Leisure Suit Larry

edited September 2011 in General Chat
tbm1986 wrote: »
They even tested the water with Leisure Suit Larry, which they must have picked up on by seeing posts by me and one or two others that lurk on the forums. I don't think we'll ever see a LSL game made by TTG (1) because the demand is too low and 2) getting Sierra to lease out any IPs must take some doing) but that doesn't stop me hoping I'm wrong.

1- Sierra doesn't exist anymore, the IPs of the defunct company and retired brand are now owned by ActiVision
2- ActiVision doesn't own the IP for Leisure Suit Larry anymore. They sold it to CodeMasters.
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Comments

  • edited March 2011
    1- Sierra doesn't exist anymore, the IPs of the defunct company and retired brand are now owned by ActiVision
    2- ActiVision doesn't own the IP for Leisure Suit Larry anymore. They sold it to CodeMasters.

    Whoa! I had no idea. Thanks for filling me in. I seriously doubt either of those companies would be willing to fly the Adventure flag. Maybe it's up to TTG and the like to persuade them to lease (or, even better, sell outright) the Adventure game IPs.
  • edited March 2011
    Well, ActiVision allowed TSL to be released, QFG2VGA and KQ3Redux to be released, and now Telltale are doing King's Quest officially. I think ActiVision is allowing it to thrive a little.
  • edited March 2011
    Activision wasn't doing anything with the IP anyway, they're probably happy to have someone pay something to use it.
  • edited March 2011
    Allright, who wants to form a company to do something with the Larry property? :D
    I'd totally be into it!
  • edited March 2011
    tbm1986 wrote: »
    They even tested the water with Leisure Suit Larry, which they must have picked up on by seeing posts by me and one or two others that lurk on the forums. I don't think we'll ever see a LSL game made by TTG (1) because the demand is too low and 2) getting Sierra to lease out any IPs must take some doing) but that doesn't stop me hoping I'm wrong.

    The demand for LSL would probably be greater than for any non-movie/TV licensed product Telltale has made. It is without question a bigger name than Monkey Island and Sam & Max. There is a big difference between the properties that are popular around here and on hardcore gaming sites, and that which the general public/casual gamer is aware of.
  • edited March 2011
    Yeah, I've known people who aren't even gamers that know who Leisure Suit Larry is.
  • edited March 2011
    I would only be into another Larry title if it was classy, and not just sleazy mini games. Just hearing an announcement about a LSL game would not be enough to make me interested.
  • edited March 2011
    Codemasters isn't even doing anything with Larry since Box office bust was a complete bust(meaning failure). Also I would only buy a Leisure Suit Larry game from Telltale if it had these things.

    1. 2D animation similar to Love for sail.
    2. Finish the proposed sequel for love for sail(as a full game not episodic)
    3. Classy title(as Zounds mentioned) filled with adventure game goodness.
    4. After finishing love for sail's proposed sequel, make an episodic series that takes place after that.
    5. Here's an important one, GET AL LOWE.
  • edited March 2011
    Al Lowe told me in an email that he is happily retired and plans to remain so. But the really Awesome thing about Al is that he seems to ALWAYS reply to emails... if TTG contacted him I am pretty sure he would give them his thoughts.

    As for 2D im not opposed to this... but I actually thought visually MCL was pretty good and fit into the world nicely.
  • edited March 2011
    People need to get over 2D. If Al Lowe and Sierra were in-tact and making LSL games today they would be in 3D.
  • edited March 2011
    JuntMonkey wrote: »
    People need to get over 2D.
    What for? Whats with with 2D being used in video games?
  • edited March 2011
    Um...you guys do realize there Is a new LSL game...called Magna Cum Laude
  • edited March 2011
    There are two. Magna Cum Laude and Box Office Bust. Both suck horribly.
  • edited March 2011
    There are two. Magna Cum Laude and Box Office Bust. Both suck horribly.
    And Al Lowe had no connection with them. Plus Magna Cum Laude was on the edge of Fritz the cat's and South Park's Alley with that kind of humor.
  • edited March 2011
    Yeah, I've known people who aren't even gamers that know who Leisure Suit Larry is.

