Double Fine Adventures' Kickstarter!

[dark-daventry]

Lambonius, I have edited and self-censored your post; please don't use such language again. As Rosella said, this forum is family-friendly.

As for indie as a genre, I see it all the time, though I suppose more-so in movies than in video games. There's a section on Netflix just for indies. I think it comes down to a mindset, really. A lot of people have just associated the word Indie as a genre.

[Cez]

I've personally never understood all the praise behind Grim Fandango, but I did enjoy it. We will never fully agree with "best-lists", but it's safe enough to say that people didn't pull them out of nowhere. I'd personally fill the list with Sierra games at the top 10, but even I admit that LucasArts always seemed to lead what was popular and what was "better". So, I'm not surprised to see so many of them populating the top 10 list.

It's the same argument we've always seen about what's the best King's Quest. The popular feeling ALWAYS has pointed to King's Quest VI, and this list reflects that, with the game making it to the top 20. Whether you feel King's Quest V is the better game IS a personal feeling, not what overall the masses or the critics have considered over the years. But there's nothing wrong with that either. I for example would have never put Riven in that list at all, BUT, I know Riven "deserves" its spot. I just personally don't like it.

I would guess Tim S saw this list. Jane Jensen doesn't frequent the site either, but a lot of people made sure she saw it when she placed 3 of her games at the top 20, one of them (GK2... YES!) at number 3. Same with the Sierra people if you notice what was posted about in facebook in their profiles, etc. I'm sure Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert saw it. They have too many fans and I'm sure it was many that congratulated them for making it to the top 10 and top game --and, in general, adventure gamers all agree. So I'm sure that triggered a lot of nostalgia.

[Lambonius]

Right.  The whole "indie-as-genre" thing was sort of a separate, unrelated rant that was triggered by MI's use of the term.    No worries.

I have a problem with any top 100 Adventure Games list that includes "historically significant" games like KQ1, but not KQ5, since KQ5 not only brought adventure games into VGA but also effectively brought Sierra games into the Point and Click interface, and thus is easily more historically significant than half the games that actually MADE the list.  I don't think anyone could convincingly argue that KQ1 is a better game than KQ5 based on gameplay, story, or production values alone, so really, its placement on that list comes from pure historical significance.  But then, they skip other "historically significant" games like KQ5.  The list just seems so incredibly arbitrary--like it's using totally inconsistent criteria by which to judge which games make the list and in which spots.  It's a problem of consistency--they need to define the criteria ahead of time, and then stick to it.  That list doesn't do that at all.

Additionally, AdventureGamers is wildly inconsistent in the objectivity of its reviews.  In fact, the reviews on that site are often SO biased, SO colored by nostalgia, that I have a hard time understanding why they even do reviews at all.  The whole point of reading a game review, even one of an old game, is to find out whether the game would be worth one's time to play.  Again, because of total inconsistency in defining the criteria by which scores are given, AdventureGamers negates the whole point of doing game reviews in the first place, rendering their reviews effectively worthless.

So in conclusion: I just think it's a stupid site run by a*******.  HUMBUG!

[inm8#2]

This is truly amazing. Unbelievable result.

It's like a glorious middle finger to publishers who say there is no market for adventure games.

Look what happens when you cut out the all-knowing middleman?

[DawsonJ]

The fact is that people are sick of a lot of this garbage that comes out.  If Mario weren't being reworked and broadened out to other fanbases (RPG, Racing, et al), it would just be same ol', same ol'.  That's happening way too often.  If I see another Banjo Kazooie game that just does the same platforming, direction-shifting junk that they've all done, I'm going to scream.  These games are just repeats with better technology.  People are getting sick of it. 

That's why so many fangames are coming out - the people want to make their own choices, since the corporate Fat Cats are just out for "what's been working", instead of what people really want.  Unfortunately, there are even "Adventure Game Developers" (like TellTale) who just want to be lazy slugs making games for other lazy slugs. "Casual Games" or "Mindless Games"? You decide.

