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Telltale and Dr Who.

jp-30jp-30
edited July 2009 in General Chat
Mojo reports on Telltale having an interest in the Dr Who license.

http://www.mixnmojo.com/php/news/showfile.php?id=3432&category=telltale


It would be a good license but what's Dr Who's US awareness like though?
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Comments

  • LuigiHannLuigiHann
    edited June 2009
    jp-30 wrote: »
    It would be a good license but what's Dr Who's US awareness like though?

    In absurdly broad generalizations, I'd say that everybody here has heard of it, but nobody here has watched it. :p
  • Rather DashingRather Dashing
    edited June 2009
    I have no idea how popular it is in the US. I've personally only seen the new series, which seems to have proven reasonably popular for a Sci-Fi TV show.

    I'm more of a Stargate fan anyway.
  • xChri5xxChri5x
    edited June 2009
    I'm aware of it, but I have never watched it or know what it's about. I know it's Sci Fi though.
  • zimmi88zimmi88
    edited June 2009
    I've seen much of the recent seasons on DVD. It's a great franchise, though I dunno if BBC would be willing to release the IP to any US developers anytime soon. I hear they released the IP to Fox in the past, whom proceeded to completely wreck the franchise.

    If Telltale were to do a Doctor Who game, though, wonder where it would fit in with the show's cannon. I think an interesting thing to do with the IP would be to spin it off into a sub-series away from the main show's canon ("lost stories", maybe). That, and have a lot of fun with the art direction in the series... not completely cartoony, but not anything near photorealistic, either.

    I think, though, if there were any US developer to trust with the Doctor Who IP, it would be Telltale.
  • Guybrush ThreepwoodGuybrush Threepwood
    edited June 2009
    A Doctor Who game from Telltale would be amazing! There's another series (with a new Doctor and companion) coming in 2010, so it'd be perfect timing to line it up with that. You'd definitely have to look out for the fanbase of DW though, since they're very devoted, so I'm sure you'd have them banging down your door if you even got a very minor detail wrong. A question is which Doctor you'd cast? I myself would prefer David Tennant, but since he's leaving the show I'm not sure if he'd want to carry on the franchise in other forms.
  • FunktionFunktion
    edited June 2009
    LuigiHann wrote: »
    In absurdly broad generalizations, I'd say that everybody here has heard of it, but nobody here has watched it. :p
    The "absurdly broad generalization" in your comments is that you seem to believe everyone on this forums is located in the US, and admittedly Dr. Who does not have the same projection in the US as it has in the UK, and the rest of Europe.

    But you couldn't be more wrong. Dr. Who is a long standing, and well known series, I certainly watched it (and continue to do so), and I'm not even from Dr. Who's home country, the UK. The series reputation and fan base grew quite a bit all over Europe with the recent series.

    As for Telltale working on a Dr. Who game, I would love to see it, even though I admit I would prefer an RPG based on the series.
  • LukeSWLukeSW
    edited June 2009
    I'd love it if Telltale were granted the rights to create episodic Doctor Who games. I can't think of a better fit of developer and franchise. The mere thought of it makes me feel giddy. If the world was a perfect place, this would happen.
  • patterspatters
    edited June 2009
    Funktion wrote: »
    The "absurdly broad generalization" in your comments is that you seem to believe everyone on this forums is located in the US, and admittedly Dr. Who does not have the same projection in the US as it has in the UK, and the rest of Europe.

    But you couldn't be more wrong. Dr. Who is a long standing, and well known series, I certainly watched it (and continue to do so), and I'm not even from Dr. Who's home country, the UK. The series reputation and fan base grew quite a bit all over Europe with the recent series.

    As for Telltale working on a Dr. Who game, I would love to see it, even though I admit I would prefer an RPG based on the series.

