King's Quest by the Odd Gentlemen (Trailer inside!)

[Tawmis]

King's Quest announcement...
http://blog.theoddgentlemen.com/

[Tawmis]

And another one related to that:
http://www.polygon.com/2014/12/2/732375 ... n-williams

[Tawmis]

[AndreaDraco]

I quite like it!

[DeadPoolX]

Ah, ok. I actually posted that same trailer in the thread about the game awards honoring Ken and Roberta.

It's a little weird the channel is for Playstation, as I had originally assumed the game would be PC-only. I guess that wouldn't make a lot of sense, financially speaking.

Is it me or does the game look like there's a lot of platform-like action to it? I know Sierra often used action sequences in their games and trailers are notorious for glossing over anything that doesn't involve pure action, but it doesn't quite say "this is King's Quest!" to me.

[AndreaDraco]

I think it could be a very wise choice to move away from pure adventureness and into a realm where meditative gameplay meets more challenging and fast-paced sequences. King's Quest could benefit from being, well, adventurous.

[Collector]

Except that is what they did with MoE and because of it, it often decried as one of the worst. If by making it for PlayStation and platformy they think thy can appeal to a wider audience they will surely risk loosing both audiences. Their approach is something that you might have expected a decade ago, but let's not forget why Activision is loosening the reins on the Sierra IPs. Kickstarter has proven that there is an audience for adventures. A few action sequences in an otherwise pure adventure is one thing, but the impression that the trailer gave is not promising. PC/Droid/iOS are the platforms that would attract the real customer base and are more suited to adventures.

[DeadPoolX]

Except that is what they did with MoE and because of it, it often decried as one of the worst.

To be fair, third-person action (on the PC) has improved a lot since 1998. MoE tried to change the formula TOO much by practically turning the KQ series into a Diablo-esque game, whereas the new KQ at least looks like it's not focused on combat.

Anyway... I'm hoping the trailer is simply showcasing more action because it's a trailer and that's what they do. If you were to look at the trailers for the Dragon Age games you'd assume they're all mindless action, like the God of War series.

I guess showing puzzles, dialogue, and characterization don't make for a good two minute ad. Admittedly, the attention span of anyone watching on YouTube is so low that if they tried it, probably about 80% of their viewing audience would move on before the trailer is even over.

Movies do the same thing. Whenever I see a movie trailer I'm left thinking, "What the hell did I just see?" It's pretty much a bunch of scene changes that flash by at lightning speed, then cue up some explosions or someone in trouble, then shows the title and some voice-over that's either taken out of context or simply meant to be creepy.

[Collector]

I agree that there has too much speculation based on such a short trailer. We could hope that what we saw was more cut scenes than actual game play, but even that would make it lean a little too much towards an interactive movie than adventure.

[Collector]

Perhaps too soon and too little to say exactly what kind of game it will be, but the art style is too cartoony for my taste.

[adeyke]

It's easy to look at the trailer and say that it's not a real KQ game.

I wonder, though: would it actually be possible for there to be a game that doesn't elicit that reaction? A game that anyone could look at and would conclude that it's definitely a real KQ game? I suspect the answer is actually "no". The series isn't particularly well-defined. The world-building and characterization are next to non-existent, and the gameplay comes down to mostly "adventure game" (or, if we want to get really precise, "Sierra adventure game"). That makes it hard to identify what the essence of a King's Quest game is, beyond superficial things like "It says 'King's Quest' on the box".

[Datadog]

I feel Graham's design more closely resembles Guybrush Threepwood than Graham, but otherwise, I like the trailer. I could be wrong, but all the "platforming" looks more like scripted jumps, so I don't think they're going full-action on this. A modern take on the game could look more action-oriented like this and still maintain an adventure play-style. I look forward to seeing more.

[Collector]

Threepwood nails it as far as the look. Not a good look for Graham. Still, it it is close enough to a real adventure...

[stuntology]

I was thinking the same thing about him looking like Threepwood. Where did the linebacker pecs go?

I quite liked the art style- it seems like a natural evolution of the graphics in the old games.

As for the gameplay, I'm also thinking that most of the 'action' segments are simply due to making an interesting trailer. I'd be very surprised if anything we saw in it was gameplay with control over the character. I am thinking that there'll be some action elements in the game, though, but that the adventure aspect will be much more prominent.

[Tawmis]

I quite like it!

