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I hate to sound so un-original, but I agree that QFG was unique and I'd love to see that style of game again. Replayability is greater than in most adventure games, so I think that's another plus and it would attract more potential buyers.

I played the demo a while ago, but I hadn't the chance of posting this.
Honestly, I wasn't very impressed at first. The western theme didn't appeal to me, some of the puzzles seemed weird (like that key thing on the piano) and (and I know you've probably heard this A LOT by now   ) Al Emmo's voice gave me shivers (is he supposed to be a chipmunk? I thought).

First time I got stuck, I almost stop playing for good. Almost.

For some reason, I returned to the game a couple of days later. Then I found the humor. And I found the characters. And I appreciated the backgrounds, the music, the voices (even Al's   ). And by the time the demo finished, I was really convinced, and I even felt a little sad that I couldn't see right away what would happen next.

My point is this: yes, you already knew you were making an unappealing main character, that's essential to the plot actually, BUT it is a little risky. A simple-minded gamer (read MORON) like myself might not give the game a second chance, and not discover the wonderful depths of the game. I'm glad I was able to cross that superficial first line, but many gamers (specially today's gamers that are used to BRING 'EM OUT kinda games) could not have the patient. If there's a lesson there for the future, I don't know, I just share my experience.

On the other hand, I'm thankful I could see these things, and I'm ready to buy the game (I haven't yet cause I'm moving out of town in a couple of weeks, so I was waiting to see if the game came out before, but now I see I'll have to order it from my new town). Thank you for devoting so many years to the adventure genre and to this game. I really wish you the greatest success with it and I hope gamers like me who are not specially fond of westerns, are able to "cross the line" as well. Cheers.

Yes you are, Sean!!!

Great interview, by the way, interesting to read Erpy's point of view.

Yeah, I agree. Check carefully who are you working with, try to look for reviews of their translations first, because a bad translation can ruin the reputation of your game.   IOW, mantain the QA until the very end of the process!

Once again... happy birthday, Brit!

May this year be full of success!  

Oh, I thought it would be translated subtitles only, not the whole speech. I would definitely NOT buy the translated version in that case, since spanish versions usually suck. If you do it with spanish actors, latin americans find the accent odd and vice-versa, even within latin america an argentinian accent has nothing to do with a colombian or mexican accent, so it's difficult to please everybody. I tried a translated version of Syberia and hated it, although I like the game quite a lot.

So no, I woudn't pay more money for a translated version, I wouldn't even buy it, I'd stick with the english version

Speaking of bad mix-ups in regards to countries, when Chris and I went to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, most people I spoke with upon our return asked what it was like on that little island just beneath Australia (Tasmania)!!

Well, ignorance is way too common, unfortunately. I did a round-the-world travel some years ago and a LOT of people I met had no idea where Mexico was (most thought it was in South America).

I think the way to go with translations is to include the english version in ALL versions. That way, people who prefer the original can play it in english, but you don't cut off your market (cut off??? is that correct? Uhm, I think I should buy the spanish version, my english is getting pretty lame).

I remember Sierra did this with many titles, they included both versions to guarantee everybody would be satisfied.

Since I already congratulated him in the AGDI forums, I won't do it again....... well, OK, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[trudysgarden wrote:]

The problem with many new adventure games (such as The Longest Journey, Syberia etc.) is that whilst they are strong on plot they are weak on storytelling. The ideas are there but the designers just don't have the storytelling or writing abilities to effectively express them.

I think I see your point. Good ideas, not-so-good storytelling? I guess it makes sense that talent and experience are necessary ingredients for a good game. After all, the Coles had experience in theatre, Jim Walls was a police officer, hey, even Al Lowe WAS bald!

Thanks for making it clear. For a moment, I thought that the seriousness of the games was what was being critisized. I love serious games as much as humour ones (just like books).

I agree that later games generally lack that special spark, anyway.

trudysgarden wrote:

Two that I found myself thinking about when I wasn't on the computer playing them:  Still Life and more recently Secrets of Da Vinci - The Forbidden Manuscript.  I'm hoping I can add Al Emmo to this short list soon.

I liked Still Life quite a bit, good atmosphere, but the puzzles were absurd at many times and the ending just sucks, I'm afraid.

Well, although I like the humor we find in series like SQ, Larry and of course QFG (and from what I've heard, Al Emmo) I don't think that games being "too serious" is such a bad thing. KQ4 was pretty serious and it was one of the best in the series, and the same goes for SQ4.

I didn't feel Syberia 1 and 2 were "empty". A little illogical at times, and hmm, I don't know hot to put in english, but like too many things to do in order to acomplish some stupid little task (tedious?   or something like that) yeah, at some times, but the atmosphere was good and I found it even touching at the end.

I'll give Ankh a try, anyway!