    I believe he was using here to refer to the US
  • Rather DashingRather Dashing
    edited June 2009
    Funktion wrote: »
    The "absurdly broad generalization" in your comments is that you seem to believe everyone on this forums is located in the US, and admittedly Dr. Who does not have the same projection in the US as it has in the UK, and the rest of Europe.
    The poster wanted to know how well Dr. Who was doing in the US as opposed to the UK. So the reply used "here", indicating the US that was being asked about, as opposed to "there", the UK. Since the poster was replying to a non-US resident, I think they knew quite well that Telltale's forums aren't for a US fanbase exclusively.
  • serweetserweet
    edited June 2009
    I don't know if it would work, obviously if Tell Tale are inquiring, they have an idea; but I would hope they would choose one of the older Doctors, so that there is the better stories. I have found the newer ones have just been too London/Cardiff focused.
  • LuigiHannLuigiHann
    edited June 2009
    Funktion wrote: »
    The "absurdly broad generalization" in your comments is that you seem to believe everyone on this forums is located in the US, and admittedly Dr. Who does not have the same projection in the US as it has in the UK, and the rest of Europe.

    By "here" I simply meant "where I am," which is to say, the United States. If you look at the question I was responding to, you'll see he's asking about Dr. Who in the U.S. specifically.
  • AlucardAlucard
    edited June 2009
    I'd rather see a blackadder game
  • Secret FawfulSecret Fawful
    edited June 2009
    If Telltale made a Dr. Who game, by looking at how the press of it would work, they would either go with the current doctor or make one up. At least that's my speculation based on how they seem to work. I do know though that if they did a Dr. Who game they would become quite famous quite fast.

    I also think that any stories they use would be original ones at best.
  • SRTie4kSRTie4k
    edited June 2009
    I always preferred Tom Baker myself, but I watched it up until the 7th doctor, Sylvester McCoy, and I'm here in the States. It ran on PBS for the longest time where I live, it used to be one of my favorite shows along with Red Dwarf and Flying Circus.

    I'd say 90% of those in the US have probably heard of Doctor Who, while a mere 15% of that number have actually watched it.
  • FunktionFunktion
    edited June 2009
    My favourite Doctor so far was, funnily enough, Christopher Eccleston. For some reason, his portrayal of the character, with it's "wild mood swings", is just how I always imagined the character, and it just clicked with me.
    You know what would be great in a Dr. Who series of episodic games by Tellgame? If each episode featured a different era of the series, effectively meaning each episode would feature a different actor portraying the Doctor (of those still alive, of course).

    And on a totally unrelated note, since Alucard mentioned a Blackadder game, you know what series I would love to see Telltale turn into an episodic series of games? The League of Gentlemen. :p
    And while we're at it, why not a series of games based on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? It would work great as a graphic adventure, probably even better than Doctor Who.
  • corruptbigginscorruptbiggins
    edited June 2009
    Funktion wrote: »
    My favourite Doctor so far was, funnily enough, Christopher Eccleston. For some reason, his portrayal of the character, with it's "wild mood swings", is just how I always imagined the character, and it just clicked with me.

    Same here. Always thought it was a shame he only did the one series. But in that it's pretty clear the Doctor was using that form for a fair while which would give loads of space & time for games to be based on.
  • serweetserweet
    edited June 2009
    Funktion wrote: »
    My favourite Doctor so far was, funnily enough, Christopher Eccleston. For some reason, his portrayal of the character, with it's "wild mood swings", is just how I always imagined the character, and it just clicked with me.
    You know what would be great in a Dr. Who series of episodic games by Tellgame? If each episode featured a different era of the series, effectively meaning each episode would feature a different actor portraying the Doctor (of those still alive, of course).

    And on a totally unrelated note, since Alucard mentioned a Blackadder game, you know what series I would love to see Telltale turn into an episodic series of games? The League of Gentlemen. :p
    And while we're at it, why not a series of games based on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? It would work great as a graphic adventure, probably even better than Doctor Who.

    I remember a Hitchhikers game on DOS many many years ago. Completely text based. Would be awesome to see that converted to an adventure game a la Monkey Island, with typical british humour to boot.
  • patterspatters
    edited June 2009
    serweet wrote: »
    I remember a Hitchhikers game on DOS many many years ago. Completely text based. Would be awesome to see that converted to an adventure game a la Monkey Island, with typical british humour to boot.

