TellTale Games Revived

[DEI2EK]

Well this came out of nowhere

 

Wasn't sure where to put this but TellTale is coming back.

LCG Entertainment today announced that it has purchased the assets, trademarks, technology, and select intellectual properties of the defunct Telltale Games, and will operate as Telltale Games with the intent of re-releasing select games from the studio’s back catalog and developing new games in its best-selling brands.

The new Telltale Games is led by Jamie Ottilie and Brian Waddle, and was made possible by a pool of investors and advisors including Chris Kingsley, Lyle Hall, Tobias Sjögren, Athlon Games (as a shareholder and publishing partner), and several additional partners. It is based in Malibu and has a satellite office in Corte Madera, California. Ottilie will run studio management and technology, while Waddle will run business development, finance, and operations. Both will work closely with Athlon Games, who will serve as the marketing and publishing partner on most of the company’s back catalog and new releases.

Key talent from the original company has been hired or contracted by the new Telltale Games, which will be based on a streamlined structure with plans for strategic growth and a focus on its core and new intellectual properties. News regarding the re-release of specific back catalog titles and new games in existing intellectual properties will be announced “in the coming weeks.”

Telltale Games was originally founded in 2004, but was shut down in October 2018. According to LCG Entertainment, it was known for its “storytelling, pioneering the episodic game format, and changing the way the games medium embraced narrative

 

 

Sure would be nice if they were able to get the licenses to put the Jurassic Park and Monkey Island games back on PSN

 

https://gematsu.com/2019/08/lcg-entertainment-revives-telltale-games

[starcrunch061]

I don't see a world where the original TellTale model works in any way, shape or form, and I don't see the chance for success with the new TellTale without using licensed properties (after all, no one plays TWD for its thrilling gameplay).

[Shadiochao]

That's a surprise. Wasn't everything they released unprofitable?

[Lance_87]

Typical.

Edited August 28, 2019 by Lance_87

[DEI2EK]

2 minutes ago, Shadiochao said:

That's a surprise. Wasn't everything they released unprofitable?

From my understanding yes, they hit it big with TWD then were pretty much hemorrhaging money on everything else. Even if some of their games had critical acclaim the only thing that ever sold well was TWD.

 

Still have yet to play anything on their backlog though i do have some of their stuff in my backlog.

[starcrunch061]

It's worth noting that TellTale also hurt themselves by failing to upgrade their engine for years. It was painful to sputter along in some of their later games using the same engine as in the original TWD. I remember playing Wolf Among Us on the PS3 - what a nightmarish experience.

[ZitMeatloaf]

Hopefully they'll invest in a better game engine than the janky Telltale Tool. I wonder how many of the former Telltale employees who got shafted when the company shut down will be hired back.

 

Edit: Ninja'd by starcrunch061.

Edited August 28, 2019 by ZitMeatloaf

[Terminus124]

NoClip did a great documentary/interview with ex-Telltale employees about the biggest issue being dumb top management that scratched any and every original idea and wanted to keep releasing the same formula over and over again. Naturally, gamers got tired of it as well. Not to mention they were working on several titles at the same time, leaving no space (and work force) for engine innovation.

 

Also, TWD was their biggest hit but they weren't hemorrhaging money with stuff like Borderlands and Wolf. They weren't megahits but still were profitable. Minecraft stuff was their second biggest hit financially. The real issue was the era of GoT, Guardians, Batman, etc. when games stopped selling yet studio kept making more and more of them.

 

I do believe this time it'll be different.

 

Edit: Yes, they're hiring old creative staff with plans to expand later.

Edited August 28, 2019 by Terminus124

[bikeman223]

Didn't the costs of the licenses for various properties also play a factor in their closure? In addition to having too much on their plate at once. Or did I misremember that part?

Edited August 28, 2019 by bikeman223

[IntroPhenom]

You never can tell when another hit like TWD is right around the corner.  As the old saying goes, it ain't over 'till it's over.  I hope they stumble upon something wondrously fun and new.

[nyonmyan]

So, it's a zombie now?

[Charizarzar]

So there’s still hope for Wolf Among Us 2? 

[DaivRules]

I can see this being very successful if done correctly:

1. Build new engine, ideally one that can transcode previous engines code. (To drive efficiency.)
2. Match new output to production capacity. (Drive longevity.)
3. Update previous titles to take advantage of new engine and release as new packages with some bonus. (This should help drive more profitability.)
4. Balance some original ideas as well the licensed work. (Diversify to mitigate risk.)

