Unofficial Tex Murphy

SDCC 2012

Attended the ‘Gaming Kickstarter’ and it was interesting as each team revealed a bit about their experience with Kickstarter and provided advice for those who wished to pursue using the platform to fund their own projects.

Chris Jones spoke several times, relating his experience with KS and expressed his profound gratitude for the fans bearing the torch over the years and the amazing commitment and tenacity they exhibited in promoting the campaign, in addition to their generosity in funding the game.

One key comment that CJ shared was that during the near concurrence of the various campaigns that there was a sense of fervent competition but he felt that should not be, or have been, the case and that the entire adventure game community needs to unite and support as many products and projects as they can to strengthen the genre.

There was also some playful acknowledgment of the ill timing of the Tex and SQ campaigns.

The rest of CJs comments reiterated information that has been mentioned prior with no exclusive updates on the game, apart from making an amazing experience for everyone. This is a sentiment everyone on the panel expressed that using KS has liberated them from the bureaucracy of a publisher and craft a game they want and what the fans want and deserve.

I did speak briefly with CJ after the panel, hopefully not as too overly excited fan, and he is indeed a friendly and great person.

Several fans spoke with CJ, along with one of my friends, there was one couple who is on the board had their cute munchkin along with them.

Courtney, also very nice person, was in attendance and was the photo documentarian along with promotion duties such as handing out cool Tex Murphy buttons.

Three variantions:
“Danger is like Jell-O… There’s always room for More.”
“Things could get worser.”
“TEX IS BACK – COMIC CON 2012”

I did ask a question of the panel but is was not the first question I had been contemplating and since it was the last one I did not want to be an exclusively Tex related one. In essence I asked how each team planned to expand their audiences beyond their respective fan bases. The consensus was they would let the community’s power of word of mouth to promote these games.

At the conclusion of the panel CJ left his name plaque so I picked it up and he was gracious enough to sign it for me. I will post a scan or picture of it on the site later. Same for the buttons.

I do have a few photos of CJ and the panel but unfortunately my battery was dying after the Hobbit panel so I did not get very many shots or any video. Since I do not use FB any suggestions on how and where to upload them?

Side note: I am the fellow in the green collared shirt on the BFG FB photo page and my friend is behind me. Yes, CJ is a fellow of great stature in many ways. Along with the rest of the Fedora Team.

Best Regards
KvE

You don't happen to have any spare badges do you?!? (*checking eBay...*)

Thanks a bunch for posting. That's a pretty bright green shirt you've got there Seriously, keep the info coming.

So glad you had the chance for a little one on one time after the panel. It certainly looks like you had a great time!

Yes, we'd love any pics you have to post. (Hobbit ones GRATEFULLY accepted as well. heheheh)


Hugs!
Jen

Photobucket is a great free service to upload and share pictures.

Demonlawyer wrote:You don't happen to have any spare badges do you?!? (*checking eBay...*)

I sense a bidding war coming...

Honestly, who would sell a TM badge? Well, maybe for a million $. Then again, maybe not.

Several things we discussed were.

A bit of information about a few locations in SLC that pertains to the series.
Some of that info will be used for a video or two I plan to make for the community.

Related a story of having met CJ years ago for a HS Multimedia class field-trip, as well participated in a discussion group at the old Access Software offices, by the airport, near the completion of Overseer.

Aside note not discussed with CJ: Aaron Conners was the moderator for the discussion group. Various topics were discussed in regards to what was enjoyed or disliked in the prior games. Along with what would be nice to be found in future releases. Other things were discussed and debated as well, such as the possible implications of the then recent acquisition of AS by MS.

Made a suggestion that Chelsee should own and run a bookstore, he said that they are discussing many possibilities.

Asked how they would handle characters avatars in the 3-D space. I was curious whether they would scan the actors face and apply them to 3-D models when Tex is not directly interacting with them.

I mentioned an example with Chelsee at the News Stand, prior games she was a 2-D video sprite, and CJ replied saying that they were aiming for something very similar to the prior games.

