Because Morgan originated in a Monkey Island game. Any other game about her would still take place in the Monkey Island universe. Not to mention that Guybrush has been her idol for years and making a game about her past without any reference to him would be pretty much impossible.
I'm not talking about what they would or should do, or what would make a good game. I'm talking only about what they legally can do without licensing issues. My question is whether they can use the name and visual character design of Morgan LeFlay and make a game that is (for the sake of argument) unrelated to Monkey Island in any other way except for the fact that the character was previously used in a Monkey Island game. I'm talking about, like, she walks in and says "I'm Morgan LeFlay, mighty pirate hunter", and then the rest of the game makes no other references to Tales/MI. (Don't say that's impossible. It is possible. It would just be a stupid idea.)
When you say she's still "in the Monkey Island universe", that's how you would see it, but is it also true for legal purposes? And if you think it is, what are you basing that on?
I felt spoilt that we got to play a new Monkey Island game after 10 years as it was so I wouldn't be mind too much if we don't get another one, as much as I would like it if we did.
It's a good job LucasArts have Star Wars to keep them going or they'd be dead long ago. As it stands they can keep churning out Star Wars stuff from here until eternity and make all the bad decisions they like.
Oh, and outsourcing development is not the same as licensing. It is essentially just contracting work out to a third party. Sometimes the third party's name won't even feature. Licensing is different, Telltale has been given permission (for a fee obviously) to create games based on LucasArts' Intellectual Property. These games are developed and published by Telltale, for Telltale. I'm sure there are some complicated stipulations about ownership and the like but the two are absolutely not the same.
I'm not talking about what they would or should do, or what would make a good game. I'm talking only about what they legally can do without licensing issues. My question is whether they can use the name and visual character design of Morgan LeFlay and make a game that is (for the sake of argument) unrelated to Monkey Island in any other way except for the fact that the character was previously used in a Monkey Island game. I'm talking about, like, she walks in and says "I'm Morgan LeFlay, mighty pirate hunter", and then the rest of the game makes no other references to Tales/MI. (Don't say that's impossible. It is possible. It would just be a stupid idea.)
When you say she's still "in the Monkey Island universe", that's how you would see it, but is it also true for legal purposes? And if you think it is, what are you basing that on?
Morgan LeFlay is a Monkey Island character, and a part of the package. There's no way to seperate her from Monkey Island without permission from the owners of the IP. I doubt anything created for Monkey Island is not owned by LucasArts in some way or other. I don't think it's as easy as taking that character and using her for any other game that doesn't involved Monkey Island without LucasArts permission.
Now, if Telltale were to create something new that's inspired by Monkey Island, without threading to close, that's another case.
Morgan LeFlay is a Monkey Island character, and a part of the package. There's no way to seperate her from Monkey Island without permission from the owners of the IP. I doubt anything created for Monkey Island is not owned by LucasArts in some way or other. I don't think it's as easy as taking that character and using her for any other game that doesn't involved Monkey Island without LucasArts permission.
What are you basing that on?
I'm not trying to be difficult, what I'm looking for is evidence for what folks are saying about this, either a link to back it up, or even someone saying they know it from personal experience... Anything other than assumptions. I'll admit my earlier posts were based on assumptions, but does anyone else have something more convincing?
I'm not trying to be difficult, what I'm looking for is evidence for what folks are saying about this, either a link to back it up, or even someone saying they know it from personal experience... Anything other than assumptions. I'll admit my earlier posts were based on assumptions, but does anyone else have something more convincing?
Well, I doubt anyone here except Telltale themselves knows for sure. So yeah, I'm merely assuming that's how it works. It's common sense really, Morgan LeFlay became a Monkey Island character. Thus she is part of the Monkey Island IP. It's not like she existed before Monkey Island.
