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How to write an Adventure game
bit-tech.net — Bit-tech.net continues their feature examining how computer games are written and designed by looking specifically at adventure games. With exclusive, in-depth interviews from Dave Grossman (Lucasarts, Sam and Max) and David Cage (Quantic Dream, Fahrenheit, Indigo Prophecy), the article is a fresh look at the process of how games are designed.
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- atomicpoet, on 10/10/2007, -1/+27Adventure gaming needs to make a comeback. Sure, it has found a welcome home on the DS, but consoles could do wonders for the genre -- especially the Wii. And seriously, how come Roberta Williams is not seen as the American answer to Shigeru Miyamoto (if only we can coax her out of retirement)?
- crilen007, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Kings Quest FTW! (5-6 were the best ones I think).
- sacherjj, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1I just finished Hotel Dusk on the DS. What a great platform for adventure games. The only thing that could be improved is more real actor audio, rather than text.
- geartype2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Hotel Dusk, was the first game I bought for my DS when I got one. I kept hearing all this great stuff about it, and being a fan of adventure games I just had to play it. The fanhype behind this game is so overplayed though, the story is horrible, and the puzzles(if you want to call them that) are easy and usually ridiculous. Although I'll hand it to them for creating a game with fleshed out characters in a story, the game itself, as an adventure game, falls very flat story wise when compared to just about any other game.
I'm sure the DS is great for adventure games, but all hotel dusk did for me is prove that reading a book is a highly more efficient way of being entertained.
- geartype2, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Hotel Dusk, was the first game I bought for my DS when I got one. I kept hearing all this great stuff about it, and being a fan of adventure games I just had to play it. The fanhype behind this game is so overplayed though, the story is horrible, and the puzzles(if you want to call them that) are easy and usually ridiculous. Although I'll hand it to them for creating a game with fleshed out characters in a story, the game itself, as an adventure game, falls very flat story wise when compared to just about any other game.
- JettaMan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Roberta Williams might have been among the first, but I don't think she was the best. Lots of instant death and walking dead scenarios in her games.
- chokeaduck, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Yeah, Williams had some outright bombs, Phantasmagoria was a mess. Ahead of its time, but still a mess. While we are on the subject of Sierra games, I really wish that they would re-release Quest for Glory I-V so that I can play it on XP.
- starseed420, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's called DosBox , check it out for I - IV .. could not get V to work though, since it's all win 3.11 compatible, although I've read that people got it working.
- FunkyMo, on 10/10/2007, -2/+12xyzzy?
- PickledJesus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4It's sad how few people will understand that reference.
- Bamborzled, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Nothing happens.
- kaelyiesta, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17Now I'm nostalgic. Time to bust out quest for glory.
- tunapez, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3I totally blocked out that annoying game Mystery House on our Apple IIe and the lost hours of King's Quest.
Wow talk about a blast from the past!- AncientWeird, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1all you need to know: kill joe with butter knife
- HunterTV, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Indigo Prophecy (aka Fahrenheit) was pretty good. I particularly liked the whole "button mashing with a purpose" part of it -- ex. if you're dangling off a ledge by your fingernails you had to alternately hit the trigger buttons really fast to pull yourself up. Helped get you into the feeling of being in a dangerous situation by making you really work for it (as much as a game can do that anyway).
- mikal, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Fahrenheit wasn't as much a game as a movie. An annoying movie you'd have to push a few buttons to watch the next part. The story was probably okay, but I think I'll wait for someone to make a xvid.
- lordtyros, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1You speak as if you haven't even played the game. While it fell apart during the last 25%, the rest of the game was actually quite excellent. It's only $20 for PC, I suggest you give it a play and educate yourself.
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It was an interactive movie, you might say, with a branching storyline. They tried to design it so that infrequent game players wouldn't have too tough a time finishing it. A movie rip wouldn't do it justice.
For those who haven't tried it, check this game out. The story isn't outstanding but it's told very well. It's a very entertaining game. Get the European version (Fahrenheit) if you can. It's uncensored and you can play with multiple audio languages with English subtitles - the game is French and so are the best voice actors.