Also inquired about additional characters that may wander the street. He said that it is something they are considering but their concern is to what degree would those hypothetical characters be interactive.

My impression is that they want to avoid a Pandora's Box scenario of interaction that could degrade the mise-en-scene instead of reinforcing it.

There were a few others things my fan and exhausted idled brain asked but I have to table them for now.

+++++++

In regards to the pin buttons...
Hypothetically speaking. Assuming I indeed had several more, very few mind you if I did, I had not contemplated selling them on Ebay until someone eagerly mentioned it. ;}

Even if I had a couple more my plans at this time do not include selling them.
Perhaps something else maybe more appropriate.

I will say this, I did not choose to be selfish and only took one set of the three but a really nice person had a small bag full of them actually asked me to take a few more. After some gentle prompting, hypothetically speaking, I might have gotten another set.

Personally I hope that BFG might find an avenue to more widely distribute them to fans.
They are cool but I would do not recommend anyone to slay their piggy-banks to acquiring one.

Best Regards
KvE

PS Check out the Memorabilia page, there might be one or two cool additions.

Thanks so much for your coverage! I've seen basically nothing from this session anywhere!

KMFDMvsEnya wrote: I do have a few photos of CJ and the panel but unfortunately my battery was dying after the Hobbit panel so I did not get very many shots or any video. Since I do not use FB any suggestions on how and where to upload them?

Imgur! http://imgur.com/ It's free and very easy to use. Just upload, and then copy the URL.

Courtney, also very nice person, was in attendance and was the photo documentarian along with promotion duties such as handing out cool Tex Murphy buttons.

Thanks for the info! Wonder if a video will be uploaded by any attendees.

KMFDMvsEnya wrote:I mentioned an example with Chelsee at the News Stand, prior games she was a 2-D video sprite, and CJ replied saying that they were aiming for something very similar to the prior games.

That is dissapointing to hear... I was thinking they could pull some tricks by filming actors at some different angles simultaneously at least and programming them in when you walk around. Wouldn't have to be full 360 degrees if characters remain behind counters, against walls etc. like in previous games, but just a little effect to add depth. Or even just having a bit of movement like in this Myst game. Maybe they are still figuring it out though... During the Google+ Countdown stream the programmer said they wanted to make everything look very seamless going from the 3D world to the FMV I think? Been awhile since I watched it but it seemed like they wanted to do more than just copy paste a flat static cardboard cutout....

Also inquired about additional characters that may wander the street. He said that it is something they are considering but their concern is to what degree would those hypothetical characters be interactive.

My impression is that they want to avoid a Pandora's Box scenario of interaction that could degrade the mise-en-scene instead of reinforcing it.

If you haven't already, check out this thread with discussion with Director Adrian Carr.
http://www.unofficialtexmurphy.com/mess ... f=1&t=3960

I personally don't mind if a character in an environment is there just to add flavor or atmosphere and not always to advance the plot. It's common in many RPGs but also many Adventure Games pull it off well. A lot of people in the Monkey Island games were there just for some fun or interesting extra dialogue and not to trigger an event, but they added to the atmosphere of a place of what the people are like around there.

I feel it becomes apparent easily enough they aren't essential simply by the dialogue eventually repeating or no new options coming up for dialogue choices. You might go back to them just to see if anything changed occassionally but so long as the whole game isn't made up of those types of characters I don't think its confusing.

If anything it adds to the Adventure aspect that you don't just make a beeline for the 1 essential character in an area that will forward the plot and actually do a bit of exploring, such as questioning random bystanders, such as in some new dodgy area where you're not sure yet where a lead into the dark underbelly will be, you might go around a bit until you find the one with the right information you need. Not every area would need it, but a few here and there might add to the experience.

Sai wrote:

KMFDMvsEnya wrote:I mentioned an example with Chelsee at the News Stand, prior games she was a 2-D video sprite, and CJ replied saying that they were aiming for something very similar to the prior games.

