Questions for the chat with Chris, Aaron and Adrian here

Ugh, too tired to think (and probably won't get much better before before the 3am start) but here's the questions I had already prepped, if I think of anything else I'll add to this before the chat.

#1
I am hoping you guys smash way past your goal! But if you just got the 450k goal, would you still be able to cast even just one of those "very recognisable names" in the contact list you mentioned, like in past games? And if not how much past the goal would be required? If possible I'd also be curious how much past the goal for the other things you mentioned: longer game, more paths, increasing caliber etc.

#2
Considering the B-movie homage, would it be possible, in addition to the director/cast commentary with the "Plan 10" film, to do a parody Mystery Science Theater 3000 style commentary? I'd think Rook (in character) would love to take jabs at it and others could make funny comments too. An evil GRS security robot could be the one forcing them to do commentary (in reference to the robots in MST3K). Just audio would be fine to keep it cost-effective (in the vein of the newer cheap audio-only Rifftrax by the same crew as MST3K). Lots of cult MST3K fans might up their pledge to get it!


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RandomExile wrote:Would you guys be willing to add design documents into the reward tiers for each of the games, either whole design documents and/or puzzle dependencies and story pathing?

Aren't those in the $250 reward tier?

Demonlawyer wrote:How do you plan to fit doing all these rewards and the game around your day jobs?!?

That was answered towards the end of the RetroNick interview:
http://www.retronick.com/2012/05/retron ... rphy-live/
Short of it: Chris said he isn't worried about it. But more elaboration is in the podcast.

Hello! Im new to this board but not to Tex Murphy. Been a long time fan and discovered this site by accident and saw that a new Tex game is in the making (Im sure there are many more people like that out there). So i gave some funds now and are planning on giving more by the end of next week.

Anyway here is my question since i can't attend because of the time zone difference sadly

One thing i liked about Under a Killing Moon and Pandora was that the games were broken up into chapters or days. This is something i really missed in Overseer. I know the format in Overseer is a little bit different since its a flashback but still.

Are you thinking about dividing this new game up into chapters/days ?

And Good Luck on the kickstarter. Im crossing my fingers, toes and nose that you will make it!

Also if its possible, could someone post the chatlog from the chat for those of us that can't be there ? Thanks

With the game being a downloadable game, how will the video quality be affected/compressed to deal with this? After all, the old games are gigabytes already. I ask because I'd prefer very good quality video (preferably HD) but I fear it will be DVD quality or less to make the downloadable version easier/cheaper. Maybe better video for the disc based version?

In a similar vein, how many discs do you expect to fill? I assume it will still be DVD discs due to Bluray still being rarish in PCs and nonexistent on the Mac, right?

Will the Overseer version included in the Ultimate Detective box set include the DVD quality videos? Some people have devised a way to reencode the Overseer DVD videos so that they will run on the CD exe so it is possible to pull off. *fingers crossed*

How will you deal with Overseer being a windows only game, will Mac owners have to run bootcamp etc. to play Overseer? (The rest of the games aren't an issue with Mac programs like Boxer (A very easy to use DOS box version)

Can we pretty please have an $888 level that includes something like a couple Brew and Stew branded mugs or glasses?

There's lots of wonderful questions here, so I don't have anything but a simple request. Two projects are currently on Kickstarter that I would love to see succeed. Is there any chance please of using your powers for good, and maybe giving a shout out or a little nudge to....

1) The Curse of the Shadow House. I originally saw it because you backed it, and it is chugging along better now that some Tex fans have helped it, but it's not too far from ending, and needs a little push.

2) Superluminous: A Sci-Fi, Noir Graphic Novel: written by our beloved friend and board member Fred Buer. And yes Fred, I am paying all that international shipping to get you to sign it for me.

Thank you for at least taking the time to consider it.

Jen

I'll get right to it.

The files in the Tex games, and even non Tex games, have the file extension .ap. Can you tell us what the .ap extension is and how to decompress .ap files? There's a fan made program called Overviewer that does this, but only works with Tex Murphy Overseer.

Tex Murphy Overseer had a deleted scene with Henry Darrow that was cut due to intensity, where Sonny talks about his wife dying. Is the scene on someone's hard drive somewhere and if so is it possible for us to get it and any other backed up scenes?

Were there any other scenes cut from the Tex Murphy games, like the Sonny scene, due to intensity?

Thats interesting Bjyman, if they do have a bunch of Deleted Scenes I think it'd make for a good reward tier like the Blooper Reels for previous games.

I've got one question for Aaron, but its a subject close to my heart.

In some recent interviews you have said that the pacing of the new game will be faster for a modern audience. You mentioned that modern audiences have a shorter attention span than those from 15 years ago.

