The Walking Dead Game in Black and White (merged threads)

edited February 2013 in The Walking Dead
First off, for all of you fools that have no idea about The Walking Dead, it's just as story driven as Jurassic Park and Back to the future.
There doesn't need to be any shooting elements for this to be a good game.
TWD is a drama, not an action, series.

But since this is being based off of the comics, I really hope they go with the art style that the comic has, and PLEASE keep it in black and white.

I highly recommend everyone to check out the comics, especially before they make stupid threads claiming that TWD is just a gore fest.
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Comments

  • edited February 2011
    If a comic is black and white, it provides a distinctive style, and at times can add more to the comic's environment than color can.

    If a video game is black and white, however, it's just a pain to look at. I don't know why, but there's something about black and white 3D character models in a black and white 3D landscape that isn't kind to the eyes.

    To give a Telltale precedent, I turn your attention to the Automata table in Poker Night at the Inventory.
  • edited February 2011
    I don't know if they need to keep it black and white to stay true to the comics. The covers aren't black and white so I don't think it is supposed to be a black and white world or anything.

    I'd prefer it to be colour, but that's just me.
  • edited February 2011
    It would be interesting if it had Mad World-style graphics:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG0YlZ-ghbQ
  • edited February 2011
    Shiverssul wrote: »
    First off, for all of you fools that have no idea about The Walking Dead, it's just as story driven as Jurassic Park and Back to the future.
    There doesn't need to be any shooting elements for this to be a good game.
    TWD is a drama, not an action, series.

    But since this is being based off of the comics, I really hope they go with the art style that the comic has, and PLEASE keep it in black and white.

    I highly recommend everyone to check out the comics, especially before they make stupid threads claiming that TWD is just a gore fest.

    On the gore fest i must say, that after reading a few comics(great series by the way) it has its gory PARTS, but not a gorefest or zombie shooters, in fact, where Im at in the series, zombies barely seem to be the problem(issue 18 with the criminals)

    As for black and white, it makes GREAT atmosphere for comic books, terrible for video games.
    Telltale did do black and white as and easter egg for poker night, and it personally failed and had people complain(which is stupid because it was OPTIONAL).
  • edited February 2011
    I'd actually like to see realistic lighting, mostly due to Telltale being above the Shades of Grey nearly every video game has these days as a color scheme.
  • edited February 2011
    TTG should hire this guy to work on the game.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ocZtE9U29w
  • edited February 2011
    Woodsyblue wrote: »
    I don't know if they need to keep it black and white to stay true to the comics. The covers aren't black and white so I don't think it is supposed to be a black and white world or anything.
    The comics world is definitely in black and white for an artistic reason. I can't find the statement online, and I'd have to dig through my back issues to find the correct Letters Hacks column, but the comics universe is definitely supposed to be in black and white while the TV show is the way it is because it's a very different entity story-wise. If what Kirkman says about the game being a comics-universe game is true, a black and white look that emulates the series distinctive inking style would be ideal.
  • edited February 2011
    The comics world is definitely in black and white for an artistic reason. I can't find the statement online, and I'd have to dig through my back issues to find the correct Letters Hacks column, but the comics universe is definitely supposed to be in black and white while the TV show is the way it is because it's a very different entity story-wise. If what Kirkman says about the game being a comics-universe game is true, a black and white look that emulates the series distinctive inking style would be ideal.

    That's interesting. I just assumed it was black and white to save both money and time. I wonder what direction they will go in with the game? It would be interesting to hear if Kirkman has an opinion in the matter on whether the game should be back and white or colour.
  • edited February 2011
    Woodsyblue wrote: »
    That's interesting. I just assumed it was black and white to save both money and time. I wonder what direction they will go in with the game? It would be interesting to hear if Kirkman has an opinion in the matter on whether the game should be back and white or colour.
    Kirkman has actually said that cost in terms of money and time would be completely negligible, and that if he wanted to do it in color, it would be a minor matter for him to do it. And cost really isn't a major thing with the comic, as it's one of the most successful Image comics(actually, it's probably the *most* successful), and it continues to grow in purchases every issue.
  • edited February 2011
    It's also interesting to note that the tv-series being a different take on the comic isn't the only reason for the tv-show not being black & white. He also thought a completely black & white television show would seem too pretentious, which I think I can agree with. It might become too destracting, and I think the same could be true about the game possibly being in black & white. What works for the comic (and I believe the comics do work better in black & white) doesn't necessarily work for the game.