Besides, Morgan LeFlay is the character she is because she is in Monkey Island. Her character was written for the Monkey Island universe. She has a background that can't be erased. What is Morgan LeFlay if she's not the Guybrush-obsessed fangirl that takes here job way too seriously? Her whole character is based on her obsession with Guybrush, take that away from her and she's not Morgan LeFlay anymore. What do you want to keep, in a hypothetical Morgan LeFlay game?
What do you want to keep, in a hypothetical Morgan LeFlay game?
As I said earlier, I'm not saying I want a Morgan LeFlay game or suggesting that it would be a good idea to make one. I'm trying to determine whether it would be LEGAL, out of pure curiosity.
Common sense doesn't really work here since my common sense disagrees with yours. Short of someone jumping in who actually knows, all we can do is toss opinions around, which may be interesting but will never resolve anything.
LOL, I saw their little teaser on Kotaku. Unless the game in question has more characters in it and has something to do with the unannounced Lucasarts game, I doubt this is much news for this forum.
That said, I'm going to Pax this year, so if they have anything Monkey Island related to say, I'll be there to see it!
All of this talk just gets me wondering what it will be like when Telltale actually announce a Tales Season 2. There's just going to be an absolute uproar in the fan community. I can't wait for that day, whether it be in a few months or in a few years. It makes me smile just thinking about it.
"LucasArts is reorganizing its teams to better address the needs of the internal studio. Unfortunately, this means adjusting staffing. LucasArts continues to be committed to creating a first-class internal studio -- and to fostering relationships with trusted external partners -- in order to deliver quality games that amaze and inspire fans."
That's better news than the rumoured reports that they were pretty much shutting down external development.
My main wish for a sequel is that it's not called ToMI2, but rather something like Legends of Monkey Island; in the same vein (given its episodic nature), but keeping it fresh like the other titles.
But yeah, needs to be made. At this point I'd rather see this than S&M series 4 or any other series getting a sequel.
I do not care what they call it as long as its good.... and that they make it obviously... actually.... I do not mind if Lucasarts makes it either.... as long as it gets the love it deserves.
And as long as it doesn't take more 10 years to come out...
I would take a really awesome Monkey Island game every 10 years, over a mediocre one every other year. However, I don't think those are the choices, and I doubt I would get to make the decision.
Also, I think it is awesome that this thread is tagged: "Lucasarts eats babies"
Telltale isn't known for making their seasons worse than the last one though, so I don't see why this wouldn't apply for something like Monkey Island as well.
"LucasArts is reorganizing its teams to better address the needs of the internal studio. Unfortunately, this means adjusting staffing. LucasArts continues to be committed to creating a first-class internal studio -- and to fostering relationships with trusted external partners -- in order to deliver quality games that amaze and inspire fans."
That's better news than the rumoured reports that they were pretty much shutting down external development.
ToMI 2, pls?
Amen! I suspected this outcome was more likely ... here's hoping!
If Telltale get the chance AT ALL to do Season 2 at this stage, I think they'd be stupid to turn it down. It's been their most successful series so far (I don't think SnM3 topped it). I think they could do the game justice by waiting until a few more games have been released first though.
I think Sam & Max did a great thing by waiting three or so years after Season 2 to make Season 3, because the change was incredibly significant. The Devil's Playhouse visuals were excellent (especially towards the end of the season). If anything, I'd say Tales of Monkey Island felt closer visually to the first 2 Sam & Max seasons than to the Devils Playhouse. Imagine Monkey Island with the visual quality of SnM3 (not that Tales looked bad, or even average, but SnM showed there's room for development still...)
So yeah, after BTTF, and JP, and...maybe DOTT (!!!), more Tales of Monkey Island please.
If Telltale get the chance AT ALL to do Season 2 at this stage, I think they'd be stupid to turn it down. It's been their most successful series so far (I don't think SnM3 topped it).
I agree, it would peculiar if they were to NOT do one, if given the opportunity
I think Sam & Max did a great thing by waiting three or so years after Season 2 to make Season 3, because the change was incredibly significant. The Devil's Playhouse visuals were excellent (especially towards the end of the season). If anything, I'd say Tales of Monkey Island felt closer visually to the first 2 Sam & Max seasons than to the Devils Playhouse. Imagine Monkey Island with the visual quality of SnM3 (not that Tales looked bad, or even average, but SnM showed there's room for development still...)
