015 20:19:30 GMT by 13thGeneral

"I used to be a wastelander like you, until I took a settlement to the quest log"

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Lord Ba'al Supreme Deity Posts: 6,260 Pledge level: Half a Partner I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape. I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames. Steam: stonelesscutter GOG: stonelesscutter	Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT via mobile Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Feb 25, 2015 20:22:41 GMT via mobile

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 25, 2015 20:22:41 GMT

Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...

Adventure Game Studio
"Adventure Game Studio provides the tools to make your own adventure, for free! Bring your story and artwork and slot it in, and let AGS do the rest."

Dunno if it's any good, but it was the first thing I saw in search results.

I have played Resonance and enjoyed it, so I guess it's possible to make a good adventure game with AGS.

Last Edit: Feb 25, 2015 20:29:04 GMT by 13thGeneral

"I used to be a wastelander like you, until I took a settlement to the quest log"

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Lord Ba'al
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Apr 21, 2015 18:39:06 GMT 13thGeneral likes this

Post by Lord Ba'al on Apr 21, 2015 18:39:06 GMT

On the topic of creating adventure games without learning how to code, I came across the following which might be of interest.

blogs.unity3d.com/2015/04/21/capital-adventures-in-adventure-creating/

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Roumsen
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure May 31, 2015 22:21:32 GMT Lord Ba'al and 13thGeneral like this

Post by Roumsen on May 31, 2015 22:21:32 GMT

Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...

Found it

Well, I'm not a developer so I like to work with Visionaire studio,since there's no need to do all the coding stuff via scripts. It's possible but not necessary.

The dudes from Daedalic are using Visionaire to create their masterpieces.

Take it like a proton: Stay postive!

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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 0:36:07 GMT 13thGeneral and Roumsen like this

Post by Matthew Allen on Jun 1, 2015 0:36:07 GMT

Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...

There's also AGS which has been the engine for a few commercial adventure games over on Steam (most by Wadjet Eye Games). Notably Gemini Rue, Resonance, and more recently A Golden Wake and Technobabylon. I've dabbled in both Visionaire and AGS but I'm definitely more familiar with AGS, probably because it's free and I just like to dabble. Though it's not like Visionaire is terribly expensive mind you.

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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 4:04:52 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 1, 2015 4:04:52 GMT

May 31, 2015 22:21:32 GMT Roumsen said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...

Found it

Well, I'm not a developer so I like to work with Visionaire studio,since there's no need to do all the coding stuff via scripts. It's possible but not necessary.

The dudes from Daedalic are using Visionaire to create their masterpieces.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that platform. I'll have to give it a look-see.

Jun 1, 2015 0:36:07 GMT Matthew Allen said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...

There's also AGS which has been the engine for a few commercial adventure games over on Steam (most by Wadjet Eye Games). Notably Gemini Rue, Resonance, and more recently A Golden Wake and Technobabylon. I've dabbled in both Visionaire and AGS but I'm definitely more familiar with AGS, probably because it's free and I just like to dabble. Though it's not like Visionaire is terribly expensive mind you.

I have done some very preliminary poking into AGS because of those games - which are all great games. Now that I see what can be accomplished, it's peaked my interest even more.

"I used to be a wastelander like you, until I took a settlement to the quest log"

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Roumsen
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 10:32:41 GMT 13thGeneral and Matthew Allen like this

Post by Roumsen on Jun 1, 2015 10:32:41 GMT

Jun 1, 2015 0:36:07 GMT Matthew Allen said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT Lord Ba'al said:

I wonder if there is any software out there with which one can easily make their own adventure games simply by loading scenes, objects, characters and whatnot...

There's also AGS which has been the engine for a few commercial adventure games over on Steam (most by Wadjet Eye Games). Notably Gemini Rue, Resonance, and more recently A Golden Wake and Technobabylon. I've dabbled in both Visionaire and AGS but I'm definitely more familiar with AGS, probably because it's free and I just like to dabble. Though it's not like Visionaire is terribly expensive mind you.

You forgot Primordia, the Shiva and far more important : the Blackwell series.

But yeah, Visionaire with the full lisence is really expensive, but it should be available for free, too.
Nah, was just looking, unfortunately you can't get it for free anymore. Darn.

Also : How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Take it like a proton: Stay postive!

Lord Ba'al Supreme Deity Posts: 6,260 Pledge level: Half a Partner I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape. I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames. Steam: stonelesscutter GOG: stonelesscutter	Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 10:36:50 GMT via mobile Roumsen likes this Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 1, 2015 10:36:50 GMT None if he was a godus character.
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Roumsen Master Look behind you, a Three-Headed Monkey! Posts: 157	Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 11:13:59 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Roumsen on Jun 1, 2015 11:13:59 GMT Jun 1, 2015 10:36:50 GMT Lord Ba'al said: None if he was a godus character. Oh, you can't remember this quote?
	Take it like a proton: Stay postive!

Lord Ba'al Supreme Deity Posts: 6,260 Pledge level: Half a Partner I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape. I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames. Steam: stonelesscutter GOG: stonelesscutter	Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 13:40:55 GMT via mobile 13thGeneral likes this Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 1, 2015 13:40:55 GMT Monkey Island!
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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure Jun 1, 2015 17:48:16 GMT via mobile Roumsen likes this

Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 1, 2015 17:48:16 GMT

I really hope they include more than a few nods to other games, mostly LucasArts/LucasFilm titles like Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island, but also other well known titles by rival studios. Some real tongue in cheek humor is one of my favorite aspects of many LucasFilm/LucasArts games - and the subtle inclusion those kinds of "easter eggs".

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Thimbleweed Park: A new classic point & click adventure

Post by Lord Ba'al on Nov 23, 2014 22:58:05 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Nov 24, 2014 4:10:00 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 23, 2015 3:29:19 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 23, 2015 6:58:11 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 23, 2015 12:38:18 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 23, 2015 18:53:23 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 24, 2015 1:57:18 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 24, 2015 6:58:37 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 24, 2015 12:25:36 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Feb 24, 2015 13:25:47 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Feb 25, 2015 20:22:41 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Apr 21, 2015 18:39:06 GMT

Post by Roumsen on May 31, 2015 22:21:32 GMT

Post by Matthew Allen on Jun 1, 2015 0:36:07 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 1, 2015 4:04:52 GMT

Post by Roumsen on Jun 1, 2015 10:32:41 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 1, 2015 10:36:50 GMT

Post by Roumsen on Jun 1, 2015 11:13:59 GMT

Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 1, 2015 13:40:55 GMT

Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 1, 2015 17:48:16 GMT

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