[johnb4467 wrote:]

Mmh, I think this thread belongs more to the AGDI forums than here, but hey, Brit started it!

johnb4467 wrote:

It seems that the greatest part about the QFG series is that the "favorite" is very much a debate...and often depends on what you like to do.

Welcome to the forums. I got the QFG games in the exact order that they were published, so I have always played the games from 1 to the most recent, importing my character into the next game the minute after I finished the previous one. I never say "Oh, I'm going to play Trial by fire, or Shadows of darkness" when I decide to play QFG, I play the whole 5 games. This has make me appreciate each game as a chapter of a bigger story and not as individual efforts. Also, the tech progress made in each game makes it unfair to compare them with previous ones. I really believe each game was great for its time. For example, in Hero's Quest,  the combination of RPG and adventure, which now we take for granted, was unique at that time and it made it an incredible game.

So I think I don't have a favorite, I have fond memories of different moments of my long adventure.

JustLuke wrote:

thematically speaking a Thieves Guild would have felt out of place in Tarna

Agreed.

As far as Harami goes, haven't you ever heard the saying "There's no honour amongst thieves"?

Mmh, then why helping him later in the game? C'mon.

I don't think the problem lies within the number of sequels that you produce, but within the reason to produce them. A sequel should be done when you have found an interesting new adventure for your character, not just for selling.

I really enjoyed KQ sequels up to number 6. And I loved the whole QFG.
On the other hand, Laura Bow's only sequel was a dissapoinment for me.

So even if Al Emmo becomes a million dollar baby, you shouldn't make a sequel just for selling more, but when you really have found a good new adventure for him, just like the hero went to Shapeir to have a GREATER adventure.

I remember I was really hoping Space Quest to get far enough to see Space Quest X: Latex Babes of Estros, that is, until I played SQ6 and then thought SQ10 could actually be very boring.

Well, I have to say I did play Shadow of destiny some years ago but I never really got into it. It was one of the first games I decided to try after the Fall of Sierra and the subsequent Dark Ages of adventure games, so I was kind of searching for something to fill the gap and it wasn't what I expected, but I should probably give it a second chance now that the wound has healed.

Mmh, sorry to interrupt your... mmh, conversation?

Mmmh, no one has posted anything in weeks. I really hope this is the calm that precedes the storm, and all of a sudden I'll open the site tomorrow and I'll find Al Emmo has finished beta testing and is ready for shipment!    Yeah, right...

Seriously, how is beta testing doing? And BTW, you know, Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine is a name that triggers the idea that there'll be different adventures for Al, like Al Emmo and the Canadian Vampire or so (who was it, btw, I kind of recall somebody was obsessed with you turning Al into a vampire from Canada or something like that. Go figure. ). I mean, are you planning to make Al Emmo a saga like Sierra did with most of their characters?

I know it may sound stupid to ask if you have already planned the future when you haven't  even released your first game, and that many things will depend on how it sells and all of that, but hey, we need to discuss SOMETHING in these forums, right?  

So, after years working in Al Emmo...Would you go for a second chapter in Al Emmo's saga or would you prefer to start fresh with another type of game?

OK, I can understand this thing about availability, and I agree that there are SOME good games in the list. What I'm shocked about is the absolute lack of Sierra games. Not a single Sierra adventure game.

Myself, I also had a NES back in those days, and I enjoyed Super Mario Bros 3 a lot at that time. But when I compare it with more sophisticated games like the Sierra golden years games, I can't even begin to think I would vote Super Mario 3 over Gabriel Knight, King's Quest 6 or Quest for Glory I-IV.

Is the adventure game community really that small that there isn't a single Sierra game not in the top 10, but in the top 50? Is that really too much to ask?   Or perhaps...

Do you people AGREE with this list? I know I worship adventure games over other genres, but maybe being an adventure game fan doesn't mean you don't like other genres even more.

Me, I specially disagree in so many Mario Bros games at the top, and no adventure games other than Lucasart (and even in that case...Maniac Mansion should be in this list).

That's my opinion, but perhaps I'm getting old, refusing the pass of time...
I should stick to Pong, Digger, or just plain Pacman for old times' sake.
 

I just found this list of the so-called 50 best games ever. I understand lots of people voted this list by internet, voting for their favourite 3 games. From a list of over 500 names, they took the 50 most voted, which were:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
2. Final Fantasy VII
3. Metal Gear Solid
4. Super Mario Bros. 3
5. The Secret of Monkey Island
6. Super Mario 64
7. Super Mario Bros.
8. Super Mario World
9. Resident Evil 4
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past

11. Street Fighter 2
12. Half Life
13. Final Fantasy X
14. Tetris
15. Half Life 2
16. Starcraft
17. Metal Gear Solid 3
18. Final Fantasy VIII
19. Doom
20. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

21. Sonic The Hedgehog
22. The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker
23. The Secret of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
24. Counter Strike
25. Smash Bros. Melee
26. Super Metroid
27. Chrono Trigger
28. Super Mario Kart
29. Final Fantasy IX
30. Pro Evolution Soccer

