Telltale Games

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(Beefed up the "history" section with more context as well as some release dates for context.)
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[[Image:Telltale Games logo.png|thumb|"Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years..." {{--}}Strong Bad{{ref|1}}]]
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[[Image:Telltale Games logo.png|thumb|Telltale Games logo (pre-2018)]]
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The original '''{{w|Telltale Games}}''' was a video game company that partnered with [[Videlectrix]] to produce [[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]], a game in five episodes (or "actionsodes" in [[Strong Bad]]'s term) for PC and WiiWare. According to Strong Bad, "Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years, but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D [[X 'em up|point-and-click-em-up]] adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool."{{ref|1}} The Telltale offices were seen in the series [[Behind the Bad]], featuring Strong Bad interacting with staff as they produced the game.
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'''{{w|Telltale Games}}''' was a video game company that partnered with [[Videlectrix]] to produce [[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]], a game in five episodes (or "actionsodes" in [[Strong Bad]]'s term) for PC and {{w|WiiWare}}, later released for PlayStation 3 and OS X.
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On November 19, 2008, Videlectrix expressed jealousy of Telltale Games and announced that they plan to "strike back". Attempts included releasing [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]] to cash in on [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective]] and creating an alternate SBCG4AP box (which later became the reverse artwork for the [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD]]).
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The Telltale offices were seen in the series [[Behind the Bad]], a video series featuring Strong Bad interacting with staff as they produced the game.
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The main menu of [[strongbad_email.exe Disc Six]] utilized the CG models from SBCG4AP, and the intro was choreographed by Telltale employees Jake Rodkin and Nick Herman. Telltale Games is thanked in the credits of the DVD.
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== History ==
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[[File:sbatdesk.jpg|thumb|Hard at work]]
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<blockquote>Telltale has been rejecting [[Strong Bad's Technology|my ideas for green text adventures]] for years, but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D [[X 'em up|point-and-click-em-up]] adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool.</blockquote>
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: {{--}}Strong Bad{{ref|1}}
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On September 2, 2010, Telltale Games announced [[Poker Night at the Inventory]] featuring Strong Bad as part of the cast. The game was released on November 22, 2010.
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Telltale Games was founded by former [[LucasArts]] employees who had worked on the company's {{w|LucasArts adventure games|adventure games}}. The company focused on releasing adventure games in an {{w|Episodic video game|episodic format}}, licensing niche IPs with strong fanbases like [[Sam & Max]] (which previously had been licensed to LucasArts). The partnership with Telltale was the first time [[The Brothers Chaps]] had licensed out their work.
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Telltale Games abruptly closed in 2018, going into {{w|General assignment|bankruptcy assignment}} in October of that year. As a result, its games were delisted from digital storefronts Steam and GOG in the following months. {{w|Telltale Games (2018–present)|LCG Entertainment, Inc. acquired and revived the brand}} on August 28, 2019 with plans of republishing much of the back catalog. SBCG4AP was relisted from December 7, 2020 to May 30, 2023; Poker Night at the Inventory remains unavailable for purchase.
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A hint of [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner's]] "first large scale game in the works" was mentioned by [[Matt Chapman]] in [[Zoinks! Magazine Interview|a 2006 interview]]. On [[www.homestarrunner.com|the website]], the first true hint of a collaboration with Telltale was the short [[Strong Bad Gameways]] released (via an Easter egg in [[shapeshifter]]) on April 1, 2008. The game ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' was officially announced via a press release{{ref|1}} on April 10, 2008; with the first chapter scheduled for June. The game's [[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People#Episodes|five episodes]] were released on a monthly basis, from August 11, 2008 to December 15, 2008:
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<gallery perrow=5>
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Image:HomestarRuinerIcon.png|[[Homestar Ruiner]]
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Image:StrongBadiaTheFreeIcon.png|[[Strong Badia the Free]]
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Image:BaddestOfTheBandsIcon.png|[[Baddest of the Bands]]
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Image:Sbcg4ap104 235x225.png|[[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective|Dangeresque 3:<br/>The Criminal Projective]]
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Image:Sbcg4ap105 235x225.png|[[8-Bit is Enough]]
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</gallery>
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== Rivalry with Videlectrix ==
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The main menu animation of [[strongbad_email.exe Disc Six]] utilized the CG models from SBCG4AP, and the intro was choreographed by Telltale employees Jake Rodkin and Nick Herman. Telltale Games is thanked in the credits of the DVD.
-
Telltale's fictional relationship with Videlectrix was often humorously portrayed as combatative, with Videlectrix's [[Good Graphics|relatively low-tech]] output clashing with the 3D graphics used by Telltale. The rivalry came to a head with Videlectrix's release of [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]], which prompted a press release from Telltale Games:{{ref|3}}
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On September 2, 2010, Telltale Games announced [[Poker Night at the Inventory]]. The game featured several characters from previous Telltale games; Strong Bad appeared as one of the poker players, and the game featured several musical and visual elements from Homestar Runner. The game was released on November 22, 2010.
 +
 