Yes, I agree with this. S&M:TDP was brilliant both in gameplay and in visuals (that also includes lighting, which is something that can really give a game's looks vibrancy).
So yeah, after BTTF, and JP, and...maybe DOTT (!!!), more Tales of Monkey Island please.
Yep, agreed, there should be a 'Tales' Season 2 after the 'Back to the Future' and 'Jurassic Park' games. I think that Telltale will probably become a better company as a result of working on those games, as they will probably stretch them to a degree (the games will stretch the company). And Telltale will probably rake in the dollars from those games, meaning that they will be able to provide a lot more funding to any of their future projects. With these factors combined, they really could produce a truly great 'Monkey Island' game.
Also, I think that if they were to create another MI game, then they should release the episodes ever 2 months, rather than one each month. This way, they'd have the time to add more features into each chapter, add more locations, add more puzzles, add more detail, as well as work on refining the game to ensure a higher quality (and bugless) episode each month.
He also cancelled the Force Unleashed 3, so yeah, it looks bad for a sequel. (exact same situation, successful series of games based on a lucasarts licence, developped by another studio working for LucasArts)
It's also said that all the developpers from that studio will out of job after The force Unleashed 2, thanks to this guy, and they already started working on the number 3 ...
Earlier today (errr, technically yesterday) I poked someone at the Telltale booth pretty much asking what the status of Monkey Island is, and it seems to be on their todo list. (Literally, they said they wanted to do it all, including more Sam and Max and such.) They're just stacked with other projects right now.
I think it's safe to say this is partially due to the medium itself. Games aren't under the same constraints that TV is, and even the fans don't expect them to be. Unfortunately, I think it also just means we gotta wait our turn on stuff like this. :P
At the Telltale panel, they told us not to read too much into all the 'net chatter when specifically asked about it. They've been keeping up with Lucasarts during all this, and assured us that things were fine. I think it's commissioned (ya know, outsourced) projects that are in danger, not stuff like this.
1) Lucasarts doesn't let them do Tales #2
2) Lucasarts is prepared to let them do Tales #2, but only for too big a sum of money
3) Lucasarts is prepared to let them do Tales #2, but they're too busy in the timeframe allowed
4) They do Tales #2
I would be absolutely flabbergasted if Telltale were to say something along the lines of "been there, done that, signed away all willingness to do it again"
At the Telltale panel, they told us not to read too much into all the 'net chatter when specifically asked about it. They've been keeping up with Lucasarts during all this, and assured us that things were fine. I think it's commissioned (ya know, outsourced) projects that are in danger, not stuff like this.
2) Lucasarts is prepared to let them do Tales #2, but only for too big a sum of
3) Lucasarts is prepared to let them do Tales #2, but they're too busy in the timeframe allowed
4) They do Tales #2
Based on popularity of the series, I think both parties woudl be idiots not to do ToMI S2. That being said, LA has a history of making stupid choices (like the aformentioned SW:TFU3 canceled - hell I know a lot of casual sci-fi nerds who are NOT LA/SW fanbois and LOVED TFU series)
If ToMI S2 is dead, I'd hope TTG would make the right decision and make a "Tales of Ape Island" or such, i.e. change just enough about the franchise to say it's a *new* Piratey adventure series that was *inspired* by the MI franchise I mean honestly, discounting Guybrush and his mate, the Voodoo Lady, and Lechuck, how much of the game was acctually MI? Based on the fact tehy created a whole new world and used only a handfull of MI characters in it, they shoudl be able to repeat this easily (likely using a lot of the same models, just altered) and make another Pirate adventure game.