    I believe it is on the bbc's website now.
  • serweetserweet
    edited June 2009
    patters wrote: »
    I believe it is on the bbc's website now.
    sweeeet.
    Now for a Monkey Island remake and I'd-... sweeet.
  • Impossible3144Impossible3144
    edited June 2009
    I came here specifically because I read this news and thought it was an incredible idea. Every time someone brought up the idea of a Doctor Who video game of any kind (stupid card game aside), I brushed it off because I just didn't see how it could work. The Doctor isn't exactly super action guy or anything. But hearing DW in the same sentence as Telltale just made everything suddenly light up and make perfect sense. I can't think of a better license/developer combination, and this is my new first preference for Telltale's next license. The Doctor is such an Adventure game hero, he even has the sense of humour for it.

    One idea a friend of mine had that was really cool is that, if possible (maybe the show writers have other plans for this), they could use this to explore the story of River Song - a future companion of the Doctor who's first in-show appearance was actually her "final" episode, hinting at her appearance as companion in a future season. With David Tennant leaving, they've dug a massive plothole, in that she specifically said the Doctor looked younger, rather than completely different, and implied that it was that specific Doctor she travelled with. So if this game were done with Tennant (if he agreed), it would allow that story to work really well. Probably better than anything they'd do to patch up the story, and it saves writers for this potential game the needs to come up with a new character as companion. If the right people were involved in the story, it could potentially be a cool part of the canon.

    Otherwise, anything with the Tenth Doctor would be great with me, but I fear by the time this could potentially get off the ground, he'll be gone and we'll be getting the next one as a tie-in, without him yet having much of an established personality or connection with fans.

    Anyway, make it happen, dammit! >_>
  • TeethTeeth
    edited June 2009
    Sounds great. :D I think I'd like Red Dwarf better, though...
  • MajusMajus
    edited June 2009
    A Doctor-Who-Adventure, episode, by Telltale? It would be SO brilliant!
    Teeth wrote: »
    Sounds great. :D I think I'd like Red Dwarf better, though...

    Red Dwarf? Fan-smeggin-tastic! Good idea!
  • ATimsonATimson
    edited June 2009
    Just heard about Telltale expressing interest in making such a game... chalk me up as interested in buying it from them! :D
  • Victory63Victory63
    edited June 2009
    If Telltale made a Doctor Who, they would be then making millions (well bit less but loads).

    Telltale, do Doctor Who and you wont regret it.
  • GryffalioGryffalio
    edited June 2009
    I think Doctor Who would fit into the TTG portfolio quite well. The fans of stuff like Sam & Max and Monkey Island do seem to also have a soft spot for Doctor Who, and I believe (not sure) the David Tennant stuff went down really well in America... which surprised me :p

    The style of play would very much fit a Doctor Who game as well. Sam & Max/Monkey Island style adventures are exactly what Doctor Who needs to be. Though I really hate Matt Smith with a passion and I guess they'd have to have his character as the Doctor.

    ... Unless they get a move on and release a game within a year :)
  • Victory63Victory63
    edited June 2009
    Gryffalio wrote: »
    I think Doctor Who would fit into the TTG portfolio quite well. The fans of stuff like Sam & Max and Monkey Island do seem to also have a soft spot for Doctor Who, and I believe (not sure) the David Tennant stuff went down really well in America... which surprised me :p

    The style of play would very much fit a Doctor Who game as well. Sam & Max/Monkey Island style adventures are exactly what Doctor Who needs to be. Though I really hate Matt Smith with a passion and I guess they'd have to have his character as the Doctor.

    ... Unless they get a move on and release a game within a year :)

    Well really the fact is that they start to make one which is what we are here trying to aim at to which then news says that they definately will do one, then we can give in our ideas.
  • LuigiHannLuigiHann
    edited June 2009
    Telltale should partner up with the BBC to license Hitchhiker's Guide and Dr. Who, and make a mashup/crossover series that takes place in a combined universe. It would be the most fantastic thing in the world.
  • TeaTea
    edited June 2009
    jp-30 wrote: »

    It would be a good license but what's Dr Who's US awareness like though?