- mikal, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Fahrenheit wasn't as much a game as a movie. An annoying movie you'd have to push a few buttons to watch the next part. The story was probably okay, but I think I'll wait for someone to make a xvid.
- theshizzler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10Man, I could play me some Sam & Max right now. After 10+ years, I've probably forgotten the solutions to all the puzzles too.
- Chewie67, on 10/11/2007, -0/+19Adventure games are awesome. Old School Adventures -- Zork, Planetfall -- and New School Adventures -- Sam & Max, Day of the Tentacle, The Dig, Curse of Money Island, Grim Fandango, Zork Grand Inquisitor.
Everything is so dumbed down these days with the overkill of FPS and RTS games. Someone needs to step up and crank out another top-notch Adventure Game.- beee, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Reading this article made me think I should start playing some adventure games. Heavy Rain's graphics look awesome too!
- Courthold, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1If you fancy a look at some homemade adventure games take a look at www.adventuredevelopers.com, there's a lot of great little fun games people have done available there.
- beee, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Reading this article made me think I should start playing some adventure games. Heavy Rain's graphics look awesome too!
- Neiby, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10The Longest Journey was the last good adventure game I played. Excellent game.
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The first PC game I ever played was Police Quest 1 on my 4.77MHz 8086 Compaq Deskpro and I've been playing them ever since as it's my favourite genre. Of all the adventure games I've played TLJ is my favourite. I can't wait until Dreamfall Episodes comes out!
The lead designer, Ragnar Tornquist, has a blog. http://ragnartornquist.com/
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The first PC game I ever played was Police Quest 1 on my 4.77MHz 8086 Compaq Deskpro and I've been playing them ever since as it's my favourite genre. Of all the adventure games I've played TLJ is my favourite. I can't wait until Dreamfall Episodes comes out!
- LowROI, on 10/10/2007, -1/+19dugg for monkey island
- kmc127, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Digg this if you went to "find your old copy" of monkey island 3 after you read this
- dagooh, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2The true MI are 1 and 2, 3 and 4 are mere pastimes while we wait for Ron to buy the rights from Lucas Arts and make the real 3.
- kmc127, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Digg this if you went to "find your old copy" of monkey island 3 after you read this
- kmc127, on 10/10/2007, -5/+0step 1) use flash
- mrjit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12I totally loved Sam & Max. And of course all of the LucasArts adventure games back then. Travelling back in time to and talking to Newton, etc. I also LOVED the Heroes Quest series, the VGA remake of 1 was fantastic, and 3.
A new Sam & Max episode was released recently, different rights, but still great humor http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmax -- they work with Purcell the original.- chokeaduck, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4+1 Telltale is doing a bang up job with the episodic Sam and Max games, and they look great.
- johnnysaucepn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Six new episodes to date, with a new season due to start next month. Short games, with some repetitive elements, but the one-liners, obscure puzzles and perfect voice acting is the business!
- Flare, on 10/10/2007, -10/+2In Soviet Russia, Adventure games write you!
- sockpuppets, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Sockpuppet stands up. He puts on his robe and wizard hat...
- Subvexer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Handy and quite eery, as I was just busy writing an adventure game...
- sockpuppets, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Subvexer's adventure to happy torrent land?
- fogowar, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3If you're writing an adventure game - this link might be handy:
http://grumpygamer.com/2152210
It's an article by the designer of Monkey Island - it's a really interesting read about how to structure the puzzles and narrative in these types of games. Good luck with your game! - spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Subvexer, does your game have a website?
- iceschade, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Open-Source it! Or at least give me a demo... And make it Linux Compatible!
- lexikahn, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0I just mash a bunch of keys in Microsoft Word and run the spell check and auto-correct... it writes a story for me! :)
- SteveMax, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Just use M-x psychoanalyze-pinhead for player-NPC interactions.
- InSectWar, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Anyone ever try Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood?
What an excellent mix of graphics, sound, music, and adventure.
