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The Telltale Tool

behe101behe101
edited December 2009 in General Chat
Are you considering licencing or releasing the Telltale Tool for indie developers and modders to use to make their own games?

(not entirely sure where to put this thread so I'm trying this one.)
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Comments

  • SnicklinSnicklin
    edited March 2009
    Woah... yeah...
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited March 2009
    A few other folks have asked about that before and also before. It's come up a few times as something that would be cool to do, but it's not something we're actively working on (at least not that I know of!).
  • deadlinejondeadlinejon
    edited March 2009
    if you did, you would be my favorite developer. currently, your my second favorite developer.
  • MardukMarduk
    edited March 2009
    deadlinejon wrote: »
    if you did, you would be my favorite developer. currently, your my second favorite developer.
    Whose the first?
  • natlinxznatlinxz
    edited March 2009
    Me!

    I'm his favourite game developer for making Natlinxz OS 08!!!
  • EggieEggie
    edited March 2009
    I would make a game about broccoli.
  • deadlinejondeadlinejon
    edited March 2009
    Marduk wrote: »
    Whose the first?

    rareware because of the banjo n64 games. my favorite games of all time.
  • ZootchZootch
    edited March 2009
    I like Asymmetric Publications best, good time to be had by all!
  • TelltaleToolTelltaleTool
    edited March 2009
    Zootch wrote: »
    I like Asymmetric Publications best, good time to be had by all!

    I'm always very curious about the code and database structure behind KoL. It seems like it'd be an oddly complicated thing to write as a web app.
  • ZootchZootch
    edited March 2009
    it's supposedly an overcomplicated PHP database
  • TelltaleToolTelltaleTool
    edited March 2009
    That's kind of what I imagined :)
  • splash1splash1
    edited March 2009
    tabacco wrote: »
    That's kind of what I imagined :)

    I imagine that we all get donkeys and they can fly, and we get to go to space and fight Ninjas! That's offtopic isn't it?
  • XMunkkiXMunkki
    edited March 2009
    I always image the TTT to be more like a set of tools + a C++ engine which the programmers can augment (and the tool scripting as well). Playing the different TT games it feels like some major work happens between the games, not sure if it's on the engine side or the game side of things (bugs, slowdowns, performance/rendering working differently etc, some of it feels like it's per-game crunch talking [memory leaks etc]). So my first feeling is that while it could be licensable, making it public wouldn't probably be wise.

    And even licensing is a lot of work. Probably too much for TTG to put aside, as you'd need to give support, document stuff, keep things more rigid (less changes in the released tree while still somehow giving changes out) etc etc. All in all, the reality of it will make it hard.

    But hey, who knows, right? :-D
  • ZootchZootch
    edited March 2009
    Isn't there a part of an interview where they show it in the background?
  • natlinxznatlinxz
    edited March 2009
    XMunkki wrote: »
    I always image the TTT to be more like a set of tools + a C++ engine which the programmers can augment (and the tool scripting as well). Playing the different TT games it feels like some major work happens between the games, not sure if it's on the engine side or the game side of things (bugs, slowdowns, performance/rendering working differently etc, some of it feels like it's per-game crunch talking [memory leaks etc]). So my first feeling is that while it could be licensable, making it public wouldn't probably be wise.

    And even licensing is a lot of work. Probably too much for TTG to put aside, as you'd need to give support, document stuff, keep things more rigid (less changes in the released tree while still somehow giving changes out) etc etc. All in all, the reality of it will make it hard.

    But hey, who knows, right? :-D

    then we have piracy to worry about... and then people could make their own versions of telltales games and claim that they are "homebrew". Telltale would quickly go out of business.
  • TrogLlamaTrogLlama
    edited March 2009
    natlinxz wrote: »
    then we have piracy to worry about... and then people could make their own versions of telltales games and claim that they are "homebrew". Telltale would quickly go out of business.
    Because people have recreated Half-Life 2 with the Source SDK.
  • dentbudsdentbuds
    edited April 2009
    i know of this program called alice (weird name) and you can make animations and games. you could probably make point and click games.
  • ZootchZootch
    edited April 2009
    Throw up a wikipedia link to it, I want to get cracking on the Sonichu game o' awesome!
  • natlinxznatlinxz
    edited April 2009
    TrogLlama wrote: »
    Because people have recreated Half-Life 2 with the Source SDK.