    ...

    They made a Wallace and Gromit game. I have little faith in a Doctor Who game after that...

    What's next? Red Dwarf? Eastenders?
    LuigiHann wrote: »
    Telltale should partner up with the BBC to license Hitchhiker's Guide and Dr. Who, and make a mashup/crossover series that takes place in a combined universe. It would be the most fantastic thing in the world.
    Oh god no...
  • Secret FawfulSecret Fawful
    edited June 2009
    TheJoe wrote: »
    ...

    They made a Wallace and Gromit game. I have little faith in a Doctor Who game after that...

    What's next? Red Dwarf? Eastenders?

    The Mighty Boosh......Spaced......House.....The Office...

    And yet they would all be amazing.
  • TeaTea
    edited June 2009
    Secret Fawful wrote: »
    The Mighty Boosh......Spaced......House.....The Office...

    And yet they would all be amazing.

    Stop giving them ideas!
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited June 2009
    Not much of a Dr. Who fan. Rather see more Sam and Max or Strong Bad.
  • Madd0cksMadd0cks
    edited June 2009
    I can't stand Dr.Who. You Americans make much better TV, light years ahead of us Brits. Dr.Who is also filmed in my city and often blocks off certain roads and streets to my inconvenience!
  • StrongBadinatorStrongBadinator
    edited June 2009
    I've never heard of Doctor Who, but it sounds like if anyone can make a game out of it, telltale is the best for the jorb.
  • Toothless GibbonToothless Gibbon
    edited June 2009
    The only problem would be the fact that you could solve every puzzle with a sonic screwdriver, as The Doctor seems to in the show.
  • MajusMajus
    edited June 2009
    Toothless Gibbon wrote: »
    The only problem would be the fact that you could solve every puzzle with a sonic screwdriver, as The Doctor seems to in the show.
    No problem: Every puzzle is made out of wood.
  • MardukMarduk
    edited June 2009
    Madd0cks wrote: »
    I can't stand Dr.Who. You Americans make much better TV, light years ahead of us Brits. Dr.Who is also filmed in my city and often blocks off certain roads and streets to my inconvenience!

    Do you think you could do something to get them to stop filming Torchwood? Call in a hoax bomb scare near where they're filming or something? That show grates my every nerve.

    Dunno if you get it over the pond but it's supposed to be an Adult version of Doctor Who. (ie, DocWho is a family show and now they have 2 spin-offs; 'Sarah Jane Adventures' for children and Torchwood). It's basically a UK version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and even recruited James Marsters who played spike in series 2) but with Aliens, with an adult cast and bad language. (I actually liked most of Buffy, though).

    On topic (well, more on topic that the rest of this post has been), is it possible you decided you didn't like the show after the 2005 series? Because I didn't like it, either, but having seen a few since David Tennant took over I was converted. The dialogue and production values have improved significantly since the beginning. (On the other hand, the production values for Torchwood might have improved as well but the dialogue, if anything, has declined).
  • MajusMajus
    edited June 2009
    I’d like to see a classic-Doctor-Who-Adventure with Tom Baker or Peter Davison. And retro-keyboard-music. That would be awesome!
  • CertifiableCertifiable
    edited June 2009
    serweet wrote: »
    I remember a Hitchhikers game on DOS many many years ago. Completely text based. Would be awesome to see that converted to an adventure game a la Monkey Island, with typical british humour to boot.

    You DO realise Adams wrote ALL the text for the game, right?
  • MolokovMolokov
    edited June 2009
    And you can play the original game with GRAPHICS online for free! Two different editions of it, even!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtml

    :)
  • serweetserweet
    edited June 2009
    Certifiable wrote: »
    You DO realise Adams wrote ALL the text for the game, right?
    Doesn't surprise me.
    What a ledge that guy was; seeing him walking into the sea throwing his money away in HHGTTG on the BBC... aah.
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