I wish they would bring back the adventure genre on the PC, think of what they could do with the technology of today( and the formula of yesterday? ;) )- mrjit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1They've tried, they're not blockbuster sales though so publishers don't go after them.. I think Dreamfall/LJ were the most recent big ones
- Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9"With bony hands I hold my partner,
on soulless feet we cross the floor.
The music stops as if to answer,
an empty knocking at the door.
It seems his skin was sweet as mango,
when last I held him to my breast
But now we dance this grim fandango,
and will four years before we rest." ~ Grim Fandango, LucasArts
^-- What's missing from computer gaming today. :-( Stories, writing, and adventuring. The only game genre I have known to accurately portray a movie, or a book. To hell with cheap games based on movie licenses. Why not give the movie licenses the script they are based on for an interactive game instead? Indiana Jones worked great as an adventure, but that could never happen today. Why rip that part out and only leave the shell intact?- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4We might have days
We might have hours
But sooner or later
We all push up flowers
Check out Psychonauts if you haven't already! It's every bit as much as classic Tim Schafer game as Day of the Tentacle.
- spyrochaete, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4We might have days
- DumDumDog, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0all you have to do is copy the old FALLOUT game ...
How i miss that adventure. - WiCKeDWon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Space Quest was the reason I got into PCs. I loved that cheesy wit! Leisure Suit Larry and Q4G were awesome as well. Sierra you haft forsaken your roots. :(
Damned you Space Quest! Damned you all to hell!!!- atomicpoet, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3As far as I'm concerned, Sierra is long dead. They died when Ken and Roberta Williams retired from game design. Now Sierra is just a brand name -- just like Atari is.
- MrSteamTank, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Has anyone here tried dreamfall? It's an excellent adventure game and for under 10 bucks it's a great purchase for the computer. I really got sucked into the story and am still playing it. 8)
- zachshmack, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You could always just read a book. I hear those are heavy on story.
All joking aside though, I'm probably going to check out several of these games. :-)- geartype2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Since you brought it up:
Read Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler".
- geartype2, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Since you brought it up:
- gthyb, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I am MURRRY!!!
- kowalzki, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I used to jerk off to Leisure Suit Rally in EGA. Oh sweet memories!
- steve693, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1blank
- Randinn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Anyone remember Lucasarts Loom, very good game and an interesting view of magic....
- estvir, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Remember it? I still have my original floppy + CD (Which I bought in later years.. I think) and the "Book of Patterns" thing you got to write down the drafts.. it's amusing to see my writing as a small child. :o
- throwingks, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Fahrenheit is the same thing as Indigo Prophecy.
You shouldn't count it twice. - jwiesenborn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1anybody remember ZZT?
- qwertydvorak, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1at 0 diggs as i type, but i will digg you back to 1. i loved zzt, at the time i was stuck on a monochrome text only monitor and ibm xt. i loved it, you could make your own maps and puzzles. that is what made it so great.
- barrybevel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I was playing Rigel's Revenge and my girlfriends younger brother though I was coding.
Kids today will never believe the best graphics are none at all.
I'm off to play Halo 3...(text version obviously)- bagboyrebel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3that's really more of a preference, I think a better way of putting it is that kids need to realize good games don't always need good graphics, or any graphics.
- barrybevel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Fair Point well put.
- bagboyrebel, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3that's really more of a preference, I think a better way of putting it is that kids need to realize good games don't always need good graphics, or any graphics.
- KerrAvon, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2How to write an Adventure game? Make the main character a square. Make the dragons look like chickens, have 3-4 castles (depending on difficulty) look exactly the same except for the color and place the first easter egg ever in a video game.
- dresdor, on 10/15/2007, -0/+0I think the disappearance of the adventure game with a in--depth background is due to our poor attention spans. FPS with a bunch of gore is a quick reward, trying to figure out puzzles and connect the dots in a mystery or background story isn't that quick.
The only adventure games that make it these days have a healthy dose of violence. (KOTOR I & II come to mind)
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