I like that there are developers bringing back the thought process.  Shoot, it's been gone from games for so long that it'll be nice to see some REAL adventure game enthusiasts at work.  As long as it's enjoyable, without a bad case of "Try to guess what the designers thought was intuitive", like the Samorost games. I'm looking forward to the future of adventure games.  I'm tired of seeing a "1001 Rip-offs of Myst", like the Nancy Drew casual gaming series. We need a third-person view, and we need to THINK FOR OURSELVES!  NO MORE JURASSIC PARK!!  Now's the time of Reformation!!  ¡Sí se puede! ¡Sí se puede!

[MusicallyInspired]

Oh shut up, Lamb. I never said that indie was a genre, nor do I believe it is. So there.   I'm curious to know what it was I said that made you think I did, though, as I was completely and totally talking about funding, backing, and publishing as opposed to genre. Besides the fact that saying indie is a genre is stupid, saying that the "indie genre" is the future of gaming is just stupid and short sighted. You really think that lowly of me?? 

[Blackthorne]

I don't think he was referring to you personally, MI - but there has been a trend to classify "indie" as a genre, which absurd.  I blame hipsters.

I think you just accidentally triggered it in him.  You know... he sees red, goes crazy.  El Toro.


Bt

[MusicallyInspired]

Oh I figured, I'm just IA-ing around.

[dark-daventry]

DawsonJ, I have to agree with you. While I like some of what Telltale has done, the fact is that they're really the only "mainstream" adventure game publisher around these days. It's great to see Double Fine coming back to the genre. I'm excited to see what they can come up with. A company comprised of some of the best in the industry, plus they all have a passion for what they do; it should be good!

[Lambonius]

I don't think he was referring to you personally, MI - but there has been a trend to classify "indie" as a genre, which absurd.  I blame hipsters.

I think you just accidentally triggered it in him.  You know... he sees red, goes crazy.  El Toro.


Bt

Exactly this.    Sorry, MI.  You brought out the beast within.

**OH GOD, NOT A GABRIEL KNIGHT 2 REFERENCE!!!!!!!  WHAT HAVE I BECOME!?!?!?!

[KatieHal]

MWAHAHAHA!!

also, I enjoy the idea of "IA" becoming a verb. "Take it easy man, I'm just IAing with you!" Haha.

[Enchantermon]

So.....Psychonauts 2 anyone? My fingers are crossed.

[wilco64256]

So.....Psychonauts 2 anyone? My fingers are crossed.

That won't be this one.  Psychonauts is more of a platformer than a point-and-click.  However, it's been in the news a bit lately that Notch is going to pitch in to help them make Psychonauts 2.  Which is awesome.

[DawsonJ]

DawsonJ, I have to agree with you. While I like some of what Telltale has done, the fact is that they're really the only "mainstream" adventure game publisher around these days. It's great to see Double Fine coming back to the genre. I'm excited to see what they can come up with. A company comprised of some of the best in the industry, plus they all have a passion for what they do; it should be good!

I'm just glad we've got a few "Up-and-Comers", like WizarBox ("So Blonde" Series) and Daedalic ("Deponia", "Whispered World" and "Edna & Harvey"/"Harvey's New Eyes"), who are making better quality games.  I wonder where the fangame groups are going after their projects finish. Certainly "Cognition", "Al Emmo" and "Mage's Initiation" show some real future potential for these groups.

[MusicallyInspired]

MWAHAHAHA!!

also, I enjoy the idea of "IA" becoming a verb. "Take it easy man, I'm just IAing with you!" Haha.

Haha totally. That would probably help our reputation!

[Enchantermon]

That won't be this one.  Psychonauts is more of a platformer than a point-and-click.  However, it's been in the news a bit lately that Notch is going to pitch in to help them make Psychonauts 2.  Which is awesome.

Oh, I didn't know that it was PnC; I haven't read much about it. Oh well; as long as it's still a possibility at some point, I'm happy.

[KatieHal]

And they have broken 2 million!

[MusicallyInspired]

People take tweets way too seriously. Notch tweeted once that he would help fund a Psychonauts 2. That's it. It was a semi-joke. He did say he wanted to meet with Tim at GDC and discuss the possibility. There are no difinitive plans.