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Very nice review, it was very enjoyable to read.

I wish that, as one of the 3D modelers (who handled a few of the background structures), I would have been available to work on much more of the project, but work kept getting in the way of that.  Overall though it was a very rewarding experience and I hope to one day be able to do this as a career.  I've used 3D Studio MAX mainly, dabbled a bit in Maya and have also tried AutoCAD 3D for architectural designs.  Seems to me that 3D Studio MAX works best for me with its similar layout to AutoCAD.

As for the narrator, I really enjoyed the performance, it was great.  Reminded me a lot of the Space Quest narrator, and I found myself doing what you did, trying every possible click I could think of to hear his performance.  Al was annoying at first indeed, but you do warm up to him after awhile.

So again, great review!  Thanks for taking the time to write all that.

Woot, excellent DrJones!  Hope you are enjoying it.

Wow, that is very cool of you to do.  I'm sure it will be both extremely fun and extremely challenging for you.  Enjoy the ride, and I'll certainly be checking in for updates, I've always had a fondness for bike riding but never had many excuses to do much of it.

Personally, I'd love to see a game that was a bit like the old Laura Bow series, in particular the Colonel's Bequest game.  Have that old game style, and have to solve a mystery talking to each of the suspects, who have their own timeline.

It was a game well ahead of its time when it first came out.  I'd like to see that style brought forth to today's tech, while keeping the detail and simplicity.

Yes, happy birthday to us both, Tom.  Still find it funny we have the same birthday.

Happy New Years guys.  The big 07 already.  Can't believe we are this far into the new Millenium already.

Very nice surprise!

Haven't recieved mine yet, but my mother has her preordered copy, got it yesterday.  She started playing it before a storm knocked out the power.  She's having fun so far.

And now, it is time to celebrate... [ponders taking a day off from work]

Just goes to show.  A lot of interesting names out there.  Even more difficult when considering that your location also changes how you name is pronounced.

For example, my name is the butchered term for 'Scissor-smith' in German.  The name was slightly changed when my ancestors moved into America.  And for awhile, they actually did go by 'Sheer-Shmidt'.  It wasn't until they relocated up north to the border of Michigan and Canada that the name officially became what it is today.  'Shire-Shmidt'

So, right there is three different ways that I know of for my name alone.  I know many can claim the same thing.  Quite interesting when you think about it.

Not too bad.  Got the last part.  'Shire-Shmit'  And one of the reasons I like to keep my first name short, hehe.  I'll stick with Joe instead of Joseph.

I won't even ask how you guys would butcher my last name.

Schierschmidt

Hmm, not a bad idea...

Chris, I have a thought for the sequel!

My involvement with the creation of Al Emmo was primarily in the look of the 3D environment.  I was involved in created the Saloon, Train Station, Locomotive and a few various props to be used during the cutscenes of the game.

I used 3D Studio MAX to create the buildings, and Maya was later used to add the world around it.  This allowed me to use AutoCAD to layout a blueprint of the buildings and literally build upward from there.

Translating 2D images into a working 3D environment was quite a challenge.  First of all, generally they are locked, nothing can be changed.  And secondly, there are areas that simply don't exist that will be featured in the cutscene.

A perfect example of this is with the Train Station.  The only 2D view of the station is a front raised shot at the game's beginning.  The big question I had to work out was, 'Where does the train go?'  There are train tracks on the right hand side, yet no tracks on the left.  Since the tracks lead directly into the mountain's tunnel, there is no room for a turnaround, and there is considerable danger with backing up a train in a dark tunnel.

So, I came up with the idea of building an extension to the station.  A platform similar to the one seen on the right hand side of the 2D screenshot.  The train tracks can then simply turn around at that platform and head back into the mountain, all hidden by a hill and the front of the station.  The huge trick to all of this was to ensure that nothing of these additions could be seen from the 2D camera.

It was those moments that were certainly the most fun.  And hopefully, they play naturally enough to not be noticed or questioned.  The key was to be as realistic as possible, and yet still retain the cartoonish style of the drawings.

Indeed, it was certainly well written, displaying both the good and the bad.  It certainly is appreciated, and good to read.  (Though as one of the 3D cutscene guys... *sniff*)

Kidding of course, I really look forward to the review for the rest of the game!

I certainly agree that the selection of Adventure games has been rather subpar, there are a few of them that has kept my interest going.

I never have played Shadow of Destiny...

Probably my favorite 'new' Adventure is The Longest Journey.  They aren't kidding, it takes me forever to play through it, and the mixture of environments are very impressive, mixing both Sci-Fi and Fantasy in a somewhat logic sense.  It's sequel, Dreamfall is also decent, but by adding some twitch-based combat, it distracts from the story a bit.

The Syberia series I have also enjoyed quite a bit.  It certainly seems like a good old-school style, and good story.

I've recently played Scratches, which is a old fashioned 'trapped-in-old-haunted-house' thriller styled Adventure, in a good way.  It was actually refreshing to see a new take on an old style.  I enjoyed it, though I'm sure some won't.

Indigo Propechy sits on a thin line.  You can consider it an Action/Adventure, that seems to use a DDR style interface to solve puzzles and combat, in a rather unique and interesting way.  Its mystery and drama keeps you going, and as the choices you make can make a slight difference in story, there is some replayability.

And... I'm talking too much!

I really enjoyed The Longest Journey.  That title is very accurate.  The sheer size of the game is huge.  And I believe it was a very successful blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements.

I just loved the fact that one moment you are crawling around the bowels of a spaceship, the next on board a wooden ship navigating by compass.  The settings nearly covered everything, deserts, forests, cities, underwater, space, other dimensions, dreams.

I was impressed on how it all came together rather naturally, no easy task at all.

One series that I did rather enjoy, besides Space Quest... loved those... was the Lara Bow series, in particular the first one, Colonel's Bequest.  I could see more murder mysteries in this fashion.  The interaction with the characters, each with a motive and reason for the killing... I like that kind of play.  And really, this also can fall along the LucasArts' Maniac Mansion and Day of the Tentacle, of sorts.