›

Dan Connors interview at Destructoid on iPad (plus "pilot episodes" idea)

WapcapletWapcaplet
edited April 2010 in General Chat
http://www.destructoid.com/telltale-s-dan-connors-on-the-ipad-sam-max-169778.phtml

For me, this is the most interesting paragraph (and why I'm putting this in General Chat):
Frankly, and from a risk-taking standpoint, we would like to get people used to the idea that we might release a pilot of something and then if it takes, we'll green-light a season. I think that model would allow for us to take more chances and innovate more. We're still trying to figure out exactly how that could play out.

I'm not sure how this could work, either. Would you buy a "pilot episode" knowing that there may not be a full series if it didn't sell well enough?

On the other hand, how can Telltale take more chances and try different ideas without the risk of committing to a whole season that doesn't sell well?

Comments

  • Secret FawfulSecret Fawful
    edited April 2010
    I think it's a brilliant, actually incredibly innovative idea. And what better way to test out series like Futurama, Space Quest, and Maniac Mansion. [hint][hint]
  • Rather DashingRather Dashing
    edited April 2010
    Secret Fawful wrote: »
    I think it's a brilliant, actually incredibly innovative idea. And what better way to test out series like Futurama, Space Quest, and Maniac Mansion. [hint][hint]
    I actually think it would be better for things like original Telltale IPs and really obscure licenses. I'd compare it to that pilot for the Amazing Screw-On Head animated series that...sadly, never got picked up. :(
  • ShaggEShaggE
    edited April 2010
    I'd be all over that, as long as the pilot is always a self-contained story. I like my stories like I like my participles: Not dangling.
  • AvistewAvistew
    edited April 2010
    I'm the same.
    I'd be willing to be a self-contained story of one episode, or an episode as part as a season that is sure to come (as is already happening).

    But buying the beginning of a story knowing that if it's not successful the story won't see its conclusion? I wouldn't risk it. That has the potential to be very disappointing when a game you liked never go past the first episode.
  • Secret FawfulSecret Fawful
    edited April 2010
    The thing is, if one person likes it, another will, and that's all it takes. And if it doesn't take off, at least you'll always have one great episode. In a way, they already did this with Bone, although unlike this, they didn't can that based on community opinion.
  • Some Manner Of...Some Manner Of...
    edited April 2010
    Echoing statements made earlier in the thread, I'd be in favor of pilot episodes so long as they're self-contained stories.
  • MasterTutuMasterTutu
    edited April 2010
    A series of let's say 5 pilots would be great. It would be like having 5 small and completely different adventure games. And if a certain game hits the right nerve, it could get its own series later on. The BBC once had a television series that consisted of nothing but sitcom pilots, many of which got their own series later on (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_Playhouse). It would also be a good way of letting people try out their own ideas and discover talent, like Pixar does with its shorts.
  • IrishmileIrishmile
    edited April 2010
    The thing that worries me is instead of one incomplete series (BONE) we could end up with a whole bunch...
  • StarEyeStarEye
    edited April 2010
    I certainly do not want another Bone, so I'd be all for it. And it wouldn't be incomplete series, since they'd obviously make the pilot sef-contained. Heck, the pilot could be the full game, and if it goes well, then decide to make a whole series, not remotely connected to the pilot, or a sequel. The pilot could be a prequel with no clues to a second game/series. Like Maniac Mansion is to DOTT, or SOMI is to MI2.
  • Thriftweed Fancy PantsThriftweed Fancy Pants
    edited April 2010
    +1 for self-contained pilots developing into successful series.
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited April 2010
    Another ditto for pilots with self-contained story arcs.

    Something that Telltale does really well is listening to feedback and learning from each and every episode they produce. I can see pilots being a really positive thing in this respect - helping to determine what does and doesn't work with the idea, and using that when/if it goes on to become a full season. For this reason I agree with Rather Dashing's comment that pilots would be most suited to "testing the water" with an original or relatively unknown IP.
  • TjibbbeTjibbbe
    edited April 2010
    I would be a big fan of this as well. It might even get more people involved with the community if you direct people to the site (in-game) to vote on their favorite episode, and to discuss what did and didn't work. I would hope they would use a chance like that to experiment with weird gameplay changes as well (like Max's mental powers), not just new worlds and characters. I think it does make more sense with a new IP, if only for the fact that I don't think a lot of license holders are going to be happy with a contract that promises them 1 episode and maybe a full series.
  • Thriftweed Fancy PantsThriftweed Fancy Pants
    edited April 2010
    Reminds me of the "What a Cartoon!/Cartoon Cartoon Show."
  • GinnyNGinnyN
    edited April 2010
    Thriftweed Fancy Pants wrote: »
    Reminds me of the "What a Cartoon!/Cartoon Cartoon Show."

    I was thinking about that too.

    In fact, if it's self cointained and not promise any continuation, I'm all for it.
  • SHODANFreemanSHODANFreeman
    edited April 2010
    Pale Man approves.

    thumbs-up.jpg
  • UdvarnokyUdvarnoky
    edited April 2010
    I love the way Dan refers to his studio as "a digital storyteller."
  • LuigiHannLuigiHann
    edited April 2010
    Glad to see that what I came in here to say is echoed by many people. A pilot should be a self-contained story with no serious cliffhanger (although a light or humorous cliffhanger is fine).

    Furthermore, an interesting thought that I don't entirely have a conclusion on: For a lot of Telltale seasons, the first and second episodes tend to be the weakest, and then from the third onward they tend to be fairly consistently great. So I guess the plus side here is that it may be possible to get some of the feeling-around phase out of the way with the pilot, and then have the main season start that much stronger. Not a guarantee, but it's plausible.
  • StarEyeStarEye
    edited April 2010
    The end screen should say: "did you rike it?"

    ...and then "if you want more, spread the word (hint: the bird is not the word)"
  • DiduzDiduz
    edited April 2010
    Wonderful idea, I agree with the points some of you brought up:

    1) Must be applied to original IP and/or risky licenses;
    2) The story in the episode 0 should be self-contained, to give us a nice little game even if the series doesn't take off.

    It would also be a great way to interact with the team even more. :D
Sign in to comment in this discussion.