Plus, isn't the fact that Doc built the time-train proof that he changed his mind about the dangers of time travel?
Maybe he figured, well, what the hell...
Of course the DeLorean has to be there. At least, an incarnation of it. In fact, I'd love to see the ORIGINAL DeLorean painfully reassembled, but still bearing the all-too obvious marks of once being crushed by a train. That would at least symbolize the actual impossibility of a BTTF sequel. Come to think of it, it would be a nice symbolism to have the Hill Valley clock tower renewed at the start of the game: It's something that brutally chomps on some sentimental values, but at the same time signifies: Things get going once again. It would be exactly what this game means.
As for Marty, I am really not sure about him in the game. Doubtlessly, he IS Back to the Future, but also, Michael J. Fox IS Marty McFly. The DeLorean-Doc-Marty triangle makes the series, but if it can't be reproduced, Telltale HAS to come up with something new. I'm really curious how TTG will solve these issues, and I hope they can really go creative, whether with or without Marty.
Well, I think if we want ourselves some Biff then we'll also need Marty, wouldn't you agree? It would feel a little forced to have the one without the other.
And as much as I would like to see Biff in the game, I I actually think that it might even work better just with Doc and the player going on some crazy time travel adventure. Would feel fresher and less of a rehash of what has been before.
I remember years ago hearing that Michael J. Fox would be interested in playing Dr. Brown in a new movie. I am sure that the original cast would be interested in playing some part in the video game.
I imagine the series will be a reboot, meaning you may play as Marty, but it will not be the same story as the movies. First, if the games mirror the movies, then there won't be very many surprises. I doubt it will be a different character you play because there is now conflicting story with what technology existed in 2015 in the second movie and the technology today (2010).
The writers won't make the main character go back in time and fight dinosaurs or go to the future to fight space aliens. I am sure they will be very thoughtful in how they treat the Back to the Future franchise and it will be a quality game no matter what direction they take.
E3's a wrap, and there wasn't really any new information. I still think that a lot of the gaming/movie philosophy Grossman's after for BTTF has become clear from the PC gamer podcast (Link on Mixnmojo, Grossman interview about 45 minutes into the show).
Grossman describes the "Back to the Future" movies first and foremost as "A very personal story about Marty and his life". I consider that a very strong hint that we will still follow in the footsteps of this character. Also, the interviewer utters the sentence "You can't have Back to the Future without Marty McFly and Doc Brown" without eliciting any protest or comment from Grossman.
These are strong signs.... they'll both be back to the story!
I doubt it will be a different character you play because there is now conflicting story with what technology existed in 2015 in the second movie and the technology today (2010).
Is there? Let's recap some technology they showed existing in 2015:
1. Holographic 3D movie sign
2. Video waiters/waitresses
3. Clothes that resize to fit
4. Hoverboards and hovercars
When BTTF II came out I remember being amazed at this incredible vision of the future - which is now only 5 years away; but for a moment let's just explore the state of play as it is in 2010:
1. Nintendo 3DS - Link - Yep, 3D without glasses - it's official. How much will it progress in 5 years time?
2. We don't quite have video waiters yet - but we DO have increasingly accurate voice-recognition technology appearing more and more. I've used a number of automated phone systems that employ such tricks, and I have Google Voice Search on my Android phone. Since a cafe waiter only needs to respond to a limited set of options (i.e. the menu), something like this would be a real possibility today.
3. Well, nothing on the horizon that quite matches Marty's awesome threads; but in terms of "wearable technology" we are now looking at gadgets that, in all honesty, are far more incredible than some of what was shown in that film. For instance the Waveface Ultra: http://www.walyou.com/blog/2010/01/15/asus-oled-smartphone-bracelet-design/ - in fact, BTTF never even showed us mobile devices of this level of advancement. Plus, we DO have "smart" fabrics and metals that could be engineered to make the kind of clothes from BTTF.
4. Ok, damnit, I *still* don't have a hoverboard. But, there are real scientific developments and research efforts in the field of anti-gravity, and while I can't at this stage remotely imagine such technology being mass-produced and affordable by 2015, it's probably not as far off as all that. We hope!
So, all-in-all, while some of the gadgets depicted were maybe a bit off the mark, I think a lot of things were actually not bad guesses. What has happened, in my opinion, is that technology has developed in different directions to how the films forecast, but the overall level of development was about right.