EDIT:
and after finding this thread through the closed thread in GC I'm still unsure WTF this has to do with "no more S+M games..." unless Steve Purcess just had a massive anurism and was redueced to a retarded vegetable, thus agreeing to sell all rights of S+M to LA... (which is possible, though as I said insanely retarded and thus unlikely)
And I'm not sure if it's a good idea to do that. GPoVI wasn't near as good as Tales, or so I hear. But then, TTG didn't make GPoVI...
hehhehheh I thought of that one "do you know the secret of Monkey Island?" "no, but I know the secret of donkey island *whisper whisper whisper*""EEEWW!!" lol
you know, it's really sad that nobody from TTG is willing to step forward and say "we haven't lost the license" or "yes LA canceled our License" It's not like we're asking for the release date of ToMI S2, just whether there is still a CHANCE for TTG ToMI S2...
you know, it's really sad that nobody from TTG is willing to step forward and say "we haven't lost the license" or "yes LA canceled our License" It's not like we're asking for the release date of ToMI S2, just whether there is still a CHANCE for TTG ToMI S2...
I suspect that neither situation applies... they probably only had an agreement for a single game, and what with the company buzzing away with umpteen projects, negotiating for a sequel may not be practical until they can allocate potential time to actually make the damn' thing. So, saying "gosh we'd love to" is probably as much as can be said.
I only come back to this forum to see if there is any news on the possibility of tomi 2.
The less likleier it seems the less likeleythat I will be back.
Yep, agreed, there should be a 'Tales' Season 2 after the 'Back to the Future' and 'Jurassic Park' games.
I actually find that likely!
So, a first BTTF episode in December, the last one in April. June or July for the first JP episode, conclusion in October or November; and maybe possibly the first ToMI2-episode in December 2011. Pretty please?
Well Tales went great for us as well. From our perspective telling the story over five episodes and being able to work with those characters, to work with classic characters like Guybrush and Elaine while also introducing our own characters like Morgan and Winslow was a great experience for the studio and a great opportunity to do a Telltale game that resonated with people. We loved it, it’s been successful on every channel it released on, as have the LucasArts remakes of the first two games. So the sheer love that people have for that franchise was immediately obvious and clear. So we’d love to do more, we still have details that need to be worked out with LucasArts in order to get it done and none of those details have been addressed yet. They recently changed management over there and I think they’re working on their strategy for where they want to go in the future. As soon as that gets sorted out we’ll certainly bring it up with them again.
Comments
I'm not talking about what they would or should do, or what would make a good game. I'm talking only about what they legally can do without licensing issues. My question is whether they can use the name and visual character design of Morgan LeFlay and make a game that is (for the sake of argument) unrelated to Monkey Island in any other way except for the fact that the character was previously used in a Monkey Island game. I'm talking about, like, she walks in and says "I'm Morgan LeFlay, mighty pirate hunter", and then the rest of the game makes no other references to Tales/MI. (Don't say that's impossible. It is possible. It would just be a stupid idea.)
When you say she's still "in the Monkey Island universe", that's how you would see it, but is it also true for legal purposes? And if you think it is, what are you basing that on?
Oh, and outsourcing development is not the same as licensing. It is essentially just contracting work out to a third party. Sometimes the third party's name won't even feature. Licensing is different, Telltale has been given permission (for a fee obviously) to create games based on LucasArts' Intellectual Property. These games are developed and published by Telltale, for Telltale. I'm sure there are some complicated stipulations about ownership and the like but the two are absolutely not the same.
Morgan LeFlay is a Monkey Island character, and a part of the package. There's no way to seperate her from Monkey Island without permission from the owners of the IP. I doubt anything created for Monkey Island is not owned by LucasArts in some way or other. I don't think it's as easy as taking that character and using her for any other game that doesn't involved Monkey Island without LucasArts permission.
Now, if Telltale were to create something new that's inspired by Monkey Island, without threading to close, that's another case.
What are you basing that on?
I'm not trying to be difficult, what I'm looking for is evidence for what folks are saying about this, either a link to back it up, or even someone saying they know it from personal experience... Anything other than assumptions. I'll admit my earlier posts were based on assumptions, but does anyone else have something more convincing?