31. God of War
32. Castlevania Symphony Of The Night
33. Shenmue
34. Grand Theft Auto: Vice city
35. Halo 2
36. La abadía del crimen
37. Mario Kart DS
38. Resident Evil
39. The Legend of Zelda
40. Civilization

41. Civilization II
42. Age Of Empires II
43. Day of the Tentacle
44. Tales of Symphonia
45. Metal Gear Solid 2
46. Baldur's Gate 2
47. Halo
48. Pro Evolution Soccer 5
49. World of Warcraft
50. Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix

Top sagas

1. Saga Zelda
2. Saga Final Fantasy
3. Saga Mario
4. Saga Metal Gear
5. Saga Monkey Island
6. Saga Half Life
7. Saga Resident Evil
8. Saga Street Fighter
9. Saga Grand Theft Auto
10. Saga Metroid


Can you believe it? Adventure games are almost absent, and the only Sierra games are Half Life 1 and 2. I suppose this reflects the new (younger) gamers' taste (or lack of it, anyway). What do you think?

I don't know if Tom was thinking of offering the soundtrack at Queststudios, but that would definitely be a great add-on!

Ah yes, Fedex and the such are always a sure way of receving post... if you can afford it. There lies the delicate balance between cost and warranty. But yes, it's probably a good thing that you could offer those services, in case some of us prefer it.

Now I feel cheap, arguing about shipping costs and all BEFORE I even know what the price of the game will be!  Its just that mexican wages are far below your average standards, I guess, so there's a lot of difference for me between 20 bucks and 40 bucks.

Anyway, I had no idea when I started this thread that the download would be about 1 GB, I wouldn't even ask if I knew that.

Guess this is the dull part of running a software company, eh? Sorry to bore you to death with these subjects guys, but is part of the job!  

OK, I see this is quite complicated. I agree with Tom, I love my original Sierra boxes and I still have them. Box and manual are integral parts of the complete product.

Now, I just would like to make it clear that this request is not just a money problem (which would be fair enough, anyway) but also there's the problem of relying post service. I know most of you don't have any problems, except perhaps for long waitings, but in Mexico and the rest of the third world the post service is awful.

In fact, I remember I ordered the QG Anthology some years ago and it never arrived. Sierra sent it to me twice more (3 in total) and it never arrived anyway. That was the reason I could only play QG4 until a relatively short time ago, I stopped buying things for years.

So all in all, there's always a big risk for us non-states, non-europe, non-commonwealth people (IOW third world) when buying things by post service, since you pay more and, every now and then, you get none.

But if shipping prices could be kept as low as possible, I guess I'll take my chances.

GameDevBrit wrote:

Also, that is a really neat idea, creating a poster which can be printed and put up in shops around town in different parts of the world.  I would be up for making such an advertisement...  What does everyone else think about this idea?  Would anyone else like to participate in putting up posters that they can print out???

Glad to help. As I said, consider Mexico city covered. And I know many more people will do the same (at least if they find out one day that the Himalaya forums are working. Not many people around here yet)

I just wanted to say, if you haven't decided between CD or download, that
when it comes to international customers is very discouraging to buy a game at, say 20 bucks by internet and then you have to pay 12 extra bucks for the shipment  :O and 4 more for the taxes . Eventually, you stop buying things by internet, because you always pay twice the price.

Just for this reason, I would prefer a download (even if it takes hours!).
Cheers

Hi, I'm very glad these forums are working. Although I just recently decided to register in the AGDI forums, I've been keeping track of it for a couple of years now. And by the way, I've been playing Adventure games since 1987 (all kinds, mostly Sierra), so I'm very interested to see what your game will be like.

Hey Tom, how are you? I'm the guy from Mexico that sent you those Castle of Dr. Brain mp3s. Sorry about the delay in the Island of Dr Brain files but (as AGDIs would say about remakes) mp3s don't pay the rent


Anyway, I decided to post here in the first place because, well, it seemed the right place to do it, and also to tell you that is true that you need to do some strong marketing (easier said than done, I know). I've been a hardcore fan of adventure games for almost 20 years now, and I really discovered Tierra by accident. I was searching the net to find if the original KQ1 AGI was to be found anywhere on Earth, and thats how I discovered your remakes (more the better for me).

But Al Emmo is something totally new, no one will find it that way, so you need to do something to get to the ears of all adventure fans (I'm sure there are a lot of them who haven't heard of your efforts).

Since you have fans from all over the world (from what I've seen) perhaps it wouldn't be so difficult to launch a world-wide off-internet campaign, with fliers or posters, something like that. You could design a flier and perhaps there will be people willing to help you, printing them and distributing them in their home towns.

I know I would be willing to spare some time to go around and stick some posters in all video game stores. You know, Mexico city has 20 million people in it. SOME of them MUST be adventure game fans, don't you think?