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=== Rivalry with Videlectrix ===
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Telltale's fictional relationship with Videlectrix was often humorously portrayed as combative, with Videlectrix's [[Good Graphics|relatively low-tech]] output clashing with the 3D graphics used by Telltale. On November 19, 2008, Videlectrix expressed jealousy of Telltale Games and announced that they plan to "strike back". Attempts included releasing [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]] to cash in on [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective]] and creating an alternate SBCG4AP box (which later became the reverse artwork for the [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD]]). The release of Roomisode 1 prompted a press release from Telltale Games:{{ref|3}}
<blockquote>"I'd also like to take a moment to address a serious issue that has recently come to our attention. Unhappy with our Strong Bad games, Videlectrix has taken it upon themselves to release a Strong Bad game of their own from [http://www.videlectrix.com www.videlectrix.com]. "[http://www.homestarrunner.com/dangeresque.html Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]" is completely unauthorized and it's unfortunate that they've resorted to this. In spite of our creative differences and some weird late night phone calls from the irate Videlectrix CEO, Telltale has successfully completed production on the Strong Bad season finale and many of us think it's the best episode of the season. We only wish Videlectrix could have been a bit more grown-up about the whole situation."</blockquote>
<blockquote>"I'd also like to take a moment to address a serious issue that has recently come to our attention. Unhappy with our Strong Bad games, Videlectrix has taken it upon themselves to release a Strong Bad game of their own from [http://www.videlectrix.com www.videlectrix.com]. "[http://www.homestarrunner.com/dangeresque.html Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]" is completely unauthorized and it's unfortunate that they've resorted to this. In spite of our creative differences and some weird late night phone calls from the irate Videlectrix CEO, Telltale has successfully completed production on the Strong Bad season finale and many of us think it's the best episode of the season. We only wish Videlectrix could have been a bit more grown-up about the whole situation."</blockquote>
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===Closure and Relaunch===
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Although the Brothers Chaps would [[OMG Nintendo Interview - 12 May 2009|share ideas]] or [[RPS Interview - 17 Dec 2008|joke about]] a potential second season of SBCG4AP, no concrete plans were ever brought forth by them or Telltale. The Brothers [[Ron & Fez Show Interview - 19 Dec 2008|emphasized that]] the game was "the biggest thing that we'd probably do" due to the amount of work and hours-long runtime of the games compared to typical [[Toons By Length|minutes-long toons]]. Homestar Runner additionally went on [[Hiatuses|an extended hiatus]] about a year after the release of the final chapter of SBCG4AP.
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Telltale Games abruptly closed in 2018, going into {{w|General assignment|bankruptcy assignment}} in October of that year. As a result, its games were delisted from digital storefronts Steam and GOG in the following months. {{w|Telltale Games (2018–present)|LCG Entertainment, Inc. acquired and revived the brand}} on August 28, 2019 with plans of republishing much of the back catalog.
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SBCG4AP was relisted on December 7, 2020; when Telltale no longer had the rights to the IP,{{ref|4}} the game was delisted again on May 30, 2023. Poker Night at the Inventory has remained unavailable for purchase.
== Store ==
== Store ==
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[[File:Strongbad seasondisc boxart.png|thumb|125px|Handle My Style]]
Alongside digital and [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD|physical versions]] of SBCG4AP, the Telltale Games store also sold Homestar Runner merchandise:
Alongside digital and [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD|physical versions]] of SBCG4AP, the Telltale Games store also sold Homestar Runner merchandise:
*[[Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits|Strong Bad Sings CD]]
*[[Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits|Strong Bad Sings CD]]
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==Sources==
==Sources==
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# {{note|1}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110831101532/http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65 Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People press release (archived)]
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# {{note|1}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110831101532/http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65 " Announcing Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People for WiiWare" press release (archived)]
# {{note|2}} [https://community.telltale.com/discussion/comment/75922 Telltale Games forum thread]
# {{note|2}} [https://community.telltale.com/discussion/comment/75922 Telltale Games forum thread]
# {{note|3}} [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/telltale-and-videlectrix "Telltale And Videlectrix Come To Blows", ''Rock Paper Shotgun'']
# {{note|3}} [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/telltale-and-videlectrix "Telltale And Videlectrix Come To Blows", ''Rock Paper Shotgun'']
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# {{note|4}} [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/8340/view/3674419898842965390 "Important Information for Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People", The Telltale Team]
==See Also==
==See Also==
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*[[:Category:SBCG4AP Interviews|SBCG4AP Interviews]]
*[[LucasArts]]
*[[LucasArts]]
*[[Sam & Max]]
*[[Sam & Max]]
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**[https://store.steampowered.com/app/31280/Poker_Night_at_the_Inventory/ Poker Night at the Inventory on Steam] (no longer for sale)
**[https://store.steampowered.com/app/31280/Poker_Night_at_the_Inventory/ Poker Night at the Inventory on Steam] (no longer for sale)
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{{SBCG4AP}}
[[Category:Real Companies]]
[[Category:Real Companies]]
[[Category:Store]]
[[Category:Store]]