I wish them luck and hope it works out for them. 

[Conor]

The Wolf Among Us 2 may yet resurface. I'd also like sequels to GoT and Guardians.

[djb5f]

Part of the problem was the pricing model.  I think they discounted too quickly  (more so than most games) so everyone knew to not buy at launch and get dirt cheap shortly afterwards.

 

There was some repetition between releases but the core formula works.  Similar to LEGO games and other examples but people keep buying the same LEGO game every six months in a new skin.

 

Is Life is Strange Season 2 profitable?  If not, Telltale’s revival may not last that long.

[Feral]

Never really got into TellTale's games. Played TWD, The Wolf Among Us and Back to the Future but they didn't really do it for me. Then the other day I decided to play Batman and it is bloody awesome. So I'm stoked to hear they're back and hope they put out a 3rd Batman game.

[grifteskymfning]

The reality is that some people who didn't actually work at Telltale Games have bought the rights to a name. Brands don't make video games.

 

https://kotaku.com/two-people-who-didnt-work-at-telltale-games-say-theyre-1837654392

Edited August 28, 2019 by grifteskymfning
link

[EcoShifter]

1 hour ago, Terminus124 said:

NoClip did a great documentary/interview with ex-Telltale employees about the biggest issue being dumb top management that scratched any and every original idea and wanted to keep releasing the same formula over and over again. Naturally, gamers got tired of it as well. Not to mention they were working on several titles at the same time, leaving no space (and work force) for engine innovation.

 

Also, TWD was their biggest hit but they weren't hemorrhaging money with stuff like Borderlands and Wolf. They weren't megahits but still were profitable. Minecraft stuff was their second biggest hit financially. The real issue was the era of GoT, Guardians, Batman, etc. when games stopped selling yet studio kept making more and more of them.

 

I do believe this time it'll be different.

 

Edit: Yes, they're hiring old creative staff with plans to expand later.

 

^

 

17 minutes ago, djb5f said:

Part of the problem was the pricing model.  I think they discounted too quickly  (more so than most games) so everyone knew to not buy at launch and get dirt cheap shortly afterwards.

 

There was some repetition between releases but the core formula works.  Similar to LEGO games and other examples but people keep buying the same LEGO game every six months in a new skin.

 

Is Life is Strange Season 2 profitable?  If not, Telltale’s revival may not last that long.

 

It's overpriced, I'll say that much. People were stupid to pay for that game full price, as all $40 was going to get you was the first episode—for a whole 4 month period, a gap of time in which you could have easily earned quadruple+ that amount throughout the various paychecks that would have been earned—of a five episodic game and the rest later over a large amount of time. All 5 episode releases had already been planned to be spread a little over a year. Terrible. Developers like Telltale and Supermassive did a FAR better job here. I'm still surprised TWD:TFS launched at $20, even though it only contained 4 episode... But man the innovation in that game in comparison to their other TWD and non-TWD projects is incredible. There's true gameplay :')

Edited August 28, 2019 by EcoShifter

[snakebit10]

I wish them the best. I think having some original IP's mixed with the licensed games will work great

 

If they are going to bring back some of the older IP's maybe they will release the Monkey Island, Sam & Max and Jurassic Park game for current gen consoles.   

[Martain2]

24 minutes ago, djb5f said:

Part of the problem was the pricing model.  I think they discounted too quickly  (more so than most games) so everyone knew to not buy at launch and get dirt cheap shortly afterwards.

 

There was some repetition between releases but the core formula works.  Similar to LEGO games and other examples but people keep buying the same LEGO game every six months in a new skin.

 

Is Life is Strange Season 2 profitable?  If not, Telltale’s revival may not last that long.

 

Life is Strange is Square Enix not Telltale.

[dakk55]

Hope this means that in new hands that they would finally change up the games. Just maybe, making choices would actually affect the gameplay. Ah well, until they actually do something with what they got, I wouldn't hold my breath. 

[AnEldritchThing]

If this leads to A Wolf Among Us 2, I'll be happy.

[AvengedEvil]

Well, TellTale Games went bankrupt for a reason. I don't think that re-releasing some of their games might be a smart idea.

[Batmannequin]

1 hour ago, Charizarzar said:

So there’s still hope for Wolf Among Us 2? 

 

This is the real question 

[PSNP is crap i left]

Edited August 28, 2019 by Oblivion