That is dissapointing to hear...

I'm not a bit disappointed or surprised. They've got a lot of money to make this game, but not that much. The flat sprites will be a lot better in a higher resolution this time.

Really... I hope everyone realizes that $750,000 or so is really not that much money. I don't want this awesome game to come out and have to listen to people saying "But I thought it would have Ian McKellen and additional FX from Pixar! boo hoo! "

thanks Kve

joliet_jane wrote:I'm not a bit disappointed or surprised. They've got a lot of money to make this game, but not that much. The flat sprites will be a lot better in a higher resolution this time.

Well I can't say what it'd actually cost but personally I was only thinking of filming more than 1 angle simultaneously to add a bit of an illusion of being less flat, if you were to move e.g. slightly left or right (with the usual obstruction of e.g. a counter to stop you going 360 degrees). Also I'd say the Myst IV game linked is probably a flat "sprite" too overlayed on a 3D background but the added movement brings it to life a bit more as the actor rotates themself a bit. Not Avatar level production naturally

I know on the previous thread about this, myvoicejust etc. talked about Matrix level rotation, but they could just cheat by using similar positioning as previous games (against a wall etc.) so you can't look 'behind' them. However I think with the kind of suff people can do on the cheap from home as a hobby now with todays tech to create a simple illusion of 3D (by taking an image of more than 1 angle or subtly skewing etc.) there might be some little tricks to pull to make it look less 2D and also maybe have them blinking/breathing whilst standing, reading a book or other small movements.

Obviously smoother than this since it was probably done on a phone camera in someones bedroom:






It's early days yet. They did mention they have some new propietary FMV tech and I think they've only just decided on an engine (maybe). Adrian mentioned stuff like how the actors will be handled in the 3D world will depend on the programmer and engine. Based on what the programmer said in the Google+ Countdown video it's possible once they have familiarised themself with the tech on hand there they might try something a little bit different if its doable.

As for actors, I didn't contribute to the "Dream actors for the next game" thread since I don't really have any in mind. Kevin McCarthy was a well established actor but I haven't seen him in much else (except Innerspace) so I may not of chosen him based on stuff I'd viewed but he was perfect for the role. Ian McKellen was on Coronation Street for awhile here in UK (I don't watch it but others here do), so we saw plenty of Gandalf at the fish and chip shop.

joliet_jane wrote: I'm not a bit disappointed or surprised. They've got a lot of money to make this game, but not that much. The flat sprites will be a lot better in a higher resolution this time.

They create a real problem when looking up and down though. There's no real way to adjust for perspective and their flatness becomes apparent.

I would think 3D modeled characters with photo-based textures would be the way to go. It might not mesh 100% with the cut scenes, but I think it would seem generally more credible in game.

Sai wrote:

joliet_jane wrote:Well I can't say what it'd actually cost but personally I was only thinking of filming more than 1 angle simultaneously to add a bit of an illusion of being less flat, if you were to move e.g. slightly left or right (with the usual obstruction of e.g. a counter to stop you going 360 degrees).

Pandora Directive did this. You could walk next to the news stand and see Chelsee's profile or whatever. I would assume they'd do the same here. It doesn't really solve the up and down issue though.

Frogacuda wrote: I would think 3D modeled characters with photo-based textures would be the way to go. It might not mesh 100% with the cut scenes, but I think it would seem generally more credible in game.

Well obviously it's not the way to go because that's not what BFG doing.

It would take a lot of money and time to photograph the actors, make a 3D model to stick the pictures onto, and make it look natural too. That's the problem with that. How can you make a human-looking figure like that without it looking bizarre?

Bevelability is the most important thing. The flat sprites in the other games were, despite their nature, believeable.

Thanks for the updates!

Was Chris wearing the fedora and trenchcoat on the panel???

If Chelsee goes from newsstand to book store, does that then put Rook out on the street at the news stand i wonder???