Revision as of 04:20, 12 June 2023

Telltale Games logo (pre-2018)

Telltale Games was a video game company that partnered with Videlectrix to produce Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, a game in five episodes (or "actionsodes" in Strong Bad's term) for PC and WiiWare, later released for PlayStation 3 and OS X.

The Telltale offices were seen in the series Behind the Bad, a video series featuring Strong Bad interacting with staff as they produced the game.

Contents

History

Hard at work
Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years, but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D point-and-click-em-up adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool.
—Strong Bad[1]

Telltale Games was founded by former LucasArts employees who had worked on the company's adventure games. The company focused on releasing adventure games in an episodic format, licensing niche IPs with strong fanbases like Sam & Max (which previously had been licensed to LucasArts). The partnership with Telltale was the first time The Brothers Chaps had licensed out their work.

A hint of Homestar Runner's "first large scale game in the works" was mentioned by Matt Chapman in a 2006 interview. On the website, the first true hint of a collaboration with Telltale was the short Strong Bad Gameways released (via an Easter egg in shapeshifter) on April 1, 2008. The game Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People was officially announced via a press release[1] on April 10, 2008; with the first chapter scheduled for June. The game's five episodes were released on a monthly basis, from August 11, 2008 to December 15, 2008:

Homestar Ruiner

Strong Badia the Free

Baddest of the Bands

Dangeresque 3:
The Criminal Projective

8-Bit is Enough

The main menu animation of strongbad_email.exe Disc Six utilized the CG models from SBCG4AP, and the intro was choreographed by Telltale employees Jake Rodkin and Nick Herman. Telltale Games is thanked in the credits of the DVD.

On September 2, 2010, Telltale Games announced Poker Night at the Inventory. The game featured several characters from previous Telltale games; Strong Bad appeared as one of the poker players, and the game featured several musical and visual elements from Homestar Runner. The game was released on November 22, 2010.

Rivalry with Videlectrix

Telltale's fictional relationship with Videlectrix was often humorously portrayed as combative, with Videlectrix's relatively low-tech output clashing with the 3D graphics used by Telltale. On November 19, 2008, Videlectrix expressed jealousy of Telltale Games and announced that they plan to "strike back". Attempts included releasing Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque to cash in on Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective and creating an alternate SBCG4AP box (which later became the reverse artwork for the SBCG4AP Collector's DVD). The release of Roomisode 1 prompted a press release from Telltale Games:[3]

"I'd also like to take a moment to address a serious issue that has recently come to our attention. Unhappy with our Strong Bad games, Videlectrix has taken it upon themselves to release a Strong Bad game of their own from www.videlectrix.com. "Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque" is completely unauthorized and it's unfortunate that they've resorted to this. In spite of our creative differences and some weird late night phone calls from the irate Videlectrix CEO, Telltale has successfully completed production on the Strong Bad season finale and many of us think it's the best episode of the season. We only wish Videlectrix could have been a bit more grown-up about the whole situation."