    The 'tv-show in black & white would be pretentious'-comment from Kirkman also comes from one of the letter columns at the back of the comic. Should be from around the time the television series was announced, or perhaps a bit before that, because fans have been asking about a television series way before the actual series was announced.
  • edited February 2011
    I find it interesting now that the show wasn't done in black and white. Frank Darabont loves B&W. He originally wanted his film The Mist to be shown in B&W. I think there is an option in the Amercin special edition DVD for the film to be seen in B&W, like he always intended it to be seen.
  • edited February 2011
    TTG announces their The Walking Dead game will be Black & White and it will be console exclusive:

    twdgameboy.jpg


    Now seriously... In games B&W just looks weird... Best option would probably be keeping the artistic style of the comics, but adding a few colors.
    Too many colors doesnt fit the license, B&W doesnt fit a video game... Maybe settle for something in between.
  • edited February 2011
    Both Madworld and The Saboteur looked greatin B&W in my opinion :)


    mawowi025.jpg


    the-saboteur-xbox-360-043.jpg
  • edited February 2011
    Yeah, i think black and white wouldn't work on a videogame.

    BUT i do think they should use a washed out palette of colors.
  • edited February 2011
    Black and white would actually be awesome. If they manage to take the comics and turn them into a 3D experience, it would really stand out on the market...
  • edited March 2011
    Black an white in a game would be a little irritating to look at.

    I don't see why it would be that way anyway. Just becuase the comics are in black and white doesn't mean that's a theme or anything. Plenty of comics are in black and white, so it's not anything special. I'm completely fine with colors.
  • edited March 2011
    B and W worked great in Mad World and Saboteur...but both games were commercial flops. Saboteur even helped finish off Pandemic, in terms of sales.

    It sucks to admit, but games need to sell, and while I wouldnt mind a B and W game, having enjoyed both previous mentioned titles, would it sell?
  • edited March 2011
    I don't think it was the color scheme that caused those games to flop.

    For another reference, the recent (and admittedly kinda tedious) Spider-man game had some levels in a high-contrast, nearly black and white world. I thought it looked pretty cool.

    991323_20100609_640screen013.jpg
  • edited March 2011
    I personally would like color, maybe slightly washed out or muted... Just because the comics are black and white doesn't mean the game has to be... The show is in color... when I watch it I wasn't like... OMG this is so untrue to the source material!!!! Most of the covers have color... some are somewhat muted.
  • edited March 2011
    I think it depends on many factors. If they found a way to make it look like a 2D or 2.5D game that was based on Moore or Adlard's artwork, I think it would look best in black and white. If the designs are more original, then whatever works best with those designs.

    I just disagree with the idea that a black and white game couldn't work. But if they do use it, it should be for a more compelling reason than "because the comic was black and white".
  • edited March 2011
    Regular gameplay in color, cutscenes in black and white could be a cool concept and compromise :)
  • edited March 2011
    KatieHal wrote: »
    Regular gameplay in color, cutscenes in black and white could be a cool concept and compromise :)

    I don't know, it's an interesting idea but a concept like that could be jarringly inconsistent and off-putting.
  • edited February 2012
    How about an option to switch between color & greyscale? Thereby not forcing one upon those who would choose the other.

    I should also just say that the Sam & Max comics weren't exactly in color either.
  • harrisonpinkharrisonpink Telltale Alumni
    edited February 2012
    The problem that I see with B&W games is that when you're working with something like comics, the artist has complete control over the camera and the characters in the shot. He or she can craft that shot to convey lots of information and look visually appealing without it turning into a big blobby mess.

    With video games, the camera angles, character position, and framing is entirely uncontrollable. The artist can't organise it in a way that conveys the right information, and it seems like you end up with a big confusing mess.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited February 2012
    Maybe not "uncontrollable", but I think I understand the problem.

    Besides the additional possibilities differing line thicknesses offer, a comic artist has complete control over the lighting on his characters which is THE element to make a given scene comprehensible in black and white only. If the image is computer-generated and a "moving" picture, the engine dictates that lighting is "realistic". I imagine that this would make a B&W game that really has impressive graphics/picture composition very hard to make. The artist can do almost anything in a picture if only he gets his values straight. The game designer on the other hand can not start out with value organization.