Well, I doubt anyone here except Telltale themselves knows for sure. So yeah, I'm merely assuming that's how it works. It's common sense really, Morgan LeFlay became a Monkey Island character. Thus she is part of the Monkey Island IP. It's not like she existed before Monkey Island.
Besides, Morgan LeFlay is the character she is because she is in Monkey Island. Her character was written for the Monkey Island universe. She has a background that can't be erased. What is Morgan LeFlay if she's not the Guybrush-obsessed fangirl that takes here job way too seriously? Her whole character is based on her obsession with Guybrush, take that away from her and she's not Morgan LeFlay anymore. What do you want to keep, in a hypothetical Morgan LeFlay game?
As I said earlier, I'm not saying I want a Morgan LeFlay game or suggesting that it would be a good idea to make one. I'm trying to determine whether it would be LEGAL, out of pure curiosity.
Common sense doesn't really work here since my common sense disagrees with yours. Short of someone jumping in who actually knows, all we can do is toss opinions around, which may be interesting but will never resolve anything.
Also, I thought Force Unleashed was doing good!
No, you're not the only one. I did too.
That said, I'm going to Pax this year, so if they have anything Monkey Island related to say, I'll be there to see it!
From the ending of Rise of the Pirate God, it's pretty dang obvious they have the intention of continuing. The real question is when.
"LucasArts is reorganizing its teams to better address the needs of the internal studio. Unfortunately, this means adjusting staffing. LucasArts continues to be committed to creating a first-class internal studio -- and to fostering relationships with trusted external partners -- in order to deliver quality games that amaze and inspire fans."
That's better news than the rumoured reports that they were pretty much shutting down external development.
ToMI 2, pls?
But yeah, needs to be made. At this point I'd rather see this than S&M series 4 or any other series getting a sequel.
By the way, what day is today again? (waves hand)
I would take a really awesome Monkey Island game every 10 years, over a mediocre one every other year. However, I don't think those are the choices, and I doubt I would get to make the decision.
Also, I think it is awesome that this thread is tagged: "Lucasarts eats babies"
/End of random thoughts for the night
Amen! I suspected this outcome was more likely ... here's hoping!
Also, change the name of this thread please. :P
I think Sam & Max did a great thing by waiting three or so years after Season 2 to make Season 3, because the change was incredibly significant. The Devil's Playhouse visuals were excellent (especially towards the end of the season). If anything, I'd say Tales of Monkey Island felt closer visually to the first 2 Sam & Max seasons than to the Devils Playhouse. Imagine Monkey Island with the visual quality of SnM3 (not that Tales looked bad, or even average, but SnM showed there's room for development still...)
So yeah, after BTTF, and JP, and...maybe DOTT (!!!), more Tales of Monkey Island please.
Wow...that wassa lotta words.
I agree, it would peculiar if they were to NOT do one, if given the opportunity
Yes, I agree with this. S&M:TDP was brilliant both in gameplay and in visuals (that also includes lighting, which is something that can really give a game's looks vibrancy).
Yep, agreed, there should be a 'Tales' Season 2 after the 'Back to the Future' and 'Jurassic Park' games. I think that Telltale will probably become a better company as a result of working on those games, as they will probably stretch them to a degree (the games will stretch the company). And Telltale will probably rake in the dollars from those games, meaning that they will be able to provide a lot more funding to any of their future projects. With these factors combined, they really could produce a truly great 'Monkey Island' game.
Also, I think that if they were to create another MI game, then they should release the episodes ever 2 months, rather than one each month. This way, they'd have the time to add more features into each chapter, add more locations, add more puzzles, add more detail, as well as work on refining the game to ensure a higher quality (and bugless) episode each month.
Good.