Mobile phones, computers, gadgets; these things have taken over, and that is ultimately what the films were representing, irrespective of the specific developments that actually "made it".
Just a thought; Star Trek depicts gadgets hundreds of years in the future that today look about as advanced as the Smartphone I have sat on my desk right now. How much more off the mark were the Star Trek writers vs. the BTTF writers?
Ok, some further thoughts, in the context of actually making a new BTTF game.
So the first film was set in 1985, and depicted the technology of that time.
The second film sent us forward to 2015 and showed the start constrast of that day with the 1980s.
For a new BTTF story to have any relevance today, it needs to actually be set today in 2010, and if a jaunt to the future occurs we would have to go to 2040 for there to be any major differences to show. Some of the more "wacky" elements of BTTFII's 2015 would make a lot more sense in 2040 if this adjustment was made, perhaps?
I've also been thinking (and maybe someone else has mentioned this that I've missed). With NBC interested in reviving these two franchises, and with the spate in the last 2 or 3 years of old films being re-visited with incredibly advanced modern visuals (Transformers, Tron, etc.) ... does this hint at the possibility of upcoming new films of both BTTF and Jurassic Park?
I doubt it means new movies are being considered. The studio is probably less likely to grant these licenses to historical franchises now if they have something in the planning stage for new movies in the next few years.
I don't care who I play, as long as the writing's great and Doc's back, I'm good. Can't have a Back to the Future without Doc Brown.
I'd like to revisit places and then solve puzzles that were behind the black initially, much like the end of BttF II, or Sam and Max Season 2. You know, set it up so that we save our past or future selves. I always thought that was cool.
We should have that dark-haired Helmet head, sleeve-less black shirt wearing guy (who tried to pass off as Marty) from the NES version, as the character. Heh heh.
Ok. It would be cool if it was Marty. The relationships are so strong with the existing characters, it's almost more character-driven than idea driven. And that's a pretty big statement given how big the ideas, in the movies, were.
Note: I would so totally put the first guy, I mentioned in. But sort of as a parody. Like a special thing outside of the main game, just for chuckles. Easter Egg, perhaps? Of course, one would have to add in one repetition of the famous riff from the NES version (The song that basically is a sped up version of the*ahem* "I'm not the Power of Love" song.)
Actually, I would really dig playing as Marty Jr. if Marty raises him to be more assertive. You wouldn't have to deal with signing/imitating MJF and you get more wiggle-room to develop McFly.
lol, you forgot to slam the magnifying glass down and go, "He musta been listening, when I...!" Hurr hurr.
Back to the point. I like the idea of a new character, but I'm welcome to being Marty too. Marty can always be a second choice for the nostalgics, otherwise, bring in a rookie from Doc's future timelab as seen in the ride at Universal Studios to help solve the issue.
Well, thanks to TellTale for stealing my idea... I was going to make BttF games after becoming a professional game developer!
Anyway, I'm really excited about the news. But. There is one question I have. Do you think TellTale BttF games will have Marty as the main character, or someone else?
In my past vision of future Back to the Future games, they took place during the few minutes of the first move - after Doc drives Marty to his home in 1985, and before he returns for Marty and Jennifer from 2015. That moment of time gives the possibility to do infinite number of stories and plotlines without contradicting the movie. Yeah, no Marty, but still there's Doc.
Still. We all know that games based on movies, movies based on books, games based on books, books based on movies, and all this shit, even if it's the same story (actuall, ESPECIALLY if it's the same story), usually contradicts each other because each is in it's own type of media. So I'm not against Marty. I like Marty, Michael J. Fox is great (and, I've heard the games were first announced during his birthday, is it true? Well, today, yesterday, depends on your time zone)
But, anyway, what do you think? Marty or no Marty?
Marty! There has to be some kind of main character that has to experiment with Doc Brown's inventions! Without that, the time traveling adventures would not be very interesting! What if Doc Brown has some kind of trouble and he couldnt get back? That's when you got to have another main character to help him out and that is Marty! Without a Marty Mcfly, how would these time travel movies be so popular? I bet without Michael J Fox as Marty Mcfly, the first movie wouldnt be the number one in the movie box! I believe that I have made my point!
Well, thanks to TellTale for stealing my idea... I was going to make BttF games after becoming a professional game developer!