This has got a few of us old timers worried. A lot of us long time fans loved the slower build up of the story in UAKM and PD rather than the break neck speed of Overseer. We liked that the story took time to grow and we could immerse ourselves in the world, we liked the depth of the games where everything you clicked on had a comment or a little story behind it, fantastically voice, by the velvet toned Chris Jones.

Please tell us that your not going to ditch these elements in favour of more "Modern" OCD approach. After all the reason a lot of us are backing this project is because we love the way you guys made the old games and want to see more.

Bravo, Talon.

LockeCole wrote: Can we pretty please have an $888 level that includes something like a couple Brew and Stew branded mugs or glasses?

A nice idea.

Regarding the "shorter attention span"

Actually I saw they answered some people about that. But just via Private Message or some other place that got buried. Stuff like that really should be added to the FAQ along with other questions that have been answered about the game via Private Message. Because some might be on the fence about some stuff but not of bothered to send a message directly.

commie wrote:Jesus, Chris really knows how to say the wrong things...it's like he's living his Tex persona! First the DLC then the DRM, now this??? EASY AND EXCITING for those of a SHORT ATTENTION SPAN? Like Call of Duty?
Maybe he's just dreaming of the DF numbers and is trying to reach out: Tex always seemed to give the impression of being more 'highbrow' than the traditional Lucasfilm and Sierra style games; because of technology and the non-standard game play; and maybe that's why he wants to reassure that demographic that the game could be for them too?

If all it is going to be is an 'easy' mode like in the past for casual gamers(just like with Lucasfilm and their simplified Monkey Island game modes) then I don't mind, just as long as true adventure gamers get the whole package.

The danger is that there will have to be compromises made if they go too far: there's only so many hard puzzles you can cut out without a decision being made that the 'easy' and 'normal' modes are too different and a 'better' solution is to just make a simpler puzzle that works for both.


EDIT: Ok after wailing and gnashing my teeth on the KS forums Chris replied:

Chris Jones wrote:Hi Guys - Chris J here - Just saw the thread on "slick" game. Don't worry. I am referring to the interface and the pacing of the story. It will be true to our past games but will keep a good energy level throughout . There will still be two levels of game play with one level designed for gamers. It will be the real deal. -

We can turn off our rage for the moment...doesn't hurt to be vigilant though!

Sounds like Pandora Directive. So maybe the Entertainment mode will be for "shorter attention spans", I remeber in the past it was referred to as "Casual" mode compared to the "Gamer" mode sometimes? But I hope for people like me the hint system will be available in Gamer mode too. I can't remember how that worked in Pandora Directive?

Story pacing is also important however. I want to see character development, plot development, connective filler, and not feel like I'm plunging off a cliff. A good way to do this is to have a lot of optional things to explore that tightly ties up loose ends.

Sylvia's credit report was an inventory item that wasn't required for gameplay, but gave us insight into the Sylvia character, and foreshadowed Tex's marital problems.

I'd personally like to know if Project Fedora will explore some of Tex's backstory? He's obviously a great character (this very site is proof of that); but I'd like to know a bit more about him. I'd like to find out what happened between Tex and the Colonel for instance...

I hope I can make the chat; but it'll be 4am for me... Will try though!

Yeah I agree Bjyman. In the "Aaron on Story" Update video on Kickstarter he does mention there will be a early story branch to go more into Tex's background. However it was said in a way that old fans might want to just skip it and get straight to plot progression so I guess it might not be anything more than a recap of what we already know.

Aaron also said in the GOG interview:

With a full budget, I would make a game like the old ones, but with state-of-the art 3D and graphics. I think we would still need to do FMV, but we could blend it better with CG characters in the environments. I would also work on the pacing, make it a bit faster, but keep control in the hands of the player as much as possible. In fact, I would explore offering multiple modes of play – not just difficulty levels, but the actual gameplay style – so different types of players would get the kind of game they want.

Hopefully there will be a way for the types of players who like to take it slower to take a different "mode of play". I felt like maybe thats what he was hinting at in his Kickstarter Update video but of course not totally sure as it also sounded like just something for newcomers to get caught up at the start.

Also someone asked in the retroNick interview will we learn Tex's real name and Chris answered:

This is not in the current draft of the plot. But Aaron may see what he can incorporate into the game to give people a little more info about Tex's backstory.

Thanks, Marso I'll do my best to keep them brief.

1) Is there any chance of a Director/Developer commentary in the upcoming game?

2) The $500.00 tier on Kickstarter states that UKAM/PD/Overseer will be a part of that reward level in a special edition box. What more can you tell us about this package? Are they remastered in any way?

3) Is Project Fedora a stepping stone to further TM adventures or is this a farewell game?

4) Any chance of brining back the classic "big boxes" for the next game should funding be successful?

5) What is your opinion on tablet gaming as compared to the future of PC gaming?