Closure and Relaunch

Although the Brothers Chaps would share ideas or joke about a potential second season of SBCG4AP, no concrete plans were ever brought forth by them or Telltale. The Brothers emphasized that the game was "the biggest thing that we'd probably do" due to the amount of work and hours-long runtime of the games compared to typical minutes-long toons. Homestar Runner additionally went on an extended hiatus about a year after the release of the final chapter of SBCG4AP.

Telltale Games abruptly closed in 2018, going into bankruptcy assignment in October of that year. As a result, its games were delisted from digital storefronts Steam and GOG in the following months. LCG Entertainment, Inc. acquired and revived the brand on August 28, 2019 with plans of republishing much of the back catalog.

SBCG4AP was relisted on December 7, 2020; when Telltale no longer had the rights to the IP,[4] the game was delisted again on May 30, 2023. Poker Night at the Inventory has remained unavailable for purchase.

Store

Handle My Style

Alongside digital and physical versions of SBCG4AP, the Telltale Games store also sold Homestar Runner merchandise:

Fun Facts

Sources

  1. ^  " Announcing Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People for WiiWare" press release (archived)
  2. ^  Telltale Games forum thread
  3. ^  "Telltale And Videlectrix Come To Blows", Rock Paper Shotgun
  4. ^  "Important Information for Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People", The Telltale Team

See Also

External Links

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People
Produced by Telltale Games and Videlectrix
Promotional Media

Strong Bad Gameways, Advertisement, Gameplay Trailer, Tech Demo, Dev Blog, Workin' on the Game,
Behind The Bad (1, 2, 3), Make a Scene with Telltale: Strong Bad Edition, Collector's DVD, Interviews

All Episodes

Tutorial, WiiWare Intros

Episode 1:
Homestar Ruiner

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Snake Boxer 5, Teen Girl Squad
Responses: House of Strong, Marzipan's, K.o.T. Castle, The Track, The Field
Promotional Media: Homestar at the Track, Around the Field, Behind The Bad Chapter 1: The New Hire
Songs: Handle My Style, Fluffy Puff Jela-ton, Showdown

Episode 2:
Strong Badia the Free

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Math Kickers, Cave Girl Squad, Maps and Minions
Various: Countries, Homsartifacts
Responses: Bleak House, The Field, Homsar Reservation, Pompomerania, Country, Marzistar, The Castle
Promotional Media: Gameplay Trailer
Songs: Justice Combo Meal

Episode 3:
Baddest of the Bands

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Limozeen's Hot Babelien Odyssey, Teen Girl Squad Meets Limozeen
Various: Bands
Responses: House of Strong, The Field, Marzipan's, Club Technochocolate, The Track, Battle of the Bands stages
Promotional Media: Gameplay Trailer, Behind The Bad Chapter 2: The Heist, Promo, baddestofthebands.com
Songs: Food-Related Love, Cool Tapes songs, Other songs

Episode 4:
Dangeresque 3:
The Criminal Projective

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Space Circus Catastrophe
Responses: Smoky Office, Brainblow City, Strongborneo, Secret Lab, Catacombs, Old Club, Cutesy's House, World Locations, The Sun
Promotional Media: Dangeresque: Puppet Squad, Gameplay Clips, Mini-Site
Songs: Today is Alright 4 2Nite

Episode 5:
8-Bit is Enough

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Gel-Arshie's Pro Fruitboarder, Redcoat Ghost Patrol, Trogdor's 3D-Ungeon
Various: Character Variations, Spirits of '76, Halfathlon
Responses: House of Strong, The Field, Crates, Videlectrix Mainframe, Halfathlon, Gel-Arshie's Backstage, Stinkoman 20X6, Peasantry
Promotional Media: Behind The Bad Chapter 3: The Last Straw

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