Anyway, I'm really excited about the news. But. There is one question I have. Do you think TellTale BttF games will have Marty as the main character, or someone else?
In my past vision of future Back to the Future games, they took place during the few minutes of the first move - after Doc drives Marty to his home in 1985, and before he returns for Marty and Jennifer from 2015. That moment of time gives the possibility to do infinite number of stories and plotlines without contradicting the movie. Yeah, no Marty, but still there's Doc.
Still. We all know that games based on movies, movies based on books, games based on books, books based on movies, and all this shit, even if it's the same story (actuall, ESPECIALLY if it's the same story), usually contradicts each other because each is in it's own type of media. So I'm not against Marty. I like Marty, Michael J. Fox is great (and, I've heard the games were first announced during his birthday, is it true? Well, today, yesterday, depends on your time zone)
But, anyway, what do you think? Marty or no Marty?
"Yeah, no Marty, but still there's Doc."
Marty has to be in the game! The game and the movies wouldn't have survived without Marty! He is also one of the main characters! What would the game or the movies be without him? Lame, boring, and what would be the point of the movies and the game? So, you got to have Marty period!
Why would anybody change Doc's car?! It's the one bloody good thing to come out of the whole DeLorean debacle!
I agree that the Delorean should be the same! A Limberguini? No, absolutely not! A Delorean? yes! keep the car and never change anything about it! And it does look like a time travel car to me!
Comments
That made me laugh
Maybe he figured, well, what the hell...
Of course the DeLorean has to be there. At least, an incarnation of it. In fact, I'd love to see the ORIGINAL DeLorean painfully reassembled, but still bearing the all-too obvious marks of once being crushed by a train. That would at least symbolize the actual impossibility of a BTTF sequel. Come to think of it, it would be a nice symbolism to have the Hill Valley clock tower renewed at the start of the game: It's something that brutally chomps on some sentimental values, but at the same time signifies: Things get going once again. It would be exactly what this game means.
As for Marty, I am really not sure about him in the game. Doubtlessly, he IS Back to the Future, but also, Michael J. Fox IS Marty McFly. The DeLorean-Doc-Marty triangle makes the series, but if it can't be reproduced, Telltale HAS to come up with something new. I'm really curious how TTG will solve these issues, and I hope they can really go creative, whether with or without Marty.
And as much as I would like to see Biff in the game, I I actually think that it might even work better just with Doc and the player going on some crazy time travel adventure. Would feel fresher and less of a rehash of what has been before.
I imagine the series will be a reboot, meaning you may play as Marty, but it will not be the same story as the movies. First, if the games mirror the movies, then there won't be very many surprises. I doubt it will be a different character you play because there is now conflicting story with what technology existed in 2015 in the second movie and the technology today (2010).
The writers won't make the main character go back in time and fight dinosaurs or go to the future to fight space aliens. I am sure they will be very thoughtful in how they treat the Back to the Future franchise and it will be a quality game no matter what direction they take.
E3's a wrap, and there wasn't really any new information. I still think that a lot of the gaming/movie philosophy Grossman's after for BTTF has become clear from the PC gamer podcast (Link on Mixnmojo, Grossman interview about 45 minutes into the show).
Grossman describes the "Back to the Future" movies first and foremost as "A very personal story about Marty and his life". I consider that a very strong hint that we will still follow in the footsteps of this character. Also, the interviewer utters the sentence "You can't have Back to the Future without Marty McFly and Doc Brown" without eliciting any protest or comment from Grossman.
These are strong signs.... they'll both be back to
Is there? Let's recap some technology they showed existing in 2015:
1. Holographic 3D movie sign
2. Video waiters/waitresses
3. Clothes that resize to fit
4. Hoverboards and hovercars
When BTTF II came out I remember being amazed at this incredible vision of the future - which is now only 5 years away; but for a moment let's just explore the state of play as it is in 2010:
1. Nintendo 3DS - Link - Yep, 3D without glasses - it's official. How much will it progress in 5 years time?
2. We don't quite have video waiters yet - but we DO have increasingly accurate voice-recognition technology appearing more and more. I've used a number of automated phone systems that employ such tricks, and I have Google Voice Search on my Android phone. Since a cafe waiter only needs to respond to a limited set of options (i.e. the menu), something like this would be a real possibility today.