    The 3D game designer has to think like a movie director, not like a painter/artist, and besides lacking the artist's freedom, he hasn't exactly got the tools of a movie director as well.
  • harrisonpinkharrisonpink Telltale Alumni
    edited February 2012
    by uncontrollable, I just meant that the angle of the shot and the placement of the characters can't really be predicted, since the player usually has control over them.
  • edited February 2012
    Not to jump to conclusions (okay, I'm kind of jumping to conclusions -- where's that mat?), but are you suggesting that players will have more direct control over the camera in The Walking Dead than in previous Telltale games?
  • harrisonpinkharrisonpink Telltale Alumni
    edited February 2012
    Not to jump to conclusions (okay, I'm kind of jumping to conclusions -- where's that mat?), but are you suggesting that players will have more direct control over the camera in The Walking Dead than in previous Telltale games?

    I'm not making a statement about Telltale Games at all really, just about the logistics of making a game in black and white look appealing.

    But you will have a certain amount of control over the camera in The Walking Dead.
  • edited April 2012
    Apologies if this has already been answered before as I have not been following the development of this game extremely closely. I heard about it a while back when it was first announced and such, but didn't read much about it until this past week. I'm a fan of the comics and was a fan of the show for awhile but stopped watching during the first half of season 2, as I wasn't a big fan of the differences from the comics. Anyways, my question is this...

    Will there be an option to play the game in Black & White/Grayscale?

    I'm pretty sure this game is based more on the comics than the TV adaptation, and since it's a B&W comic, I think it would be pretty bad-ass if there was an option to play the game in B&W also.
  • edited April 2012
    I was actually thinking the same thing. I know, obviously, that color is the standard but the B&W option would be pretty sweet.
  • edited April 2012
    Drewsiefer wrote: »
    I was actually thinking the same thing. I know, obviously, that color is the standard but the B&W option would be pretty sweet.

    Yeah, definitely. It's not a must-have for me, and I'd probably play through it in color the first time through but it would definitely be a nice homage to the comics.
  • edited April 2012
    Well, most monitors have saturation buttons, we don't really need software tricks to bring the game in black&white... :P
  • edited April 2012
    Well, most monitors have saturation buttons, we don't really need software tricks to bring the game in black&white... :P

    lolz so true, so true. We often don't think of these things, the basic oldschool settings we all used to deal with.

    In the end, playing a game that has fluid motion and fast action is usually horrible in B+W, hence the reason they decided not to do it in game. The comics are awesome and would never need color, but they're so much easier to absorb.

    I may try turning off color on my monitor, but more than likely I'll take it for what it is and enjoy every color saturated gib
  • harrisonpinkharrisonpink Telltale Alumni
    edited April 2012
    Well, most monitors have saturation buttons, we don't really need software tricks to bring the game in black&white... :P

    We've had a lot of people ask about a black & white mode for the game. Jake and I actually discuss is in the first Playing Dead Q&A video!

    (The short answer is: we discussed it a lot, but we aren't planning on it.)
  • edited April 2012
    Anyone else think it would be neat if they implemented an optional black and white mode that would bring it even closer to the comic?
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  • edited April 2012
    Yes. Special edition option, Telltale? Please? :)
  • edited April 2012
    Jake has covered this a few times in the past, and it's brought up in the first episode of Playing Dead as well. The long and short of it is that technical issues prevent a black and white mode from being added.

    However, most monitors and/or video card drivers allow you to adjust the color saturation, so running in black and white mode CAN be accomplished by fiddling with things outside of the game.
  • edited April 2012
    Ahh. Oh well, would have been neat. Guess I should rewatch that first ep of Playing Dead. :p
  • edited April 2012
    Mike wrote: »
    However, most monitors and/or video card drivers allow you to adjust the color saturation, so running in black and white mode CAN be accomplished by fiddling with things outside of the game.

    Good point. I'll have to try that sometime, just for kicks.
  • edited April 2012
    Telltale experimented with a "black and white" mode in Poker Night at the Inventory.

    A black and white comic or movie can have a stylistic appeal, but a black and white video game is just a pain to look at for too long.
This discussion has been closed.