He also cancelled the Force Unleashed 3, so yeah, it looks bad for a sequel. (exact same situation, successful series of games based on a lucasarts licence, developped by another studio working for LucasArts)
It's also said that all the developpers from that studio will out of job after The force Unleashed 2, thanks to this guy, and they already started working on the number 3 ...
I think it's safe to say this is partially due to the medium itself. Games aren't under the same constraints that TV is, and even the fans don't expect them to be. Unfortunately, I think it also just means we gotta wait our turn on stuff like this. :P
At the Telltale panel, they told us not to read too much into all the 'net chatter when specifically asked about it. They've been keeping up with Lucasarts during all this, and assured us that things were fine. I think it's commissioned (ya know, outsourced) projects that are in danger, not stuff like this.
So I am not really worried, I am sure ToMI will return in more seasons, especially with the ending in season 1.
Either
1) Lucasarts doesn't let them do Tales #2
2) Lucasarts is prepared to let them do Tales #2, but only for too big a sum of money
3) Lucasarts is prepared to let them do Tales #2, but they're too busy in the timeframe allowed
4) They do Tales #2
I would be absolutely flabbergasted if Telltale were to say something along the lines of "been there, done that, signed away all willingness to do it again"
Great to hear.
Based on popularity of the series, I think both parties woudl be idiots not to do ToMI S2. That being said, LA has a history of making stupid choices (like the aformentioned SW:TFU3 canceled - hell I know a lot of casual sci-fi nerds who are NOT LA/SW fanbois and LOVED TFU series)
If ToMI S2 is dead, I'd hope TTG would make the right decision and make a "Tales of Ape Island" or such, i.e. change just enough about the franchise to say it's a *new* Piratey adventure series that was *inspired* by the MI franchise I mean honestly, discounting Guybrush and his mate, the Voodoo Lady, and Lechuck, how much of the game was acctually MI? Based on the fact tehy created a whole new world and used only a handfull of MI characters in it, they shoudl be able to repeat this easily (likely using a lot of the same models, just altered) and make another Pirate adventure game.
EDIT:
and after finding this thread through the closed thread in GC I'm still unsure WTF this has to do with "no more S+M games..." unless Steve Purcess just had a massive anurism and was redueced to a retarded vegetable, thus agreeing to sell all rights of S+M to LA... (which is possible, though as I said insanely retarded and thus unlikely)
You mean Tales of Donkey Island
And I'm not sure if it's a good idea to do that. GPoVI wasn't near as good as Tales, or so I hear. But then, TTG didn't make GPoVI...
hehhehheh I thought of that one "do you know the secret of Monkey Island?" "no, but I know the secret of donkey island *whisper whisper whisper*""EEEWW!!" lol
GPoVI?
I suspect that neither situation applies... they probably only had an agreement for a single game, and what with the company buzzing away with umpteen projects, negotiating for a sequel may not be practical until they can allocate potential time to actually make the damn' thing. So, saying "gosh we'd love to" is probably as much as can be said.
The less likleier it seems the less likeleythat I will be back.
I actually find that likely!
So, a first BTTF episode in December, the last one in April. June or July for the first JP episode, conclusion in October or November; and maybe possibly the first ToMI2-episode in December 2011. Pretty please?
Well Tales went great for us as well. From our perspective telling the story over five episodes and being able to work with those characters, to work with classic characters like Guybrush and Elaine while also introducing our own characters like Morgan and Winslow was a great experience for the studio and a great opportunity to do a Telltale game that resonated with people. We loved it, it’s been successful on every channel it released on, as have the LucasArts remakes of the first two games. So the sheer love that people have for that franchise was immediately obvious and clear. So we’d love to do more, we still have details that need to be worked out with LucasArts in order to get it done and none of those details have been addressed yet. They recently changed management over there and I think they’re working on their strategy for where they want to go in the future. As soon as that gets sorted out we’ll certainly bring it up with them again.
http://www.gamestm.co.uk/interviews/going-back-to-the-future-with-telltale-games/
this is from a interview with Dan Connors so keep your fingers crossed!
*fingers crossed*