    Actually, they did that with Half Life 1, so HA!
  • lecharleslecharles
    edited August 2009
    I don't care if I have to pay, if it's public, or if someone on the tt dev team leaks it somewhere, I NEED THE TELLTALE TOOL!
  • City Of DelusionCity Of Delusion
    edited August 2009
    natlinxz wrote: »
    Actually, they did that with Half Life 1, so HA!

    Actually, they haven't finished yet. Last time I checked, Black Mesa did have any public releases.

    If this is going to happen, they're going to exclusively licence it, and it would probably cost big bucks.
  • hansschmuckerhansschmucker
    edited August 2009
    Um, HalfLife wasn't Source-based. It used a slightly modified Quake1 engine. The OSS release was never used to destroy Quake's copy protection though, primarily because it didn't have one.

    ID software always turned off the copy protection before they released the client as OSS, so we'll never know if it would have made any difference.

    However I don't think releasing the TTT as OSS would really be a good idea right now. A good OSS game tool needs support. Lots of support. And Telltale wouldn't be able to provide it yet, which would probably result in little more than a bad reputation for TTG and the TTT.
  • City Of DelusionCity Of Delusion
    edited August 2009
    hansschmucker wrote: »
    Um, HalfLife wasn't Source-based. It used a slightly modified Quake1 engine. The OSS release was never used to destroy Quake's copy protection though, primarily because it didn't have one.
    I (and I think natlinxz) was referring to the Black Mesa mod, a port of Half Life 1 on the Source engine. Yes, I realise Half Life 1 was based on a modified Quake 1 engine, confusingly called GoldSource.
  • ShaggEShaggE
    edited August 2009
    City Of Delusion wrote: »
    Last time I checked, Black Mesa did have any public releases.

    If it ever does get released, I'll eat my hat.

    Alternatively: "Black Mesa? That was a joke, ha ha, fat chance." :p
  • guitarsareboringguitarsareboring
    edited August 2009
    I'm not sure I see the advantage of this. Telltale's games are special and I only want Telltale to make games that are like them. Everyone else can build their own 'tool'!
  • tredlowtredlow
    edited August 2009
    Using the Telltale Tool? Man, I have troubles using AGS already!
  • YandrosYandros
    edited August 2009
    XMunkki wrote: »
    I always image the TTT to be more like a set of tools + a C++ engine which the programmers can augment (and the tool scripting as well). Playing the different TT games it feels like some major work happens between the games, not sure if it's on the engine side or the game side of things (bugs, slowdowns, performance/rendering working differently etc, some of it feels like it's per-game crunch talking [memory leaks etc]). So my first feeling is that while it could be licensable, making it public wouldn't probably be wise.

    The telltale tool, as far as I can tell, is basically a Lua VM + their adventure game logic / API + directX + Maya extensions + dialog and animation scripting. I think they are following very much in the tradition of the lucas arts SCUMM and GRIME engines.

    Telltale might receive some fairly cheap exposure to potential markets by releasing a cut-down version of the Telltale Tool under academic license to universities which offer courses in game development. First and second years could do team projects to make point and click adventure games, tying together game logic, 3d animation, storyboarding and voice acting.
  • JedExodusJedExodus
    edited August 2009
    Zootch wrote: »
    Throw up a wikipedia link to it, I want to get cracking on the Sonichu game o' awesome!

    You finished that yet, or has Jimmy Hill/CWC/THE REAL CWC DISTRIBUTOR OF SONICHU MERCHANDISE got his attorneys at law to you, either way I grow impatient
  • YandrosYandros
    edited August 2009
    ShaggE wrote: »
    If it ever does get released, I'll eat my hat.

    Alternatively: "Black Mesa? That was a joke, ha ha, fat chance." :p

    Better buy a chocolate hat. Telltale are the sort of new generation company who I think would happily release their engine in some form. As an SDK or for academic purposes or whatever.
  • ShaggEShaggE
    edited August 2009
    Yandros wrote: »
    Better buy a chocolate hat. Telltale are the sort of new generation company who I think would happily release their engine in some form. As an SDK or for academic purposes or whatever.

    ...? Telltale has nothing to do with Black Mesa: Source.
  • DontEatRawHagisDontEatRawHagis
    edited October 2009
    I would love to use the Telltale Toolset. I am designing my own levels and games on giant posterboards, I have several stroon across my room already. An adventure game engine like this would be perfect for one of my ideas.