    Probably because he's a trope.
  • edited March 2011
    Irishmile wrote: »
    But the really Awesome thing about Al is that he seems to ALWAYS reply to emails.
    You're right!
    When the come back from Monkey Island was announced, I had a little thought for him and sent him that email:
    Hey Al!
    First time I'm sending you an email!
    I'm not sure if you know about Monkey Island or other Lucasart old adventure games, but there seems to be a come back interest to the adventure game type for Lucasart. Not only did they allowed Telltales to bring an all new game for the MI serie (Tales of Monkey Island) but they also bring us a Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition (remake of the first one) that can bring back an interest for the adventure game and maybe some more remake or sequel can be made!
    So now I was wondering, what do you think about all that? Maybe If all go well, Sierra (or another compagnie) can do some remake of LSL, or a REAL LSL 8, with YOUR involvement!
    (Because Ron Gilbert, original Designer for MI 1 & 2 was asked for brainstorming for tales of monkey island, and could also go to lucasart to see how the remake was doing)
    Now I sure hope it can be made! (because they did a pretty good job with MI)

    Have a good day!

    His answer:
    Thanks, Diorm. Yes, I've heard about MI and the other games but the Leisure Suit Larry franchise is very screwed up right now. I doubt that anyone could bring it back successfully!

    AL
  • edited March 2011
    Haha!! Al sounds angry about it!

    I didn't play any LSL games since "Love for Sail", but I think if anyone could bring it back from Sucktown, it would be Telltale.
  • edited June 2011
    I return bearing news from E3...

    Larry's back (kinda)...and he brought Al with him.

    http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110692-Leisure-Suit-Larry-Returns-Later-This-Year
  • edited June 2011
    This news already came out, actually. Al Lowe mentioned it on his Facebook and in some German video. Nice to see it again though!
  • edited June 2011
    Brainiac wrote: »
    I return bearing news from E3...

    Larry's back (kinda)...and he brought Al with him.

    http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110692-Leisure-Suit-Larry-Returns-Later-This-Year

    Wait, so it's a remake? They got Al Lowe and they're making a remake? Why not make a new game? The plot of Lust In Space had potential!
  • edited June 2011
    Is it a remake (new updated graphics, etc.) or just a port of old VGA version on iPad/iPhone?
    I'd love to see a new Larry game, but remake would be nice too.
  • edited June 2011
    I'll see if I can get any answers on what exactly Lowe's doing with the remake... he's been awesome and actually responded to me in the past. :D
  • edited June 2011
    The article made me think it's a remake of the VGA remake o LSL1. Which would mean updated graphics (probably will be closer to a hi-res LSL7 then). Not sure why they need Al Lowe for this... is it an expanded Director's Cut, and Al Lowe writes some additional parts for the game? Extra scenes, puzzles, women, etc?
  • edited June 2011
    I'm hoping this is a "testing the waters" thing like LA seemed to intend by doing the SMI and MI2 remakes. Great to see Larry in the right hands.
  • edited June 2011
    tbm1986 wrote: »
    I'm hoping this is a "testing the waters" thing like LA seemed to intend by doing the SMI and MI2 remakes. Great to see Larry in the right hands.

    We know what the SMI and MI2 remakes resulted in. Nothing. So much for testing the water. Last "good" news from LucasArts is that they've realized that they've been making too many crap Star Wars games, and from now on they're going to make many "good" Star Wars games instead.
  • edited June 2011
    StarEye wrote: »
    We know what the SMI and MI2 remakes resulted in. Nothing. So much for testing the water. Last "good" news from LucasArts is that they've realized that they've been making too many crap Star Wars games, and from now on they're going to make many "good" Star Wars games instead.

    It was always going to be volatile at LA though and only took a change of President for it to come to an end. I know nothing about Replay but I doubt it's as bad as that.
  • edited June 2011
    Yeah, but I'm pretty sick and tired of all these "testing the water" projects, when every project either fail due to low quality (and then they blame the market), or they succeed and still don't result in anything more.
  • edited June 2011
    StarEye wrote: »
    Yeah, but I'm pretty sick and tired of all these "testing the water" projects, when every project either fail due to low quality (and then they blame the market), or they succeed and still don't result in anything more.