It's ... different. I am not entirely sure how I feel about it. I am very excited that there _is_ another King's Quest. And I _hope_ it does well and inspires additional games. However, it reminds me more of Sonic the Hedgehog than it does King's Quest. Perhaps it's a mixture of both. But it looks like a side scroller, with some cut scenes.

It's a little weird the channel is for Playstation, as I had originally assumed the game would be PC-only. I guess that wouldn't make a lot of sense, financially speaking.
Is it me or does the game look like there's a lot of platform-like action to it? I know Sierra often used action sequences in their games and trailers are notorious for glossing over anything that doesn't involve pure action, but it doesn't quite say "this is King's Quest!" to me.

Yeah. I was surprised to see it for PS at first; but then realize a HUGE gaming community now relies on consoles rather than PC. So it'd be insane, as you said, not to have it come out on console. When this comes out, I will be purchasing it on PC, for sure. If it's good, I'd probably buy a second copy for console. And I agree - seems a bit odd - and not entirely sure it feels like what I'd expect when I heard the announcement of a new King's Quest. But I am definitely going to give it a try, regardless.

I think it could be a very wise choice to move away from pure adventureness and into a realm where meditative gameplay meets more challenging and fast-paced sequences. King's Quest could benefit from being, well, adventurous.

I am not sure I agree. I guess I am just stuck in the mentality that King's Quest was always meant to be a game to be shared by family; mom, pop, son, daughter - could all sit around and play King's Quest. There was always elements that a parent might understand (like reference to all the fairy tales that are mentioned and that King's Quest borrowed from). This, I said it before, looks like a side scrolling with cut scenes.

I guess, when I heard about a new King's Quest, I was expecting a fantasy land that one could explore. And perhaps there will be. But it would have been nice to show something along those lines. Rather than "Here's Graham jumping from stone to stone! Look out Graham! Phew! You made it! Now the stone's crumbling! Better hurry and jump to the next stone! Annnnd now - slow motion jump over a log! The crowd goes wild!"

Except that is what they did with MoE and because of it, it often decried as one of the worst. If by making it for PlayStation and platformy they think thy can appeal to a wider audience they will surely risk loosing both audiences. Their approach is something that you might have expected a decade ago, but let's not forget why Activision is loosening the reins on the Sierra IPs. Kickstarter has proven that there is an audience for adventures. A few action sequences in an otherwise pure adventure is one thing, but the impression that the trailer gave is not promising. PC/Droid/iOS are the platforms that would attract the real customer base and are more suited to adventures.

While I agree, that perhaps this is what has me worried - it does have a bit of a "Mask of Eternity" feel to it (there is no King's Quest VIII damn it!). However, I'd disagree about Droid/iOS being the gaming base they should aim for. While, yes, there's a definite market there - I don't think it would compare to the gaming market found on consoles (PS3/4, and XBOX/One).

Anyway... I'm hoping the trailer is simply showcasing more action because it's a trailer and that's what they do. If you were to look at the trailers for the Dragon Age games you'd assume they're all mindless action, like the God of War series.

Ironic, as I am sure you know, they just announced a new GOD OF WAR game?

I guess showing puzzles, dialogue, and characterization don't make for a good two minute ad. Admittedly, the attention span of anyone watching on YouTube is so low that if they tried it, probably about 80% of their viewing audience would move on before the trailer is even over.

Well, it could have been done in like five seconds. Show Graham doing something, and have a voice over go, "You use the pin you found to unlock the steel gate!" and then show the gate open. That way you get a sense that there's something there about finding items and using them later in the game.

It's easy to look at the trailer and say that it's not a real KQ game.
I wonder, though: would it actually be possible for there to be a game that doesn't elicit that reaction? A game that anyone could look at and would conclude that it's definitely a real KQ game? I suspect the answer is actually "no". The series isn't particularly well-defined. The world-building and characterization are next to non-existent, and the gameplay comes down to mostly "adventure game" (or, if we want to get really precise, "Sierra adventure game"). That makes it hard to identify what the essence of a King's Quest game is, beyond superficial things like "It says 'King's Quest' on the box".

Well you can look at screenshots of SpaceVenture and know it's going to be an adventure game. Most of what they showed in that KQ trailer looks like a side scroller.

As for the gameplay, I'm also thinking that most of the 'action' segments are simply due to making an interesting trailer. I'd be very surprised if anything we saw in it was gameplay with control over the character. I am thinking that there'll be some action elements in the game, though, but that the adventure aspect will be much more prominent.

I hope that is the case.