    I dont care if I have to sacrifice two goats, please release the Toolset Telltale.
  • PressidentMaxPressidentMax
    edited December 2009
    Can't you get to work on the tool please telltale, by the way, how much percent of the way is it?
  • JedExodusJedExodus
    edited December 2009
    ShaggE wrote: »
    If it ever does get released, I'll eat my hat.

    I'm feeling you on this one, but surely they'd have backed off the 2009 release date by now if it wasn't happening, they seem pretty adament it'll be out this year. my bet's Christmas Day or New Years Eve
  • PressidentMaxPressidentMax
    edited December 2009
    JedExodus wrote: »
    I'm feeling you on this one, but surely they'd have backed off the 2009 release date by now if it wasn't happening, they seem pretty adament it'll be out this year. my bet's Christmas Day or New Years Eve
    I hope your right, I want that tool! Or, we could send you to the telltale building and toture every worker until the telltale PAX kit is released, if it isn't then you just keep toturing them, until they call the coppers, then you do a runner, Either way We're gonna get that tool telltale! Even if we have waltz into you company and take telltale tool data and put it on DVDR disk!
    Or they could release it on Jan 11 2010 :) Guess why?
  • JedExodusJedExodus
    edited December 2009
    PressidentMax wrote: »
    I hope your right, I want that tool! Or, we could send you to the telltale building and toture every worker until the telltale PAX kit is released, if it isn't then you just keep toturing them, until they call the coppers, then you do a runner, Either way We're gonna get that tool telltale! Even if we have waltz into you company and take telltale tool data and put it on DVDR disk!
    Or they could release it on Jan 11 2010 :) Guess why?

    Eh? I was on about Black Mesa source. That Telltale Tool'll never see the light of day!! BWAHAHAHA! :p
  • PressidentMaxPressidentMax
    edited December 2009
    lecharles wrote: »
    I don't care if I have to pay, if it's public, or if someone on the tt dev team leaks it somewhere, I NEED THE TELLTALE TOOL!
    Don't say that, I don't wanna pay for it!
  • DarkEvilWormDarkEvilWorm
    edited December 2009
    tredlow wrote: »
    Using the Telltale Tool? Man, I have troubles using AGS already!

    I had troubles to. I'd love it if they made it extremely easy to use and user friendly
  • AshtonAshton
    edited December 2009
    I used to feel like you guys do: that a good engine shoudl be released for everyone to be able to use. Now, though, I think it's best they take it to their graves.

    All that will happen is people will use crappy graphics they made in MS Paint (Or ripped out of a well-known game like HL) to build games that are stupid, make no sence, and do nothing more than give the game industry a bad name. There are very few people who REALLY want to make games. Most just have an idea they want to crank out in an hour and never touch again. If your serious, WRITE YOUR OWN ENGINE! I've tried to do it, it CAN be done, it's a b**** but it's possible. If you dont have that level of devotion, you dont deserve to make games.
  • FriarFriar
    edited December 2009
    Ashton wrote: »
    I used to feel like you guys do: that a good engine shoudl be released for everyone to be able to use. Now, though, I think it's best they take it to their graves.

    All that will happen is people will use crappy graphics they made in MS Paint (Or ripped out of a well-known game like HL) to build games that are stupid, make no sence, and do nothing more than give the game industry a bad name. There are very few people who REALLY want to make games. Most just have an idea they want to crank out in an hour and never touch again. If your serious, WRITE YOUR OWN ENGINE! I've tried to do it, it CAN be done, it's a b**** but it's possible. If you dont have that level of devotion, you dont deserve to make games.

    This. Developing a 3D game isn't really something for amateurs. You'd be better off sticking to flash, or Scumm (is that free now?) if you want to create a P&C game. If you desperately want to create a 3D P&C game, then developing your own engine shouldn't be something to put you off. Besides, if TTG made their engine free access, then other companies could start using it, essentially ripping TTG off with the money they invested creating the engine. Plus, it would create more rival competition in the market.
  • AshtonAshton
    edited December 2009
    Friar wrote: »
    This. Developing a 3D game isn't really something for amateurs. You'd be better off sticking to flash, or Scumm (is that free now?) if you want to create a P&C game. If you desperately want to create a 3D P&C game, then developing your own engine shouldn't be something to put you off. Besides, if TTG made their engine free access, then other companies could start using it, essentially ripping TTG off with the money they invested creating the engine. Plus, it would create more rival competition in the market.

    I'm getting very mixed messages here. Are you agreeing with *me* that it shoudl be kept secret and ppl shoudl make their own engines...

    or are you agreeing with *them* that T3 should be released to the public somehow?
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