    One of these days, one company might go a step or two further. Until then, it shows adventure gaming isn't completely dead outside Telltale Studios.
  • edited June 2011
    Scnew wrote: »
    I'll see if I can get any answers on what exactly Lowe's doing with the remake... he's been awesome and actually responded to me in the past. :D

    And Al decided to be awesome and respond to me again! Here's what he said:

    "It's no remake, but a rerelease of Larry1-VGA. And yes, I am slightly involved. Hopefully it will sell well and encourage them to release even more!"
  • edited June 2011
    Scnew wrote: »
    And Al decided to be awesome and respond to me again! Here's what he said:

    "It's no remake, but a rerelease of Larry1-VGA. And yes, I am slightly involved. Hopefully it will sell well and encourage them to release even more!"

    Wait, so they're not even gonna change anything from it? Why even use Al Lowe, then? Why not use him to make new LSL games instead? Unless of course, he's gonna add commentaries and stuff.
  • edited June 2011
    If this is going to do well, is there any chance for Lust in space happening?
  • edited June 2011
    tredlow wrote: »
    Wait, so they're not even gonna change anything from it? Why even use Al Lowe, then? Why not use him to make new LSL games instead? Unless of course, he's gonna add commentaries and stuff.

    He didn't elaborate any further than that. Maybe it's as simple as they're adding voices to it and he is going to be in it.
  • edited June 2011
    There's no way they can do any kind of editing to it because the source code for the games no longer exists. When Sierra was bought out the first time the new copyright owners just dumped everything into dumpsters without even asking what it was (some of it extremely valuable and innovative technology for the time).
  • edited June 2011
    There's no way they can do any kind of editing to it because the source code for the games no longer exists. When Sierra was bought out the first time the new copyright owners just dumped everything into dumpsters without even asking what it was (some of it extremely valuable and innovative technology for the time).

    JERKS!

    Still, can't be too hard to reverse engineer them.
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited June 2011
    When Sierra was bought out the first time the new copyright owners just dumped everything into dumpsters without even asking what it was (some of it extremely valuable and innovative technology for the time).

    Really? That seems kinda stupid (they'd just bought it after all)! What was the logic there - were they buying the Sierra name, IPs and people rather than the stuff they'd produced?
  • edited June 2011
    They thought it was all junk. Sierra was then run solely by the suits and they didn't care to know what it all was. Not long after being bought out the Yosemite offices (where most of the core retro designers worked and created adventure titles) were closed down, and then afterwards the head office in Los Angeles or wherever it was followed suit. They only cared to have the name, I guess.

    Also, the most luck people have had reverse engineering the SCI engine was the FreeSCI project (now merged with ScummVM), it still has problems and isn't perfect but pretty good. But that was after over a decade of work and we're still not at perfect simulation yet.
  • edited June 2011
    Icedhope wrote: »

    It will be interesting how they replace the interface, bearing in mind all you can do is tap, double-tap and drag.
  • edited June 2011
    I'd be stoked for a new LSL game, especially if Telltale touched it, but LSL is a bit risque for Telltale dont ya think?

    The remake of the original is epic tho, and to get Al's excitement for LSL renewed could possibly mean a new, properly done LSL from the only one that could do it right... I would like to see him just make one more, dont let the franchise die out on Box Office Bust or Magna Cum Laude..... it just seems like a sad final years for such a groundbreaking and influential game...
  • edited August 2011
    Sorry to bump this a little, but I just played the second episode of Hector, and I gotta say it feels like Telltale is checking to see whether the crowd is ready for a Larry game.

    Hector feels even more 'ugly' the Larry actually, so if the crowd loves Hector, I'm sure they would love Larry!

    I'm very glad to read here that the IP for Larry is now in a reasonable state. In the past, there wasn't even someone to talk to when you mentioned Larry. Sierra-Vivendi kept him to tight... Thank god this is over.

    I also remember a poll Telltale made once around after ToMI, in which they asked, which game would you like to see next. Maniac Mansion, Leisure Suit Larry and King Quest were all there! I see KQ won for now, but i'm sure the others will follow around soon.


    Al Lowe + Telltale = EPICNESS!!!
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