Broken Age - Double Fine's Kickstarter Adventure Game

[DeepOcean]

He appears to be trying the visual style of a children's book, the thing has a dream like art. The playable characters are children trying to escape the rigid rules imposed on them and be free, so the art style kinda make sense. To anyone that wanted something more like Lucas Arts style, a whimsical/cartoonish/realistic style, it could be a disappointment. This is one big problem of doing a KS for a game that the art style isn't already defined, people see the possibility of a traditional adventure game made by Shaffer with their favorite art style in their head and get dissapointed when Schaffer do what he wants. I didn't backed at the time (was suspicious of the whole kickstarter thing at that time), the art style isn't what I wanted but I'm curious to what Shaffer is going to do with it.

 

[Stabwound]

I was expecting something like a throwback to Day of the Tentacle, to be honest, but I didn't pledge toward it. I was still excited at the prospect of another Lucas Arts-type adventure, but this really doesn't seem to be one.

This was the first kickstarter to pave the way for the rest, but I think it might actually end up being the first big one to disappoint people. Maybe I'm wrong, but all I'm going off here is the publicly released info because I'm not a backer.

 

[DeepOcean]

Maybe people pledge for Tim Schafer from 1993 - 2000 and not for the 2013 Tim Schafer, I don't mind the art style all that much, I really wanted a Lucas Arts like art but it isn't a deal breaker for me. I'm more worried about the puzzles, I don't want the easy as fuck, absolutely no frustration game design that infect alot of adventure games nowdays. I want he to be more like Lucas Arts on the puzzles and on the characters/humor, don't want hipster social commentary also.

 

[jaybirdy]

Those characters look mopey and that story concept sounds depressing. Is this going to be based around dark humor, or is this going to be an ill-suited attempt at drama? Schafer isn't great at either of these so I think I'll remain cautious.

 

[J_C]

Those characters look mopey and that story concept sounds depressing. Is this going to be based around dark humor, or is this going to be an ill-suited attempt at drama? Schafer isn't great at either of these so I think I'll remain cautious.

It's Double Fine. i bet it is not a drama.

 

[keppj0nes]

I pledged a bunch of money to this and I hugely regret it. The art style in the game looks like something from a JC Penney commercial, barely like the original artist Bagel/Stapley's style. Doublefine has done a garbage job keeping backers informed on the game, and using Ron Gilberts name in the pitch without him being involved was annoying. I'm looking forward to selling my goods on ebay.

 

[jfrisby]

I pledged a bunch of money to this and I hugely regret it. The art style in the game looks like something from a JC Penney commercial, barely like the original artist Bagel/Stapley's style. Doublefine has done a garbage job keeping backers informed on the game, and using Ron Gilberts name in the pitch without him being involved was annoying. I'm looking forward to selling my goods on ebay.

I'm in the same boat - disgruntled backers need to collude and try to "fix the prices" on the backer-items on Ebay (I know a guy that does a spot on "Tim Schafer" signature). I feel exceptionally dirty having bought into the "old-school (but really we're looking at Machinarium/Botanicula)" thing.

 

[Wizfall]

I dislike the art style.
It's quite repellent and something you could understand if they just had the 400 000 they asked for.
Despite that they managed to create an interesting/mysterious atmosphere (thanks to the music !) with the trailer.
I did not backed the project and i would have been disappointed too if i had...but i think Doublefine may have something.
It can be one of those very few games which really doesn't look like your "style" and you end up liking because they have "something".

 

[Blackthorne]

Yeah... this one was a real "caveat emptor". I know everyone got excited because Tim Schaeffer said "Hey! Let's make an old-school adventure game!" and that WAS pretty cool... but it was the first one on Kickstarter, and we've all learned so much about them - it's really better to have an outlined plan, actual screenshots, etc.... this KS had none of that. Just a promise - and I see some real disgruntled people in here, I also know some people who really like the direction and are excited. I actually didn't pledge to this one because there were no details - I thought it was a nice idea, but I wasn't going to jump in the pool with no details. I figured I could always buy it when it came out if I liked it - and I knew they'd make it, because they were an established studio who could produce something like that. I'm still on the fence about it, so I'm waiting for more info and gameplay trailers/demos before I say whether it sucks or rocks yet.