3. Well, nothing on the horizon that quite matches Marty's awesome threads; but in terms of "wearable technology" we are now looking at gadgets that, in all honesty, are far more incredible than some of what was shown in that film. For instance the Waveface Ultra: http://www.walyou.com/blog/2010/01/15/asus-oled-smartphone-bracelet-design/ - in fact, BTTF never even showed us mobile devices of this level of advancement. Plus, we DO have "smart" fabrics and metals that could be engineered to make the kind of clothes from BTTF.
4. Ok, damnit, I *still* don't have a hoverboard. But, there are real scientific developments and research efforts in the field of anti-gravity, and while I can't at this stage remotely imagine such technology being mass-produced and affordable by 2015, it's probably not as far off as all that. We hope!
So, all-in-all, while some of the gadgets depicted were maybe a bit off the mark, I think a lot of things were actually not bad guesses. What has happened, in my opinion, is that technology has developed in different directions to how the films forecast, but the overall level of development was about right.
Mobile phones, computers, gadgets; these things have taken over, and that is ultimately what the films were representing, irrespective of the specific developments that actually "made it".
Just a thought; Star Trek depicts gadgets hundreds of years in the future that today look about as advanced as the Smartphone I have sat on my desk right now. How much more off the mark were the Star Trek writers vs. the BTTF writers?
So the first film was set in 1985, and depicted the technology of that time.
The second film sent us forward to 2015 and showed the start constrast of that day with the 1980s.
For a new BTTF story to have any relevance today, it needs to actually be set today in 2010, and if a jaunt to the future occurs we would have to go to 2040 for there to be any major differences to show. Some of the more "wacky" elements of BTTFII's 2015 would make a lot more sense in 2040 if this adjustment was made, perhaps?
I've also been thinking (and maybe someone else has mentioned this that I've missed). With NBC interested in reviving these two franchises, and with the spate in the last 2 or 3 years of old films being re-visited with incredibly advanced modern visuals (Transformers, Tron, etc.) ... does this hint at the possibility of upcoming new films of both BTTF and Jurassic Park?
I'd like to revisit places and then solve puzzles that were behind the black initially, much like the end of BttF II, or Sam and Max Season 2. You know, set it up so that we save our past or future selves. I always thought that was cool.
LOL
"Uh-oh, we're headed down the hill, and the brakes don't work!"
*flaming tire tracks and car dissappears*
Ok. It would be cool if it was Marty. The relationships are so strong with the existing characters, it's almost more character-driven than idea driven. And that's a pretty big statement given how big the ideas, in the movies, were.
Note: I would so totally put the first guy, I mentioned in. But sort of as a parody. Like a special thing outside of the main game, just for chuckles. Easter Egg, perhaps? Of course, one would have to add in one repetition of the famous riff from the NES version (The song that basically is a sped up version of the*ahem* "I'm not the Power of Love" song.)
It would be neat to put a cheat code in that swaps out Sam and Max models for Doc and Marty.
"You crack me up, little Marty."
Or ... as a person who is a newbie character but that falls in line with the series AND interacts with Doc/Marty/Biff, etc along the way.
Hello? Hello? Is any body home? lol. It doesn't really rhyme
lol, you forgot to slam the magnifying glass down and go, "He musta been listening, when I...!" Hurr hurr.
Back to the point. I like the idea of a new character, but I'm welcome to being Marty too. Marty can always be a second choice for the nostalgics, otherwise, bring in a rookie from Doc's future timelab as seen in the ride at Universal Studios to help solve the issue.
Marty! There has to be some kind of main character that has to experiment with Doc Brown's inventions! Without that, the time traveling adventures would not be very interesting! What if Doc Brown has some kind of trouble and he couldnt get back? That's when you got to have another main character to help him out and that is Marty! Without a Marty Mcfly, how would these time travel movies be so popular? I bet without Michael J Fox as Marty Mcfly, the first movie wouldnt be the number one in the movie box! I believe that I have made my point!
"Yeah, no Marty, but still there's Doc."
Marty has to be in the game! The game and the movies wouldn't have survived without Marty! He is also one of the main characters! What would the game or the movies be without him? Lame, boring, and what would be the point of the movies and the game? So, you got to have Marty period!
I agree that the Delorean should be the same! A Limberguini? No, absolutely not! A Delorean? yes! keep the car and never change anything about it! And it does look like a time travel car to me!