Bt

 

[DeepOcean]

I really need to see the whole thing in movement before I can say is total shit but compare this:

with this:

The insane amount of details on MI 3 in comparison with the painting style with simplistic and kinda of blurry shapes. It can be a art style that can grow on you and you can accept it in the end but, right now, is disappointing. I don't know how big was the budget of MI 3 but I really wanted that Double Fine didn't tried to experiment with a new art style on a supposed old school Luscas Arts style game and instead used the late 2D style of MI 3/Full Throttle. If the art style is shit in the end, but if the puzzles are good and the humor and characters are good, it could still be a good game. I really fear that the casual games that Double Fine has been doing for the last years have made them stuck with the modern Tell Tale style of adventure game design.

 

[felipepepe]

Yeah, compare one of the most crowded areas of MI 3with a promotional image that's not even in-game... THAT will make you look like someone who knows what he's talking about...

The actual game do seem to have some very interesting and detailed areas, as much as any Lucasarts game:

 

[DeepOcean]

Yeah, compare one of the most crowded areas of MI 3with a promotional image that's not even in-game... THAT will make you look like someone who knows what he's talking about...

The actual game do seem to have some very interesting and detailed areas, as much as any Lucasarts game:

It was as I said, I need to see this in movement and on a fullscreen. I don't know if the end result will be horrible but I still not impressed by the screenshot. It still has the kinda blurry, simplistic shapes and low detail in it.

 

[Aeschylus]

It was as I said, I need to see this in movement and on a fullscreen. I don't know if the end result will be horrible but I still not impressed by the screenshot. It still has the kinda blurry, simplistic shapes and low detail in it.

I can understand being disappointed by various aspects of what's been revealed about this game, but if you're going to be disappointed by a screenshot, at least pick a screenshot rather than a promotional image.

Frankly, they've kept a pretty tight lid on things in spite of the documentary, so it's hard to put forward any legitimate criticism or praise, except perhaps RE: the overall art style. Not that that ever stopped the Codex.

 

[Dexter]

I pledged a bunch of money to this and I hugely regret it. The art style in the game looks like something from a JC Penney commercial, barely like the original artist Bagel/Stapley's style. Doublefine has done a garbage job keeping backers informed on the game, and using Ron Gilberts name in the pitch without him being involved was annoying. I'm looking forward to selling my goods on ebay.

See, I'm kinda the opposite. I pledged in the lower tiers since KickStarter was a new thing and regret it because I would've probably pledged at the $100 level. I don't know about the art style, I think it's okay (just don't like the characters). I think Double Fine has done the best job out of any of the campaigns to give an insight into their development with the Documentary videos (although the wait seems to get longer) and Ron Gilbert was just used for a short joke.

This might all well change when the game is out and it might possibly suck (I still say the documentary alone has been more than worth the money), but eh...

 

[Brayko]

Tim Schafer pulling a George Lucas?

 

[J_C]

Tim Schafer pulling a George Lucas?

Making a non-sensical prequel to Psyconauts or enhancing the original with stupid 3D effects?

 

[Cyberarmy]

Psychonauts Unleashed!

 

[Brayko]

Tim Schafer pulling a George Lucas?

Making a non-sensical prequel to Psyconauts or enhancing the original with stupid 3D effects?

Making shit when everyone expects greatness and very generously showered with money?

 

[Blackthorne]

Is that pulling a Lucas? I always thought that was just growing a magnificent double chin.


Bt

 

[Jaesun]

Tim Schafer ‏@TimOfLegend1m
Hey, Backers of Adventure! Episode 9 of DFA is up in our forums! Go watch it now!!! http://www.doublefine.com/forums/viewthread/9112/ …

 

[Aeschylus]

At least Tim Schaefer seems to think that the title is as lame as everyone else does.

 

[felipepepe]

Hey, it says on the video that Ron Gilbert has left Double Fine! Not really that suprising, the Cave was very meh and he seemed to dislike Broken Age as well...

 

[Jaesun]

Ron left a long time ago (OK well maybe it was a month ago).

 

[DeepOcean]

Did Ron said where he is going to work? Man, that teasing of his with that article about Monkey Island is very interesting... his sudden talk about what he would do if he made another Monkey Island... Is very suspicious, sound like testing waters ... a KS, maybe? I really hope my conspirancy theory is right and he has the opportunity to make a proper adventure game.

 

[Brayko]

I really hope my conspirancy theory is right and he has the opportunity to make a proper adventure game.

Yeah it's obvious Tim Schaefer doesn't get it, maybe Gilbert will.